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pcmplay(1)		    General Commands Manual		    pcmplay(1)

NAME
       pcmplay - play PCM files	on audio device

SYNOPSIS
       pcmplay [ -un ] [ -d dev	] [ -b size ] [	-s bits	] [ -f freq ] [	-c num
       ] [ -g gain ] file ... |	-

DESCRIPTION
       pcmplay	reads  one or more files (or standard input if ``-'' is	speci-
       fied) and plays them on the audio device.  file	is  assumed  to	 be  a
       headerless (``raw'') PCM	audio file.

OPTIONS
       pcmplay options may be either the traditional POSIX one letter options,
       or the GNU style	long options.  POSIX style options start with a	single
       ``-'', while GNU	long options start with	``--''.

       -u, --unsigned
	      The audio	data is	assumed	to be unsigned.	 The default is	signed
	      data.

       -n, --network
	      The  audio  data	is  assumed  to	be in network byte order (also
	      called ``big-endian'').  The default is intel byte order (``lit-
	      tle-endian'').  This option only applies to 16 bit samples.

       -d device, --device dev
	      Specify the audio	device to use.	The default is /dev/dsp.

       -b size,	--buffer size
	      Use an audio output buffer of size Kbytes,  the  default	is  32
	      Kbytes.	If you experience short	hangs in the audio output, you
	      might try	to reduce or enlarge the buffer	with this option.

       -s bits,	--bits bits
	      Specify the number of bits per sample.  This must	be either 8 or
	      16 (the default is 16).

       -f freq,	--frequency freq
	      Specify the sampling frequency in	Hertz (Hz).   The  default  is
	      44100 Hz.

       -c num, --channels num
	      Specify the number of channels.  This must be either 1 (mono) or
	      2	(stereo).  The default is 2.

       -g gain,	--gain gain
	      Set audio	hardware output	gain (default: don't change).

OPERANDS
       The following operands are supported:

       file(s) The  path  name(s) of one or more input files.  If a dash ``-''
	       is specified, PCM data will be read from	 the  standard	input.
	       Input  data is assumed to be appropriate	PCM audio files.  How-
	       ever, since they	are headerless (raw), it is  not  possible  to
	       recognize  invalid files, so it is possible to specify any type
	       of file.

       BE CAREFUL: Playing inappropriate data at a too high volume can	damage
       your  audio hardware and	speakers!  Turn	the volume down	before playing
       anything	with this program, unless you are absolutely  sure  that  your
       equipment can handle it.	 Use this program at your own risk!

SEE ALSO
       mpg123(1), tosha(1), pcmfade(1),	sox(1),	intro(1)

NOTES
       If  you	don't use any options, input data is assumed to	be linear PCM,
       44.1 kHz, signed	16 bit stereo in  intel	 byte  order  (little-endian).
       This is the format of CD	audio tracks.

       pcmplay	does  not perform any data conversion.	Use sox(1) if you need
       to convert sample rates,	number of channels or other parameters.

       Your soundcard must support the specified type of audio data.  For  ex-
       ample, you cannot play 16 bit samples on	an 8 bit soundcard.

BUGS
       Yes.  This is an	alpha version.

AUTHOR
       Copyright (C) 1997-1999
       Oliver Fromme <oliver.fromme@heim3.tu-clausthal.de>
       All  rights  reserved.	For more information, please refer to the file
       LICENCE which is	included with the source distribution.

       Internet	references:
       http://www.heim3.tu-clausthal.de/~olli/tosha/
       That's the homepage of the CD-DA	reader tosha(1)	 which	also  contains
       the latest version of pcmplay.

				  21 May 1997			    pcmplay(1)

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