This is the Sound Playing HOWTO. It lists the many sound formats and the applications that can be used to play them. It also lists some hacks and advice on using these applications. However, this document does not describe how one can setup a Linux system for sound support. Refer to the Linux Sound HOWTO by Jeff Tranter for instructions on setting up a Linux system for sound support and the supported sound hardware.
This deals with normal user sound applications. That is, it is only concerned about what the average user needs to know on the application side of sound, not exotic stuff like speech synthesis, or hardware stuff which is dealt in the Sound HOWTO.
This document can be freely distributed and modified, as long as this copyright notice is preserved. However, it cannot be placed under any restrictions, and a modified document must have the same copyright as this one. Also, credit must be given where due.
If there is no mention of any copyright, then the application is under the GNU General Public License.
I am not omniscient, and I don't use all the applications in here (a few I can't even try), so there are bound to be mistakes. Also, there are some very outdated information included. Therefore, if you find anything wrong, please send me any corrections. Suggestions or additions to this document are welcome, too.
All the authors of the applications in this HOWTO. Also, Hannu Savolainen for the great Voxware sound driver and Linus Torvalds for the great underlying OS.