Sound (play) problems; Ubuntu 8.10 / MuseScore 0.92

Summary: MuseScore play function problems

Environment: Ubuntu 8.10 (desktop); mscore 0.9.2; fluidsynth 1.0.8; IBM ThinkPad T42p;

I have just installed Ubuntu 8.10 (desktop) on my IBM ThinkPad T42p. Most media applications work fine (xine, Firefox media plugins, Totem, Rhythmbox, etc.).

I installed MuseScore 0.9.2 from the Ubuntu archive via "apt-get install mscore". The play function is disabled and mscore startup says:

archie$ mscore
Suspending PulseAudio
Alsa_driver: the interface doesn't support mmap-based access.
init ALSA audio driver failed
init ALSA driver failed
no audio driver
sequencer init failed

I Google'd around a little and found the suggestion to use fluidsynth. I installed via apt-get and fluidsynth is able to play a note:

archie$ fluidsynth
cca_open_socket: could not connect to host 'localhost', service '14541'
cca_init: could not connect to server 'localhost' - disabling ladcca
fluidsynth: ALSA driver: Using format s16, rw, interleaved
FluidSynth version 1.0.8
Copyright (C) 2000-2006 Peter Hanappe and others.
Distributed under the LGPL license.
SoundFont(R) is a registered trademark of E-mu Systems, Inc.

Type 'help' for information on commands and 'help help' for help topics.

> load /usr/share/sounds/sf2/FluidR3_GM.sf2
fluidsynth: warning: Failed to pin the sample data to RAM; swapping is possible.
loaded SoundFont has ID 1
> noteon 1 69 127

[note sounds]

Now, with fluidsynth running I start mscore and go to the Edit | Preferences | I/O menu. Uncheck ALSA, check Portaudio. Dropdowns are empty but the check is accepted. I Apply, OK, exit and re-enter mscore. Now mscore reports:

archie$ mscore
Suspending PulseAudio
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
fluidsynth: warning: Failed to pin the sample data to RAM; swapping is possible.
PreferenceDialog::updateSCListView(): illegal shortcut state

And I get a loud buzzing sound. I can now play and I can here notes under the buzzing.

At this point the Edit | Preferences | I/O menu offers OSS and ALSA in the Portaudio dropdowns but selecting ALSA instead of OSS (the default) doesn't help.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

--Robert Lerche (ral@msbit.com)