ALSA (an
acronym for
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) is a
Linux kernel module that replaces several different kernel drivers for
sound cards with a single driver which handles the diversity of sound cards internally. It replaces all older sound drivers for the Linux kernel, notably the
Open Sound System (OSS).
ALSA also contains LADSPA which aids in the development of professional high-performance sound applications such as software synthesizers and digital audio recorders.