Hello,

I'm using: Ubuntu 9.04 (alpha 6), 2.6.28-10-generic, KDE 4.2.1

How can I tell application to use headphones (front audio) or speaker output.
I.e. When I start firefox (some flash audio) it uses speakers output. Then when I connect headphones to front panel audio, speakers will stop playing, but there is no sound in headphones. If I start i.e. amarok (flash still playing) headphones work. Then when I pull headphones out, there is a sound in speakers from flash.
If I start amarok first, situation is reversed - amarok uses speakers, flash plays using headphones.
The problem is that I can't tell amarok to use headphones (it will use speakers, if no other application is playing) and when I plug headphones in, speakers will stop but there is no sound in headphones too.

MB: M3A78-VM
sound card: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)

Thank you,
Peter Lopeň

This problem occurs because Flash tries to get an exclusive lock on the sound device.

Amarok ( assuming version 2 ) can be configured through System Settings > Multimedia, which should have a setting to select the sound card ( most show their various outputs )

thank you for your answer.
but as I've described, when I start amarok first (no other audio app running) it uses speakers. after headphones are plugged in, there is no sound - neither in speakers neither in headphones. and next started audio app plays through headphones. What I would expect is, that when amarok is playing using speakers and headphones are connected to front panel, the sounds immediately goes from headphones. Otherwise I have to start some application to allocate audio output playing through speakers first (to my understanding) and next application (i.e amarok) will only then use headphones.

I checked multimedia settings:
there are two (analog) devices for music:
HDA ATI SB (VT1708B Analog) (prefered)
PulseAudio

the test option works for both of them. if no amarok is playing the sound comes from speakers during the test. if I start amarok first and then trying test (headphones are connected) the sound comes from headphones.

Thank you,
Peter Lopeň

This hints to a configuration fault with ALSA ( Advanced Linux Sound Architecture ). Please ensure that DMix is functional on your system. Also, are you able to use a 3rd audio application?