---
name: "esa"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/esa"
---

# esa(4)

ESS Technology Allegro-1/Maestro-3 family audio device

## NAME

**esa** – ESS Technology Allegro-1/Maestro-3 family audio device

## SYNOPSIS

**esa\*   at pci?** **audio\* at esa?**

## DESCRIPTION

The **esa** driver provides support for the ESS Allegro-1 and Maestro-3 audio devices on the PCI bus. These devices are popular in laptop systems.

The Allegro-1 and the Maestro-3 are full-duplex devices that allow independent playback and recording at sample rates between 8000Hz and 48000Hz and are capable of playback at 8 and 16 bit in mono and stereo.

## SEE ALSO

[ac97(4)](/ac97/4.md), [audio(4)](/audio/4.md), [intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [maestro(4)](/maestro/4.md), [pci(4)](/pci/4.md)

## HISTORY

The **esa** device driver appeared in OpenBSD 3.1.

## AUTHORS

Jared D. McNeill ⟨*jmcneill@invisible.ca*⟩

## BUGS

Hardware volume control is not yet supported by this driver.