---
name: "esdsample"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "esound-clients"
version: "0.2.41-8"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/esdsample"
---

# esdsample(1)

play a sample

## NAME

esdsample - play a sample

## SYNOPSIS

**esdsample** \[-**s** *hostname*:*port*\] \[-**b**\] \[-**d**\] \[-**e**\] \[-**h**\] \[-**m**\] \[-**r** *freq*\] *samplename*

## DESCRIPTION

The **esdsample** utility plays a sample using the Enlighted Sound Daemon (**esd**).

## OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

**-s** *hostname*:*port* Contact the **esd** server on *hostname* at *port*.

**-b** Specify that the output should be in 8-bit format. By default, the output is in 16-bit format.

**-d** Play the sample from file as raw data. The default behavior is to read the data from a sound file (**.wav**, **.au**, and so on). If this option is chosen, *samplename* is the name of a file.

**-e** Play the sample from the **esd** cache. If this option is chosen, *samplename*  is the name of the sample in the cache.

**-h** Display help text, and exit.

**-m** Specify that the output should be in mono format. By default, the output is in stereo format.

**-r** *freq* Specify that the output rate should be set to *freq*. By default, the output rate is set to 44.1 kHz.

## OPERANDS

The following operands are supported:

*samplename* The name of the sample to be played.  If the -**e** option is used, *samplename* is the **esd**  cache name. Otherwise, *samplename*  is a filename.

## EXAMPLES

**Example 1: Playing a sample from a file**

```
example% esdsample generic.wav
```

**Example 2: Playing a sample from the esd cache**

```
example% esdsample -e esdctl:generic.wav
```

(where **esdctl:generic.wav** is the cache name)

## EXIT STATUS

The following exit values are returned:

**0** Application exited successfully

**\>0** Application exited with failure

## SEE ALSO

[*esd*(1)](/esd/1.md), [*esdcat*(1)](/esdcat/1.md), [*esddsp*(1)](/esddsp/1.md), [*esdloop*(1)](/esdloop/1.md), [*esdplay*(1)](/esdplay/1.md),  [*esd-config*(1)](/esd-config/1.md), [*esdctl*(1)](/esdctl/1.md), [*esdfilt*(1)](/esdfilt/1.md), [*esdmon*(1)](/esdmon/1.md), [*esdrec*(1)](/esdrec/1.md)