---
name: "oss_usb"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "oss4-base"
version: "4.2-build2010-2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/oss_usb"
---

# oss\_usb(7)

USB Audio/MIDI/Mixer driver

## NAME

**oss\_usb** - USB Audio/MIDI/Mixer driver

## DESCRIPTION

**The Open Sound System driver for USB Audio and MIDI devices.**

### AUDIO

**The Audio driver supports:**

- •

  **8-96Khz Playback/Recording**

- •

  **8 or 16 or 32 bits**

- •

  **2, 4, 6 or 8 channel audio.**

- •

  **SPDIF digital output and Input**

- •

  **AC3 passthrough**

- •

  **Volume control and device input mixer**

### MIDI

**The oss\_usb driver supports all MIDI devices that are compatible with the** **official USB MIDI specification. In addition the driver supports few devices** **that use their own private protocol (including some Yamaha and Midiman models).**

### USB MIXER

**The USB Audio mixer is a new type of mixer that doesn't have** **the normal volume controls found on AC97 or Legacy SB devices.** **The USB audio mixer provides control for selecting the Alternate** **device setting - this usually allows the device to be switched**  **into a Professional audio mode (eg 24bit or 96Khz mode)**

### ALTERNATIVE SETTINGS

**Some USB audio devices use a feature called as alternative settings for** **bandwidth management. Typically such devices have multiple high speed** **inputs and outputs that may require more bandwidth than provided by the USB** **bus. The alternative settings feature is used to select between multiple** **low speed devices or just few high speed devices.**

**When the device has multiple alternative settings an "altsetting" selector** **will be visible in the control panel for the device (use [ossmix(1)](/ossmix/1.md) or** **[ossxmix(1)](/ossxmix/1.md) to change it). Alternative setting OFF means that all** **audio devices are disabled. The other settings provide different combinations** **of high/medium speed devices. You can use the [ossinfo(1)](/ossinfo/1.md) command** **(ossinfo -a -v3) to find out the devices supported by the currently selected** **alternative settings and the capabilities of them.**

## KNOWN BUGS

**Under Linux it is necessary to run the ossdetect -d and ossdevlinks commands** **after an USB device has been hot-plugged. Alternatively you can execute** **soundoff and soundon to reload OSS.**

## OPTIONS

**None**

## FILES

**/etc/oss4/conf/oss\_usb.conf Device configuration file**

## AUTHOR

**4Front Technologies**