M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card

[Damian Gerow]

I've just picked up an M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card, to replace the
on-board AC97 sound I had before.  A quick search beforehand showed that
there were at least non-native drivers, so I wouldn't be *completely* SOL
in regards to sound.

However, the drivers provided by OSS (http://www.opensound.com/) are a
little less than great.  The sound crackles and snaps, and every once in a
while, it just skips and skips and skips.  Not fun.  Not to mention their
license...

I've sent a note to M-Audio asking about drivers and technical specs, but
have yet to hear a response.  Has anyone else picked up this card, or is
anyone working on a driver?  Or does anyone have any comments on M-Audio as
a company, providing drivers for alternative Operating Systems?  OSS has
support for it, ALSA supposedly has support, and M-Audio seems to be pretty
committed to MacOS support as well.  But they say nothing about *BSD.

FWIW, when the driver *does* work, there is a *huge* difference in sound
quality.  And given that the board is considerably cheaper than an Audigy 2,
I'd say it's well worth the money, *if* FreeBSD can get a driver.