ALSA SoC Sound Improvements For Linux 3.9

The ALSA SoC (ASoC) layer will see a number of new improvements and also a new sound driver within the Linux 3.9 kernel.

The ASoC update for Linux 3.9 isn't going to be too big, but there are a few noteworthy items to point out for this kernel that will soon officially be in development:

- Support for a wider range of hardware in the compressed stream code.
- The ability to mute capture streams as well as playback streams while inactive.
- DT support for AK4642, FSI, Samsung I2S and WM8962.
- AC'97 support for Tegra.
- New driver for max98090, replacing the stub which was there.

Greater hardware support within the compressed stream code and AC'97 audio support for NVIDIA's Tegra SoCs are likely the most notable changes.

The new max98090 ASoC driver is for the Maxim Integrated ultra-low power MAX98090 Stereo Audio Codec.

The ASoC 3.9 work is noted on the alsa-devel list.

Sound related but not to SoC support is the vastly improved Intel HDA support that will also be merged for Linux 3.9. There's also other improvements forthcoming to the other Intel Linux kernel audio drivers.