title: C/C++ Sound OS API
body: <p>I have a question about sound.
  I have used sound libraries like OpenAL in my projects before.
  What I need, is insight as to what underling OS APIs these libraries use.
  Even if each library provides an easy way to manipulate the input file
  according to format, the very basic "raw byte-to-byte, send to the driver"
  function has to exist.</p>
  
  <p>I mean, surely there has to be a default api (one for windows, another for Linux)
  that these libraries use. I don't suppose they use directly each sound
  card's drivers, so the OS has to somehow do the magic. Am I correct?</p>
  
  <p>Now, I know DirectX supports sound (Although I have never used it), but
  DirectX isn't installed by default on windows, so I suppose it doesn't count,
  and I have no idea what happens on Linux, and I would like to know about both.</p>
  
  <p>I know it's probably impractical not to use a dedicated library, and I don't
  really intend not to, but I'm curious about this subject.
  So please indulge me.</p>
  
  <p>So, for basic graphics it's OpenGL and DirectX... But what about sound?</p>
  
  <p>Thank you in advance.</p>