diff --git a/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/etc/helixPlayer.xml b/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/etc/helixPlayer.xml
index ec00150b9..b9d1c4072 100644
--- a/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/etc/helixPlayer.xml
+++ b/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/etc/helixPlayer.xml
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 <!DOCTYPE helixPlayer [
 
 <!ELEMENT helixPlayer   EMPTY >
-<!ATTLIST helixPlayer   dllPath     CDATA   #REQUIRED >
+<!ATTLIST helixPlayer   dllPath      CDATA   #REQUIRED >
+<!ATTLIST helixPlayer   audioDevice  CDATA   #IMPLIED  >
 ]>
 <helixPlayer dllPath = "../../usr/lib/helix"
+             audioDevice = "/dev/sound/dsp"
 />
diff --git a/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.cxx b/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.cxx
index 2e4088704..78e405192 100644
--- a/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.cxx
+++ b/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.cxx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  
  
     Author   : $Author: fgerlits $
-    Version  : $Revision: 1.13 $
+    Version  : $Revision: 1.14 $
     Location : $Source: /home/paul/cvs2svn-livesupport/newcvsrepo/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/Attic/HelixPlayer.cxx,v $
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ const std::string HelixPlayer::configElementNameStr = "helixPlayer";
  */
 static const std::string    dllPathName = "dllPath";
 
+/**
+ *  The name of the audio device attribute.
+ */
+static const std::string    audioDeviceName = "audioDevice";
+
 /**
  *  The name of the client core shared object, as found under dllPath
  */
@@ -116,6 +121,10 @@ HelixPlayer :: configure(const xmlpp::Element   &  element)
         throw std::invalid_argument(eMsg);
     }
     dllPath = attribute->get_value();
+
+    if ((attribute = element.get_attribute(audioDeviceName))) {
+        setAudioDevice(attribute->get_value());
+    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.h b/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.h
index f0ae9dd04..cb7503423 100644
--- a/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.h
+++ b/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/HelixPlayer.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  
  
     Author   : $Author: fgerlits $
-    Version  : $Revision: 1.11 $
+    Version  : $Revision: 1.12 $
     Location : $Source: /home/paul/cvs2svn-livesupport/newcvsrepo/livesupport/modules/playlistExecutor/src/Attic/HelixPlayer.h,v $
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
@@ -76,22 +76,25 @@ using namespace LiveSupport::Core;
  *  This class can be configured with the following XML element.
  *
  *  <pre><code>
- *  <helixPlayer dllPath = "../../usr/lib/helix"
+ *  <helixPlayer dllPath     = "../../usr/lib/helix"
+ *               audioDevice = "/dev/sound/dsp"
  *  />
  *  <pre><code>
  *
  *  where the dllPath is the path to the directory containing the Helix
- *  library shared objects.
+ *  library shared objects.  The optional audioDevice argument sets the
+ *  AUDIO environment variable which is read by the Helix client.
  *
  *  The DTD for the above configuration is the following:
  *
  *  <pre><code>
  *  <!ELEMENT helixPlayer   EMPTY >
- *  <!ATTLIST helixPlayer   dllPath     CDATA   #REQUIRED >
+ *  <!ATTLIST helixPlayer   dllPath      CDATA   #REQUIRED >
+ *  <!ATTLIST helixPlayer   audioDevice  CDATA   #IMPLIED  >
  *  </pre></code>
  *
  *  @author  $Author: fgerlits $
- *  @version $Revision: 1.11 $
+ *  @version $Revision: 1.12 $
  */
 class HelixPlayer : virtual public Configurable,
                     virtual public AudioPlayerInterface,