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paleozogt
Asked: 2010-11-20 11:43:19 +0800 CST

How can I change the default audio device from command line?

  • 772

Ubuntu's desktop gui is great for changing audio settings (System->Preferences->Sound), like the default input/output device and setting the volume.

However, I would like to be able to do these things from the command-line. What tool is the gui using behind the scenes?

sound pulseaudio

4 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    You can control PulseAudio thoroughly through the command line using pacmd and pactl commands. For options see pacmd --help or the wiki at PulseAudio:

    pacmd list-sinks for name or index number of possible sinks

    pacmd list-sources for name or index number of possible sources

    pacmd set-default-sink "SINKNAME" | index to set the default output sink

    pacmd set-default-source "SOURCENAME" | index to set the default input

    pacmd set-sink-volume index volume

    pacmd set-source-volume index volume for volume control (65536 = 100 %, 0 = mute; or a bit more intuitive 0x10000 = 100 %, 0x7500 = 75 %, 0x0 = 0 %)

    and many many more CLI options.

    Note: Changing the output sink through the command line interface can only take effect if stream target device reading is disabled. This can be done by editing the corresponding line in /etc/pulse/default.pa to:

    load-module module-stream-restore restore_device=false

    Restart PulseAudio for changes to take effect:

    pulseaudio -k

    For a more elaborate tutorial on how to do this, and for instructions on how to change the sink during playback see this answer.

    • 179

  2. Yes there is type alsamixer in terminal

    alt text

    Press ,

    F1 - Help

    F2 - System Information

    F6 - Select Sound Card

    Esc - Exit the menu

    • 10 
  3. pavucontrol

    Not the actual Ubuntu volume control, but better! It lets you control default devices, and even devices per application/stream.

    You have to have the app actually be recording/playing for it to appear in the 'Playback' or 'Recording' tabs, but once you choose the device for that app, it seems to remember it forever.

    Also, (on a side note), for old (non pulse) applications, run them after padsp, eg:

    padsp some_old_app

    pavucontrol

    • 4

  4. I found these instructions to be clear and easy to follow. It explains how to set the default audio output device (speakers, etc), from the command line, as well as how to make your chosen setting the system default, so that it is set after the machine is rebooted.

    Set the default output sink

    To list the output sinks available, type the following command:

    $ pacmd list-sinks | grep -e 'name:' -e 'index:'

    • index: 0

      name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_04_01.0.analog-stereo>

      index: 1

      name: <combined>

    The * in front of the index indicates the current default output.

    To set a system wide default, add the source name in the default.pa file:

    /etc/pulse/default.pa

    ...

    set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_04_01.0.analog-stereo

    ...

    When done then you can logout/login or restart PulseAudio manually for these changes to take effect.

    from Set the default output sink

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