How to Use Alsamixer and Pulseaudio to Fix Linux Sound
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- Опубликовано: 16 апр 2019
- In this video, I am going over alsamixer and pulseaudio. I will show how to use them and fix any Linux sound issues you might have. .
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Couple things for Clarity on this video:
- Alsa Subsystem sits on the sound hardware and using alsamixer you directly change the volume of these devices.
- Pulseaudio is a mixer/equalizer that sits above the Alsa Subsystem and interfaces with Alsa. The program I used to change Pulseaudio settings is technically named "pavucontrol" but I found it by typing "Pulse Audio Control"
I hope this clears up any confusion.
And to bring more confusion:
Pulse Audio is so called Sound Daemon, it runs entirely in userland as a program.
ALSA is both hardware and userland systems. Programs can use it directly.
However when PulseAudio is working it takes over the hardware directly and other ALSA native programs cannot use it. To make them work, PulseAudio installs plugins inside ALSA so the sound from ALSA native programs would be routed to Pulse Audio daemon that would then output it to the ALSA hardware.
One of the reasons for the mass adoption of PulseAudio was that it had a number of bugs handling ALSA->PA->ALSA cases, that were solved by programs by using direct output to PA and having workarounds there.
If you have really strange sound problems, you can try to get rid of PulseAudio entirely. You will get less latency, less memory and CPU usage. If some programs cannot work without PulseAudio, try the `apulse` project.
If you use BlueTooth sound devices, you will need PulseAudio.
Can i use them to set androids codecs? I mean are they possible to modify the original codec in android studio ?
I CANT HEAR YOU WHAT DO I DO
LOL🤣🤣🤣 well
2 options
1. Watch on a seperate device that has working audio
Or
2. Turn on captions
Wow, much difficulty.
Cc?
Thanks so much for this! Years ago when I first set up my Ubuntu machine, I figured out both of these fixes for PulseAudio and Alsamixer. Now I just stood up a new Mate machine, and I forgot all about both of these things, so this video really helped jog my memory and get the sound working on it.
Thank you much I was having issues with obs and was trying to fix it for over an hour and stumbled across your video THANK YOU!!
Im glad I found this video , I hope some of the info helps me out with my sound issues in Solus :)
Thank you sooooooooooo much. I have been looking for this kinda tutorial for a while. My default audio device wasn't selected by default and now works properly. You got my like (I already subbed)
I absolutely love the audio configurations on Linux (specially on KDE)! I love to be able to route the "important" audio (Music/video players, DAWs, etc) through my audio interface and studio monitors, and the "non-important" audio (from web browsers, notifications, etc) through the basic tv speakers. Works so good! and keeps my audio equipment safe :) /// Thanks for sharing so much with us!
Great and informative video, as always! I was forced to learn all this on my own, because I had to use an Equalizer application that is a little buggy, and I still have to this day to mess with these settings all the time (thankfully my life has been made easier by KDE custom keyboard shortcuts + scripts). However, I still learned something new today; I didn't know you could completely turn off stuff from the configuration tab. So thanks, now my sound devices list looks a little cleaner than before!
I learned a lot. Thank you.
Just what i needed !! Thanks
Hi. I've just subscribed because I really like the way you explain things. It would be cool if you could do a basic intro into how to make and run scripts, like the ones that you make and refer to in lots of your videos. Anyway keep up the good work!
Thank you for all of your hands on tipps! Great!
I am pleased with your accuracy, your knoledge. TANK YOU from Morocco.
Hey Chris, great video. I just have a note to add. Sound Blaster cards barely work in windows anymore but they work awesome in Linux. So, if you have an old Sound Blaster card you can use it in Linux (also, by going off pins 1,3,17 on the sound blaster you can add optical out and digital out 'add-on' card)
I do have an old soundblaster 16 in my gaming PC for my dos gaming emulation. It's badass!
@@mrmasterofdiabloplay ruclips.net/video/rVNSyRAwVXs/видео.html check this out. sorry chris, hope it's ok to post a link for a mod to the soundblaster card.
@@robertkosinski2105 I don't mind, all links get caught in a filter which I have to approve. So if someone is just shamelessly posting self-promotional or scam videos I can ban them. Most times our community posts a lot of helpful links that I approve and this is definitely one of them ;) I try my best to keep the comments section a fun and friendly place, which is quite the task on RUclips, but it is awesome when it works out. Funny enough, the Windows Videos I've made have blown up so much that I can't moderate them anymore.
this 100% solved my issue!!
I have a Fasttrack C400 Audio-Interface that didn't output any sound.
Now that I went into alsamixer and adjusted the volume on the appropriate output, it finally works!!!!
Thank you!
Thanks Chris!
Thanks. This helped solve some issues with my usb audio card on ubuntu 22.04.
I use alsamixer all day long. never had a problem with it so I don't plan on changing. I have pulseaudio installed but I usually default to Alsamixer, I don't mind terminal inputs. But great video Chris, keep it up!
I may miss tomorrows vid when it drops (hopefully I don't), because I'll be busy upgrading to Ubuntu 19.04 when it drops at midnight and making sure everything works on my computers! Tomorrow is a big day for my computer, It's upgrade day!!
Oh snap! Sounds awesome, Good Luck!
@@ChrisTitusTech Upgrade day is like a holiday for me, I have fun with it!
Worked, thanks !
Thank you for this video. It was very infirmative for me.
Thanks for your Offerings, I find the very helpful. Certainly a good overview for someone acquainted with modern Audio and control GUI and purpose, unfortunately for me I never used anything more complex than - On/Off, and then volume Up/Down.
I have been on the systems you suggested have fixes, I don't see them.
I did see some 'MM' and '00', but no suggested switchING-mechanism!
On multiple Linux distros I installed on one old 32bit unit ....NO Audio.
The Audio works on the pre-install distros (Lx.Lite-Debian-Lx.Mint 32bit) on the USB.
awesome job sir your way really work kudos
Thank you! It worked especially ""MM"" portion. I have sound now!
I did not know I could do this on Linux. Awesome !
You can adjust left and right channel separately by using the keys 'q'(left ch. up) 'w'(both up) and 'e'(right ch. up). Same thing for adjusting the level down: use the keys y,x,c. Take a look on your keyboard, it’s quite intuitive. When you have more than one sound device installed (e.g. an additional USB sound card) , pressing the 's' key on the keyboard opens a menu to select the sound device (sound card), you want to control. You can use the up/down keys to select the device.
Thank you for this video.
Thank you. Do you know any good resources for reinstalling audio drivers if the computer suddenly deleted drivers
That's great and simple. I hope you create another tutorial about sound cards/devices/loopback/playback/capture/sinks/sources what is it's definitions for beginners like me and how to create virtual microphone if possible while HSP/HFP Bluetooth enabled. Much Thanks
I am trying to set up my Mix amp and for the love of me I cant set it up .... In Windows one would be your Default audio and the other one would be your communication audio. once you set a task to each of you devices you are good to go ....any help would be appreciated
How do i disable power saving on my sound card?
How do I save the alsamixer settings? Everytime I boot up my Manjaro KDE , I'm having to rock up the volume bar.
I use HDM for my tower (Fedora 30 XFCE) to connct to my tv. Under pulse audio, I only have hdmi settings, my on board audio jacks are not shown. Unplugging the hdmi is not an option as then I would have no monitor. How do I get access to my on board sound jacks?
Chris, how do you configure your Blue Yeti microphone? I tried both on Ubuntu and Fedora and the microphone never works when I boot my system. It is detected by kernel but it just doesn't react to any input. I have to unplug the cable and plug it back in in order for it to work but it never works after I reboot my computer. I've already searched the entire oblivion of internet and can't find any solution.
Hi Chris, unfortunately ALSA doesn't detect my SRRS microphone on the front panel of my computer. I use a simple headset which works fine on other devices. The audio output is working fine, only the microphone is the problem... do you have any solution for that particular problem?
I have very weird problem in my device , I use VLC player , I thik that whener I play mp4 files ,the audio is perfect and whenever I play mkv the audio sounds way less. I tried using default player with some extensions but that didn't worked . Any idea how I may solve this
Thank you
OS: Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Device: Dell Vostro 3478
Love your videos...
If I'm not mistaken, you did a video about how to tell a Linux distro how to permanently set the sound up as the system goes through the boot process. That way, if I remember correctly, that setup will never change. If that was your video, could you provide a link to it? Thanks!
i need some help here, i just switched to ubuntu 20.04 but am having some audio issues; no subwhoofer sound, no bass at all,,,what should i do?
I have Digital Stereo HDMI Output in configuration tab of pavucontrol and I have to turn its profile OFF and enable Analog Stereo Duplex (unplugged) and then in Output tab choose headphone to get audio from front panel headphone. Mic though still does not work even though I do select it in Input tab. The alsamixer loopback does get my sound from mic to headphone. All works ok in windows 10 using realtek HD Audio driver but in debian I am having this issue of mic not working. why does the profile have unplugged mentioned ?
Mister , I have just installed Mint on my computer and I have no sound .Now , I have got the alsamixer and everything looks fine but I have still no sound .Somebody on internet says that I have to reset it to default settings because downloaded , by default , the channels are muted even apparently you are good to go .How can I do that ? I am not a computer or Linux expert .
When I start a video, I get a pulsing/thumping sound until the audio levels stabilize. If the videos volume level is low or intermittent, it pulses again. Help?.
i had a problem on the microphone, when i talks on discord my sounds like come in and come out and the other aplication too. may you have solution for it? before i move out to linux on windows everything ok but when i move out this problems come to me
Hi Chris. New to Linux. Just loaded Mint 19.3 Xfce, 64-bit to my notebook (Asis EeePC 1001PXD). When I play music, the sound is barely audible through the notebook speakers (next to nothing), yet great through the 3.5 jack to my external speakers. Opened the PulseAudio that came with my Mint OS as well as Alsamixer in Xfce Terminal, but can't fix the audio problem using those options. Also, not getting any feedback sounds when I navigate, but they're turned on. Please help me. Cheers
Hi,
When they say, hit F6 to find sound card, where do I hit F6? There are at least two or more ways to hit F6. I cannot find Hp/Speaker Auto-Direct in alsamisex ubuntu running on my Mac M1.
Could you please help?
OK. So, if I'm watching a RUclips video, and I want the sound of that video to play out of two different audio-playing devices at the same time, what do I need to do to accomplish that?
Tahnks
Any recommendation as to reversing the stereo audio channels? In order for my speaker cord to reach the computer I have to put the "right" speaker on the left.
I am trying to enable my two Jack out audio devices.
But when I chose internal Audio, it enables the laptop speakers not the jacks.
And I do not see any other way to select what I am looking for.
Everything else is digital out or Bluetooth.
What am I doing wrong?
Hey Chris is it possible to hear audio from a Google cloud debian lxde instance over RDP or TeamViewer?
HEY TITUS i deleted some stock apps from a new elementy OS install like the video player and music player and camera cuz i never used them
BUTT now i have an audio problem, every time i goto use the volume button in top menu bar it makes the entire top menu bar disappear and i not only have to open up audio manualy thru settings but now i have to hard turn off my computer with tower button.
how do i fix this?
what is this front panel and rear panel? front panel io on case? and rear those on motherboard io shield? i have sound issues on linux trying to figure out what each of these indentifiers mean
I learned a thing or two with this video. Thank you so much!
(Don't look down, it's not worth it :)
Sorry to be a spoiler, but I would love you to get a bit deeper in the discreet Sound Cards domain, as it should also be a part of Linux sound.. The onboard sound codecs are atrocious. Very nice for laptops and "work-related" PCs, but when you don't have an external amp and you committed all your budget to having one card do the amplification for your headphones (like me with an AE-5) and you love the sound it gives you on Windows, you just want to have that possibility on Linux... How I would love to have it (sigh), but you can't have your cake and eat it :)I have my Manjaro, to do Everything else but listen to music and watch videos. My Windows install must prevail until my sound card is properly supported (probably never) or I find a new budget option for the same fidelity in the future.
Anyway, thank you to give some love to Audio on Linux!
I'll see if I can't do a deeper dive with more complex mixers / equalizing software on linux. I need to checkout JACK and some other utilities that give additional functionality.
You are an amazing help! Thank you so much. Love all your videos!
I never made a video, but I installed OBS and Kdenlive Just to make this video, so you can see what is going on with the AE-5 on Linux.
Every time I load a media file (movie, videoclip, youtube, whatever) the pulseaudio reverts to the default EQ.
IF I change (advance or back) in the timeline of a video in RUclips, it reverts to default. People don't believe me, so I just made a video for you and maybe I will also post this in Manjaro forum:ruclips.net/video/2swm6zYM2us/видео.html
@@master_f Try this command:
pactl unload-module module-device-manager
I see you're using KDE there. KDE loads a pulseaudio module called "module-device-manager" on startup, which has caused me some trouble with EQs in the past, too. Just keep in mind that you will need to run this command every time you boot up KDE. To make your life easier, you can set a custom keyboard shortcut that does that command. Also, you could try having that command automatically run on startup. I hadn't had much luck doing the latter (to run it on startup), but it might work for you.
Hi Chris! Currently my audio output apparently is set to hdmi-1 which is my monitor that has a broken output device, how do I switch my audio output to my laptop audio? Is it possible to do so on terminal? 🤔
How can i set a fixed value for pcm? Because it's being set to 100 when i volume up my system
In Output devices, my port keeps plugging and getting unplugged from line out. This flickering happens for a matter of second but it's irritating. Any solutions?
getting your grove back .. keep up with video's like this,,
just for an exstra .. pulseeffects (kinda like sound-blaster settings in windows for system wide sound settings ... - about 15 different settings "crystalizer , bass boost , reverbs exc + all the ones your said for alsamixer .. for pulse drivers grate for recording .. the ubuntu .deb is what i use in my debain .. the debain repo's might of ben updated not sure ..
My output just get dummy. Tried many way, cant solved, alsa done. any help? thks.
Hi Chris, I have been looking for a sound solution in kali linux but unable to fix the problem. I have watched more than 30 videos and none of them work. my situation.
I have dell precision 5540
installed vmware workstation 17 pro
linux installed in virtual vmware.
i have installed vmware tools.
I do not see volume icon in linux top corner.
In my device host pc i see the audio driver is microsoft.
In vmware it shows audio connected but in linux no audio.
Can you please tell me the solution? thanks in advance.
I installed pop os and have configured everything but still it doesn't switches to inbult mic in earphone when plugged in.
i have a laptop (a gpd micropc) and i cant get the speakers or headphones to work with manjaro, works fine on windows tho and i can play sound to a bluetooth speaker, the speakers and headphone jack just hiss and dont play any sound, this seems like a driver issue but im a windows normie idk how to fix this in linux, should i reinstall alsa and pulse completely maybe?
Hey guys, so I’m using a retro gaming distributor called batocera Linux and it has alsa mixer 1.2.4, I also installed pulse audio controls but I can’t find an option to force the mic audio to come out of the speakers. I want this to happen as a default setting since I can adjust the sensitivity so that only when the mics are really close will trigger. The usb mics are listed in alsa mixer as separate “sound cards” listed #2 and #3. Any help is appreciated T_T.
Chris Titus Tech
I use jbl headphones in windows the code to connect was 0000 but here no code is asked and i cant use microphone but sound from my laptop is coming what should i do???
how do i even install alsa? i tried doing apt install alsa but it says that package doesn't exist. this is on a headless debian 11 system, i just want ffplay to output to a usb sound device
dear . can u tell ..how to disable speaker when i plug in headphone , and when plug off head phone speaker should work . i have kali 2020
i'm on Fedora 34 KDE Plasma, and Fedora uses pipewire, how can i fix that cracking sound from my laptop headphone jack on Fedora startup?
thanks bro!
Can you increase and decrease the audio-volume by typing alsamixer and then some function (-* or whatever) and some value? That would be convenient for tiling window managers which often don't come with an interface with hotkeys out of the box.
Edit: apparently it is possible. Sebastian Johansson posted something on this. I don't know yet how you know which channel is being used though. I searched in the man-page with "channel": no result.
How about reversing stereo? My S/PDIF is reversed, left channel sound coming from the right etc. Really annoing for games and video.
What Linux version should I use ? Pop/ Fandora / Arch ?
Your video has been very helpful to me, I have this Asus Eee laptop and have installed ubuntu 16.04.7 32 bit iso on it, now after I boot it up there is no sound and no obvious way to get it, but by opening ALSA terminal GUI, I can adjust one level which is the headphones and that seems to affect the speakers.
So my question is how can I configure a file so this setting will be maxed after boot up instead of being zero as it is atm, so's I don't have to open a terminal every time I want to get the sound working.
For terminal command use (amixer)
master is the channel
"amixer -D pulse set **Master** 5%+-" lowering or increase sound
"amixer -D pulse set **Master** 1+ toggle" to toggle sound
How do you find out which channel is being used?
@@peterjansen4826 i just used alsamixer to look it up. the name of the channel is at the bottom ^^
@@mrcrackerist
It is. I tried it out, it works. Cool, now I can use a tiling window manager without having problems with audio or installing bloat.
@@peterjansen4826 np ^^ I am also tiling, using i3 and xmonad
@@mrcrackerist
I have i3 installed on Manjaro KDE, I edited the login-manager (SDDM) to boot into i3 and now I want to tweak it in steps until I am satisfied. The tiling works for me but there a few issues which I want to solve. This is solution number 1, thanks. Now some RICE-ing. ;)
I want a nice looking taskbar which autohides, I want the windows to look as how they look right now on KDE for me (no buttons, nice looking dark theme), I want to set certain programs to open on certain workspaces to keep certain programs always maximized. Those kind of things.
Why do you use both i3 and Xmonad? Are you experimenting or do you like some features of both better and switch regularly because of that?
it would be cool if that was text tutorial because i don't have pulseaudio working
Got a new display... whenever I change inputs and change back to Linux, my default output audio device changes from SPDIF to analog audio. Drives me crazy!
Why my audio does not work in fedora 34 on virtualbox ? Would you kindly suggest me?
i need help with my audio , i use twister os and somehow it doesnt work at times
thanks a bunch
On my fresh arch linux install the RUclips audio wasn't working properly while on headphones. I could only hear the background sounds and the top layers(voices were missing).
If you're facing similar issues try installing alsa-firmware.
PS: I still get a little unequal sounds from my left and right earphones. If someone know how to fix that, please let me know. Thanks.
Can I have some help here. Im trying to stream in Facebook but I cant use line in and mic connection simultaneously.. i can only choose one..
Hi Chris I got issue with sound not been in sync (with picture) when I watch RUclips or movies on Kali. It happened after Windows 10 latest update.
why do i have to toggle up from zero the headphones bar and the output every time i power off or take my phones off? They go to defaults every single time. How to fix this?
no speaker icon showing, and establishing pulse audio. i tried alsa mixer
and spotify is not working because of this problem
Hello. TY so much for the video. i recently purchased a new HP pavilion all in one XA with B & O speakers, and since I installed Linux Mint, I haven´t been able to listen a single thing from them. I looked EVERYWHERE for help and I have done everything to try and fix the problem with no results whatsoever. Please help? The speakers work perfectly when I use the monitor as a TV screen and even the headphone jack works great as well but for some reason : No sound coming from the speakers and I can´t use the built in mic. (Also can´t connect to wifi but I can live without it for now)
maybe someone can help here ? i was looking for days, and couldnt find a solution.
my RODE PODCASTER USB micro/headphone-plug the output is always MONO. why ? and how to change it ?
all i found on alsa and pulse is ok, (for me). all other outputs are ok in stereo, only the output from usb-micro still is mono.
??????????????????????????????????
Hi There Chris Titus , it is the year 2023 i am on Linux Mint 21.2 and have issues with audio sink . i have cable Headset OneOdio plug in to the motherboard Jacks . My system calls it Family 17h (Models 10h - 1fh) HD audio controller Analog Stereo. My issue is when i try to game on steam while i talk on Discord my friends hear my game sound ( Application sound) and even if i press the OFF key on my microphone they still hear it so basically different sounds are mixed into one single channel and i dont know the cause nor the solution . Can you make a deeper video on this topic please?
Kind Regards
Linux User
i get popping on of my laptop speakers (front right), how to fix that?
Sound has always been a chore in linux for me. I never understood that ALSA sat on the hardware and that Pulseaudio interfaces with alsa. Used to think Pulse was a separate audio driver. I've gotten sound in ubunty/ mint to work GREAT at times, but always seem to have issues when I install a new distro. I'm using 18.04.02 LTS Bionic Beaver Ubuntu and want to install PULSE EFFECTS. When I've had that working, it is a truly FANTASTIC sound experience. This time around I did so much installing, uninstalling, and CLI commands between alsa and pulse audio (enabling sinks, uninstall and reinstall of alsa/ pulse audio, enabling and disabling chrome extensions re volume control visibility, disabling pavucontrol, reinstalling pavucontrol, CLI recommendations, tinkering in synaptic, restarts of audio, etc ) that my sound control is the proverbial dumpster fire. Would LOVE to see a video on how to get Pulse Audio itself and Pulse Effects up and running on a fresh Ubuntu install. Also is there a more basic graphic equalizer I could use for ALSA/ Pulse Audio that will substitute for the sometimes wonky Pulse Effects. See link here:
www.linuxuprising.com/2018/05/pulseeffects-nice-system-wide.html
I used your Ubuntu post install script (albeit a bit after all the tinkering I did, and it worked well).
Also like the windows 10 debloater script that works well for my Windows 10 install on my second hard drive/ SSD.
Would request an update or new script/ debloater to deal with the latest Windows 10 updates.
And a walk through as to how to build sound and installing a graphic equalizer (like Pulse Effects from a new instal)l. Thanks again.
Is there anything like Virtual Audio Cable (Windows) for Linux?
Hi sir,
Will you please make a video about "Audio Quality" in Linux 2022. I mean when I use Windows, I use Dolby to improve the audio quality of my laptop but whenever I use Linux I was really confused about "How can I improve the audio quality of my laptop?". So, please help all the newcomers of Linux to improve audio quality of their Linux laptop.
When i open my computer and go to settings, and test the áudio, the blue line thing moves as if its playing áudio.
I go to alsamixer, all are unmuted but still no sound.
Happens on every single distro ive installed só far.
Says "sof hda dsp" as speaker+headphones
I am a bit new to linux só im not sure if im just not doing something right
In the same boat. I have an MPG Z690 Edge Wifi DDR4 motherboard, and on Linux Mint the sound only comes out of the back panel, and that's not even consistently. It seems I have to unplug the jack and plug it back in order to get sound :(
hello , i got an issue i use debain on lenovo ideapad , the mic dose not work well , it work but it dose not record just dose not record sounds hmm just some annoying sounds and not understandable "( , any help guys?
i have a problem my mic is turned on but it wont detect input and i dont know what to do
This probably would have solved my problems when I was trying to get audacity to record sound from my PC and no such option appeared like in Windows. Ive since switch back to windows for a little while so I can practice with virtual box in my free time before I switch for good. :)
the Asus Xonar DG/DGX sound card does not work, I found a way out purely by accident, stuck the headphones into the front panel
How do you get rid of the scratch noise that comes and goes? I've had the issue on 2 computers now. An i5 with a ASUS MB and now a TR2720 on a Gigabyte MB. No matter if I use the onboard sound or the HDMI, it has scratchy noises. But thanks, learned some new stuff too.
@lumpy gravy Thank you for the response. I did have the same distro. Mint Cinnamon 18 on the first and 19 on the second. Usually when I switch between devices the noise goes away but returns within a minute or two.
I cant press any options, like f1,f2,f3,f4,f4,f6 .. how do i fix it?
Can i get my Creative Z Card and 5.1 working this way?
Thank youuuuuu
My HDMI had sound and video with Fedora 20. I had to update because I could no longer watch RUclips with Fedora 20, and so I switched to Mint 19. Now I have HDMI video, but SOUND says HDMI sound is unplugged. After several hours, I gave up. I installed Fedora 31 and have the same trouble (Fedora ALSA doesn't even see HDMI sound).
Played about with Volume Control a ton last night but STILL can't get sound to come out of my speakers that are connected to my internal Soundblaster Z :(
EDIT: errr ok, ran alsamixer once and now my speakers work soon as I changed the playback in volume control :| now I just gotta figure out why it's only comin out of the right speaker.
Thanks for the video.Sadly for me it doesn’t works.I don’t seem to manage to figure out what is exactly the problem
The biggerst headache for linux audio is the one thing you don't cover: how to "enable" outputs that are listed as "unplugged" or "unavailble". For instance - Digital Surround 5.1 modes are detected but listed as "unavailable", yet the video port (DisplayPort1) is passing audio, just in stereo only. Thats what Im listening to you out of.