How to add another entry to the pulse audio volume control

dennism1 · 01-23-2019, 11:02 PM

I use 2 audio outputs from my motherboard:

Built-in Audio - Analog Stereo Output
Built-in Audio - Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output

The first is for the speakers on my desk and the second is for my headphones via a dac.

My question is how can I switch between those two outputs from the desktop drop down? Currently I have to open the "Audio Mixer" menu and navigate tot he Configuration tab.

Here are some screenshots.

As you can see I can only currently quickly change between my video card and my motherboard.

OS: Ubuntu 18.10 x86_64
Kernel: 4.18.0-13-generic
DE: Xfce
WM: Xfwm4

Thanks,
Dennis

Brains · 01-24-2019, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennism1

My question is how can I switch between those two outputs from the desktop drop down?

I don't use XFce, but I'm guessing the only output that shows is the default device and adding a second device to that particular menu is likely not an option.

There is another GUI app for selecting output devices that I have not tried but apparently many love according to this post. It should be available through your package manager via Synaptic, apt, apt-get, etc.

dennism1 · 01-24-2019, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brains

I don't use XFce, but I'm guessing the only output that shows is the default device and adding a second device to that particular menu is likely not an option.

There is another GUI app for selecting output devices that I have not tried but apparently many love according to this post. It should be available through your package manager via Synaptic, apt, apt-get, etc.

Thank you Brains for taking a look at this. I do, however, already have the app you suggested installed. I believe pavucontrol is the app I am having trouble configuring.

ondoho · 01-25-2019, 01:50 AM

doesn't it switch automagically when you un/plug the headphones?

dennism1 · 01-25-2019, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho

doesn't it switch automagically when you un/plug the headphones?

It would be great if it switched on its own. But no it does not. Maybe because the dac is attached to the digital out? Not sure.

Tonus · 01-25-2019, 01:12 PM

You could use a shortcut to this script :

https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/PulseAudio/FAQ/#index40h3

Shadow_7 · 01-25-2019, 09:47 PM

You can use pactl to do pavucontrol things from the CLI. Although not sure how as I've never done it. Pulseaudio is annoying. Everytime I power cycle the monitor (naps) it'll turn back on HDMI audio output and default to it. So much for my DAC + Stereo + $1,500.00 speakers. You can stop pulseaudio and remove it's existing configurations in $HOME/.config/pulse/* to solve a few quirks. Or just get used to running pavucontrol anytime you want things different.

With alsa you can change the .asoundrc to point at other devices. Not exactly your issue but an option when pulse gets toooooo annoying.

FILE: $HOME/.asoundrc

Code:

defaults.ctl.card 1
defaults.pcm.card 1
defaults.pcm.device 0

Where 1 is the index # from /proc/asound/cards