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linuxaudio [2015/05/20 04:44]
slackermedia [3. Map Sound Devices to their Controls] 		linuxaudio [2021/06/03 19:48] (current)
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-[[{arrowp.png|border:​0;​background:​none;​width:​0;​display:​inline-block;​position:​absolute;​top:​0;​left:​0;​}user|]] 
  
-[[{arrown.png|border:​0;​background:​none;​width:​0;​display:​inline-block;​position:​absolute;​top:​0;​margin-left:​2.5em;​}pkg|]] 
  
  
  
 ====== Understanding Linux Audio ====== ====== Understanding Linux Audio ======
 +
 +<WRAP info>
 +**TL;DR** \\
 +  -Identify Physical Devices
 +  -Identify Sound Cards
 +  -Map Sound Devices to their Controls
 +  -Set Up Kmix
 +</​WRAP>​
  
 Traditional Linux (such as Slackware, and as opposed to something more progressive like [[http://​redhat.com|Red Hat]] and [[http://​getfedora.org|Fedora]]) deals with audio in its own unique way. This can be confusing to new users, or to experienced users who have never thought about it. It confuses people because almost no where in the audio schema is there a one-to-one mapping; you must think of audio processing in the computer as a series of rivers or streams, flowing from one or two sources internally, branching off one other for adjustment, and then re-joining at the end to deliver sound in the physical world. Traditional Linux (such as Slackware, and as opposed to something more progressive like [[http://​redhat.com|Red Hat]] and [[http://​getfedora.org|Fedora]]) deals with audio in its own unique way. This can be confusing to new users, or to experienced users who have never thought about it. It confuses people because almost no where in the audio schema is there a one-to-one mapping; you must think of audio processing in the computer as a series of rivers or streams, flowing from one or two sources internally, branching off one other for adjustment, and then re-joining at the end to deliver sound in the physical world.
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 type plug type plug
 slave.pcm "​dmix"​ slave.pcm "​dmix"​
 +}
 </​code>​ </​code>​
  
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 Since Slackermedia cannot know your requirements,​ it's up to you to determine your ideal control scheme, but the first step is to understand which volume slider controls which sound port. The most efficient way to investigate this is ''​alsamixer'',​ which, unlike ''​Kmix''​ displays, for better or for worse (and for this use, it's better) every possible volume slider all in one screen. Since Slackermedia cannot know your requirements,​ it's up to you to determine your ideal control scheme, but the first step is to understand which volume slider controls which sound port. The most efficient way to investigate this is ''​alsamixer'',​ which, unlike ''​Kmix''​ displays, for better or for worse (and for this use, it's better) every possible volume slider all in one screen.
  
-{{ :​alsamixer.png?​direct&​660 |}}+{{ :​alsamixer.png?​direct&​666 |}}
  
 To begin, set up your speakers as you intend to use them, and have headphones (or something with a 1/8" (3.5mm) audio jack) on hand. Press ''​F6''​ on your keyboard to select the audio card you want to control and select the appropriate card. To begin, set up your speakers as you intend to use them, and have headphones (or something with a 1/8" (3.5mm) audio jack) on hand. Press ''​F6''​ on your keyboard to select the audio card you want to control and select the appropriate card.
  
-{{ :​alsamixerselect.png?​direct&​660 |}}+{{ :​alsamixerselect.png?​direct&​666 |}}
  
-Start some sound playing in whatever media player you have on hand (by default, ​''​mplayer''​, ''​audacious''​, ''​xmms''​, ''​Dragon'',​ ''​Juk''​, and ''​Xine'' ​will have been installed). If you have no sound to play, download a free [[http://​aesdiopod.com/​lester/​|Fat Chance Lester]] album (ogg version, to ensure compatibility with the pre-installed media players).+Launch ​''​System Settings'' ​from the ''​K-Menu'' ​and navigate to the ''​Multimedia'' ​panel. In the ''​Multimedia'' ​panel, promote the card that you want to use as default to the top of the list on the right, and click the ''​Test'' ​button at the bottom of the panel. The ''​Test'' ​button plays a sound that should be audible when you raise the volume of the appropriate device. 
 + 
 +{{ multimediaav.png }} 
 + 
 + 
 +<WRAP important>​ 
 +If you are not sure what device ​to promote to the top, check the output of ''​aplay -l''​ again. In this example, notice that the default analog ''​card0''​ listed by ''​aplay ​-l''​ is  ''​ALC887-VD Analog'',​ and the port promoted in the ''​Multimedia''​ panel is the same. 
 +</​WRAP>​
  
 Using the ''​left''​ and ''​right''​ arrow keys to navigate to each control, the ''​up''​ and ''​down''​ arrow keys to raise or lower the volume, and the ''​m''​ key to mute or unmute the device, see which volume slider effects which device. ​ Using the ''​left''​ and ''​right''​ arrow keys to navigate to each control, the ''​up''​ and ''​down''​ arrow keys to raise or lower the volume, and the ''​m''​ key to mute or unmute the device, see which volume slider effects which device. ​
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 At this point, you have identified the ports-to-controls on your system, so you could potentially stop here. However, ''​alsamixer''​ may not be convenient for you, so if you prefer total desktop integration,​ configure the ''​Kmix''​ application in your system tray. At this point, you have identified the ports-to-controls on your system, so you could potentially stop here. However, ''​alsamixer''​ may not be convenient for you, so if you prefer total desktop integration,​ configure the ''​Kmix''​ application in your system tray.
  
-{ kmixsystray.jpg }+{{ kmixsystray.jpg ​}}
  
 To configure ''​Kmix'',​ click the speaker icon in your system tray and then click the ''​Mixer''​ button at the bottom of the drop down panel. To configure ''​Kmix'',​ click the speaker icon in your system tray and then click the ''​Mixer''​ button at the bottom of the drop down panel.
  
-{ kmixexample.png } +{{ kmixexample.png ​}} 
  
 When the default configuration of Kmix appears, click the spanner button in the lower right corner of the window. ​ When the default configuration of Kmix appears, click the spanner button in the lower right corner of the window. ​
  
-{ kmixlist.png }+{{ kmixlist.png ​}}
  
 In the list of available devices that appears, move over any controls (the names should match those from ''​alsamixer''​) to which you want quick access. Verify that they work as expected. In the list of available devices that appears, move over any controls (the names should match those from ''​alsamixer''​) to which you want quick access. Verify that they work as expected.
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 To select what control you want to use as the systemwide master volume level, click on the **Settings** menu and select the **Select Master Channel** option. Set the master channel to whatever volume slider it is (usually it is labeled ''​Master''​ or ''​PCM''​) that controls all devices, or if you have other needs, then set it to whatever device you want immediate, default control over. To select what control you want to use as the systemwide master volume level, click on the **Settings** menu and select the **Select Master Channel** option. Set the master channel to whatever volume slider it is (usually it is labeled ''​Master''​ or ''​PCM''​) that controls all devices, or if you have other needs, then set it to whatever device you want immediate, default control over.
  
-{ kmixfinal.png }+{{ kmixfinal.png ​}}
  
 If you only want one volume slider to control you entire system'​s sound, then use only the **Master** channel slider in the ''​Kmix''​ interface. Doing this does not mean you have no control over other devices, it only means that you will have instant access to the master channel control. If you only want one volume slider to control you entire system'​s sound, then use only the **Master** channel slider in the ''​Kmix''​ interface. Doing this does not mean you have no control over other devices, it only means that you will have instant access to the master channel control.
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 </​WRAP>​ </​WRAP>​
  
 +==== Hijack ====
 +
 +If you want to record everything you hear from your computer speakers from a system-wide perspective,​ refer to [[parecord|parecord]]
  
 ===== Outboard Gear ===== ===== Outboard Gear =====
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-[[{arrown.png|border:​0;​background:​none;​width:​0;​display:​inline-block;​float:​right;​}pkg|]][[{arrowp.png|border:​0;​background:​none;​width:​0;​float:​right;​}user|]]+<WRAP centeralign>​ 
 +<wrap fa>[[user|R]]</​wrap>​ <wrap fa>[[start|S]]</​wrap>​ <wrap fa>​[[audiotrouble|Q]]</​wrap>​ 
 +</​WRAP>​