Wiki

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Ubuntu - Sound - PulseAudio - Set default sound output card ======

Set default sound output card dynamically using PulseAudio.

----

===== Get list of Sources =====

<code bash>
pactl list short sources
</code>

returns:

<code bash>
1	alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.4.analog-stereo.monitor	module-alsa-card.c	s16le 2ch 48000Hz	IDLE
4	alsa_output.pci-0000_09_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1.monitor	module-alsa-card.c	s16le 2ch 44100Hz	SUSPENDED
</code>

----

===== Get list of Sinks =====

<code bash>
pactl list short sinks
</code>

returns:

<code bash>
1	alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.4.analog-stereo	module-alsa-card.c	s16le 2ch 48000Hz	RUNNING
3	alsa_output.pci-0000_09_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1	module-alsa-card.c	s16le 2ch 44100Hz	SUSPENDED
</code>

----

----

===== Set Defaults =====

<code bash>
pactl set-default-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.4.analog-stereo
pactl set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.4.analog-stereo
</code>

----

===== Use a BASH Script =====

<code bash>
!/bin/bash

declare -i sinks_count=`pacmd list-sinks | grep -c index:[[:space:]][[:digit:]]`
declare -i active_sink_index=`pacmd list-sinks | sed -n -e 's/\*[[:space:]]index:[[:space:]]\([[:digit:]]\)/\1/p'`
declare -i major_sink_index=$sinks_count-1
declare -i next_sink_index=0

if [ $active_sink_index -ne $major_sink_index ] ; then
    next_sink_index=active_sink_index+1
fi

#change the default sink
pacmd "set-default-sink ${next_sink_index}"

#move all inputs to the new sink
for app in $(pacmd list-sink-inputs | sed -n -e 's/index:[[:space:]]\([[:digit:]]\)/\1/p');
do
    pacmd "move-sink-input $app $next_sink_index"
done

#display notification
declare -i ndx=0
pacmd list-sinks | sed -n -e 's/device.description[[:space:]]=[[:space:]]"\(.*\)"/\1/p' | while read line;
do
    if [ $next_sink_index -eq $ndx ] ; then
        notify-send -i notification-audio-volume-high "Sound output switched to" "$line"
        exit
</code>

**NOTE:**  

Before running the script:

  * Set Permissions: <code bash>sudo chmod 755 /usr/local/bin/audio-device-switch.sh</code>

To allocate to a shortcut key:

  * Navigate to **System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts**.
  * Click **Add**.
    * Name:  **Switch between audio devices**.
    * Command:  **audio-device-switch.sh**.
    * Press Apply.
    * Select the newly added shortcut row and click on the shortcut column.
    * Choose a shortcut combination – e.g.WIN + F12.




----


===== References =====

man pactl