Default Sound device

[callagg2]

In Linux Mint's Sound Applet, I don't seem to have the option to "easily" select a default sound output.

I currently have three sound outputs:

1. Analog Output Logitech Wireless Headset (connected via USB dongle)
2. HDMI/DisplayPort 2 Built-in Audio
3. Line Out Built-in Audio

While I wanted the HDMI to be the default,
because the USB dongle of the wireless headset was plugged in, it would always default to that.

The solution involved the following steps:
sudo xed /etc/pulse/default.pa

Then add the following lines to the file:

Make some devices default

#set-default-sink output
#set-default-source input
set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.hdmi-stereo-extra1
set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0 output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo

Whereas in Windows, I can just right click inside the Sound applet and choose the default device.
Maybe Linux Mint could look at simplifying the default option.

[kacperpaczos]

I have noticed another issue with the sound on my laptop.

When I use Bluetooth headphones and the connection is interrupted, the sound settings remain the same, so I don't have any sound. I have to manually go back to the previous speaker settings on my laptop in order to play sounds. It should happen automatically.

I believe the sound subsystem should stop playing music if I change the sound output device (headphones, speakers). Android does something similar to that.

[claudiux]

@callagg2 Right-click on the sound applet and select "Output device". Choose your device from the drop-down list that has just opened.

[callagg2]

Claudiux,
you're quite right you can do that every single time you start up your computer,
but I wanted to be able to set a particular default output once
and the sound output only change to another output when i manually change it.
But as things stand, my computer constantly defaults to the USB wireless headset,
unless i change the file via sudo xed /etc/pulse/default.pa

[claudiux]

@callagg2
Please take a look at the ~/.config/pulse/*default* files. Are you satisfied with their contents?

Compare them with the output of these commands:

pacmd list-sinks
pacmd list-sources

[callagg2]

Yes, when i run the command "xed ~/.config/pulse/default" it opens a few xed documents.

The first being an default-sink file
with the correct name alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.hdmi-stereo-extra1
the second being a default-source file
with the correct name alsa_input.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00.mono-fallback

This matches the names in pacmd list-sinks
(some extracts)

index: 0
name: <alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00.analog-stereo>
card: 0 <alsa_card.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00>
ports:
analog-output: Analog Output (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port:

• index: 2
  name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.hdmi-stereo-extra1>
  card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
  ports:
  hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
  active port:

and under pacmd list-sources

index: 0
name: <alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00.analog-stereo.monitor>
card: 0 <alsa_card.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00>

• index: 1
  name: <alsa_input.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00.mono-fallback>
  card: 0 <alsa_card.usb-Logitech_Logitech_Wireless_Headset-00>
  ports:
  analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
  properties:
  device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
  active port:

index: 3
name: <alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
ports:
analog-input-internal-mic: Internal Microphone (priority 8900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
analog-input-dock-mic: Dock Microphone (priority 7800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
active port:

index: 4
name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.hdmi-stereo-extra1.monitor>
card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>