Sound

This module controls the volume of devices and applications using the PulseAudio sound system: output devices, application channels, and input and recording devices. It also lets you route audio to and from specific devices.

#The module

• Playback Devices: Output devices, such as your headphone jack, subwoofer or a connected Bluetooth speaker.
• Recording Devices: Sound input devices connected to your computer, such as a microphone or headset.
• Inactive Cards: Sound cards that aren't currently in use, which Show Inactive Devices in the module's menu reveals.
• Playback Streams: Applications that play audio, such as your music player or web browser.
• Recording Streams: Applications recording from a device.

Each device can have a Profile, such as Analog Stereo or Digital Surround 5.1. For Bluetooth devices, you can switch to the high-fidelity A2DP profile here.

Testing a playback device shows its speakers. Click on any speaker to test sound. Testing a recording device shows its Volume level, with a Sensitivity slider, and lets you Record and Play a sample.

The menu at the top of the module also has:

• Rename Devices… to give your devices your own names. Save applies them, which restarts audio services and interrupts applications playing audio.
• Configure Volume Controls… to set the volume controls and on-screen displays.
• Configure…, with Add virtual output device for simultaneous output on all local sound cards and Automatically switch all running streams when a new output becomes available. These need the matching PulseAudio module.

#The widget

The Audio Volume widget loads automatically in the system tray. Click the speaker icon on your panel for a popup with volume sliders for your playback devices, which you can change individually.