Enable 2.1 audio output in PulseAudio

enable-2.1-audio-output-in-pulseaudio.md

Enable 2.1 audio output in PulseAudio

I'm using a 2.1 speakers kit from Logitec but most of the time it is always detected as 2.0... 😒

So I decided to make some research and found a solution that works everytimes (on Ubuntu based distribs).

It seems to work also on Arch Linux, see comment from @ilikenwf.

Before patching

As you can see, my audio output is not patched.

Audio Ouput

Audio Test

The patch

To fix the problem easily, I wrote a small script to run as root or using sudo.

sudo bash pulse-audio-2.1-patch.sh

You will need to reboot to apply the changes.

After patching

Now you can see the result of the patch, for the best result, set your principal audio output volume close to the max then select the new audio output entry as shown below and set the volume you want. 😁

Patched Audio Ouput

Patched Audio Test

Enjoy!

Now you can enjoy a much better and cleaner audio output. 😉 🤘

TODO

Add search references.

pulse-audio-2.1-patch.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Patch config
sudo sed -i 's/; enable-lfe-remixing = no/enable-lfe-remixing = yes/g' /etc/pulse/daemon.conf
echo 'default-sample-channels = 3' | sudo tee -a /etc/pulse/daemon.conf
echo 'default-channel-map = front-left,front-right,lfe' | sudo tee -a /etc/pulse/daemon.conf

# Patch modules
echo -e '### Test subwoofer\nload-module module-combine channels=3 channel_map=front-left,front-right,lfe\n' | sudo tee -a /etc/pulse/default.pa

This worked for me on Arch also. Thanks!

@ilikenwf, woow really? I'm so proud to have also helped an Arch user! 🤘 🥳

I started out on Ubuntu, used to package the zen kernel for it. For single user machines I prefer Arch, for servers I prefer Debian or Ubuntu... But yeah, this worked great on my little bitty Dell that is connected to my TV - Kodi had no problem with 2.1 output, but pulseaudio wasn't using the sub for everything..this did it!

…

On 12/5/20 9:44 AM, Jonathan Barda wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ @ilikenwf <https://github.com/ilikenwf>, woow really? I'm so proud to have also helped an Arch user! 🤘 🥳 — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/c84cedd53f8471d7dce15671aad8a624#gistcomment-3551364>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AADFIOV3N44DGNAJTCIHNNLSTJIPLANCNFSM4UM5N7BA>.

Oh, also, using loopback has been handy too for plugging stuff in and upmixing it from the input:

https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/263274/pipe-mix-line-in-to-output-in-pulseaudio

woow @ilikenwf, many thanks for those additional details! Much appreciated 👍

My only problem is that I executed the bash script twice by mistake and now I have two "Simultaneous output to..." options in my settings. Do you know how to delete one of them?

Edit: I solved it myself. What I did was just delete the new devices from the "default.pa" file that is referenced in the script.

Thank's!!!!
Good script. It really works!

@Silver812, sorry I thought I had replied you already 🤦‍♂️

In case you've ran the script twice or more by accident, simply delete duplicated lines from:

1. /etc/pulse/daemon.conf
2. /etc/pulse/default.pa

You can do it from the terminal by editing the files with nano or vi as root or with sudo.

As it was just to patch something I haven't added checking code but if you want it, just let me know 😉

@robodraif, You're very welcome, glad it solved your issue 🤘

On Ubuntu20.04 testing the subwoofer only sends a short pulse of static to the front speakers. if anyone tested their subwoofer, what kind of sound you got on subwoofer? and what could be possible reasons for not working?
My speakers are quite old, from Creative(MMS112).