Automaticly switch currently running sink-inputs to your default (selected fall-back) output device.

sinkswitcher.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Dependencies: pulseaudio
# Optional: pavucontrol

# Automaticly switch currently running sink-inputs to your default sink.
# $ pactl set-default-sink
# Pavucontrol can be used to do this with a GUI.

# Special thanks goes to Steve Parker for helping me with refining the script.
# URL: http://www.steve-parker.org

function update {
	pactl list short sink-inputs | while read PID PSINKID dump
	do
		# Get Default Sink (Name)
		DSINKNAME=$(pactl info | grep "^Default Sink:" | awk '{ print $3 }')

		# Get Playback Sink (Name) of currently playing sink-input(s)
		PSINKNAME=$(pactl list short sinks | grep "^$PSINKID" | awk '{ print $2 }')

		# If currently playing (playback stream) input sink != default sink.
		# Then move the sink-input to the default sink.
		[ $DSINKNAME != $PSINKNAME ] && pactl move-sink-input $PID @DEFAULT_SINK@
	done
}

# Subscribe and listen for changes to device output
pactl subscribe | while read EVENT ETYPE dump SOURCE dump
do
	# If there are detected changes, update the sinks
	[ $ETYPE = "'change'" ] && [ $SOURCE = "server" ] && update
done