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phonky

Member

Registered: 2008-12-19

Posts: 78

How to set the base volume of a pulse audio source?

Output of `pactl list sources` (truncated):

Source #4
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3-platform-skl_hda_dsp_generic.HiFi__Mic2__source
	Description: Comet Lake PCH-LP cAVS Headphones Stereo Microphone
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 6
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 22937 /  35% / -27,36 dB,   front-right: 52428 /  80% / -5,81 dB
	        balance 0,56
	Base Volume: 6554 /  10% / -60,00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: n/a
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY

Note this line:

Base Volume: 6554 /  10% / -60,00 dB

I am in fact debugging an issue where my headset mic is not working.

But after extensive search, I was not able to find a means to change the value of that "Base Volume".

I have been able to change its normal volume with

pactl set-source-volume 4 80%

Bonus question: the same output for the same source also prints:

	Ports:
		[In] Mic2: Headphones Stereo Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 200, available)
	Active Port: [In] Mic2
	Formats:
		pcm

I see there priority: 200, can that priority be changed as well somehow?
Just trying out stuff....

Julia

Member

From: Belgium

Registered: 2024-09-14

Posts: 11

Re: How to set the base volume of a pulse audio source?

Hello!

Pulseaudio takes this value from ALSA, so to change it you need to use alsamixer.

The value basically determins what Pulseaudio considers to be 100%.  Increasing the value would make the volume setting of Pulseaudio more sensitive — i.e. the volume difference between two percentages increases — whereas decreasing the value allows finer tuning.

To change the value, open alsamixer in a terminal.  Press F6 and select your device.  Use left/right arrow keys to select an item, and up/down arrow keys to adjust the level.  When done, press Escape to exit alsamixer, and run "sudo alsactl store" to save your new settings.

Good luck!

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