Pipewire (linux audio)

PipeWire has a better vibe than Pulseaudio did. It intends to replace a system that never worked flawlessly, seems to focus on compatibility, and the apparent endorsement from the JACK-developers also does not hurt. - PipeWire Overview / lwn / HN

Tools

  • Helvum / flatpak - a graphical patchbay for PipeWire. It allows creating and removing connections between applications and/or devices to reroute flow of audio, video and MIDI data to where it is needed.

  • RaySession - load together audio programs, then be able to save or close all documents together.

How to Use PipeWire to replace PulseAudio in Ubuntu 22.04

Pipewire is pre-installed out-of-the-box, and runs as background service automatically. ([Ubuntu 22.10 Makes PipeWire Default for Audio][https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/05/ubuntu-22-10-makes-pipewire-default])

You may check it out by running command below in terminal:

systemctl --user status pipewire pipewire-session-manager

Though available out-of-the-box, it’s not in use by default for audio output.

So need to follow this

# install 
sudo apt install pipewire-audio-client-libraries libspa-0.2-bluetooth libspa-0.2-jack
sudo apt install wireplumber pipewire-media-session-

# switch config
sudo cp /usr/share/doc/pipewire/examples/alsa.conf.d/99-pipewire-default.conf /etc/alsa/conf.d/
sudo cp /usr/share/doc/pipewire/examples/ld.so.conf.d/pipewire-jack-*.conf /etc/ld.so.conf.d/
sudo ldconfig

sudo apt remove pulseaudio-module-bluetooth

# enable  media session 
systemctl --user --now enable wireplumber.service

Need to restart… (why?)

# check with 
$ pactl info
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 0.3.48) # <= this validates the change + sound should be working

Previously

Written on March 4, 2021, Last update on November 17, 2023
linux-system audio audio-hardware