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Asked: 2024-09-25T15:49:20+05:30 In:

What is the best way to set up a virtual audio cable on an Ubuntu system? I’m looking for solutions to route audio between applications without any physical audio hardware.

I’ve been wrestling with a problem and I thought maybe someone here has tackled something similar. I’m trying to set up a virtual audio cable on my Ubuntu system. The thing is, I really need to route audio between a couple of applications—like pulling sound from a video player and sending it to a voice chat app—without any physical audio hardware getting in the way.

I’ve read through some forums and documentation, and I get that using something like PulseAudio could be part of the solution. But honestly, I’m a bit lost in the weeds. I mean, I see references to “null sinks” and “loopback modules,” but the technical jargon can be a bit overwhelming. I’m not an audio engineer or anything, so I could really use some help in simplified terms, if possible.

Has anyone set this up successfully? If so, what’s a straightforward way to create a virtual audio cable on Ubuntu? I’m particularly interested in knowing the exact steps you took, like commands you used in the terminal, any configuration files you might have edited, or maybe some tools you installed that made the process easier.

Also, if you’ve faced any common pitfalls or issues during the setup, I’d love to hear about those too, just so I can avoid stepping into the same traps. It would be really helpful if you could include any tips on how to maintain quality sound while doing this since I’m also a bit of an audiophile.

Thanks in advance for any insights you can share! It seems like a handy feature to have for mixing sounds or managing audio streams, and I’d love to be able to get it right on my setup.

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    2 Answers


    1. Setting up a virtual audio cable on your Ubuntu system can indeed be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with audio routing concepts. To create a virtual audio cable using PulseAudio, you will first want to install PulseAudio if it’s not already set up. You can do this by running sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol in the terminal. Once installed, you can create a “null sink,” which is essentially a virtual audio device that you can send audio to. You can create this sink by executing the command pactl load-module module-null-sink sink_name=Virtual_Sink sink_properties=device.description=Virtual_Sink. This will give you a new audio output device called “Virtual_Sink” that can be used to route audio between applications.

      After creating the null sink, you’ll need to set up a loopback that routes audio from your video player to the voice chat application. To do this, run pactl load-module module-loopback source=Virtual_Sink.monitor. This command creates a loopback from the virtual sink to your default audio input. You can easily select your audio devices in pavucontrol, where you can set your programs to use the “Virtual_Sink” as their output. Be sure to check the levels and gain settings to maintain sound quality, as improper settings can lead to distortion. A common pitfall is forgetting to adjust the input and output settings within your applications, so double-check those configurations if you encounter issues. By ensuring you follow these steps closely, you’ll be able to successfully route audio without the interference of physical hardware.




    2. Virtual Audio Cable Setup on Ubuntu

      Setting Up a Virtual Audio Cable on Ubuntu

      Okay, so here’s a simple guide to help you set up a virtual audio cable using PulseAudio on your Ubuntu system. It might feel a bit tricky at first, but you’ll get the hang of it!

      Step 1: Install PulseAudio

      If you don’t have PulseAudio installed, you can do it with this command:

      sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol

      Step 2: Create a Null Sink

      A null sink is basically a virtual output that doesn’t actually produce sound but can be used to route audio elsewhere.

      Run this command in the terminal:

      pactl load-module module-null-sink sink_name=MySink sink_description="Virtual_Sink"

      Step 3: Set Up Audio Sources

      Now, you’ll want to send audio from your video player to this sink. Open PulseAudio Volume Control with:

      pavucontrol

      In the Playback tab, find your video player and change its output to “Virtual_Sink”.

      Step 4: Create a Loopback

      Next, make a loopback so that whatever goes into the null sink goes out to your voice chat app. Run:

      pactl load-module module-loopback source=MySink.monitor

      Step 5: Choose Input in Your Voice Chat App

      In your voice chat app’s audio settings, choose “Monitor of Virtual_Sink” as the input device. This should now capture the audio from your video player.

      Common Pitfalls

      • Audio Not Routing: Ensure you’ve set the playback application to the right sink in pavucontrol.
      • Latency Issues: If you experience lag, consider adjusting the buffer settings, but that gets a bit advanced.

      Tips for Better Sound Quality

      Try to keep the system volume at a reasonable level without peaking. You could also play around with different audio formats in your apps to find what sounds best to you!

      That’s pretty much it! It might take a bit of tweaking to get everything perfect, but once it’s set up, it’s super useful! Good luck!


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