pulseaudio

Sound server for Linux desktop audio

TLDR

Check if running

$ pulseaudio --check

Start daemon

$ pulseaudio --start

Kill daemon

$ pulseaudio -k

List available modules

$ pulseaudio --dump-modules

Load a module

$ pulseaudio -L "[module_name] [args]"

SYNOPSIS

pulseaudio [--start] [-k|--kill] [--check] [-L module]

pulseaudio is a sound server that provides a software mixing layer between applications and audio hardware. It allows multiple applications to share audio devices and provides features like per-application volume control.The daemon runs per-user and is typically started automatically by desktop sessions. It supports network audio streaming and various audio processing modules.

PARAMETERS

--start

Start the daemon in background

-k, --kill

Kill the running daemon

--check

Check if daemon is running (exit code)

--dump-modules

List available modules

-L, --load _module_

Load a module into running daemon

--dump-conf

Dump default configuration

-D, --daemonize

Daemonize after startup

CONFIGURATION

~/.config/pulse/default.pa

Per-user startup script that loads modules, sets default sinks/sources, and configures audio routing.

/etc/pulse/daemon.conf

System-wide daemon settings controlling sample rate, buffer sizes, resampling method, and resource limits.

/etc/pulse/default.pa

System-wide startup script defining which modules to load and their configuration.

INSTALL

sudo apt install pulseaudio

sudo dnf install pulseaudio

sudo pacman -S pulseaudio

sudo apk add pulseaudio

sudo zypper install pulseaudio

brew install pulseaudio

nix profile install nixpkgs#pulseaudio

CAVEATS

Being replaced by PipeWire on modern systems. May conflict with JACK for pro audio. User daemon, not system-wide by default. Configuration in ~/.config/pulse/.

HISTORY

PulseAudio was created by Lennart Poettering at Red Hat to provide a modern sound server for Linux desktops. It became the default audio system for most distributions before PipeWire emerged as its successor.