General Linux Thread

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So… if you’re using Pulse Audio on your linux box of choice (this works on Raspberry Pi’s also) and lets say you want to connect to another DAC. Here at the steps. The following example is me using digital audio (TOSLINK and SPID/F activated at the same time) right now on my big box. Please note, sudo or root is not required to do any of the following.

Assuming USB for the DAC, first check that the DAC exists with lsusb. Warning, if connected to a hub one might not see see the device.

Next, verify what adapters are connected and recognized by Pulse Audio with:

$ pacmd list-sinks | grep -e 'index:' -e 'card:'
    index: 0
	card: 0 <alsa_card.pci-0000_03_00.1>
    index: 1
	card: 1 <alsa_card.usb-Schiit_Audio_Schiit_Bifrost_2_Unison_USB-00>
    index: 2
	card: 2 <alsa_card.usb-Schiit_Audio_I_m_Fulla_Schiit-00>
  * index: 3
	card: 3 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>

To set a different out to a different DAC, set by the index. In this example I’ll switch from index: 3 to index: 1 for my Bifrost 2. To make the change across the entire system use: pacmd set-default-sink 1 .

The updated result is shown here.

$ pacmd list-sinks | grep -e 'index:' -e 'card:'
    index: 0
	card: 0 <alsa_card.pci-0000_03_00.1>
  * index: 1
	card: 1 <alsa_card.usb-Schiit_Audio_Schiit_Bifrost_2_Unison_USB-00>
    index: 2
	card: 2 <alsa_card.usb-Schiit_Audio_I_m_Fulla_Schiit-00>
    index: 3
	card: 3 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>

And… if you want the GUI way checkout https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu-linux-tips/manage-audio-devices-on-linux-pavucontrol/ . The package should be called pauvcontrol in nearly every distro available.

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