[feature request] Set default sound input/output

simon-justesen · May 9, 2018, 4:39pm

Alright - knowing this is not a support forum, this is not a support question

But to explain, I need to provide a bit of background: I have multiple Input/output sound devices. And upon boot, Ubuntu 18.04 picks the wrong one.

It would be awesome, if:

You could force Ubuntu to pick a default sound device, chosen by the user, except if the device is not present
The desktop UI allowed for quick sound input/output selection (“Sound Switcher Indicator” by Dmitry Kann works fine, with a few quirks, like it doesn’t always detect if the sound source changes or is removed)

frederik-f · May 9, 2018, 6:38pm

Ah that would be awesome. It’s on my top5 after fresh install, too! Absolutely mandatory!

Pulicoti · May 10, 2018, 1:20am

Have a look here:
https://www.rastating.com/setting-default-audio-device-in-ubuntu-18-04/

vanvugt · May 10, 2018, 1:41am

I suggested similar enhancements back in 17.10 but we never got around to it. Now that you mention it, I’ve moved the proposal to 18.10 for consideration: https://trello.com/c/aI3BX3ax

frederik-f · May 10, 2018, 9:08am

Thanks for putting this idea on trello!
Apart from the sound-input-out-switcher-extension there is the awesome no-title-bar-extension which is very essential if you come from unity7 (like many ubuntu users) and find it pretty familiar to have no double bar when your window is maximized.

simon-justesen · May 11, 2018, 3:46pm

Pulicoti: Thanks! I’ll look into it

vanvugt: Awesome! I hope we’ll have that feature included at some point, it would make make things a whole lot easier.

awc737 · October 21, 2018, 10:08pm

This seems like a very standard OS feature, Ubuntu is getting more friendly and robust than Windows / Mac, this should be prioritized!

It can’t be too complicated, the interface is already designed. I am a programmer, just tell me where the code is, and what to change…

frederik-f · October 22, 2018, 10:20am

https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/906/sound-output-device-chooser/

Works pretty flawless, could be worth an inclusion into 19.4

RussianNeuroMancer · January 14, 2019, 5:20pm

This wouldn’t help in case I seen last week - if HDMI Audio output appear/disappear (ThinkVision P27h 27 which get connected/disconnected to/from ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen) choosing is as default output not gonna help, as it output number and state will reset anyway when it disappear.

Pulicoti · January 21, 2019, 1:32am

What do you mean with “when it appear/disappear”?
I use HDMI to connect and also i have an external audio card but I’m still able to switch them as default.

RussianNeuroMancer · January 21, 2019, 7:22am

Under disappear I mean - when I disconnect ThinkPad X1 Carbon 5th Gen from ThinkVision P27h 27 HDMI audio output is no longer listed as available.
Under appear I mean - when I power-on laptop next time with connected display, internal audio adapter is again set as default, even if HDMI audio output was chosen as default output in previous session.

Pulicoti · January 22, 2019, 6:51pm

That’s not an issue, you just have to set the default output when connected, that’s obvious isn’t it?

RussianNeuroMancer · January 23, 2019, 9:12am

Once and then it should switch to HDMI automatically, or I should do this every time manually?

theonejay · December 19, 2019, 9:42pm

I would still really love this in 2019 - it’s still a problem

theonejay · December 19, 2019, 9:43pm

The default changes on reboot so its not that obvious

theonejay · December 19, 2019, 9:45pm

How did you install it?

vanvugt · December 20, 2019, 1:35am

@theonejay, you’re possibly thinking of bug 1847570. Fix coming soon.