====== PulseAudio ======

The aim of the article is to guide you in installing and configuring the PulseAudio server. For more Information about the PulseAudio Server check the [http://pulseaudio.org/ PulseAudio Wiki].

===== Installation =====

==== Package overview ====
=== Packages ===
PulseAudio consists of 6 packages: media-sound/pulseaudio, media-sound/paprefs, media-sound/pavumeter, media-sound/padevchooser, media-sound/paman and media-sound/pavucontrol.  
Note that everything but media-sound/pulseaudio are X-GUI apps, so you won't need them unless you run X.Org.

=== USE Flags ===
To find what USE-flags pulseaudio carries, run,

  # emerge -pv pulseaudio paprefs pavucontrol pavumeter 

==== Emerge ====
Emerge pulseaudio by running

  # emerge -av pulseaudio paprefs pavucontrol pavumeter

===== Configuration =====

==== Configuration Files ====
PulseAudio has three configuration files.
* /etc/pulse/client.conf
* /etc/pulse/daemon.conf
* /etc/pulse/default.pa



===== Pulse Audio Server =====

Before using PulseAudio, you must launch the PulseAudio server: 
  $ pulseaudio


Restart in debugging-mode:

  $ pulseaudio -k; sleep 4; pulseaudio -vv

In case something like

  E: [pulseaudio] pid.c: Daemon already running.
  
is returned, disable auto respawn:

<file - /etc/pulse/client.conf>
; autospawn = yes
autospawn = no
</file>

==== System-wide Instance: Start at Boot ====
Alternatively, You can use a system-wide instance for the PulseAudio server.
  * This is not recommended unless you are running a thin client.

You will want to add pulseaudio to the 'default' Runlevel.

  $ eselect rc add pulseaudio default

And add your user to 'pulse' and 'pulse-access' groups

  $ gpasswd -a <USER> pulse
  $ gpasswd -a <USER> pulse-access


===== Application support =====

==== ALSA ====
If a program supports PulseAudio directly, generally, you would use PulseAudio directly. If a program only supports ALSA, then you can use PulseAudio through ALSA.

For ALSA support emerge media-plugins/alsa-plugins.

Add this to your ~/.asoundrc:

  pcm.pulse {
     type pulse
  }
  
  ctl.pulse {
     type pulse
  }

If you need a test sound file, emerge gnome-extra/gnome-audio which only has sound files:


Test with:
  # aplay -Dpulse /usr/share/sounds/generic.wav

If you want PulseAudio to be the default device for ALSA, add this to your .asoundrc:

  pcm.!default {
    type pulse
  }
  
  ctl.!default {
     type pulse
  }

==== gStreamer ====
Emerge media-plugins/gst-plugins-pulse for gstreamer support:

Run gstreamer-properties and under the Audio tab set default Input and default Output plugin to PulseAudio:

  # gstreamer-properties

===== Troubleshooting =====

==== Flash doesn't play audio ====
If you want to have Flash support on your system you will have to install libflashsupport, emerge libflashsupport