This is tested in Ubuntu 12.04 (but it should work for any distro and version)
For PinguyOS 11.04, this guide can be an alternative (not recommended anyway) http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=70675

Why alsa?

It works much better for both old and modern sound card. (Don't believe me? Hear it from the SUPERUSERS http://superuser.com/questions/144648/ho...io-relate)

What alsa lacks in comparison to pulseaudio?

A nice GUI, a sound indicator, and sound boost.

How to get them?

Solution #1 (recommended) Force pulseaudio's indicator and pulseaudio to work with alsa (I don't know how to title this one but it is close and simple as far as I can think of)

Code: [Select All]

sudo gedit /etc/pulse/default.pa

Replace these following lines

Code: [Select All]

load-module module-udev-detect (line 53)
load-module module-detect (line 56)

with

Code: [Select All]

load-module module-alsa-sink

Save. Then

Code: [Select All]

pulseaudio -k

Done.

*Note: the drawback I've seen using this method is the choppy sound when adjusting the sound volume or when there is another source of sound coming up in the middle. The solution may be:

Disabling warning/alert sounds: http://askubuntu.com/a/63687/32219

Code: [Select All]

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.sound event-sounds false

Solution #2 Completely replace pulse with alsa (this title should be perfect yay!)

Make sure you have removed pulseaudio

Code: [Select All]

sudo apt-get remove pulseaudio

Install the GUI and the indicator

Code: [Select All]

sudo apt-get install qasmixer

To add the sound boost function, follow this guide (post #14) https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1090114 OR just download and extract the below hidden file to your /home

asoundrc.zip
File Type:
Downloaded:	283 times
Size:	259 bytes

Code: [Select All]

pulseaudio -k

Done.

The sound indicator in this case is a rather useless. It is mainly a shortcut to open qasmixer as well as showing the current sound level. You can add it to startup if you want to anyway.

Code: [Select All]

gnome-session-properties

Click add and follow this picture.

I'm really sorry when not finishing this guide as soon as I posted it. The reason was when I tested pulseaudio again, it worked perfectly (even with Skype!). ~~I tried to take time and force the pulseaudio's indicator to work with alsa (for that of alsa is not as good and the keyboard shortcuts may not work), but there was no positive result.~~

#Edit1: Added the solution to force pulseaudio to work with pure alsa.

#Edit2: Added Notes.

Randy · (05-19-2012)

Looking forward to the next post on this.

**vanlong441** · (05-19-2012)

(19-05-2012 02:41 PM)Randy Wrote: Looking forward to the next post on this.

It's done. Thanks for being patient.

**vanlong441** · 20-05-2012 05:15 PM

#Edit1: Added the solution to force pulseaudio to work with pure alsa.

#Edit2: Added Notes.

esembe8 · 23-05-2012 12:42 AM

Has this tweak benn incorporated into Pinguy OS? How well does it work with Audacity audio editor? Does Audacity end up with a "default" choice that is its preference?

**vanlong441** · 23-05-2012 02:30 AM

(23-05-2012 12:42 AM)esembe8 Wrote: Has this tweak benn incorporated into Pinguy OS? How well does it work with Audacity audio editor? Does Audacity end up with a "default" choice that is its preference?

No one has reported anything on this so I can't exactly say for the majority.

My opinion: "Default" means choosing Pulseaudio over Alsa, so if you have problems with Audacity, it has to be from Pulseaudio. Just follow one of the two solutions above to see if you find what you're looking for.

**vanlong441** · 01-06-2012 07:15 AM

Just want to say that in PinguyOS 12.04 beta Alsa now has its own indicator even without pulseaudio installed. Good job Pinguy.

*This has nothing to do with my guide. This is his own work.

Now I see no sound indicator. Maybe I was wrong about having both Alsa and Pulseaudio indicator.

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