LXDE, or Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, is known for its low resource utilization and high level of customization. However, one common issue that users often face is finding and adjusting the sound preferences. In this article, we will guide you through several methods to change the sound output in LXDE.
To change the sound output in LXDE, you can install and use XFCE4-Mixer, PulseAudio with Pavucontrol, Alsamixer, or temporarily switch to the GNOME desktop environment. Each method provides different levels of control and customization options for managing sound preferences in LXDE.
Installing XFCE4-Mixer
One of the easiest ways to manage sound output in LXDE is by using XFCE4-Mixer. It’s a simple sound mixer application that is part of the XFCE desktop environment but can also be used in LXDE.
To install XFCE4-Mixer, open a terminal window and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install xfce4-mixer gstreamer0.10-alsaHere, sudo is used to run the command with root privileges, apt-get is the package handling utility in Debian-based systems, install is the command to install packages, and xfce4-mixer gstreamer0.10-alsa are the packages to be installed.
After the installation is complete, you can run XFCE4-Mixer by typing xfce4-mixer in the terminal. Once the application is open, make sure to disable the “Auto-Mute Mode” for the sound to work properly.
Installing PulseAudio and Pavucontrol
If you need more advanced sound control options, you can install PulseAudio and use the Pavucontrol package. PulseAudio is a sound server for POSIX and Win32 systems, and Pavucontrol is a volume control tool (“mixer”) for PulseAudio.
To install PulseAudio and Pavucontrol, open a terminal window and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install pulseaudio pavucontrolAfter the installation is complete, you can run Pavucontrol by typing pavucontrol in the terminal. This will open the PulseAudio Volume Control application. Here, you can select the desired sound output device under the “Output Devices → Port” section.
Using Alsamixer
If the above options do not work for you, you can try using Alsamixer. Alsamixer is a graphical mixer program for the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) that is used in most Linux distributions.
Open a terminal and run the following command:
alsamixerPress F6 to choose the sound card and press F5 to display all sound levels. Make sure the desired output device is selected and unmuted.
Switching to GNOME Temporarily
As a last resort, if none of the above solutions work, you can temporarily switch to the GNOME desktop environment to change the sound output device. Log out of LXDE, log in to GNOME, use the GNOME Sound applet to change the device, and then log out of GNOME and log back in to LXDE. However, this is not an ideal solution as it would be preferable to have sound preferences directly accessible in LXDE.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered several methods to change the sound output in LXDE. Depending on your specific needs and setup, you might find one method more suitable than the others. Remember that LXDE is highly customizable, so don’t hesitate to experiment and find the solution that works best for you.
Remember, the availability and functionality of sound preferences may vary depending on the specific version and configuration of LXDE. If you’re still having trouble, consider reaching out to the LXDE community for additional help.
To install XFCE4-Mixer in LXDE, open a terminal window and type the command sudo apt-get install xfce4-mixer gstreamer0.10-alsa. This will install the necessary packages for XFCE4-Mixer.
After installing XFCE4-Mixer, you can run it by opening a terminal window and typing xfce4-mixer. This will launch the XFCE4-Mixer application.
To disable "Auto-Mute Mode" in XFCE4-Mixer, open the application, and make sure the "Auto-Mute Mode" option is unchecked or disabled. This will ensure that the sound works properly.
To install PulseAudio and Pavucontrol in LXDE, open a terminal window and type the command sudo apt-get install pulseaudio pavucontrol. This will install both PulseAudio and Pavucontrol.
After installing Pavucontrol, you can run it by opening a terminal window and typing pavucontrol. This will launch the PulseAudio Volume Control application.
In Pavucontrol, you can select the desired sound output device by opening the application and navigating to the "Output Devices" section. Under the "Port" subsection, you can choose the desired device from the dropdown menu.
To use Alsamixer in LXDE, open a terminal window and type the command alsamixer. This will launch the graphical mixer program for ALSA. Use the function keys to navigate and adjust sound levels.
To temporarily switch to GNOME in LXDE, log out of LXDE, and on the login screen, select GNOME as the desktop environment. Once logged in to GNOME, use the GNOME Sound applet to change the sound output device. After making the changes, log out of GNOME and log back in to LXDE.
If you need additional help with LXDE, you can reach out to the LXDE community by visiting their forum. They can provide further assistance and guidance.
