How To Install PulseAudio on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

PulseAudio is a sound server that acts as an intermediary between your applications and your audio hardware. It provides a wide range of features, including high-quality mixing, low-latency audio playback, and network transparency, allowing you to stream audio across multiple devices on a network.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing PulseAudio on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring that you can enjoy the benefits of this powerful audio server on your system.

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• Basic familiarity with the terminal and command-line interface.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies.
• An Ubuntu 24.04 system with root access or a user with sudo privileges.

Install PulseAudio on Ubuntu 24.04

Step 1. Updating the Package Repository.

To ensure a smooth installation process, it is crucial to update your system before proceeding with the PulseAudio installation. Open a terminal and run the following commands to update your system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

These commands will update your system’s package list and upgrade any outdated packages to their latest versions.

Step 2. Check Existing Audio Server.

Before installing PulseAudio, it is essential to check if PipeWire is currently running on your system. To do this, open a terminal and run the following command:

systemctl status pipewire

If PipeWire is active, you will need to disable it before proceeding with the PulseAudio installation.

Step 3. Installing PulseAudio.

To install PulseAudio on Ubuntu 24.04, you can use the APT package manager. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt install pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils

This command will install PulseAudio and its associated utilities on your system.

Alternatively, you can install PulseAudio using the Snap package manager. Snap packages are self-contained and include all the necessary dependencies, making the installation process more streamlined. To install PulseAudio using Snap, run the following command:

sudo snap install pulseaudio

Step 4. Configure PulseAudio.

After installing PulseAudio, you need to perform some basic configuration steps to ensure that it functions correctly. First, set PulseAudio as the default sound server by running the following command:

sudo sed -i 's/pipewire/pulseaudio/g' /etc/systemd/user/pipewire-session-manager.service

This command modifies the PipeWire session manager configuration file to use PulseAudio instead of PipeWire.

Step 5. Configuring PulseAudio for Optimal Performance.

• Adjusting Audio Settings

To manage and configure your audio settings with PulseAudio, you can use the pavucontrol utility. This graphical tool allows you to adjust volume levels, set default devices, and configure audio inputs and outputs. To launch pavucontrol, open a terminal and run:

pavucontrol

• Using PulseAudio Equalizer

PulseAudio Equalizer is a powerful tool that allows you to fine-tune your audio output. To install PulseAudio Equalizer, run the following command:

sudo apt install pulseaudio-equalizer

Once installed, launch the equalizer by running:

pulseaudio-equalizer

• Network Audio Streaming

One of the standout features of PulseAudio is its ability to stream audio over a network. To enable network audio streaming, you need to configure PulseAudio to accept connections from remote devices. Open the PulseAudio configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/pulse/default.pa

Uncomment and modify the following lines:

load-module module-native-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=127.0.0.1;192.168.0.0/16
load-module module-zeroconf-publish

Replace 192.168.0.0/16 with your network’s IP range. Save the changes and restart PulseAudio:

pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

• Monitoring Performance

To maintain optimal audio performance, it is crucial to monitor PulseAudio’s resource usage and address any potential issues. You can use the pactl command to view PulseAudio’s current status and resource usage:

pactl info

This command will display information about your PulseAudio server, including the default sink and source, as well as the number of clients and modules loaded.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed PulseAudio. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing PulseAudio on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official PulseAudio website.