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I don't know how to tune speakers well, so I wanted to know if there is a program that will create a balanced sound output when connected to my 2.1 system for all sounds. Using Macbook Pro 2010 15 inch.

3 Answers 3

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Install Pulse Audio Volume Controller (aka pavucontrol).

Open up your Terminal and execute these commands:

sudo apt-get install pavucontrol # Install
pavucontrol # Run

screenshot of pavucontrol gui

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  • NOTE 2024 update... ffor my 5.1 I had to click the lock channels together (to unlock them) button there to get the extra speaker settings, after selecting that Output Tab. otherwise it was just a left or right. pulseaudio 15.99.1 Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS you would think it would be this way by default to avoid confusion.
    – pierrely
    Jan 21 at 5:40
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If you are doing it by ear, I would simply download a wide-band pink noise (which is random noise, equal energy per octave - which is the balanced sound you are after) sound file and play it back and set the levels between your speakers until they sound even.

The following link has a series of different test tones and instructions on how to use them: http://www.eminent-tech.com/music/multimediatest.html

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  • Is there a way I can set sound balance without moving the speakers?
    – rajlego
    May 30, 2014 at 11:27
  • In the settings control panel > sound you can set left/right balance and subwoofer if connected.
    – NGRhodes
    May 30, 2014 at 11:30
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This is about generic stereo L/R channel tuning. Would have posted it here but that question is closed.


pavucontrol on for example 18.04 does not have balance. Pretty amazing but that is another topic. One can use pulseeffects - but this is IMO a both heavy and extreme option to simply tune L/R. It also has the disadvantage of making the complexity of sinks and devices more heavy.

Other options

1. Alsamixer (commandline)

alsamixer for the core ALSA base.

  1. Optionally select card etc.
  2. Select control, for example Headphones
  3. Balance volume: B
  4. Adjust Left: Decrease: Z, Increase: Q
  5. Adjust Right: Decrease: C, Increase: E

Simply press F1 for options.

2. Ponymix (commandline)

For Pulse Audio.

A very simple and light-weight command line tool. It does not come as a package from what I can find and not much happening on the project, but works fine at least on my tests.

git clone https://github.com/falconindy/ponymix
cd ponymix
make
sudo make install

One can also run it locally without install.

# Get balance
./ponymix get-balance
# Set balance L/R
./ponymix set-balance -- 0
# 50% right
./ponymix set-balance -- 50
# 50% left
./ponymix set-balance -- -50
# Adjust +20% R
./ponymix adjust-balance -- 20

The -- (end of options) is needed for negative values.

It also have commands for volume and mute (set, get), move input / output between devices and generic information listings.

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