Linux Sound Preferences

Start the Sound Preferences dialog box by selecting System -> Preferences -> Sound from the top Panel menu. The Sound Preferences utility starts. The Sound Preferences dialog box has two tabs of settings:

• Devices: Allows you to select which sound system to use for specific audio functions.

• Sounds: Allows you to select specific sounds for specific system functions. Each tab controls the settings for specific features of the sound environment.


The Devices Tab
The Devices tab sets the default front-end sound system used for the different types of sound generated on the workstation

For each category of sounds, you can select the front-end sound management system to use. Ubuntu includes three software sound management packages:
• The Advanced Linux Sound A Architecture (ALSA)
• The Open Sound System (OSS)
• The PulseAudio Sound Server

By default Ubuntu will set the values to autodetect the best sound system for your workstation. You can change the selected sound management system by clicking the drop-down box for the sound generation method and selecting the sound management system you want to use. The Audio Conferencing setup allows you to select separate sound management systems for playing received sound and recording sound to send.


The Sounds Tab
The Sounds tab provides an interface for you to select various sounds for Ubuntu to play
for specific system events. Figure 11-2 shows the events that you can define sounds for.
For each event you can select to play the default sound, disable the sound, or select a
custom sound from a sound file. The only restriction is that the sound file must be in WAV format.


The Sound Applet
When Ubuntu detects a sound card in your workstation at installation time, it automatically places the Sound applet in your panel. The Sound applet appears as a speaker icon in the right side of the top panel. When you click it, the master volume control appears.

The slider allows you to set the overall volume level of the workstation speakers. For more detailed volume control, double-click the Sound applet icon, and the ALSA mixer windowrs.

The ALSA mixer contains eight sets of sliders for detailed control of the sound environment:
• Master: Controls the overall volume level of the mixer (this is the same as the master volume control that appears if you single-click the icon).
• Headphone: Controls the volume level for the headphone jack on the workstation.
• PCM: Controls the volume level for audio CDs and music files when played from the system.
• Front: Controls the volume level for the speakers on the workstation, either internal or external.
• Line-in Boost: Sets the recording level for an external microphone plugged into the microphone jack on the workstation.
• CD: Sets the left and right channel volume when playing audio CDs.
• Microphone: Sets the recording level for the built-in microphone on the workstation.
• PC Speaker: Sets the volume for the built-in speaker on the workstation.
Using these sliders you can customize the sound volume for playing and recording audio from all applications on your workstation.

Source of Information : OReilly Linux in a Nutshell 6th Edition