AudioMixing

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The speaker setting is correct and must not be changed.

Correctly Setting the "Volume"

(Ensure that the power to the speakers is on.)

To "change the volume" use the per-application and software mixer settings. Your application's "volume control" is usually readily apparent.

The software mixer is controlled through the speaker icon in your panel. Clicking that icon only shows the master channel by default (you must click the "mixer" button to show the full mixer).

Some badly written applications may access the "PCM" channel and set it incorrectly. If your playback is to loud or to quiet, but the master channel and application "volume control" are set correctly, check the PCM channel.

We recommend setting "PCM" to about 95 (too high can cause distortion) and controlling the volume through the master channel.

KDE's software mixer software

Acoustical Energy, Electrical Energy and "Volume"

"Sound" is acoustical energy: waves of high and low pressure traveling through a medium such as gaseous, solid or liquid matter (typically air), which is of sufficient amplitude and correct frequency to be percieved by the ear.

"Audio" is the transcription of that acoustical energy into a mechanical or electrical form. Sound is recorded into audio, and audio is played back as sound. (In casual speech the two terms are interchangeable.)

"Volume" is an extremely ambiguous term for the percieved "loudness" of an audible sound. Volume is affected by the various factors including the amplitude of acoustical output, distance of listener, attenuating materials and psychoacoustical factors.

An audio signal of high amplitude could produce weak acoustical energy from a speaker if that speaker's amplitude setting was turned down. When we say that we "turn up the volume" what we are really doing is amplifying or dampening an electrical signal. This can be done with analogue electronics, such as potentiometers, or by digital means with computer circuitry.

The net audio signal to the speakers is determined by:

1. The individual applications's "volume setting", if it has one
2. The "software mixer"

Both of these are independent of each other, and the amplitude setting of the speaker, which can further alter the percieved loudness of the sound in question.

Why the Speaker Setting Should not be Changed

What matters is the net "volume". The average of the physical setting of the speaker, the "software mixer" settings and any individual applications "volume" settings. Thus if the speaker is turned up too "high" output will still be loud even if the software mixer and individual application settings are "medium".

Altering the speaker setting may have unexpected consequences including the emanation of very loud noises from the speakers as well as possible damage to the equipment

See Also

• Audio
• Sound
• Kinyo Speakers
• Wireless Speaker

Categories: AV, Hardware, Workstation

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