Here is how to install and use PulseAudio on Xubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex.
1. Install packages for PulseAudio
$ sudo apt-get install libasound2-plugins pulseaudio pulseaudio-esound-compat pulseaudio-module-gconf pulseaudio-module-hal pulseaudio-module-lirc pulseaudio-module-x11 pulseaudio-module-zeroconf pulseaudio-utils paman padevchooser paprefs pavucontrol pavumeter libao-pulse
2. Configure Alsa
Edit the file
pcm.pulse {
type pulse
}
ctl.pulse {
type pulse
}
pcm.!default {
type pulse
}
ctl.!default {
type pulse
}
3. Add your user account to the pulse groups:
$ sudo gpasswd -a YOURUSERNAME pulse
$ sudo gpasswd -a YOURUSERNAME pulse-access
$ sudo gpasswd -a YOURUSERNAME pulse-rt
4. Configure PulseAudioClick Applications > Settings > PulseAudio Preferences
On the Network Access tab, check:
- Enable network access to local sound devices
- Allow other machines on the LAN to discover local sound devices
- Don’t require authentication
On the Multicast/RTP tab, check:
- Enable Multicast/RTP receiver
- Enable Multicast/RTP sender
Configure PulseAudio to run as a daemon and allow users to load modules. Edit the file
Change PULSEAUDIO_SYSTEM_START=
Change DISALLOW_MODULE_LOADING=
Edit the file
default_driver=pulse
Restart your session or reboot to have changes go into effect.
Sources: Ubuntu Wiki, ivotron on Ubuntu Forums, pulseaudio.org
Comments
Thanks Sam,
I also been struggling with my USB headset, and pulseaudio has been the solution. Thanks for taking the time to write your findings!
Cheers from Argentina,
///Pablo
Sam - Came across your page by googling “xubuntu pulse audio”. Worked great - it got my Creative Sound Blaster USB external audio card working right away.
Thank you!
Excellent work Sam. I’ve been at this for a few days now without success. Your method worked in five minutes.
Worked with Creative X-Fi 5.1 USB on mythbuntu 8.04. Many others are struggling with this sound card under ubuntu.
Thx again.









Thanks Sam!
I’ve been struggling with this one for a while, I think the one thing that I hadn’t done was that libao.conf file (all other stuff I had done on separate occasions.
(apt-get install pulseaudio* tried to install *dbg versions of pulseaudio though)
By the way, nice site design!