[HowTo] Install Pipewire on Mate Desktop Envirenment

[lospala]

In Debian Bookworm, with Mate Desktop Environment Pulseaudio is the audio server installed by default. I had some troubles when trying to connect my cell phone to make it sound in Debian so I tried Pipewire and It goes fine now.

Important: I could not guarantee that this procedure works in other D.E that come with Pulseaudio by default

Firstly you should deactivate Pulseaudio typing in a terminal (as user):

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systemctl --user --now disable pulseaudio.{socket,service}

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systemctl --user mask pulseaudio

After that install Pipewire components:

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sudo apt install gstreamer1.0-pipewire libpipewire-0.3-{0,dev,modules} libspa-0.2-{bluetooth,dev,jack,modules} pipewire{,-{audio-client-libraries,pulse,bin,jack,alsa,v4l2,libcamera,,tests}}

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sudo apt install pipewire-doc

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sudo apt install wireplumber{,-doc} gir1.2-wp-0.4 libwireplumber-0.4-{0,dev}

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sudo apt install libpipewire-0.3-modules-x11

Finally activate Pipewire typing in a terminal (as user)

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systemctl --user --now enable pipewire{,-pulse}.{socket,service}

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systemctl --user --now enable wireplumber.service

To test if Pipewire is now running type in terminal:

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pactl info

If everything went fine you should get an output like this:

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xxxxxxxxx~$ pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 1301
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: administrador
Host Name: debian
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 0.3.65)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_06.0.analog-stereo
Default Source: alsa_input.usb-MUSIC-BOOST_USB_Microphone_MB-306-00.mono-fallback
Cookie: 8a44:3e5a
xxxxxxxxx~$ /code]

[mrmazda]

Does Youtube audio work in Firefox in this configuration?

[None1975]

Maybe a good guide, but too complicated. There is a much simpler way, which is to install the pipewire-audio package:

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sudo apt install pipewire-audio

Installing this metapackage will remove pulseaudio to prevent any conflicts between both sound server.

Also, you can install package pavucontrol, which among other things, allows you to redirect a playback stream to another output device without interrupting playback.

P.S.

After that, reboot is required.

[CwF]

... but too complicated.

Indeed.
I've type a few times synaptic can handle the conversion with the single package pipewire-audio.
Tested on XFCE's, it was a painless and flawless conversion I assumed other DE's would respond the same.

Now the question for me is will synaptic handle the reversion with equal ease. After a month listening to pipewire crackle I will be pulling it back out.

[lospala]

Does Youtube audio work in Firefox in this configuration?

Yes it does. After reading previous posts I tested on a fresh install of Debian and after installing pipewire-audio and reboot pipewire appears enabled, so this post became obsolete.

[mrmazda]

I don't use mate, and aplay won't play with pipewire-audio installed in Trixie. Should I start a new thread, provide details here, or something else?

[CwF]

Trixie. Should I start a new thread,...?

Yes, in the Testing sub-forum.

[arzgi]

I don't use mate, and aplay won't play with pipewire-audio installed in Trixie. Should I start a new thread, provide details here, or something else?

aplay plays only uncompressed *.wav files, I use mpv, as it can play some many music formats.

[mrmazda]

aplay plays only uncompressed *.wav files, I use mpv, as it can play some many music formats.

I wasn't aware mpv could be used from a framebuffer shell prompt. I don't like its GUI interface at all, but that's good to know.