Mono sound output in Ubuntu?

Question

Is there an easy way of forcing mono sound output - for one ear, one earphone, one speaker?

Solution 1

This answer is a mix of the two answers, witch are not generic (channels names "left" and "right" are defined by the soundcard vendor and can vary).

The global idea is to use module-remap-sink as suggested by other answers. We will replace [skinID], [left_channel_name] and [right_channel_name] by values found later:

pacmd load-module module-remap-sink sink_name=combined-mono master=[skinID] channels=4 master_channel_map=[right_channel_name],[left_channel_name],[right_channel_name],[left_channel_name] channel_map=[left_channel_name],[left_channel_name],[right_channel_name],[right_channel_name]

This will create a double-mono sink output that we can set to be the default one (done below).

1 - find [skinID]

pacmd list-sinks

In my case, only one sink is present; corresponding to the only sound card available:

index: 0
    name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo>

=> I can use either "0" or "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo" for [skinID]

2 - find [left_channel_name] and [right_channel_name]

pacmd list-sinks | grep -m1 "channel map:"

In my case, it gives:

channel map: front-left,front-right

So, for me [left_channel_name] = "front-left" and [right_channel_name]="front-right"

3 - Apply changes

To make changes effective, I'll to run (in my case)

pactl load-module module-remap-sink sink_name=combined-mono master=0 channels=4 master_channel_map=front-right,front-left,front-right,front-left channel_map=front-left,front-left,front-right,front-right
pactl set-default-sink combined-mono

=> the first command's arguments are to adapt to each case ! Read the entiere post for details

To verify, you can play this video

4 (optional) - Make changes permanant

To keep this settings and have them applied each time the computer starts:

• copy /etc/pulse/default.pa => ~/.pulse/default.pa (if not already done)

• add the two commands to the end of file, without "pactl " at the beginning

  => in my case, this gives:

  load-module module-remap-sink sink_name=combined-mono master=0 channels=4 master_channel_map=front-right,front-left,front-right,front-left channel_map=front-left,front-left,front-right,front-right
  set-default-sink combined-mono
  

Solution 2

Yet another solution. I like command line solution and used it very long time.

But I found good application: PulseEffects and there is a way to make mono with good GUI app.

Installation:

flatpak install com.github.wwmm.pulseeffects
if u don't have flatpak yet (on ubuntu for example), you can install it

Configuration

1. Stereo Tools
2. Stereo Mix
3. LR > L+R (Mono Sum L+R)

Solution 3

I had problems with both of these answers. When I tried the accepted answer, the only thing that would come out of the speaker was noise. After some searching, I found another solution that might work better for you:

pacmd load-module module-remap-sink sink_name=mono master=alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo channels=4 channel_map=left,right,left,right master_channel_map=left,left,right,right

Replace alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo with the sink name you get from

pacmd list-sinks | grep name:

Follow the steps in the accepted answer if you would like to make this solution permanent.

Comments

[Admin]

Very Useful... ;-)

[TenLeftFingers]

I get the same sink name as you, but when I run the command I get the output: >>> Module load failed. Using Ubuntu 14.04

[Admin]

How do you change the name of the new sink, to change the default name 'Remapped Built-in Audio Analog Stereo' in the System Settings - Sound GUI?

[Admin]

Warning to people using PulseAudio Multiband Equalizer: this fix successfully put my sound output to mono but the equalizer stopped working.

[Admin]

These options do not appear on every soundcard; when I installed it the only options there were "auto-mute", "IEC958" and "Loopback mixing", nothing to do with mono outputs.

[frost-nzcr4]

skinID => sinkID

[Admin]

This was extremely helpful. I'd suggest getting rid of gksudo since it's been removed from Ubuntu though.

[John P]

Worked like a charm. My sound card doesn't support mono despite dozens of variants of HD this and surround sound that... has no one else used broken headphones? The other features look great too.

[RedEyed]

It does support mono. Mono is just same signal on both channels. You can always make mono sound physically: just solder left and right channel (on Jack plug) together and you will get mono output.

[John P]

Thanks for the definition. After trying with Pulse Audio and Gnome Alsa Mixer and looking through all the output options, I never found any option to output mono audio. And no, physically tampering with the hardware does not mean you're producing a mono signal. (Nor is it "support" any more than replacing the hardware is.) Consider BT headphones, Chromecast/HDMI, remote streaming, etc. This came up recently where a (single) YT video was missing one channel (the capture messed up.) Software solutions always, always come before you mess with solder.

[RedEyed]

Agree. I mean, that mono si easy deal: just mathematically add 2 signals (left right) and you get mono