Collection of scripts that help managing multiple audio interfaces with Jack.
- Persistent configurations per device
- jackman keeps your jack configurations for each audio device and configures jack for you.
- Hotplugging (optional)
- Based on priorities jackman will change your jack master device when you plug in a USB audio interface with higher priority than the current master.
- If you remove a USB device that is the current master, jackman will configure the remaining card with highest priority as new master. No need to restart jack manually.
- alsa_in, alsa_out (optional)
- For all other devices, alsa_in and alsa_out interfaces will be created
- Works great in combination with libflashsupport-jack and pulseaudio-jack.
- bash
- systemd
- jackdbus
- python2-dbus
- alsa-utils
- kdialog [optional]
- zenity [optional]
Use the provided PKGBUILD
Copy the following files:
| File | Destination |
|---|---|
jackman |
/usr/bin/ |
jackman_udev_plug |
/usr/bin/ |
jackman_udev_unplug |
/usr/bin/ |
jackman_plug@.service |
/etc/systemd/system/ |
jackman_unplug@.service |
/etc/systemd/system/ |
50-jackman.rules |
/etc/udev/rules.d/ |
jackman.desktop |
/etc/xdg/autostart/ |
Run
# udevadm control -R
# systemctl enable jackman_plug@" ".service
# systemctl start jackman_plug@" ".service
If you already have Jack working with pulseaudio, flash and real time priorities, skip this section.
The following steps will get you a sound system with the following structure:
Pulseaudio -> Jack -> ALSA
Flash -> Jack -> ALSA
System sounds, media players and generic applications will send audio to pulseaudio, the default sound server in KDE and in many linux distributions.
Pulseaudio will then process this audio data through its engine, apply some mixing (this is the mixer you will likely see in your task panel) and send the final sum to Jack.
Applications that use Jack directly, like DAWs or plugin hosts, will connect to Jack directly, omitting pulseaudio. Note that these applications are not using the mixer in your task panel, they are always at full volume.
Jack finally uses the ALSA driver of your audio interface to send audio data to the audio interfaces' output.
If this setup is for you, continue with the following steps.
Install pulseaudio-jack and libflashsupport-jack.
e.g. on Arch Linux:
$ packer -S pulseaudio-jack libflashsupport-jack
Edit /etc/pulse/default.pa.
Comment out everything under the sections ### Load audio drivers statically and ### Automatically load driver modules depending on the hardware available to make sure pulseaudio does not grab any device directly.
Uncomment everything under the section ### Automatically connect sink and source if JACK server is present to let pulseaudio connect to the Jack server automatically.
In /etc/pulse/client.conf set autospawn = yes.
In /etc/pulse/daemon.conf set daemonize = yes, realtime-scheduling = yes, realtime-priority = 5 and flat-volumes = no.
Make sure there are no config files in ~/.config/pulse/.
If you are using KDE, install phonon-qt5-vlc and uninstall phonon-qt5-gstreamer.
Assign yourself to the audio group.
# usermod -a -G audio <username>
Install pam if you do not have it yet.
Add a file /etc/security/limits.d/99-audio.conf with content:
@audio - rtprio 99
@audio - memlock unlimited
This enables users in the audio group to assign real time priorities to processes.
Add the following line to /etc/pam.d/su.
session required pam_limits.so
This enables users in the audio group to assign real time priorities in a su session (needed for hotplugging devices).
Note that real time priorities will only have effect on a preemtive kernel (look for the word PREEMPT in $ uname -a ). I recommend installing linux-ck or linux-rt.
Configure Jack to use real time priorities, ALSA and asynchronous mode.
$ jack_control eps driver alsa
$ jack_control eps realtime True
$ jack_control eps realtime-priority 79
$ jack_control eps sync False
$ jack_control eps clock-source 2
Run $ alsamixer. For all your cards set all outputs to 0dB (or to the maximum volume you want for this card). Note that volumes above 0dB will lead to distortions.
Run # alsactl store to make the changes persistent.
If your card is not listed in alsamixer, try to install alsa-firmware and have a look at the ALSA SoundCard Matrix for specific instructions to your audio interface.
for details on setting up a low latency audio environment see:
Copy jackman.conf to $HOME/.config/.
Add devices to this config file and edit the parameters to your needs.
Devices must be given as <Alsa Short Name>,<Device Number>, e.g. HDA Intel MID,3.
$ aplay -l and $ jack_control dpd <parameter> might help to find the right values.
On KDE you might want to use the systemsettings module jackman_kcm.
Devices not listed in aplay (like virtual devices) might be added using the parameter "notlisted" (see jackman.conf for an example)
Run jackman -h for help or just plug in a USB audio interface.
Use a Jack patchbay like Catia to connect your applications to the right cards.