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my level of expertise

I'm migrating to Ubuntu from Windows. I'm a computer scientist with 30 years experience, but this is my first time using a non-Windows desktop OS.

I'm very comfortable with the command line. About 20 years ago, I professionally coded console apps for a Redhat server.

what is this question about ?

I'm trying not to break the SO rules about "no discussion". But I'm not trying to actually solve a software problem. I think this question is about two things, which I will discuss in the section titled what answer am I looking for ?.

what was my specific Ubuntu problem ?

My PC has both:

  • analog speakers - plugged into the line-out of the sound card
  • microphone/headphone headset - plugged into a USB port

I wanted to listen to something, and the sound came out of the headphones instead of the speakers.

On Windows, to switch audio output, I would just open the drawer on the Speaker system tray icon, and select the correct output †.

On Ubuntu, I was surprised to find that there was no analogous drawer in its Speaker system tray icon.

I eventually changed the audio output via the command line, but only after attempting to install two different packages that would provide a GUI.

what answer am I looking for?

I'm trying to figure out why my Ubuntu installation is missing the UX for easily switching audio output.

Did I do something wrong?

  1. Am I looking for the GUI in the wrong place?

  2. Is it because I did a Minimal Installation ?

Do I not understand Ubuntu ?

  1. Is it because there are bigger problems to solve in the Ubuntu bug/new feature database?

  2. Is there some philosophical reason held by Ubuntu board of directors that certain features should be up to the user to install ? I guess you could call it a non-opinionated OS.

research

  1. This page describes a process for opening an app named Sound from the Activities menu, but I don't have that app in my Activities menu. https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/sound-usespeakers.html.en

  2. I found this (12 year old) question: Audio output device, fast switch?. The answers are all work arounds, and my

Footnotes

† I think this default Windows 10 UX of quickly switching audio outputs is terrible.

Walter Stabosz
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0 Answers0