5 ms·

Since I switched to pipewire I've had the best Linux audio end-user experience with BlueTooth devices, ever.

kaladin-jasnah 4y ago
PipeWire supports the most audio codecs of any desktop operating system, period. Windows and Mac don't have LDAC, Mac doesn't have aptX, etc.
- smoldesu 4y ago
  Definitely, having just bought some XM4s I was kinda taken aback by having LDAC automatically pop up in my audio settings. Very neat to see support being that seamless!
- adamomada 4y ago
  I vaguely remember an old post from here showing someone hacking up Bluetooth to give SBC codec better quality, and it only being available on Linux (or maybe it was Linux+Android?) I’ll try to dig it up and edit it in here, as I think it was a great hack
  - aviraldg 4y ago
    Do you mean mSBC?
    - adamomada 4y ago
      I found a couple links, since I remembered that Zenwalk distro was one of the first to include it. They call it SBC XQ [0] http://soundexpert.org/articles/-/blogs/audio-quality-of-sbc-xq-bluetooth-audio-codec http://soundexpert.org/articles/-/blogs/audio-quality-of-sbc... Via [1] http://www.zenwalk.org/2019/09/audio-quality-of-sbc-xq-bluetooth-audio.html http://www.zenwalk.org/2019/09/audio-quality-of-sbc-xq-bluet...
silentprog 4y ago
Same, also seamslessly connecting to my headphones while before I had to unpair and pair the whole time.
christophilus 4y ago
I have found my vanilla Fedora install to have a better Bluetooth experience than my Mac did. That’s quite a feat.
- emerongi 4y ago
  A bit offtopic, but having received a Mac for work recently, I have come to appreciate Fedora and Gnome so much more. Throughout the years I've heard people rave about Apple and I honestly think Gnome is better. The only argument against Linux at the moment is the app ecosystem.
  - hushpuppy 4y ago
    This is true. Apple still is more sophisticated in the desktop scripting department. Applescript support in most applications and the ability to tie that into actions is seriously powerful stuff. Gnome wins in the ability to use javascript to customize window handling, but it isn't really able to script application actions like you can in OS X. It is improving though. If you can use keyboard to navigate the functions you want in applications you can automate it with software like keymapper. https://github.com/houmain/keymapper https://github.com/houmain/keymapper There are other similar software available. Probably a half a dozen serious projects in total. Keymapper is software that intercepts input from your keyboard and allows you to 'remap' it. It operates on the libinput level of things, so it works regardless of environment or if you are in the console. It does require elevated privileges, though. This, when combined with Gnome-shell extension and user keymapperd daemon can provide application-specific contexts for keyboard combos. The extension monitors for switching applications and gives keymapper the ability to be context-aware. This is how I "solved" the copy past nightmare for myself in Linux. This way no matter if I am in a browser, terminal, or Emacs I have consistent copy-paste keys. (super-c, super-v). Makes things easier. This isn't even remotely on the same level as applescript, but at least it is something. You have to understand low-level Linux keyboard stuff, which is still a mess. Versus being able to simply record yourself using applescript. Gnome certainly is a very relaxing environment once you get used to it. Much less frantic or distraction filled compared to Windows or OS X. I like it.
  - 4y ago
noobermin 4y ago
So is pipewire actually valuable and not just pulseaudio all over again?
- orangepurple 4y ago
  Pipewire is able to handle LDAC on my Bluetooth headset and switch to mSBC to behave as a headset and use the headset as a wireless input device. It's awesome! Never had instability or glitches, even when you make complex audio changes and can almost feel the gears grinding. It hasn't let me down!
- iotku 4y ago
  While not perfect yet (it's still a relatively young project) it works as good or better than pulse in most general usage scenarios and avoids a lot of nonsense that you used to have to go through with using jack audio in tandem with pulse as well. For the most part it works out of the box with good latency without extra configuration and provides good routing options as well for more advanced usage.
- freeqaz 4y ago
  Pipewire implements the APIs of Pulse, Alsa, and Jack. So instead of having to juggle between them all, you just have one service to manage and it all just works. It only took a few lines for me to switch and I've never had a Linux audio issue ever since! (And when I have, it's been my fault like my volume was turned down or my speakers were unplugged lol)
  - stavros 4y ago
    How did you switch? I'd be interested in trying this on Ubuntu.
    - bmurphy1976 4y ago
      I made the switch this morning by following this: https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2022/04/pipewire-replace-pulseaudio-ubuntu-2204/ https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2022/04/pipewire-replac... So far the only anecdotes I have are (a) everything seems to be working and (b) don't forget to reboot after installation.

PipeWire supports the most audio codecs of any desktop operating system, period. Windows and Mac don't have LDAC, Mac doesn't have aptX, etc.

smoldesu 4y ago
Definitely, having just bought some XM4s I was kinda taken aback by having LDAC automatically pop up in my audio settings. Very neat to see support being that seamless!
adamomada 4y ago
I vaguely remember an old post from here showing someone hacking up Bluetooth to give SBC codec better quality, and it only being available on Linux (or maybe it was Linux+Android?) I’ll try to dig it up and edit it in here, as I think it was a great hack
- aviraldg 4y ago
  Do you mean mSBC?
  - adamomada 4y ago
    I found a couple links, since I remembered that Zenwalk distro was one of the first to include it. They call it SBC XQ [0] http://soundexpert.org/articles/-/blogs/audio-quality-of-sbc-xq-bluetooth-audio-codec http://soundexpert.org/articles/-/blogs/audio-quality-of-sbc... Via [1] http://www.zenwalk.org/2019/09/audio-quality-of-sbc-xq-bluetooth-audio.html http://www.zenwalk.org/2019/09/audio-quality-of-sbc-xq-bluet...

silentprog 4y ago

Same, also seamslessly connecting to my headphones while before I had to unpair and pair the whole time.

christophilus 4y ago

I have found my vanilla Fedora install to have a better Bluetooth experience than my Mac did. That’s quite a feat.

emerongi 4y ago
A bit offtopic, but having received a Mac for work recently, I have come to appreciate Fedora and Gnome so much more. Throughout the years I've heard people rave about Apple and I honestly think Gnome is better. The only argument against Linux at the moment is the app ecosystem.
- hushpuppy 4y ago
  This is true. Apple still is more sophisticated in the desktop scripting department. Applescript support in most applications and the ability to tie that into actions is seriously powerful stuff. Gnome wins in the ability to use javascript to customize window handling, but it isn't really able to script application actions like you can in OS X. It is improving though. If you can use keyboard to navigate the functions you want in applications you can automate it with software like keymapper. https://github.com/houmain/keymapper https://github.com/houmain/keymapper There are other similar software available. Probably a half a dozen serious projects in total. Keymapper is software that intercepts input from your keyboard and allows you to 'remap' it. It operates on the libinput level of things, so it works regardless of environment or if you are in the console. It does require elevated privileges, though. This, when combined with Gnome-shell extension and user keymapperd daemon can provide application-specific contexts for keyboard combos. The extension monitors for switching applications and gives keymapper the ability to be context-aware. This is how I "solved" the copy past nightmare for myself in Linux. This way no matter if I am in a browser, terminal, or Emacs I have consistent copy-paste keys. (super-c, super-v). Makes things easier. This isn't even remotely on the same level as applescript, but at least it is something. You have to understand low-level Linux keyboard stuff, which is still a mess. Versus being able to simply record yourself using applescript. Gnome certainly is a very relaxing environment once you get used to it. Much less frantic or distraction filled compared to Windows or OS X. I like it.
- 4y ago

noobermin 4y ago

So is pipewire actually valuable and not just pulseaudio all over again?

orangepurple 4y ago
Pipewire is able to handle LDAC on my Bluetooth headset and switch to mSBC to behave as a headset and use the headset as a wireless input device. It's awesome! Never had instability or glitches, even when you make complex audio changes and can almost feel the gears grinding. It hasn't let me down!
iotku 4y ago
While not perfect yet (it's still a relatively young project) it works as good or better than pulse in most general usage scenarios and avoids a lot of nonsense that you used to have to go through with using jack audio in tandem with pulse as well. For the most part it works out of the box with good latency without extra configuration and provides good routing options as well for more advanced usage.
freeqaz 4y ago
Pipewire implements the APIs of Pulse, Alsa, and Jack. So instead of having to juggle between them all, you just have one service to manage and it all just works. It only took a few lines for me to switch and I've never had a Linux audio issue ever since! (And when I have, it's been my fault like my volume was turned down or my speakers were unplugged lol)
- stavros 4y ago
  How did you switch? I'd be interested in trying this on Ubuntu.
  - bmurphy1976 4y ago
    I made the switch this morning by following this: https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2022/04/pipewire-replace-pulseaudio-ubuntu-2204/ https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2022/04/pipewire-replac... So far the only anecdotes I have are (a) everything seems to be working and (b) don't forget to reboot after installation.