A volume mixer is a tool that allows users to adjust the individual volume levels of different applications and audio devices running on a computer or system.
Instead of changing the overall system volume, this type of software lets you control the sound for specific programs, like turning down the volume for a game while keeping a internet radio streamer playing at its current level, or muting a browser tab without silencing everything.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart. Only free and open source software is eligible for inclusion here. We only include terminal-based tools in this roundup. We’ve already published a separate roundup for graphical volume mixers.
Explore each tool in detail by clicking the links below.
| Terminal-Based Audio Mixers | |
|---|---|
| wiremix | Simple TUI audio mixer fort Pipewire |
| pamixer | PulseAudio command line mixer |
| pulsemixer | CLI and curses mixer for PulseAudio |
| ncpamixer | ncurses mixer for PulseAudio inspired by pavucontrol |
| PAmix | ncurses/curses PulseAudio mixer written in C |
| pacmixer | PulseAudio tool similar to alsamixer |
| RsMixer | PulseAudio volume mixer |
| alsamixer | Terminal-based mixer for the ALSA sound system |
| pipemixer | TUI volume control software for pipewire |
| JackMiniMix | Simple mixer for the Jack Audio Connection Kit |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
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