How to Install and Use Linux Equalizer on Ubuntu for Better Sound Quality

Well now, if you’re using Ubuntu and you want to make your music or audio sound better, you might be lookin’ for somethin’ called an equalizer. Don’t worry, it’s not too complicated, and I’m here to tell you all about it in a way that’s easy to understand. You don’t need to be a computer genius to get it workin’ just right. You just need to know which one to use, and how to set it up.

Now first thing’s first, let’s talk about why you might need an equalizer. See, sound on your computer or phone ain’t always perfect. Sometimes the bass might be too low, or the treble’s all over the place. An equalizer helps you tweak all that, so you get the best sound for your ears. And on Ubuntu, there’s plenty of ways to do it, if you know where to look.

What is a Linux Equalizer?

A Linux equalizer is a tool that lets you adjust sound frequencies. It can make low sounds (bass) louder or quieter, and tweak higher sounds (treble) too. If you want your music to sound like it’s coming from a big stereo system, an equalizer’s the way to go. In Ubuntu, there are a few options to choose from, and they all work a little bit different, but the goal’s the same: better sound!

PulseAudio Equalizer

One of the most popular equalizers for Ubuntu is the PulseAudio Equalizer. Now, PulseAudio’s like a traffic controller for your sound. It handles how sound moves in and out of your system. The PulseAudio Equalizer helps you fine-tune that sound to make sure it’s just right. You can adjust things like the bass, midrange, and treble, to match your own preferences.

To get started with PulseAudio Equalizer, you’ll need to install it first. It’s easy, just open up your terminal and type:

sudo apt install pulseaudio-equalizer

Once it’s installed, you can open it up, and you’ll see a bunch of sliders. These sliders let you adjust different frequencies of your sound. You can make the bass heavier, the treble sharper, or anything in between. It’s a real handy tool for getting the sound just the way you like it.

PulseEffects – A Little Extra Spice

But wait, there’s more! If you’re looking for something with a little more flair, you might want to try PulseEffects. This tool is like PulseAudio Equalizer on steroids. It’s got all the same features, but it also adds some extra effects. You can play with things like volume normalization, auto-volume adjustments, and even a compressor that helps balance out the highs and lows of your audio.

Just like PulseAudio Equalizer, you can install PulseEffects from the terminal by typing:

sudo apt install pulseeffects

Once installed, you’ll have a window full of different sliders and settings. You can even control the sound effects on a per-application basis, meaning you can make your music sound different from the sound of videos, or games, or whatever else you’ve got running on your computer.

ALSA Equalizer

If you don’t like using PulseAudio for some reason, there’s another tool called ALSA Equalizer. ALSA is another sound system that comes with Ubuntu, and it’s a bit more low-level compared to PulseAudio. You can use ALSA Equalizer to adjust the sound directly, without all the extra layers. It works in the command-line interface, so it’s not as fancy as PulseEffects or PulseAudio Equalizer, but it gets the job done.

To install ALSA Equalizer, you’ll need to install the necessary plugin by running this command:

sudo apt install libasound2-plugin-equal

Once you’ve done that, you can use the alsamixer command to start tweaking your sound. It’s not the prettiest, but if you’re okay with using the terminal, it’s a solid choice.

Which One to Choose?

So now you’re probably wonderin’, “Which one should I pick?” Well, that depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a simple, straightforward equalizer, then PulseAudio Equalizer might be the best choice for you. It’s easy to use, and it gets the job done.

But if you’re after something a little fancier, with more options and effects, then PulseEffects is the way to go. It’s got all sorts of features, like audio compressors, equalizer presets, and the ability to tweak sound on a per-application basis.

And if you’re a fan of using the terminal, and you don’t need all the extra bells and whistles, then ALSA Equalizer might suit you just fine. It’s simple, but it gets you control over your sound.

Conclusion

All in all, there’s plenty of ways to get an equalizer running on Ubuntu, whether you’re a casual listener or a sound enthusiast. The tools I’ve mentioned here – PulseAudio Equalizer, PulseEffects, and ALSA Equalizer – all work in different ways, so you can choose the one that fits you best. And remember, once you’ve got your equalizer set up, you’ll be able to enjoy your audio the way it was meant to be heard. Happy listening!

Tags：[PulseAudio Equalizer, Ubuntu Equalizer, Linux Equalizer, PulseEffects, ALSA Equalizer, Audio Settings, Ubuntu Sound, Equalizer on Linux, PulseAudio, Audio Enhancement]