I was wrapping my brain around managing multiple audio devices, and was finding it difficult. Here is what I have, all generically USB compliant for use on Linux:
- 4 In / 4 Out USB Mixer
- 12 Channel USB Mixer
- USB Stereo Microphone w/ Headphone Output
- USB Docking Station w/ Headphone Output
- Everything is connected through Powered USB 3.0 hubs
- TP-Link Bluetooth 5.0 adapter
I can see (plus assign) all of these devices over Pipewire's qpwgraph, but am struggling to assign them directly within:
The Solution
- QPWGraph can be used to visually assign.
- Don't forget to save your existing configuration, so you don't lose it!
- Real-time assignments add up quickly!
- Wireplumber handles configuration files directly.
- pw-jack will manage Jack assignments in Pipewire
Why was it confusing?
- Outside of
qpwgraph, I'm not seeing each audio interface listed within any of my DAW options.
- Each application seems confused between
ALSA and pulseaudio. I see the devices becoming available within pulseaudio and alsamixer because both are supported.
- I've never used
JACK, so I had no opinion on it, beyond knowing pipewire is meant to replace it.
- I'll start working on the Midi input/output mappings next.
- And video assignments, which is supported in Pipewire (although might be a bit experimental)
The Goal
My goal is to actually use all of these through the computer, because I've always handled everything in hardware directly as a musician. Hoping to finally break the 4-track and 8-track habit, by embracing the computer instead. Might as well explore the digital side as part of the show.
Progress
- JACK assignments are automatically seen within Reaper.
You don't actually start a JACK server when using PipeWire, as PipeWire emulates JACK. Instead, configure your applications to use JACK, and they will connect through PipeWire without needing to start a separate JACK server.
- Manually assigning inputs is done by right-clicking the red track icon within Reaper.
- [x] Save all assignments as templates for easy recall within all DAW programs, in addition to Pipewire, was accomplish with pw-jack.
Happy to report I've had no difficult with running any number of simultaneous + parallel audio interfaces over USB after assigning in Pipewire tooling! Awesome!
Example Output Routing
- USB Microphone -> Reaper
- Reaper -> USB Microphone attached Headphones
- Reaper -> Built-in Stereo Speakers
- Reaper -> Bluetooth Speakers in other room
- Web Browser -> Bluetooth