Disable PulseAudio flat volumes to prevent it from pushing volume level to max

[Germano Massullo]

=======
Definition of flat-volumes from [1] : it scales the device-volume with
the volume of the "loudest" application. For example, raising the VoIP
call volume will raise the hardware volume and adjust the music-player
volume so it stays where it was, without having to lower the volume of
the music-player manually.
=======

Today I had a scary experience with the audio of my computer.
I was listening to music with Amarok, using my headphones... The KMix
volume level was ~ 35%. When I logged into a video conference
application, the volume suddenly reached the 100%. I was shocked, having
the maximum audio level shooted in your ears is a painful experience.
The conference application that triggered PulseAudio pushing volume to
maximum level probably should have never asked the system for a 100%
audio level, but on the other hand, PulseAudio should never allow an
application to make such sudden changes.
To avoid that, you have to set
flat-volumes = no
in /etc/pulse/daemon.conf

I found many users stories complaining about this default setting [2]
[3] [4] and you can easily find other by searching "pulseaudio flat
volumes".
I completely agree with user gaggra comment at [3]

<<This is an interesting issue because it is one of the rare times
misbehaving software can /physically hurt you/. You would think that
once that was understood, the design of this sort of behaviour would be
treated in a very conservative, careful manner.>>

Moreover this default setting can cause sound crackling [5].

So I would like to start a discussion about disabling this default
behaviour for the mentioned reasons.


[1] https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PulseAudio
[2]
https://major.io/2015/06/08/pulseaudio-popping-with-multiple-sounds-in-fedora-22/
[3]
https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/2rjiaa/horrible_decisions_flat_volumes_in_pulseaudio_a/
[4]
http://awesomelinux.blogspot.it/2013/06/pulseaudios-dynamic-volume-levels-are.html
[5] https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1264177
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