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

[Thomas Daede]

Is there currently a bug open for this? I'd rather it not get lost.

On 09/17/2015 11:59 AM, Germano Massullo wrote:
> =======
> 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
> 
>