Softvol is an

Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) is a software framework and part of the Linux kernel that provides an application programming interface (API) for sound card device drivers. Some of the goals of the ALSA project at its inception were ...

(ALSA) plugin that adds a

software Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...

based

volume Volume is a measure of regions in three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch) ...

control to the ALSA

audio mixer A mixing console or mixing desk is an electronic device for mixing audio signals, used in sound recording and reproduction and sound reinforcement systems. Inputs to the console include microphones, signals from electric or electronic instr ...

(

alsamixer alsamixer is a terminal user interface mixer program for the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) that is used to configure sound settings and adjust the volume. It uses ncurses to draw its user interface. It supports multiple sound card ...

). This is helpful when a

sound card A sound card (also known as an audio card) is an internal expansion card that provides input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under the control of computer programs. The term ''sound card'' is also applied to external audio ...

does not have a hardware volume control. The softvol plugin is built into ALSA and does not require separate installation.Softvol - ALSA wiki
/ref> Another use case of softvol is when a hardware volume control is unable to amplify the sound beyond certain threshold and thus renders an audio file too quiet. In this case software amplifiers can be used in order to boost the volume level at the price of sacrificing some quality. Many modern programs that are able to play audio files have their own, sound system-independent software volume controls.

References

External links

Alsa Opensrc Org - Independent ALSA and linux audio support site
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture {{Multimedia-software-stub