Docker container's audio to OS

5olar · April 18, 2019 at 4:33 PM

I have a docker container running with PulseAudio inside. Where should I create a docker volume to from LibreELEC, so PulseAudio can detect the correct device from the container, or so I can manually set it as a sink (output)?

And is it possible to have LibreELEC use the device alongside the docker container, or will I need to use separate outputs?

Appreciate any directions.

5olar · April 21, 2019 at 4:18 PM

Solved most of the questions here apart from one: multiple audio streams. The solution is dmix, but the file I need is read only: /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf

This may be the wrong file, as the official ALSA wiki says it's /etc/asound.conf, but that doesn't exist in LibreELEC.

Please could someone at LibreELEC point me to the correct file to write to, if possible?

**chewitt** · April 21, 2019 at 5:09 PM Official Post

I'm not sure if /storage/.config/asound.conf still works as an override, but it used to (admittedly a long time ago, so no guarantees it still does).

**escalade** · April 21, 2019 at 8:42 PM

If you want to use Pulse you can run your container with -v /run:/run -e PULSE_RUNTIME_PATH=/run/pulse, I think that should do it.

5olar · April 22, 2019 at 2:46 PM

I tested and /storage/.config/asound.conf still works for me, also "/run" was the correct place for PulseAudio. Great!

Now I think I've setup a dmix device and it's ALSA's default, but how can I make Kodi use it? Since it's not in "settings > system > audio > audio output device", would I need some startup arguments for Kodi? The output I used for dmix doesn't appear in Kodi anymore, presumably because it's being used on boot.

I know with PulseAudio, all you need to do is make a sink and Kodi should pickup the device.

5olar · April 25, 2019 at 3:53 PM

Quick question: does LibreELEC output audio via Pulse or ALSA? It says ALSA next to the output options in Kodi, but I think Pulse always uses ALSA to detect devices.

**escalade** · April 25, 2019 at 4:37 PM

Kodi does it's own enumeration and skips whatever you have in asound.conf AFAIK. Pulse uses ALSA for detection and output.

5olar · April 25, 2019 at 6:35 PM

If Kodi does so on its own, when Kodi says "ALSA" next to the output device, it's also playing directly via ALSA?

Unless I can make the output go through PulseAudio or I can get Kodi to register devices in asound.conf, I may be screwed.

First, I need to know if the audio is just going through ALSA directly, because in this article:

Pulseaudio [LibreELEC.wiki]

It shows Pulse can play / receive audio, though I'm not sure whether it means simultaneously with Kodi.

5olar · April 26, 2019 at 4:55 PM

There may be a solution. To my understanding, Kodi uses Pulse whenever it's installed (and running). Unless the Kodi startup args in LibreELEC force ALSA: https://kodi.wiki/view/pulseaudio#forcing_alsa

All I need to do is get Pulse to autostart before Kodi.

Anyone at LibreELEC know if "/storage/.config/autostart.sh" will execute always before Kodi, and whether Kodi is forced to use ALSA on start? Many thanks.

**vpeter** · April 26, 2019 at 5:12 PM

Yes for first part of your question.

5olar · April 26, 2019 at 11:55 PM

Finally got it working 100%! Now I just need to set some Pulse settings on OS start.

For this, the file is "/etc/pulse/default.pa", any writable override for this?

**vpeter** · April 27, 2019 at 7:57 AM

Maybe .conf file in folder /storage/.config/pulse-daemon.conf.d ?

Pulseaudio [LibreELEC.wiki]

5olar · April 28, 2019 at 3:13 PM

That file doesn't allow loading modules, so I just used "pactl load-module" in autostart.sh.

For anyone who finds this thread looking for info, also consider the following:

• Use the Pulse module "module-udev-detect".

• Container probably needs to run as root and so do the users in it (for access to Pulse).

• Won't play audio alongside Kodi if ALSA is used, and UI sounds may need to be turned off for playing while on UI.