Pipewire: Send Audio to Multiple Devices

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Today I wanted to listen to music with a friend. After connecting their Bluetooth headphones to my computer, I noticed the KDE interface only allows setting one audio output port. Remembering my previous experience with Steam Link, I decided to use Pipewire to achieve this functionality.

References:

  1. Find audio devices
$ pw-link -o
Midi-Bridge:Midi Through:(capture_0) Midi Through Port-0
v4l2_input.pci-0000_00_14.0-usb-0_6_1.0:out_0
alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo:monitor_FL
alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo:monitor_FR
alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo:capture_FL
alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo:capture_FR
easyeffects_sink:monitor_FL
easyeffects_sink:monitor_FR
easyeffects_source:capture_FL
easyeffects_source:capture_FR
ee_soe_output_level:output_FL
ee_soe_output_level:output_FR
ee_soe_spectrum:output_FL
ee_soe_spectrum:output_FR
ee_soe_equalizer:output_FL
ee_soe_equalizer:output_FR
ee_soe_convolver:output_FL
ee_soe_convolver:output_FR
ee_sie_output_level:output_FL
ee_sie_output_level:output_FR
ee_sie_spectrum:output_FL
ee_sie_spectrum:output_FR
Audacious:output_FL
Audacious:output_FR
steam:output_FL
steam:output_FR
bluez_output.84_AB_26_A6_8A_6A.a2dp-sink:monitor_FL
bluez_output.84_AB_26_A6_8A_6A.a2dp-sink:monitor_FR

Confirmed the desired audio devices are alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo and bluez_output.84_AB_26_A6_8A_6A.a2dp-sink

  1. Create virtual device connection
$ pactl load-module module-null-sink media.class=Audio/Sink sink_name=Simultaneous channel_map=stereo
536870913 # Module ID, no need to remember
  1. Connect devices
# Order doesn't affect the result
$ pw-link Simultaneous:monitor_FL bluez_output.84_AB_26_A6_8A_6A.a2dp-sink:playback_FL
$ pw-link Simultaneous:monitor_FR bluez_output.84_AB_26_A6_8A_6A.a2dp-sink:playback_FR
$ pw-link Simultaneous:monitor_FL alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo:playback_FL
$ pw-link Simultaneous:monitor_FR alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo:playback_FR
  1. Select in KDE settings

KDE audio settings interface

  1. Unload module

You can unload the module when done

$ pactl unload-module module-null-sink