How to Install Audio Effects Tool PulseEffects in Ubuntu 18.04

This quick tutorial shows how to install PulseEffects, audio effects software (e.g., limiter, compressor, equalizer.), in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 18.10, Ubuntu 19.04, and Ubuntu 19.10.

Ubuntu uses both ALSA and Pulseaudio for controlling sound input and output. ALSA is the kernel level sound mixer that manages your sound card directly. And Pulseaudio is a software mixer provides further tools on top of ALSA base.

PulseEffects is an open-source audio effects software for PulseAudio applications that support:

Applications output: Limiter, Auto gain, Expander, Compressor, Multiband compressor, Equalizer, Bass enhancer, Exciter, Crystalizer, Reverberation, Crossfeed, Filter (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-reject modes), Stereo tools, Loudness, Maximizer, Pitch, Gate, Multiband gate, De-esser, Convolver
Applications input: Gate, Multiband gate, WebRTC, Limiter, Compressor, Multiband compressor, Equalizer, Reverberation, Pitch, Filter (low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and band-reject modes), De-esse

How to Install PulseEffects in Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

Following steps will show you how to install PulseEffects via Ubuntu PPA, though it’s also available as flatpak (containerized softare package).

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mikhailnov/pulseeffects

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. For Linux Mint 19.x and other derivatives, refresh package cache may be required:

sudo apt update

3. Finally install the software via command:

sudo apt install pulseaudio pulseeffects --install-recommends

Once installation success. Restart Ubuntu, and finally launch it from application menu:

Uninstall:

To remove the software, simply open terminal and run command:

sudo apt remove pulseeffects

And open Software & Updates and navigate to Other Softwar tab to remove PPAs.

Ji m

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I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via [email protected] Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1

10 responses to How to Install Audio Effects Tool PulseEffects in Ubuntu 18.04

Brian August 18, 2019 at 3:30 am

Just what I needed, and then some. Thanks for the clear and simple instructions!
Aleks September 30, 2019 at 1:01 pm

WOW!!! It looks like you really know this staf!!!!! From your PPA it has been installed and working now. THANK YOU.
Brian Z October 27, 2019 at 10:28 pm

Thanks worked perfectly!
Micheal November 7, 2019 at 8:56 am

I really like the way to install Audio Effects Tool PulseEffects in Ubuntu. That is a great sharing!
Andrey December 21, 2019 at 12:37 pm

Removed PulseEffects as you recommended and lost all audio devices, thanks.
Ubuntu 19.10, Thinkpad t480
Dan Silver December 31, 2019 at 11:09 pm

Thank you !
RJ January 17, 2020 at 9:50 pm

Thank you much. Only manual how to make it which was succesful!
Patrik January 22, 2020 at 10:27 pm

This is the working guide. Do not install through Flatkpak, that one messes up your volume control.
Additionally I had to go to Settings -> Sound and select PuleEffects(apps) as Output to have proper volume control.
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1204482/how-to-control-pulseeffects-volume-with-keyboard
Derian January 28, 2020 at 9:34 pm

Thanks !
cyb0man March 8, 2020 at 4:54 pm

Finally!
I first installed via flatpak, seemed to work but INPUT/OUTPUT bars in the effects were showing nothing and sound always unaffected.

So, i removed the flatpak installation and did it this way, and hey!!
Working now.