Change Volume via single command?

Question

I need to change my volume on my USB sound card (which is the default card) via the command line. I know alsamixer will do that but I need it to be a one line command so I can use it in a python script, e.g., os.system("volume up 1"), or something like that. Is there any way to do this?

• goldilocks: I haven't used it personally, but if you want to do this programmatically there's python bindings for alsa lib. That should be available as a package on Raspbian -- I don't have a Raspbian pi running right now but I'd guess the package is pyalsaaudio (check with apt-cache search alsa | grep python). That will mean reading the API docs a bit, so not as easy as os.system().

Answer 1

1. Create a Bash file with the following code:

   amixer scontrols
   amixer sset 'Master' 50%
   

2. Make the Bash file executable using chmod +x filename

3. In Python, use the following:

   import os
   os.system("directorytobashfile/file")
   

• Patrick Cook: alsamixer is a GUI, not a one line command to change volume.
• Kachamenus: @PatrickCook I think I got alsamixer mixed up with amixer
• Kachamenus: @PatrickCook added the correct code for alsamixer
• CL.: amixer scontrols just prints the list of controls. And why don't you execute amixer directly?
• Kachamenus: @CL. Sorry I just do that to make sure I have the right command. I don't execute it directly because this way he can add to the bash file. You could do it directly too!