lubuntu-bluetooth

Bluetooth probably already came installed on your Ubuntu-like distro, but just incase :

It didn't,
You uninstalled by mistake,
You can't get pulse-audio working,

Then here is a way to get your headset or speakers working with Alsa alone.

1. Install

blueman
bluez-asla

That's right (!), that's all you need !

2. Edit Config file

The alsa config file is searched for in many places;

/etc/alsa.conf
/usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf
/etc/bluetooth/audio.conf
/usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf.d/70-btspeakers.conf

I recommend creating and editing the last one. It begins with a priority number (70) it can be any number and the system reads the files in order of this number. That's not interesting, what is interesting is the content;

/usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf.d/70-btspeakers.conf

pcm.btspeakers {
   type plug
   slave {
       pcm {
           type bluetooth
           device FC:58:FA:C3:03:96
           profile "auto"
       }
   }
   hint {
       show on
       description "BT Speakers"
   }
}
ctl.btspeakers {
type bluetooth
}

The HEX values specify the device ID. You get it by this command..

hcitool scan
Scanning ...
FC:58:FA:C3:03:96 DOSS hurricane3

Make up your own name e.g btspeakers, btheadset..,, etc and give it a description e.g "BT Speakers"

3. Restart Bluetooth

sudo service bluetooth restart

4. Pair and Connect

Preferences > Bluetooth Manager

Adapter > Search

Search and pair the headphones or speakers...
Connect and pair to "Audio Sink"

5. Play

Audacious : File > Preferences > Audio > Output Settings >
ALSA-Preferences > PCM device: btspeakers

Mplayer : -ao alsa:device=btspeakers

(for SMplayer, paste alsa:device=btspeakers into the "output driver>user defined" box

That's it!

Extras
How to set the default ALSA pcm device.

Step 5 (above) can be a real pain everytime you want to switch device.

To get Alsa to select your device by default no matter which player you are using,

Create a ".asoundrc" file in your home directory like this;

~/.asoundrc

pcm.softvol_for_btspeakers
{
   type softvol
   slave.pcm "btspeakers"
   control.name "Bluetooth"
   control.card 0
}

#pcm.!default front # main (use aplay -L to get this name)
#pcm.!default btspeakers # bluetooth speakers WITHOUT software vol ctrl
pcm.!default softvol_for_btspeakers # bluetooth speakers WITH software volume control

The top part enables the device to be controlled with compatible software volume control (e.g smplayer, audacious..etc). It is not needed, but it's nice to have.

The bottom line is the important part. Un-comment the line that you want as the default device and comment out the other ones.

There is no need to 'bluetooth restart' (unless you just added a new device), just close and re-open your player.

To get a list of device names type : > aplay -L

The main card is something like;

front:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
which is used as pcm.!default front

( you only really need this to find out the name of your main speakers)

Tip:

The main (base) volume can be set by using the command line tool: alsamixer.
There will be a column which you can tab to called Bluetooth.

Switching default devices.

Now you can switch between devices by either
a) Editing .asoundrc

b) Create multiple copies of asoundrc e.g one for main-speakers, one for btspeakers, ..etc.
and just copy over the one you need to use.
e.g cp ./options/asoundrc.3 ~/.asoundrc

/End.

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