Pw-cat is a command-line tool for playing and recording audio files using the Pipewire multimedia framework. Pipewire is a modern, low-latency audio and video processing framework designed to replace the aging JACK and PulseAudio systems.
The Pw-cat tool allows users to play and record audio files in a variety of formats, including WAV, FLAC, MP3, and OGG Vorbis. It supports a range of audio devices and outputs, including sound cards, Bluetooth devices, and network audio streams.
pw-cat Command Examples
1. List all available playback targets:
# pw-cat --playback --list-targets
2. Play a WAV file over the default target:
# pw-cat --playback {{path/to/file.wav}}
3. List all available record targets:
# pw-cat --record --list-targets
4. Record a sample recording at a different volume level:
# pw-cat --record --volume={{0.1}} {{path/to/file.wav}}
5. Record a sample recording using a different sample rate:
# pw-cat --record --rate={{6000}} {{path/to/file.wav}}
Summary
Overall, Pw-cat is a useful tool for playing and recording audio files using the Pipewire multimedia framework, and can be a powerful addition to a Linux-based audio production or editing setup.