30

I am new to Xmonad (just installed it yesterday), and since I have never used haskell before, I found configuration a little bit confusing for me. I got somewhat made xmobar and trayer work, but I have no idea how might I make multimedia keys to adjust volume. Can anyone help with that?

Additional question: How do you manage your volume in xmonad. Do you use tray icon, or other things like that?

Here is my xmonad configuration:

import XMonad
import XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog
import XMonad.Hooks.ManageDocks
import XMonad.Util.EZConfig(additionalKeys)
import System.IO

main = xmonad =<< statusBar myBar myPP toggleStrutKey myConfig

-- Command to launch the bar
myBar = "xmobar"

-- Custom PP, it determines what is written to the bar
myPP = xmobarPP { ppCurrent = xmobarColor "#429942" "" . wrap "<" ">" }

-- Key bindings to toggle the gap for the bar
toggleStrutKey XConfig {XMonad.modMask = modMask} = (modMask, xK_b)

myConfig = defaultConfig {
    manageHook = manageDocks <+> manageHook defaultConfig,
    layoutHook = avoidStruts $ layoutHook defaultConfig,
    modMask = mod4Mask -- Rebind Mod to windows key
    } `additionalKeys`
    [ ((mod4Mask .|. shiftMask, xK_z), spawn "xscreensaver-command -lock")
    ]

4 Answers 4

30

Use 'xev' and tap the multimedia keys to discover their names. One might be 'XF86XK_AudioMute'. Then look at the contents of '/usr/include/X11/XF86keysym.h' and look for the name. On my system, 'XF86XK_AudioMute' is '0x1008FF12'.

Drop that where you would put a key in your config file. It might look like this:

import XMonad
import XMonad.Hooks.DynamicLog
import XMonad.Hooks.ManageDocks
import XMonad.Util.EZConfig(additionalKeys)
import System.IO

-CUT-

 } `additionalKeys`
    [ ((mod4Mask .|. shiftMask, xK_z), spawn "xscreensaver-command -lock"),
      ((0                     , 0x1008FF11), spawn "amixer -q sset Master 2%-"),
      ((0                     , 0x1008FF13), spawn "amixer -q sset Master 2%+"),
      ((0                     , 0x1008FF12), spawn "amixer set Master toggle")
    ]

'amixer' will set your volume. The '0' replacing mod4Mask allows you to tap the multimedia key without holding your mod key.

5
  • 1
    When I use xev and press volume keys on my HP laptop I get no keycodes, but showkey command show them as keycode 114 and keycode 115. How do I need to change this XMonad config file to work with my keys?
    – valentt
    Jul 3, 2013 at 18:38
  • On Ubuntu 13.04 this worked copy/paste without looking up the keys symbols.
    – Cory Klein
    Oct 16, 2013 at 21:19
  • 2
    If the mute above cannot unmute, try amixer -D pulse set Master toggle instead.
    – zw324
    Dec 26, 2013 at 19:26
  • 1
    Mute key problem: When I start xev and press mute key, there's nothing to find in the terminal. (Other keys are fine.) I looked up from /usr/include/X11/XF86keysym.h, I found this: #define XF86XK_AudioMute 0x1008FF12 /* Mute sound from the system */ Do you know what's the problem with my mute key? Thank you.
    – Nick
    Dec 18, 2014 at 0:42
  • Another Mute key problem: I can't find the name for Mute either. (I use ThinkPad.)
    – Nick
    Dec 22, 2014 at 14:48
19

See this Graphics.X11.ExtraTypes.XF86 for keys you want and add to your config file:

import Graphics.X11.ExtraTypes.XF86
myKeys conf@(XConfig {XMonad.modMask = modm}) = M.fromList $
[ ...
, ((0, xF86XK_AudioLowerVolume   ), spawn "amixer set Master 2-")
, ((0, xF86XK_AudioRaiseVolume   ), spawn "amixer set Master 2+")
, ((0, xF86XK_AudioMute          ), spawn "amixer set Master toggle")
...]
3
  • I get an error with this config: "xmonad.hs:29:1: parse error (possibly incorrect indentation) Please check the file for errors." That line is where "[ ..." begins ... Do you know why this happens?
    – valentt
    Jul 3, 2013 at 18:09
  • 4
    To use Graphics.X11.ExtraTypes.XF86 is the better solution for readability.
    – erik
    Oct 4, 2013 at 9:52
  • @valentt The line with the dots is just an example. It should look like that, so instead of the three dots you have your first key defined: [ ((modMask, xK_e ), spawn "dmenu_run")
    – erik
    Oct 4, 2013 at 9:57
10

If you're using pulseaudio, pactl also should work.

, ((0 , xF86XK_AudioRaiseVolume), spawn "pactl set-sink-volume 0 +1.5%")
, ((0 , xF86XK_AudioLowerVolume), spawn "pactl set-sink-volume 0 -- -1.5%")
, ((0 , xF86XK_AudioMute), spawn "pactl set-sink-mute 0 toggle")
]

0 is sink id. pactl list short sinks will show sink list.

pactl stat|grep 'Default Sink' | cut -f2 -d':'

will show current default sink. You can use sink name instead numeric id.

Doulble dash -- tells 'this is not option(like -h), just value' to pactl.

3
  • 1
    Nice! However, the -- didn't work for me on 15.10, just removing it did the trick. Also, there is a special name @DEFAULT_SINK@, so you don't need to fiddle around with device specific numbers/names.
    – iGEL
    Jan 8, 2016 at 12:54
  • 1
    This is perfect, replacing 0 with @DEFAULT_SINK@ in the above commands! At least for those switching from other DEs -- thanks a lot to you!
    – Jan D
    Mar 3, 2016 at 12:05
  • This answer has the benefit of going over 100% instead of capping (like amixer caps). The bad thing is that it stops working when you play the music from different sink. May 6, 2018 at 23:48
4

If amixer set Master 2- does not work. Try amixer -D pulse set Master 2- instead. Also 2%- and 2%+ will change the volume by 2 percent, which may be easier to use. You can test these commands in the terminal to adjust them to your liking before you put them in you xmonad config file.

1
  • ... -D pulse ... worked for me! also, a -q flag quiets the output
    – Josh.F
    Jan 16, 2017 at 19:44

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