virtual-mic

Scripts to create and manage virtual audio paths using pactl on Linux.

Software with similar functionality exists for Windows and macOS.

Each pipeline consists of:

• A virtual playback sink: <label> playback sink
• A virtual recording source: <label> recording source (from that sink's monitor)

The script creates device names with the virt_ prefix. Each pair is isolated from physical speakers/microphones because audio stays in a null sink + monitor source path.

Requirements

• Linux with PipeWire/PulseAudio compatibility layer
• pactl

Usage

./virtual-mic.sh -n <count> [-l <label>]...
./virtual-mic.sh status
./virtual-mic.sh off
./virtual-mic.sh -h
./virtual-mic.sh --help

Commands

• -n <count>: Number of virtual pipeline pairs to create.
• -l <label>: Label for a pipeline. Can be repeated.
• status: Show all virt_ sinks, sources, and matching modules.
• off: Remove all virtual devices/modules that reference virt_.
• -h, --help: Show help text.

Label Behavior

Provided -l values are used first in order. If fewer labels are provided than -n, the script auto-generates names as v1, v2, v3, and so on.

Example:

./virtual-mic.sh -n 4 -l wombat -l wombat2

Creates labels in this order:

• wombat
• wombat2
• v1
• v2

Examples

Create 2 pipelines with auto labels:

./virtual-mic.sh -n 2

Create 3 pipelines with one custom label:

./virtual-mic.sh -n 3 -l podcast

Check status:

./virtual-mic.sh status

Remove all created virtual devices:

./virtual-mic.sh off

virtual-mic-mux.sh

virtual-mic-mux.sh combines audio streams (for example, mic + app audio) into a single virtual mic path.

Show its built-in help:

./virtual-mic-mux.sh -h

Current usage from the script:

./virtual-mic-mux.sh on
./virtual-mic-mux.sh off
./virtual-mic-mux.sh status

Command summary:

• on: Create and enable the muxed virtual mic path.
• off: Tear it down and restore previous defaults.
• status: Show current mux status.