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# reforger-surround
Temporary PipeWire/PulseAudio 5.1 sink helper for testing Arma Reforger surround output on Linux.
PipeWire/PulseAudio helper for exposing Arma Reforger's 5.1 output on Linux.
It creates a virtual 5.1 output device, makes it the launch-time default, then exposes Reforger back to that device after normal system audio is restored.
This project has two parts:
- Create a temporary 5.1 sink so Reforger negotiates surround channels.
- Manually open the Carla EQ project and wire it to your real stereo output.
Watching the graph in `qpwgraph` is recommended while testing.
## Requirements
- PipeWire with PulseAudio compatibility
- `pactl`
- Arma Reforger running through Steam/Proton
- Arma Reforger through Steam/Proton
## Install
Run from the repo:
For the Carla EQ stage on Arch:
```bash
./reforger-surround --help
sudo pacman -S carla lsp-plugins-vst
```
Or install locally:
## Install
```bash
install -Dm755 reforger-surround ~/.local/bin/reforger-surround
```
## Workflow
## 1. Expose Reforger 5.1
Preferred flow:
```bash
reforger-surround launch
```
This runs `up`, launches Arma Reforger through Steam, waits for the audio stream, then restores normal system audio while keeping Reforger exposed to the 5.1 sink.
This creates the 5.1 sink, makes it default, launches Reforger, waits for the game audio stream, restores your previous default device, then exposes Reforger back to the 5.1 sink.
Manual workflow:
Check the result:
```bash
reforger-surround check
```
Good:
```text
Sample Specification: ... 6ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right,front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right
```
If `launch` errors or times out, use the manual flow:
```bash
reforger-surround up
```
Launch Arma Reforger while `Reforger Surround 5.1` is the default output.
```bash
# launch Arma Reforger manually
reforger-surround restore
reforger-surround check
```
If successful, clean up later with:
If Reforger negotiates only `2ch`, restart the game and investigate manually with `qpwgraph`, `reforger-surround status`, and `pactl list sink-inputs`.
## 2. Open ReforgerEQ Carla
Open `reforger-audio.carxp` through Carla:
```bash
reforger-surround down
pw-jack /usr/bin/python3 /usr/share/carla/carla --with-appname=carla --with-libprefix=/usr /path/to/reforger-audio.carxp
```
## Commands
Optional KDE launcher:
- Open the start menu.
- Choose `Edit Applications`.
- Create a new item.
- Name: `Reforger EQ Carla`
- Program: `pw-jack`
- Command line arguments: `/usr/bin/python3 /usr/share/carla/carla --with-appname=carla --with-libprefix=/usr /path/to/reforger-audio.carxp`
## 3. Carla Output Wiring
Wire Carla outputs to your real output device's playback ports:
```text
Output 1 -> playback_FL
Output 2 -> playback_FR
Output 3 -> playback_FL and playback_FR
Output 4 -> playback_FL
Output 5 -> playback_FR
```
## Useful Commands
```bash
reforger-surround create # create the 5.1 sink only
reforger-surround up # create sink, save default, make 5.1 default
reforger-surround launch # up, launch Steam app, wait for stream, restore
reforger-surround expose # move running Reforger stream to the 5.1 sink
reforger-surround pin # alias for expose
reforger-surround restore # restore previous default, then expose Reforger
reforger-surround down # restore default and unload the 5.1 sink
reforger-surround status # show current state
reforger-surround expose # move running Reforger stream to the 5.1 sink
reforger-surround check # report whether Reforger is 2ch or 6ch
reforger-surround down # restore default and unload the 5.1 sink
```
## Configuration
@ -75,39 +111,4 @@ REFORGER_SURROUND_STEAM_URI=steam://rungameid/1874880
REFORGER_SURROUND_WAIT_SECONDS=90
```
Example override:
```bash
REFORGER_SURROUND_APP_NAME="ArmaReforgerSteam.exe" reforger-surround check
```
Use a custom launch command:
```bash
reforger-surround launch steam steam://rungameid/1874880
```
## Expected Result
Good:
```text
Sample Specification: ... 6ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right,front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right
```
Bad:
```text
Sample Specification: ... 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
```
If Reforger negotiates stereo, restart the game with the 5.1 sink selected/default before launch.
## Notes
- Prefer `restore` over manually changing your default output device.
- If you change default output manually, run `reforger-surround expose` afterward.
- `restore` keeps the 5.1 sink alive; `down` unloads it.
- LFE may be silent even when Reforger is outputting 6ch.
LFE may be silent even when Reforger is outputting 6ch.