Home Setup Guide for MuteMe on Linux Systems

Setup Guide for MuteMe on Linux Systems

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for Linux users to configure their systems to work optimally with the MuteMe devices including the MuteMe Mini. This documentation has been specifically tailored and tested for Ubuntu-based systems, although the principles may apply to other Linux distributions with some adaptations.

Understanding the Configuration Needs

Configuring your Linux system to work with MuteMe involves two main components: updating UDEV rules and installing PulseAudio. These steps are essential to ensure that your MuteMe device operates correctly and integrates seamlessly with your system’s audio configurations.

Why Update UDEV Rules?

UDEV is the device manager for the Linux kernel, responsible for managing device nodes in the /dev directory. When you plug in a USB device like MuteMe, UDEV decides based on its rules whether and how to make the device accessible to software on the system. By updating the UDEV rules, we specify that the MuteMe device should always be recognized and accessible, setting correct permissions and group ownership. This ensures that the device can communicate freely with your system without encountering permission errors, which is crucial for HID (Human Interface Device) devices that need to interact directly with the system.

The Role of PulseAudio

PulseAudio acts as a sound server for your system, providing an API to control audio devices more efficiently. For MuteMe, which functions primarily as a microphone management tool, PulseAudio allows us to interface directly with your system’s audio settings. It enables quick and accurate control over the microphone, ensuring that mute and unmute commands are executed swiftly and reliably. This is particularly useful in virtual meetings and other scenarios where microphone control is frequently needed.

Automated Setup vs. Manual Configuration

For convenience, we offer both an automated scripts and detailed manual steps for configuring your Linux system. The automated script simplifies the process, applying the necessary changes with minimal user input. Alternatively, you can choose to manually implement the changes if you prefer a more hands-on approach or need to customize the settings further.

Automated Script: We provide a script that automatically updates your UDEV rules and installs PulseAudio. This is the fastest way to get up and running, especially if you are unfamiliar with Linux configurations.

Manual Configuration: Detailed instructions are also provided for users who prefer to manually edit their system settings. This approach allows for greater control over each step of the process and may be preferred by advanced users or those with specific system requirements.

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Update UDEV Rules

First, you'll need to add specific rules for your MuteMe device in the UDEV rules file:

Open a terminal window.
Type the following command to open the rules file in a text editor with root permissions (use 'nano' or your preferred editor):

sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/99-muteme.rules

Add the following lines to the file:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="20A0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="42DB", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="20A0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="42DB", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="20A0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="42DA", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="20A0", ATTRS{idProduct}=="42DA", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0001", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0001", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0002", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0002", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0003", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0003", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0004", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="3603", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0004", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev"

Save the file and close the editor.
Reload the UDEV rules by running:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules && sudo udevadm trigger

2. Install PulseAudio

Install PulseAudio to manage your audio settings effectively. The instructions differ based on your Linux distribution:

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

Open a terminal window.
Type the following command to install PulseAudio:

    sudo apt-get install pulseaudio -y

For Fedora/Red Hat-based systems:

Open a terminal window.
Type the following command to install PulseAudio and PulseAudio-utils:

    sudo dnf install pulseaudio pulseaudio-utils -y