---
name: "gsound"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "gensio"
version: "3.0.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gsound"
---

# gsound(1)

Tool for doing sound I/O using the sound gensio

## NAME

gsound - Tool for doing sound I/O using the sound gensio

## SYNOPSIS

**gsound** \[-r\|--rate num\] \[-n\|--nbufs num\] \[-c\|--channels num\] \[-s\|--bufsize num\] \[-t\|--type num\] \[-f\|--format str\] \[-p\|--play\] \[-L\|--list-devs\] \[-d\|--debug\] \[-h\|--help\] \<device\> \[\<file\>\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **gsound** program allows you to record/play sound to/from the given sound device. Sound data goes to/from file, or stdio if the file isn't given.

## OPTIONS

- *-r\|--rate num*

  The sample rate, defaults to 44100.

- *-n\|--nbufs num*

  The number of buffers, defaults to 4.

- *-c\|--channels num*

  The number of channels, defaults to 1.

- *-s\|--bufsize num*

  The number of buffer size, defaults to 2048.

- *-t\|--type num*

  The interface type, either alsa (Linux), win (Windows), portaudio (generally MacOS) or file.  Default to alsa, win, or portaudio depending on the platform.

- *-f\|--format str*

  The I/O format.  Default to float.  May be one of double, float, int32, int24, int16, or int8

- *-p\|--play*

  Playback data from stdin.  The default is to record data to stdout.

- *-L\|--list-devs*

  List available devices and exit.

- *-d\|--debug*

  Enable debug.  Specify more than once to increase the debug level

- *-h\|--help*

  Help

## SEE ALSO

[gensio(5)](/gensio/5.md)

## KNOWN PROBLEMS

None.

## AUTHOR

Corey Minyard \<minyard@acm.org\>