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pw-cat — Play and record audio files through PipeWire. See also: `wpctl`, `pw-cli`. More information: <https:

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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commandfilesandpw-catcliaudioplayrecord

linux

Problem

How to use the pw-cat command: Play and record audio files through PipeWire. See also: wpctl, pw-cli. More information: <https://docs.pipewire.org/page_man_pw-cat_1.html>.

Solution

pw-cat — Play and record audio files through PipeWire. See also: wpctl, pw-cli. More information: <https://docs.pipewire.org/page_man_pw-cat_1.html>.

Play a WAV file over the default target:

pw-cat {{[-p|--playback]}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Play a WAV file with a specified resampler quality (4 by default):

pw-cat {{[-q|--quality]}} {{0..15}} {{[-p|--playback]}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Record a sample recording at a volume level of 125%:

pw-cat {{[-r|--record]}} --volume {{1.25}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Record a sample recording using a different sample rate:

pw-cat {{[-r|--record]}} --rate {{6000}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Display help:

pw-cat {{[-h|--help]}}

Code Snippets

Play a WAV file over the default target

pw-cat {{[-p|--playback]}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Play a WAV file with a specified resampler quality (4 by default)

pw-cat {{[-q|--quality]}} {{0..15}} {{[-p|--playback]}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Record a sample recording at a volume level of 125%

pw-cat {{[-r|--record]}} --volume {{1.25}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Record a sample recording using a different sample rate

pw-cat {{[-r|--record]}} --rate {{6000}} {{path/to/file.wav}}

Display help

pw-cat {{[-h|--help]}}

Context

tldr-pages: linux/pw-cat

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