The ALSA softvol plugin allows the user to add a new volume control and control
the sound volume by software. This is necessary if the sound card can't control
the volume by hardware.
An example configuration in the `~/.asoundrc` file might look like this:
```
pcm.softvol {
type softvol
slave {
pcm "hw:0"
}
control {
name "Master"
card 0
}
min_dB -57.2
max_dB -6.2
}
ctl.softvol {
type hw
card 0
}
```
The corresponding entries in the shairport-sync would be:
```
alsa =
{
output_device = "softvol";
mixer_control_name = "Master";
}
```
Please check the (ALSA documentation)[http://alsa.opensrc.org/Softvol] and the
(ALSA PCM library reference)[http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/pcm_plugins.html]
If shairport-syncs alsa backend does not have success in getting the dB volume
information from the hardware device it tries to get these information from a
software volume control with the name mixer device name as for the hardware
mixer.