diff --git a/src/modules/mixer/app_mixer.c b/src/modules/mixer/app_mixer.c
index 537468070..3ef1e2d8c 100644
--- a/src/modules/mixer/app_mixer.c
+++ b/src/modules/mixer/app_mixer.c
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ _populate_channels(E_Mixer_App_Dialog_Data *app)
    if (app->channel_infos)
      {
         E_Mixer_Channel_Info *info = app->channel_infos->data;
-        if (info->has_capture)
+        if (e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(info))
           {
              e_widget_ilist_header_append(ilist, NULL, _("Input"));
              header_input = 1;
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ _populate_channels(E_Mixer_App_Dialog_Data *app)
      {
         E_Mixer_Channel_Info *info = l->data;
 
-        if ((!header_input) && info->has_capture)
+        if ((!header_input) && e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(info))
           {
              e_widget_ilist_header_append(ilist, NULL, _("Input"));
              header_input = 1;
@@ -533,13 +533,13 @@ _find_channel_by_name(E_Mixer_App_Dialog_Data *app, const char *channel_name)
      {
         info = app->channel_infos->data;
 
-        header_input = !!info->has_capture;
+        header_input = !!e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(info);
         i = 1;
      }
 
    EINA_LIST_FOREACH(app->channel_infos, l, info)
      {
-        if ((!header_input) && info->has_capture)
+        if ((!header_input) && e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(info))
           {
              header_input = 1;
              i++;
diff --git a/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.c b/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.c
index cb98bba72..b76d7165f 100644
--- a/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.c
+++ b/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.c
@@ -70,9 +70,9 @@ _channel_info_cmp(const void *data_a, const void *data_b)
 {
    const E_Mixer_Channel_Info *a = data_a, *b = data_b;
 
-   if (a->has_capture < b->has_capture)
+   if (e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(a) < e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(b))
      return -1;
-   else if (a->has_capture > b->has_capture)
+   else if (e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(a) > e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(b))
      return 1;
 
    return strcmp(a->name, b->name);
diff --git a/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.h b/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.h
index c0871059c..bf0ffdbaa 100644
--- a/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.h
+++ b/src/modules/mixer/e_mod_mixer.h
@@ -14,9 +14,35 @@ typedef struct _E_Mixer_Channel_State
    int right;
 } E_Mixer_Channel_State;
 
+#define E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE       0x01
+#define E_MIXER_CHANNEL_IS_MONO        0x02
+#define E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_CAPTURE    0x04
+#define E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK   0x08
+#define E_MIXER_CHANNEL_GROUP_MASK     0xFC
+#define E_MIXER_CHANNEL_USABLE_MASK    0xFD
+
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_is_mutable(_ch) \
+   ( ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE )!=0 )
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_is_mono(_ch) \
+   ( ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_IS_MONO )!=0 )
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_has_capture(_ch) \
+   ( ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_CAPTURE )!=0 )
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_has_playback(_ch) \
+   ( ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK )!=0 )
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_is_boost(_ch) \
+   ( ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK )!=0 && \
+     ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_CAPTURE )!=0 )
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_has_no_volume(_ch) \
+   ( ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK )==0 && \
+     ((_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_CAPTURE )==0 )
+#define e_mod_mixer_channel_group_get(_ch) \
+   ( (_ch)->capabilities & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_GROUP_MASK )
+#define e_mod_mixer_capabilities_usable(_capa) \
+   ( ((_capa) & E_MIXER_CHANNEL_USABLE_MASK)!=0 )
+
 typedef struct _E_Mixer_Channel_Info
 {
-   int                      has_capture;
+   int                      capabilities;
    const char              *name;
    E_Mixer_Channel         *id;
    E_Mixer_App             *app;
diff --git a/src/modules/mixer/sys_alsa.c b/src/modules/mixer/sys_alsa.c
index ca8c841c3..2e14d3611 100644
--- a/src/modules/mixer/sys_alsa.c
+++ b/src/modules/mixer/sys_alsa.c
@@ -294,11 +294,55 @@ e_mixer_system_get_card_name(const char *card)
    return eina_stringshare_add(name);
 }
 
+static int
+_mixer_channel_has_capabilities(snd_mixer_elem_t *elem)
+{
+   if (!snd_mixer_selem_is_active(elem)) return 0;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_volume(elem)) return 1;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_volume(elem)) return 1;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_switch(elem)) return 1;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_switch(elem)) return 1;
+
+   return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+_mixer_channel_capabilities(snd_mixer_elem_t *elem)
+{
+   int capabilities = 0;
+
+   /*
+    * never vol_joined if not mono
+    *    -> mono is enough
+    * never switch_joined if not switch
+    *    -> switch is enough
+    * never common_vol if not (playback_vol && capture vol)
+    *    -> palyback_vol & capture_vol is enough
+    */
+   if (!snd_mixer_selem_is_active(elem))
+     return 0;
+
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_volume(elem))
+     capabilities |= E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_CAPTURE;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_volume(elem))
+     capabilities |= E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_switch(elem) ||
+       snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_switch(elem))
+     capabilities |= E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE;
+   if (snd_mixer_selem_is_playback_mono(elem)==1 ||
+       snd_mixer_selem_is_capture_mono(elem)==1)
+     capabilities |= E_MIXER_CHANNEL_IS_MONO;
+
+   return capabilities;
+}
+
 Eina_List *
 e_mixer_system_get_channels(const E_Mixer_System *self)
 {
+   int capabilities;
    Eina_List *channels;
    snd_mixer_elem_t *elem;
+   E_Mixer_Channel_Info *ch_info;
 
    if (!self)
      return NULL;
@@ -308,16 +352,14 @@ e_mixer_system_get_channels(const E_Mixer_System *self)
    elem = snd_mixer_first_elem((snd_mixer_t *)self);
    for (; elem; elem = snd_mixer_elem_next(elem))
      {
-        if ((!snd_mixer_selem_is_active(elem)) ||
-            (!snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_volume(elem)))
+        capabilities = _mixer_channel_capabilities(elem);
+        if (!e_mod_mixer_capabilities_usable(capabilities))
           continue;
 
-        E_Mixer_Channel_Info *ch_info;
-
         ch_info = malloc(sizeof(*ch_info));
         ch_info->id = elem;
         ch_info->name = eina_stringshare_add(snd_mixer_selem_get_name(elem));
-        ch_info->has_capture = snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_switch(elem) || snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_volume(elem);
+        ch_info->capabilities = capabilities;
 
         channels = eina_list_append(channels, ch_info);
      }
@@ -342,8 +384,7 @@ e_mixer_system_get_channel_names(const E_Mixer_System *self)
    for (; elem; elem = snd_mixer_elem_next(elem))
      {
         const char *name;
-        if ((!snd_mixer_selem_is_active(elem)) ||
-            (!snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_volume(elem)))
+        if (!_mixer_channel_has_capabilities(elem))
           continue;
 
         snd_mixer_selem_get_id(elem, sid);
@@ -370,8 +411,7 @@ e_mixer_system_get_default_channel_name(const E_Mixer_System *self)
    for (; elem; elem = snd_mixer_elem_next(elem))
      {
         const char *name;
-        if ((!snd_mixer_selem_is_active(elem)) ||
-            (!snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_volume(elem)))
+        if (!_mixer_channel_has_capabilities(elem))
           continue;
 
         snd_mixer_selem_get_id(elem, sid);
@@ -387,6 +427,7 @@ E_Mixer_Channel_Info *
 e_mixer_system_get_channel_by_name(const E_Mixer_System *self,
                                    const char *name)
 {
+   int capabilities;
    snd_mixer_elem_t *elem;
    snd_mixer_selem_id_t *sid;
    E_Mixer_Channel_Info *ch_info;
@@ -400,8 +441,8 @@ e_mixer_system_get_channel_by_name(const E_Mixer_System *self,
    for (; elem; elem = snd_mixer_elem_next(elem))
      {
         const char *n;
-        if ((!snd_mixer_selem_is_active(elem)) ||
-            (!snd_mixer_selem_has_playback_volume(elem)))
+        capabilities = _mixer_channel_capabilities(elem);
+        if (!e_mod_mixer_capabilities_usable(capabilities))
           continue;
 
         snd_mixer_selem_get_id(elem, sid);
@@ -411,7 +452,7 @@ e_mixer_system_get_channel_by_name(const E_Mixer_System *self,
              ch_info = malloc(sizeof(*ch_info));
              ch_info->id = elem;
              ch_info->name = eina_stringshare_add(n);
-             ch_info->has_capture = snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_switch(elem) || snd_mixer_selem_has_capture_volume(elem);
+             ch_info->capabilities = capabilities;
 
              return ch_info;
           }
diff --git a/src/modules/mixer/sys_dummy.c b/src/modules/mixer/sys_dummy.c
index 33069a621..9fbd46bdd 100644
--- a/src/modules/mixer/sys_dummy.c
+++ b/src/modules/mixer/sys_dummy.c
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@ e_mixer_system_get_card_name(const char *card)
 Eina_List *
 e_mixer_system_get_channels(const E_Mixer_System *self __UNUSED__)
 {
-   _e_mixer_dummy_set();
-
    E_Mixer_Channel_Info *ch_info;
 
+   _e_mixer_dummy_set();
+
    ch_info = malloc(sizeof(*ch_info));
    ch_info->id = (void*)-2;
    ch_info->name = eina_stringshare_ref(_name);
-   ch_info->has_capture = 0;
+   ch_info->capabilities = E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE|E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK;
 
    return eina_list_append(NULL, ch_info);
 }
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ e_mixer_system_get_channel_by_name(const E_Mixer_System *self __UNUSED__, const
         ch_info = malloc(sizeof(*ch_info));
         ch_info->id = (void*)-2;
         ch_info->name = eina_stringshare_ref(_name);
-        ch_info->has_capture = 0;
+        ch_info->capabilities = E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE|E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK;
 
         return ch_info;
      }
diff --git a/src/modules/mixer/sys_pulse.c b/src/modules/mixer/sys_pulse.c
index acdc2e8cc..a1ac56ebb 100644
--- a/src/modules/mixer/sys_pulse.c
+++ b/src/modules/mixer/sys_pulse.c
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ e_mixer_pulse_get_channels(const E_Mixer_System *self EINA_UNUSED)
    ch_info = malloc(sizeof(*ch_info));
    ch_info->id = (void*)1;
    ch_info->name = eina_stringshare_ref(_name);
-   ch_info->has_capture = 0;
+   ch_info->capabilities= E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE|E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK;
 
    return eina_list_append(NULL, ch_info);
 }
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ e_mixer_pulse_get_channel_by_name(const E_Mixer_System *self EINA_UNUSED,
    ch_info = malloc(sizeof(*ch_info));
    ch_info->id = (void*)1;
    ch_info->name = eina_stringshare_ref(_name);
-   ch_info->has_capture = 0;
+   ch_info->capabilities= E_MIXER_CHANNEL_CAN_MUTE|E_MIXER_CHANNEL_HAS_PLAYBACK;
 
    return ch_info;
 }