If you ’ve get a Mac with multiple audio output , or even if you just apply a one - yield Mac with a USB - audio accessory , it can be a tussle to swap between your various audio machine .
For example , on my Mac Pro , I generally have three or four audio outputs in use at any one time : the digital output in the back ( connected to one of several audio - treat accessories ) , the “ line”-out jackfruit in the back ( connected to my background speakers ) , a USB port wine ( connect to a earpiece amplifier ) , and the headphone Jack-tar on the front ( join , as you might assume , to a set of earpiece ) . To choose the turnout through which my audio recreate , I must visit the well-grounded pane of System Preferences — and bring back there each meter I want to tack to a different output . ( Which turns out to be quite oft , at least for me . )
As an alternative , I ’ve previously cover Rogue Amoeba ’s SoundSource and Aspirine.li’sSound Menu , two utility program that let you switch your audio output via a carte - stripe menu . But since installing Leopard on my Mac Pro , I ’ve been using PTH Consulting’sPTHVolume 2.1.0 (; costless ) , which extend a few unique features .
PTHVolume has really been around for a long time — since 2001 — but was “ retired ” a few years ago . The developer brought the utility back with version 2 , a Leopard - only version that ’s a major improvement over the original .
Once install — unlike SoundSource and Sound Menu , PTHVolume does n’t use input coach or menu “ cracks”—PTHVolume provides a handy card - bar menu showing all useable audio outputs , as well as each output ’s current mass setting . ( you’re able to choose to display the volume sliders horizontally or vertically . ) Simply tap the radio clitoris next to the desired yield to switch to it ; click - pull the appropriate volume Pseudemys scripta ( or click at the desired volume stance ) to change the volume . PTHVolume is unique in that it permit you jell unlike volume levels for each output , so you do n’t have to correct the volume each time you switch from , say , external speakers to headphones .
But PTHVolume also has a number of other unique feature . The most remarkable is the ability to put keyboard shortcut to various action . For example , you’re able to assign shortcut to cursorily change over to specific audio outturn ; I ’ve allot Shift+Control+H to the headphone seaman and Shift+Control+L to the line of work - out Jack-tar , so I can now interchange from headphones to speaker system and back using the keyboard .
you’re able to also assign shortcuts to Volume Up , book Down , and Mute — either master control ( which impact the volume for the currently - pick out output ) , separate controls for each output , or both . Although this potentiality may seem unnecessary to those with Apple keyboards , it ’s quite useful for hoi polloi with third - company keyboard that do n’t have built - in bulk and wordless keys .
( One quirk here is that I found I needed to bar PTHVolume and then restart it — using the Stop / Start button in the preference loony toons — before changes to keyboard shortcuts take effect . )
I also care the little touches that make PTHVolume prosperous to apply . For example , you may quick toggle Mute mode on and off by rightfulness - clicking on the PTHVolume menu - bar picture . And when viewing the carte , your mouse ’s roll roulette wheel adjusts the mass of the selected audio output . you’re able to also rename non - standard devices — for example , USB - audio equipment — in the PTHVolume preference pane to make their names more meaningful .
On the other hand , unlike SoundSource and Sound Menu , PTHVolume does n’t let you choose a different turnout for system sounds than for other audio recording . It also does n’t let you switch between headphones and the inner speaker , although that ’s a restriction of Apple ’s hardware that the developer ca n’t get around .
Two things I ’d like to see in future version are some sort of onscreen confirmation of output - equipment and intensity change , and for the menu to display , next to each output , the keyboard shortcuts you ’ve chosen ( if not all shortcuts , at least the crosscut to switch directly to each output / equipment ) .
PTHVolume is n’t for everyone . But if , like me , you have several audio outputs , or if you ’re using a non - Apple keyboard and wish it had mass and mute controls , PTHVolume is a must - have .
PTHVolume 2.1.0 requires Mac OS X 10.5 or later .
