MetaChat - Ask MeCha:

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

16 October 2005

Ask MeCha: How can I turn up the volume of my iMac? →[More:]The volume on my iMac (20" G5) is almost always at max and often I can't hear stuff properly (like dialog in a movie) unless I plug in headphones.

Is there a way to make the volume louder by default? I know the speakers are capable of more because some apps (like VLC) have their own volume and I can turn the volume WAY louder.

Note: the Output Volume in prefs is already set to max.

post by: dobbs at: 23:30 | 8 comments

The iTunes and DVD Player applications have their own volume. You will need to turn up the volume within these applications, as well as the system volume.

In my experience, moving the application volume slider past the halfway mark introduces a lot of noise, especially with MP3 playback.

posted by AlexReynolds 17 October | 00:15

Alex, my volumes on those apps are at max and sound what I would call on any other computer a 4 or 5 outta 10. That's with the system volume at max as well. If I play a DVD with the built in app and set the volume at max, I have to strain to hear it. If I plug headphones in it's fine and have to turn the volume down to half max or so.

posted by dobbs 17 October | 00:23

You might reboot and reset the PRAM (Option - Apple - P - R on restart) as this can sometimes "reset" the speakers. Other than that, you might try creating a second user account, and logging into that account to test application volumes.

posted by AlexReynolds 17 October | 00:34

Thanks, Alex. Will that Pram thing do anything else I should know about? I have never heard of that.

posted by dobbs 17 October | 00:40

pram-- ...Some information stored in PRAM includes:

* Display and video settings such as refresh rate, screen resolution, number of colors
* Time zone setting
* Startup volume choice
* Speaker volume
* Recent kernel panic information, if any
* DVD region setting ...

posted by amberglow 17 October | 00:47

Another work-around is to use Audio Hijack Pro from Raging Amoeba.
One of the buit-in effects is an Audio gain that will boost the output from an application. I use it for Quicktime, which never seems to play loudly on my Powerbook.

Audio Hijack is cripple-ware, but you don't have to pay unless you are recording the output, so for this purpose it is free.

posted by v-tach 17 October | 05:03

Thanks, all! The PRam thing seems to have fixed it up.

posted by dobbs 17 October | 14:37

Awesome!

posted by AlexReynolds 17 October | 15:02

← Cat People- || AskMeCha →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN