If you have a Mac with multiple sound output devices and plan on switching between them, you will need to know how to change between those output devices. For example, you may have a Mac Pro with speakers plugged into the line-out, as well as headphones jacked into the port on the front of the tower. Switching sound output devices in Mac OS X is pretty easy.
System Preferences
Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar, located at the top left corner of the screen. In the menu that pulls down, select “System Preferences”.
Sound Preferences
Once the System Preferences pane loads up, click on “Sound”. If you do not see “Sound”, click the “Show All” button.
Change the Output Device
Move to the “Output” tab and select your desired output device. Here, “Line Out” is for my speakers and the Built-in Output (Headphones) is for none other than my headphones. Once you have clicked on the desired output device, close the window.
7 responses
February 28th, 2008
Insomnic says:
I found a free program called SoundSource from Rogue Amoeba that works great for switching between both inputs and outputs. It just sits in the menu bar and lets you swap between sources with just a few clicks. Helped when they changed some of the audio options on the new Mac Pros. You can find it here: http://rogueamoeba.com/freebies/
(I don’t have any affiliation with them … just liked the product)
February 28th, 2008
Of Zen and Computing says:
Thanks Insominic. blogged here.
February 28th, 2008
hank says:
I’m sorry guys, this is just Captain Obvious speaking. You probably come from the Windows side of the world [nothing wrong with it, I'm not bashing anything] which does tend to obfuscate these things [Vista is... puzzling to put it mildly].
Changing Preferences in OS X must be the most easy thing in the world. It’s a great and gorgeous interface. To have something like this on reddit… ninja, please.
What’s the next post going to be about, emptying the trash?
February 28th, 2008
Of Zen and Computing says:
Be careful what you wish for, hank.
In all seriousness though, this site caters to all computer users. I agree, OS X has a gorgeous interface that Just Makes Sense. However, I get asked these kinds of questions every day. Think of any feature of any computer or software package, and someone has a question about it. And in the end, there are no stupid questions. Obvious, maybe. But not stupid.
February 28th, 2008
Cliff says:
Generally I agree, but I think it’s bizarre that the Mac won’t switch to the headphone jack automatically when headphones are inserted. My 6 year old Dell does that.
February 28th, 2008
SirRodney says:
I have beed using PC for many years - the windows mixer desk is VGOOD - the mac osx is TOO simple - on my macpro I cannot choose to record or use ALL the ins and outs at the same time.. or select which input to record from !! but if i boot into windows (pentium mac) i have FULL control of what ins and outs to mute or select for recording — this is VERY fookin anying as i have to goto windows to do some recording… why cant i have the same control as windows on me mac audio ????
this is the ONLY thing windows is better on ? can anyone help ?
February 28th, 2008
sTRApo says:
Could you help me?? I do not have a Line-in in Ouput, so I found it hard to sett it. My speakers on MacBook do not be active. I hear sound only trough the headphones. Is that normaly?
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