Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Notification sounds have disappeared

I have been doing some research into the discussion pages to see if anyone else has had the same problem, and it appears I am not alone. When using iChat, my notification sounds have disappeared - when someone comes on/offline, when I open iChat (I don't get that whhhooooopppp noise), when I have an incoming chat I don't get the ringing sound (particularly annoying for my UK based friends and me when I miss them!) etc.
I have done the following to try and rectify the problem, but to no avail.
Trashed the audio preference file. Checked and adjusted the Audio MIDI settings to 44100. Verified and repaired permissions. Opened Garageband and closed it again. All software is up to date....Still nothing - unless I restart in which case it works once or twice and then falls silent again.
Anyone got any other ideas?
And if anyone is interested in another problem, I have the recurring issue of the phantom 'submarine' in iChats as well - this only just started recently, but it's so loud and irritating that I have to cancel the chats and try and start again. Recently I've given up video calling (although it hasn't mattered cause I keep missing my friends due to my silent iChat alerts!)
Any help/ideas on either/both subjects would be much appreciated!

Powerbook G4 15" 1.67GHz, 2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Sep 10, 2007 7:04 AM

26 replies

Nov 11, 2007 4:43 AM in response to Amanda Winton

Hi All,

The standard fixes are:
Check System Preferences > Sound > Sound Effects has the volume turned Up.
Check iChat will play the Sounds in iChat > Preferences > Alerts.

If this work then try deleting com.apple.ichat.plist as this holds the global and Individually set Alerts.
(it also loses Bubble colours, Font choices for text chats, Saved Status messages and Menu bar icon setting amoungst others)
Restart iChat

If that does not work delete com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist in the Hard drive/Library/Preferences (Not your Home folder)

12:43 PM Sunday; November 11, 2007

Nov 12, 2007 12:45 AM in response to Amanda Winton

Do you have any third part iChat programs installed. Like Chax or anything like that? I lost my sounds after upgrading to Leopard. I had Chax in Tiger. I uninstalled Chax, and my notification sounds returned.

Aloha

Nov 17, 2007 6:25 AM in response to Amanda Winton

I have the same issue. The frustrating part is that I never know if someone responds! I have to keep checking visually. I have no fixes either. I may have to call Apple Support.

ndsG5

Level 1

0 points

Nov 20, 2007 1:45 PM in response to Amanda Winton

I am experiencing similar missing buddy notification sound problems after updating to OS-X to 10.4.11 on Friday 11/16. Additionally iChat no longer bounces the icon on the Dock when messages are received. Reboots, repair of permissions, and misc cleanups have not resolved the issue. I've checked all sound settings in System Preferences and in Audio MIDI Setup utility as well without success. My buddy is using AIM and is receiving notification sounds when I send and log in/out. Running iChat version 3.1.8 (v445) based on iLife '05. Hopefully Apple Support will address it...

Nov 20, 2007 2:49 PM in response to ndsG5

Use the Download tab at top of page.
Navigate to your version (Intel or PPC) of the COMBO 10.4.11 update and run that.

10:49 PM Tuesday; November 20, 2007

Nov 24, 2007 10:32 PM in response to Nate Harrison

thank you all for your comments. I had pretty much tried everything - but have found somewhat of a solution. Simply not leaving iChat open all the time seems to have fixed the problem. So as long as I quit out of it every now and then, my sounds stay active, even within the finder. I haven't lost my sounds since.

Nov 25, 2007 11:59 AM in response to Amanda Winton

7:59 PM Sunday; November 25, 2007

Nov 28, 2007 5:04 AM in response to Amanda Winton

Make sure iChat is quit out of every few days - leaving it running constantly seemed to cause the problem of the lost sounds. Since I have been doing this I haven't lost the sounds at all.

Dec 7, 2007 9:42 PM in response to Amanda Winton

I am having the same problem as "ndsG5". iChat seems to be not playing sounds at all after the combo update. It works in the ichat preferences when I assign them but not in the main program. Ever since the update this has happened. I don't keep ichat open all the time either. I have 10.4.11 loaded also. I don't think reloading the combo update will work. It may cause more damage than good since I already upgraded. I am using a griffin imic attached to my external speakers. I also tried disconnecting them and using just the internal speaker. It didn't work either. I also played with the system prefs. That didn't work either.

All help is appreciated.

ndsG5

Level 1

0 points

Dec 11, 2007 1:08 PM in response to Keith Lynch

Thanks Ralph and Amanda for your suggestions and input.

Keith, I've found a workaround (for my system at least) today that has been working well. Instead of mucking with the Alerts in Preferences I modified the notification actions for each buddy in my Buddy List. However, I cannot guarantee this will help those using iChat for OS-X 10.5. Below is from iChat's help doc:

"Setting up iChat to notify you when your buddy changes his status"
You can set up iChat to notify you when a specific buddy becomes available, sends you a file, or invites you to chat.

To set notification actions for your buddies:
1. Select a person in your Buddy List, then choose Buddies > Get Info.
2. Choose Actions in the Show pop-up menu.
3. Choose an option, such as Buddy Becomes Available, from the Event pop-up menu, and then set options, such as "Play sound," or "Bounce icon in the Dock." The next time your buddy becomes available, iChat will notify you depending on what option you selected.

I feel a bit stupid because I can't recall if I had enabled those notification actions on initial use of iChat. Or possibly the 10.4.11 update over-rode or reset those actions. In any case the workaround is functioning for me with sounds and bouncing iChat icon.

I'm quite interested in getting feedback if this works for anyone else.
Thanks,
Neil

Dec 11, 2007 9:42 PM in response to ndsG5

Hey Neil,

It sounded like a good idea but it didn't work. BTW I have Leopard on my powerbook and ichat works fine. Since I did the 10.4.11 update on my tower, it doesn't work anymore no matter what I do. You shouldn't have to go through so much trouble to do this. It's just a stupid bug. I'm sure someone will figure out a solution. (I hope) 🙂. I'll let you know if I come across something.

Thanks Neil and happy holidays!
-Keith

Notification sounds have disappeared