Way to dock sound preferences?

Question

Level 2

345 points

Way to dock sound preferences?

I am continually (10-20 times a day) having to switch in system preferences sound panel output between the mac speakers and my audio interface (that I have headphones hooked up to.) Depending on the application I'm using, I either need sound to come out of the speakers or the headphones.

I've tried to drag the speaker icon to my dock and to the title bar to make it easier to access the sound preference, but neither seem to work. Is there some other shortcut I'm not aware of that would let me get to the sound preferences in one click (instead of sys preferences, then the sound panel, then setting my output)?

Ideally I would like to be able to create a sort of virtual toggle switch that would let me do it quickly in one step without having to fire up system preferences.

Maybe I could create aliases on the desktop; I never use them, so I'm unfamiliar with their potential in this type of situation.

Thanks!

Leslie Bell

Posted on Sep 27, 2005 6:44 AM

Reply

Answer 1

jtcluck

Level 4

1,180 points

Sep 27, 2005 5:45 PM in response to Leslie Bell

Or, go to /System/Library/Preference Panes. Drag the icon for the Sound Preference Pane into the Dock. Works on my system.

Reply

Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,269 points

Sep 27, 2005 8:34 AM in response to Leslie Bell

You could write an Applescript for the chore. You could also search at www.versiontracker.com and www.macupdate.com to see if there's a third-party utility for the task.

Individual preference panes cannot be docked, although System Preferences can be.

Reply

Answer 3

Leslie Bell Author

Level 2

345 points

Sep 27, 2005 11:50 AM in response to Kappy

Thanks Kappy... I'll give it a try.

Leslie Bell

Reply

Answer 4

Sep 27, 2005 6:25 PM in response to jtcluck

Leslie:
I have been using "Sound Menu" very successfully on OSX 10.3.9 .
It doesn't use the Dock but uses the right side of the menu bar.
Find it at:

http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/18091

It's freeware.

Reply

Answer 5

Leslie Bell Author

Level 2

345 points

Sep 27, 2005 7:12 PM in response to jtcluck

Ah.. thanks jtcluck, at first I couldn't get it to stick. Then I tried putting it to the right of the file line near the trash (my dock's on the bottom; if it was on either side it would be BELOW the dividing line next to the trash) and it works perfectly. I had to be careful though; the first time it ended up IN the trash!

THANKS! I really prefer this way because it won't mess up updates and is not a haxie which can sometimes mess up updates.

Leslie Bell

Reply

Answer 6

Leslie Bell Author

Level 2

345 points

Sep 27, 2005 7:17 PM in response to Paul Courtade

Thanks, jtcluck's method worked. It sticks fine on the "file" side of the dock (next to the trash).

Leslie Bell

Reply

Answer 7

jtcluck

Level 4

1,180 points

Sep 28, 2005 4:30 AM in response to Leslie Bell

Leslie,

Glad to be of help. This method works also for the other Preference Panes in that folder.

Reply