What are the audio device names on mac? (for use with afplay)

Question

Level 1

0 points

What are the audio device names on mac? (for use with afplay)

The command 'afplay' has an option -d or --device that supposedly allows you to give an AUDIO DEVICENAME. How can I find valid AUDIO DEVICENAMEs? I tried system preferences and system profiler, but I get these errors:
afplay -d "LINE OUT" x.wav -v
warning: device 'LINE OUT' not found
afplay -d "Line Out" x.wav -v
warning: device 'Line Out' not found
afplay -d Headphone x.wav -v
warning: device 'Headphone' not found

and I've tried every permutation of the names I could come up with.

Mac Pro 2009, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 8, 2009 9:56 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

May 8, 2009 10:23 AM in response to keflavich

You need to define an audio device in a code/driver.
Do you have any 3rd party audio devices connected?

-> http://developer.apple.com/documentation/DeviceDrivers/Conceptual/WritingAudioDr ivers/About/About.html#//appleref/doc/uid/TP30000729-CH204-DontLinkElementID4

Reply

Answer 2

keflavich Author

Level 1

0 points

May 8, 2009 1:56 PM in response to Chris CA

I'm not writing any code, just trying to use the command line tool 'afplay'.

Yes, I have headphones and external speakers connected. I also have internal speakers.

Maybe a better way to phrase the question: what does afplay want as input? Is AUDIO DEVICENAME defined universally somewhere? I couldn't find setDeviceName() calls anywhere, but I also didn't know where to look.

Reply

Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

May 8, 2009 2:25 PM in response to keflavich

You don't need to specify an audio device but you can, for example, if you had a 3rd party soundcard installed.

If you just want it to play thru the system audio, then *afplay filename.aac*.

Reply

Answer 4

keflavich Author

Level 1

0 points

May 8, 2009 3:43 PM in response to Chris CA

Right, but I would like to play through a particular device. I want to have music playing through my headphones but be able to play other sounds through my speakers. Is that possible?

Reply