No Volume Control on new Apple TV

Just bought a new Apple TV, but one thing is realllllllyyy bothering me. I noticed i can't control the volume of it via, apple remote that comes with the product or via Remote app for my iphone and ipad... Really *****.... I have to use my TV remote for that. Am I missing something here or did they take that feature out, cause I was able to on my old apple tv. Also If i stream music to it from my mac i can't stop the music using regular remote.. Just pain in the butt and inconsistencies...

Anyone ?

15' 2.5 MacBook Pro & 20' 2.4 iMac, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Oct 1, 2010 6:33 PM

158 replies

Oct 3, 2010 9:50 PM in response to solsun

What? I was using front row on the PowerBook g4 to stream iTunes content from a newer MacBook pro (my main computer) to the tv. That or apple movie trailers. Both functions work pretty much the same way on apple tv. In both cases the content is coming from another device (or the Internet) and routed by front row or the atv to the tv. Only difference is: the remote can control volume when using front row, but not when using apple tv. I still don't understand why not. Just because other devices like DVD players don't typically let you control volume that way ( I once had a DVD player that did have volume control, but I know most brands don't) doesn't mean it wouldn't be a nice feature. Now I basically have to juggle two remotes when I'm using apple tv. Annoying.

Although, I suppose I could use atv's learn remote feature to use my satellite box's remote to control the atv. That's already programmer to control both the dvr and the tv. Hmmm I'll try that.

Oct 3, 2010 11:38 PM in response to Darko Ibrahimpasic1

Well, glad to hear i am not only one who has issue with this.. It is so strange, i think they undid more with this version of apple tv then added and tried to improve on other features.. I love these is no sync, love netflix, and that's where love stops. They removed soo many things.. I can't play my "radio custom playlists", which i was able to on last one.. Just doesn't make sense.. They are thinking backwards on this products.. Despite what steve jobs said i do like purchasing stuff on my apple tv.. Doesn't have to save it locally. Let me buy it and save it on my external drive where stuff is streaming from anyway.. But no volume control is just plain stupid. I mean who ever came up to steve and said "Hey we should remove volume controls, cause its a good idea" should be fired, and steve needs to rethink this as well.

Oct 4, 2010 1:31 PM in response to Darko Ibrahimpasic1

This is Simply Unacceptable - Apple please put volume control into the remote...

fuquam

Level 1

0 points

Oct 4, 2010 1:59 PM in response to solsun

solsun wrote:
My old vcr's and dvd players remotes never controlled volume either.. Neither does my PS3, so why should tv?

Thank you. Exactly what I was thinking. That's why you plug it into a TV or receiver. They have volume controls.

Oct 4, 2010 2:24 PM in response to fuquam

Let me try to clarify this for you. Because this feature was available in older apple tv's, unlike older DVDs ps3's etc, many people set their home entertainment system around the fact of using their phone to control digital media playback over remote app. Such as some people I know.. They've put the certain components beyond the reach of that components remote ir sensor.. So now they are screwed. They have to redo their entire set up.. Now before people get into a flame war of why anyone would do such a thing, It's simple! When a feature is released that simplifies things, people utilize it.... Imagine if apple decided to remove wifi from apple tv and they didn't tell you that before purchase. You buy it and realize that now, you need to run a cable from your computer or modem to apple tv.. You would be ****** too cause it's plain stupid and now you have to rework your entire home set up or give up apple tv.. I am apple fan.. But stupid decisions are stupid decisions no way around it.

Oct 4, 2010 2:35 PM in response to solsun

I think the point here is that all my home theater equipment is controlled via my receiver as far as input and volume is concerned. In fact my apple remote is now incorporated into my Home Theater remote as well. The thinking here is that this is a piece of equipment just like the DVD or Blu Ray and therefore controlled like one. I agree that for those who choose to use the ATV with their computer they should have a volume option. Otherwise it would be controlled in total by the system remote. I think like it or not there will be a time when you will have to make a choice using the computer by itself or part of a whole house system.

solsun

Level 3

534 points

Oct 4, 2010 10:58 PM in response to dgalvan123

dgalvan123 wrote:
Only difference is: the remote can control volume when using front row, but not when using apple tv. I still don't understand why not.

Like I said in the above post, when using front row, you are controlling the volume of the computer and/or the level of the signal that's being output from the (Apple) computer. On Apple TV, the sound is being output via HDMI or optical to either a receiver or a tv which the IR Apple remote can't control..

Oct 5, 2010 12:27 PM in response to solsun

If the hardware supports it, the Apple TV could attenuate the line level signal that it provides, after a software update.

My UVerse DVR works in this exact fashion -- I don't need my television remote in order to adjust the volume of a show I'm watching, I only need the UVerse remote.

If Apple added this feature, then people could control the volume of their music, movies, netflix rentals, or youtube videos, using only the Apple TV remote. As it stands now, we'll have to use a second remote for the sole purpose of controlling volume. Bleck!

solsun

Level 3

534 points

Oct 5, 2010 3:01 PM in response to Alex Wolfe

Alex Wolfe wrote:
If the hardware supports it, the Apple TV could attenuate the line level signal that it provides, after a software update.

My UVerse DVR works in this exact fashion -- I don't need my television remote in order to adjust the volume of a show I'm watching, I only need the UVerse remote.

If Apple added this feature, then people could control the volume of their music, movies, netflix rentals, or youtube videos, using only the Apple TV remote. As it stands now, we'll have to use a second remote for the sole purpose of controlling volume. Bleck!

People are already accustomed to setting the volume for music, movies etc in their living room with their receiver anyway.. And no, a second remote is not "solely" for volume... In addition to volume, a second remote is still needed to turn on the receiver and the television itself, and then to select the input for the Apple TV. There is nothing new here, as has been said multiple times in this thread, playback devices like dvd players, blu-ray players, gaming systems and old fashioned VCR's have never been known to support volume control.

arabbani

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2010 4:13 PM in response to Darko Ibrahimpasic1

I agree 100% with this post. The Apple Remote needs to let you control volume for both music and video. The need to use two remotes is completely unintuitive and against Apple's design philosophies. It's such an easy fix. The up/down buttons don't do anything when you're listening to music or watching video anyway. PLEASE FIX THIS APPLE!

tgibbs

Level 1

70 points

Oct 6, 2010 8:41 AM in response to arabbani

It seems that there may be a workaround. The appleTV has an option to learn IR signals from another remote. So get hold of a cheap universal remote that can be set to control audio on your TV or receiver, tell it that you have some random DVD or VCR player that you don't actually own, and have the appleTV learn the video few control signals that it needs from the universal remote. You may even find that the standard remote for your TV or receiver has a "universal" feature that you can use.

I haven't tried this approach myself, but I have used a high-end universal remote, a Logitech Harmony model, which has a setting for appleTV. This worked immediately.

a brody

Level 10

85,308 points

Oct 6, 2010 9:18 AM in response to Darko Ibrahimpasic1

This is a user to user board. Those of you asking Apple to fix it here, are just talking to other users like yourself. If you want Apple to fix it, contact them on http://www.apple.com/contact/ go to their http://www.apple.com/feedback/ page, or sign up for the free developer account http://developer.apple.com and report it as a bug on http://bugreporter.apple.com/

Oct 6, 2010 10:10 AM in response to Darko Ibrahimpasic1

WE NEED AN UPDATE TO FIX THIS MAJOR PROBLEM! PLEASE FIX IT APPLE! AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND ADDING DVD PLAYBACK OVER AIRPLAY THAT WOULD BE AWESOME TOO! 😀

a brody

Level 10

85,308 points

Oct 6, 2010 10:39 AM in response to santiscream

😟

Next time, please read what was just said above what you posted.
I just finished saying where to post your feedback. All you are doing is infuriating end users with your shouting. Using ALL UPPERCASE means shouting in internet etiquette. In case you have doubt about that, read about it here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mind-your-language/2010/oct/04/new-york-street-s igns-capitals

I don't think being rude to your fellow posters is wise.
Please reconsider what you say before posting.

Oct 6, 2010 4:01 PM in response to solsun

solsun wrote:

dgalvan123 wrote:
Only difference is: the remote can control volume when using front row, but not when using apple tv. I still don't understand why not.

Like I said in the above post, when using front row, you are controlling the volume of the computer and/or the level of the signal that's being output from the (Apple) computer. On Apple TV, the sound is being output via HDMI or optical to either a receiver or a tv which the IR Apple remote can't control..

Still don't see the difference you are trying to explain.

Yes, on the mac you are controlling the mac's volume. That audio signal, volume controlled at the device (the mac) is then pumped out via audio/video cables to your TV.

On the apple tv the audio signal is pumped out via audio/video cables to your tv as well. Why shouldn't you be able to control that volume output at the apple tv, just like you can at the mac? There's no fundamental difference: both devices are outputting video and audio to a TV. Yes, you can use the TV speaker volume control, but in the case of the mac you can ALSO control volume output at the source. I see no reason why this shouldn't be possible with apple tv.

What's more, according to other people in this thread, Apple DID allow you to control volume from the first generation apple tv. So why not the 2nd gen?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

No Volume Control on new Apple TV