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Directing iTunes Audio Output

Simple problem. My computer is connected to my audio receiver via digital out (toslink), so itunes controls the music in my house. So I sit in my living room, control itunes with my apple remote and I'm in heaven. Along comes my daughter and wants to play computer games. I let her, but now I have to listen to pings pows bangs and booms from the game (on safari) because all sound is directed to the digital out port.

So how do I tell itunes to play via the digital out but safari (or anything else) to play via the built-in computer speaker? Seems simple enough if skype can do this. Can't figure this out.

Mac Pro 3,1, Mac OS X (10.6.5), 8GB ram, nvidia 8800

Posted on Apr 4, 2011 6:34 PM

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11 replies

Apr 4, 2011 9:21 PM in response to cynegils

iTunes does not allow a user to choose an audio interface - it always uses whatever is defined as the Default System Output, as shown in the Sound Preference panel. Yes, it would be technically possible for this feature to be added but it's not. Send Apple a nice note and ask for it.

Here is an alternative idea: the Airport Express has a Toslink output. Using Airplay, you can send lossless audio from iTunes to the Airport Express, and your problem is solved 😉

That's how I do it.

Apr 9, 2011 6:08 AM in response to cynegils

Few months ago I found solution (sort of). It seems pretty strange but You can use Airfoil utility from Rogue Amoeba. This utility's main purpose is streaming audio from any selected application to AirPort Express Base Station, but it also can be used to stream audio from any application (e.g. iTunes) to host computer itself. Use it to make iTunes play through desired output. Cons: 1-2 seconds delay when start/stop; Lion incompatibility (as for current version Airfoil 4.0.2)

Apr 12, 2011 12:50 PM in response to Andrii Zaiats

Ah, I just got it. They told me to use Audio hijack pro, which I did but which is somewhat confusing to use. I just download Airfoil and it works just fine! thanks for the suggestion Andril. Yes the 2 second delay is annoying, but not as annoying as not being able to listen to music when the kids are playing on the computer. Diakuju! (or spasibo!)

Oct 30, 2013 3:15 AM in response to cynegils

I had this problem too, when I couldn’t find any output settings in the preferences, I took to the internet, turns out it’s not in there. Then I was off again to scour the internet for a fix but when the internet offered ****absolutely no real fixes**** I knew I had to come up with a fix of my own, took me about an hour to come up with the fix. Just so u know I’ve only tested this on windows 8, but theoretically it should work on any system. The end result of this fix is that iTunes will play to a specific audio output, chosen by you, and it will keep playing to that output regardless of your systems' current audio output, which can be changed to anything you want without affecting iTunes playback. Time to apply the fix; to do this: *Open iTunes* *Goto edit menu and open preferences* *Click playback* *Find "Play Audio Using:"option and Change "Direct Sound" to "Windows Audio Session* *Click ok and close iTunes* *Go into your Control Panel open sound and change your system audio to the output u want for itunes* *Open iTunes back up*. Now itunes will keep playing to the output u had your system set to when u started it, you did it Congratulations!!!


End Result Example to clarify: let’s say I want iTunes to play to my TV and everything else to my headset, ill open Sound and set my TV output as my default device. Next I'd raise the volume to max, this gives iTunes' internal volume full range, it's much easier this way. Then I'd open iTunes, next I’ll go back into sound and set my headset as my default everything... Last Tip: for better sound: change the bitrate and bits per sample options to their maxes, these 2 options are located directly below the "Play Audio Using:" option in your iTunes Preferences, restart iTunes to apply the change.


Any and All Gratitude is Appreciated, any1 whom this works for that doesnt use windows 8 leave a comment confirming it works on that sysytem, Guru Yoda out...

Directing iTunes Audio Output

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