TS4113: Mac mini: About HDMI audio and headphones

Learn about Mac mini: About HDMI audio and headphones
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Q: Is there a terminal or other type of workaround to allow sound to come from the HDMI and headphone jack at the same time?

I have a late 2012 Mini, running 10.8.2.  I have a set of powered speakers plugged into the headphone jack.  My TV is running on a direct HDMI connection.  I can only stream sound through HDMI, or even select it as an output, if I unplug my headphone speaker plug.  Apple's knowlege base says this is the case.  I am looking for a way to have both plugged in all the time, and have the sound mirrored to both.

     I use the speakers for itunes music, system sounds, skype, etc..  The HDMI sound is for steaming content to the TV.  I don't want to have to reach around behind the computer and unplug/plug each time I switch, for a multitude of reasons.  Any ideas out there?  Google wasn't getting me very far.  Maybe a terminal solution of some sort?  Thanks in advance.

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), HDMI direct to TV

Posted on Nov 4, 2012 6:18 PM

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Q: Is there a terminal or other type of workaround to allow sound to come from the HDMI and headphone jack at the same time?

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  • by den.thed,

    den.thed den.thed Nov 4, 2012 9:36 PM in response to kernel_panic
    Level 7 (27,395 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 9:36 PM in response to kernel_panic

    Nope there is a micro switch built into the Audio Output jack.

  • by XFox,

    XFox XFox Jan 10, 2013 6:42 PM in response to kernel_panic
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Jan 10, 2013 6:42 PM in response to kernel_panic

    it seems that m1r3k found a very good workaround, at least for the Mid 2010 Mac mini models (that I'm using right now). I don't know if it works also with more recent Mac mini models.

    Re: After upgrading to lion, cant select HDMI sound setting

    Open Audio MIDI Setup.app in /Applications/Utility, click the + (plus) button in the bottom left corner of the window and choose "Create Multi-Output Device". In the new device settings tick the HDMI "Use" checkbox and you're done. Simply go to the usual System Preferences Audio panel and choose the newly created device, without the need to unplug the audio cable from the back of the Mac mini. You can also name the new audio device as you want.

     

    NOTE:

    This is only a workaround for a deliberate choice made by Apple on OS X Lion 10.7.2 and beyond:

    Mac mini: About HDMI audio and headphones

    Please let Apple know (here or here) how this has made things unnecessary awkward for users and needs to be fixed (these forums don't count, they are not read by Apple's employees)!

  • by Intellex,

    Intellex Intellex Feb 1, 2013 8:46 PM in response to XFox
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 1, 2013 8:46 PM in response to XFox

    Unfortunately, this doesn't work.  You can create an aggregate device and even select it for use for sound output, but the headphone port never gets any audio.  The HDMI gets all the sound.  It does show an orange triangle and a 'sample rate mismatch' message, but it doesn't say how to solve it.  I've tried checking Resample on one or both ports, but it doesn't help.  Any ideas?

  • by XFox,

    XFox XFox Mar 19, 2013 10:25 AM in response to Intellex
    Level 1 (90 points)
    Mar 19, 2013 10:25 AM in response to Intellex

    Intellex wrote:

     

    Unfortunately, this doesn't work.  You can create an aggregate device and even select it for use for sound output, but the headphone port never gets any audio.  The HDMI gets all the sound.  It does show an orange triangle and a 'sample rate mismatch' message, but it doesn't say how to solve it.  I've tried checking Resample on one or both ports, but it doesn't help.  Any ideas?

    It works for me.

    Mac mini Server (Mid 2010) and Mac OS X 10.7.5.

    I checked HDMI and "Built-in Output" in the created Aggregate Device and sound get out from both.

    I don't se the "sample rate mismatch" alert.

    Did you try to set the same sample rate for both the HDMI and "Built-in Output" devices?

  • by 2Cutch,

    2Cutch 2Cutch Aug 16, 2016 5:35 PM in response to Intellex
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 16, 2016 5:35 PM in response to Intellex

    This worked great for me on my late 2014 Mac Mini.

  • by mgwilliams410,

    mgwilliams410 mgwilliams410 Aug 17, 2016 9:34 AM in response to kernel_panic
    Level 1 (21 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 17, 2016 9:34 AM in response to kernel_panic

    I found this thorough breakdown but not sure it fully addresses your specific issue:

     

    http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/getting-sound-work-mac-mini-23952.html

     

    I know when I'm troubleshooting like this, it often helps to "get back to the basics," to help my thought process not get cluttered with overthinking things.

     

    Hope this helps! I would love to accomplish the same thing with the Mac Mini I am looking to purchase soon!

  • by 2Cutch,

    2Cutch 2Cutch Aug 18, 2016 5:38 PM in response to XFox
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 18, 2016 5:38 PM in response to XFox

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