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On OS Mavericks, When i Face Time it lowers the system volume. Like iTunes and the adjustment sounds for volume up, and down, and such. Is there a setting, or preference to stop it from lowering every other volume?

I have been using mavericks for some time now, and i like the upgrade. It's a fantastic improvement to an operating system.

However i've noticed that when i go onto facetime, it dulls EVERY OTHER SOUND.

Like when i want to watch a video on youtube, it doesn't play it on full volume

Or listen to something on itunes, and control the volume myself. It lowers that too.

It lowers everything except the facetime conversation

Is there a setting or ANYTHING to turn that off?

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011), OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 30, 2013 8:56 PM

Top-ranking reply

jasonbroccoli

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Nov 5, 2013 11:27 PM

Same here! And if anyone is monitoring this from Apple, this question has been asked in several other communities posts. I already hated that I couldn't adjust the volume on specific apps, but now I have to hang up with my bf or ask him to be quiet if I want to watch a video or listen to something.... UGGHHHHHH.

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56 replies

Macilias

Level 1

13 points

Dec 4, 2016 3:58 AM in response to JaysITunes645

ok, for mavericks you will need to execute the following in you terminal:

printf "p *(char*)(void(*)())AudioDeviceDuck=0xc3\nq" | lldb -n FaceTime

If you don't have lldb (Xcode additions) you will be prompted to install them first.

On Sierra you will have to deactivate the System Integrity Protection first.

To do this, start in recovery mode and execute:

csrutil disable

in terminal over there.

Feb 19, 2017 7:36 AM in response to JaysITunes645

Keeping the aforementioned terminal code somewhere (I know i personally am not going to remember it) or looking it up every time is very tedious, so I found kind of a silly workaround that at least I can remember how to do.

Download Soundflowerbed (I do audio work w/ outputs from my computer so I already happened to have it). From the video menu of FaceTime route the output audio through a Soundflowerbed channel, and then route the same channel to your built-in output. FaceTime will only lower the volume of other things routed through the Soundflowerbed channel.

This is the same idea as the bluetooth headphones idea listed earlier in the thread. This works a bit better for me because I don't have bluetooth headphones, and Soundflowerbed is free.

film4242

Level 1

9 points

Nov 2, 2013 3:29 PM in response to TildeBee

This is a new feature in Mavericks.

Hopefullt there's a hack that will disable this. Extremely annoying.

film4242

Level 1

9 points

Nov 11, 2013 7:40 PM in response to JaysITunes645

That's not a solution either. But thanks for suggesting it.

Nov 11, 2013 8:10 PM in response to JaysITunes645

I agree, I just use it so i can hear my music a little better. My pleasure

Nov 16, 2013 11:41 PM in response to LEcoolJ283

I also want to be able to turn off this feature as well. Seriously, why in the world would they add this feature WITHOUT including the ability to turn it off?

Nov 17, 2013 6:54 AM in response to JaysITunes645

I also want to be able to turn off this feature as well, please help apple ????????????????????????????,

Nov 20, 2013 4:18 PM in response to JaysITunes645

I would love a solution to this. Anybody find some Terminal code to disable it?

Burgee67

Level 1

51 points

Nov 20, 2013 9:07 PM in response to film4242

Oooo Sorry,,,,, for trying to help...

rick722

Level 1

29 points

Feb 23, 2014 10:28 PM in response to Rick Beerendonk

Exactly the same for me!

joaoMata

Level 1

0 points

Mar 26, 2014 5:48 PM in response to JaysITunes645

SOLVED!!!

Install Windows or Linux!

Mar 30, 2014 8:25 PM in response to JaysITunes645

I completely agree! I'm a big girl who would like to regulate her own output balance...

May 15, 2014 2:53 AM in response to JaysITunes645

this **** blows mane. ALL I WANNA DO IS LISTEN TO MY MUSIC IN PEICE 😢

d00dbro

Level 1

63 points

May 19, 2014 9:53 AM in response to joaoMata

Ew no. The solution is to downgrade to Mountain Lion because it's way faster and less buggy anyway. And it actually has color labels and "open in new Finder window" 😀

Jul 12, 2014 1:59 AM in response to JaysITunes645

ANY UPDATE????? hack...something... I'm so frustrated. What a terrible idea Apple had.

On OS Mavericks, When i Face Time it lowers the system volume. Like iTunes and the adjustment sounds for volume up, and down, and such. Is there a setting, or preference to stop it from lowering every other volume?