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foundryfire Author

Level 1

9 points

El Capitan and missing volume control for speakers

I have just updated to OS 10.11 El Capitan. Upon successful completion of installation, my desktop speakers no longer have ANY volume control. I can not control the volume by the keyboard shortcuts on the keyboard nor by the volume control (which is now greyed out) in the menu bar. Note that I can select and use the USB speakers under the Sound portion of System Preferences, but I can not change the volume at all. Everything worked just fine BEFORE this update (which was a couple of hours ago). With the exception of the new OS, nothing else has changed on this computer.

Any thoughts on how I can correct this issue?

Mac Pro; 2 x 2.4 Quad Core; 14 GB RAM; OS 10.11 El Capitan

Speakers: Microsoft (yea, I know...) Digital Sound System 80

Posted on Sep 30, 2015 5:03 PM

92 replies

Dave_K76

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2016 12:38 AM in response to c0sco

Hi,

I solved the problem by investing in a small volume control device (Fostex PC-1e, about $25 on Amazon). Installed between the DAC and the speakers, it works very well.

c0sco

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2016 3:36 PM in response to Dave_K76

Good tip. That should help anyone stuck in a situation with no hardware volume knob. In my case, I have an amp with a volume knob, but I expect the software volume controls to work like they did in 10.8 - 10.10.

Apr 30, 2016 5:19 AM in response to c0sco

same problem,... have a volume control, but no balance...

Apr 30, 2016 6:06 AM in response to c0sco

have the same DAC and same problem... let me know if u found any joy... txs

francon3

Level 1

4 points

Jun 23, 2016 11:56 AM in response to foundryfire

Select -Sysyem Preferences

- Sound

- Click on Internal Microphone( which appears in window: Select a device for sound input

Then tick box: Show Volumn in Menu bar

And all should be well!!

Jun 23, 2016 12:58 PM in response to francon3

No, that has nothing to do with the issue. Showing the volume in the menu bar is not a problem.

The problem is that the volume can't be adjusted (greyed out, disabled) for certain USB DAC devices, something that worked before El Capitan.

Jun 24, 2016 11:04 AM in response to Adrian Bengtson

Having this issue myself currently! 2012 i7 Mac Mini running El Capitan

Have a Nuforce USB DAC connected; can't control volume on my keyboard, it's greyed out and the settings state 'The selected device has no output'!

However, this has worked recently with a NAD D1050 DAC via USB and KEF X300A speakers, also connected via USB!

What's the issue and why has it cropped up all of a sudden?!

Thanks

cpage

Level 1

34 points

Jun 24, 2016 12:36 PM in response to d_a_n1979

I just posted something that MIGHT help some of you. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7598666 Check your settings in the MIDI Audio Setting Find the Application in Utilities.

Jun 24, 2016 12:46 PM in response to cpage

Thanks; but of no use as this is being fed via USB and does exactly the same even trying your solutions!

Jul 2, 2016 2:57 PM in response to foundryfire

same problem.

10.11.5; 2015 mbp 13 inch; 3.1g; 16g.

i just bought a Sound Devices USBpre 2. first time everything looks fine but when i change volume with keyboard shortcut or volume control of softwares nothing happen. only the volume logo shows on screen was changing.

second time without restart computer it turns gray as you guys experienced. but i can control volume through one of the softwares (KORG AudioGate 4)' own volume bar. not the others such as WaveLab Element 7. nor iTunes. in this case i can't choose this device from audio midi setting. its grey too.

i tried add multiple devices setting on midi set up then i can choose the device. grey short cut key and no control from WaveLab.

a lot of works are depend on it. terrible isn't it?

Jul 3, 2016 5:25 AM in response to foundryfire

me again. today's news is the master volume control in WaveLab works. laptop keys are still grey. i did nothing different to yesterday just restart again and do the same. anyone see this random thing? thanx!

Sep 21, 2016 9:27 PM in response to foundryfire

Hi people , I had the same issue , found this app http://www.volumemixer-app.com/ . works with Sierra too.

Hope it helps you. don't forget to mess with the settings of the app to auto select on start which will be your default output device.

Sep 22, 2016 10:44 PM in response to foundryfire

Anyone had any luck with Sierra??

mook33

Level 1

13 points

Sep 23, 2016 1:20 AM in response to craig.gordon

A later update in El Capitan did fix usage for me (Creative X-Mod), and that functionality has carried over into Sierra. So, in my own case, yes -- the function is working again.

I'd do a Time Machine backup, upgrade & see if it works for you. Then if not, you can revert back to your previous version. That's what I had done when Mavericks first released & functionality wasn't sticking & just had to wait for a while.

Hope that helps!

Oct 20, 2016 7:57 AM in response to Schniggl

This solved it but in a slightly different way. I had removed an output device and the system went automatically to the internal speakers in the control panel. What I did was simply select internal speakers again and it was fixed. Basically resetting it...

El Capitan and missing volume control for speakers