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Access your Mac's "super quiet" mode

Much like Nigel's amp that goes to 11, making it "...one louder," your Mac has a super-quiet mode. Macworld explains how to find it.

First, use your keyboard's volume keys to turn the volume all the way down (using the menu bar slider won't work). Next, press the "Mute" key. The speaker graphic will appear on screen and display the familiar "sound waves." Listen closely (or plug in your headphones) - your Mac is in super-quiet mode.

We're not sure when you'd want to do this, but now you can.

[Via Lifehacker]

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Audio Tips and tricks

Much like Nigel's amp that goes to 11, making it "...one louder," your Mac has a super-quiet mode. Macworld explains how to find it.First,...
 

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ash d

i dont care about this. seriously, how do i INCREASE the volume of my intel macbook pro? HELP PLEASE!

September 13 2007 at 6:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tr

hey, so this is kinda cool, i don't here the "tuck tuck tuck" volume sound anymore.

question, though: how do i get that volume adjusting sound back? i've tried doing the steps again, but my "tuck tuck" is gone, and won't come back.

September 13 2007 at 4:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Keno.White

Too quiet? My iMac is too loud! On my mini, MacBook, and other previous Macs I had the volume set to 90% most of the time, but now with the new iMac I don't dare go past 25% or it's amazingly loud.

I was concerned the speakers being built-in would result in a poor sound quality or low volume. Man, was I wrong! The iMac definitely benefits from the "super quiet" mode when I'm working at night!

September 13 2007 at 11:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nick Fox

This didn't work on my G4 Powerbook. I even pumped the audio out through my amp and raised that volume up all the way, there was just no sound to be heard.

I really don't care though, because I wouldn't have a use for this anyway.

...now if anyone has a way to raise the system volume up above 10 (not a Spinal Tap reference, just a reference to how Apple refers to their top sound level), I don't care if it's an 3rd party program, a command line command or what, I would be most appreciative.

September 13 2007 at 10:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Deadsunrise

Or you can also keep shift pressed when adjusting the volume with the buttons so it doesn't make the "tuck tuck" sound.

September 13 2007 at 5:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ronald Poi

I set the volume not to make those "tuck tuck tuck" sounds when adjusting... it feels better when listening music =)

September 12 2007 at 10:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iGO

@Micah,

Actually, here is the one for Intel Mac. Extremely stable, although still Beta and free.

http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~arcana/StartupSound/BETA/index.en.html

September 12 2007 at 9:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iGO

@Micah

I've been using this freeware preferences utility to address just that, the start up sound on my iMac. While it won't route it to your headphones, like SoundSource by Rogue Ameoba, it does control the volume, down to a whisper quiet, if you prefer. This is independant of the volume once your Mac has started.

This thing rules and it's perfectly stable.

http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~arcana/software.en.html

September 12 2007 at 9:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kevin

The only "super duper loud" Mac I know of was the PowerMac G4 Digital Audio machine. This machine is so loud that with my USB headphones I can only stand the volume at 1 (the lowest setting except for off). Even then, I sometimes need to use iTune's volume control to back it off some more!

This Mac may be old, but it still kicks a**.

September 12 2007 at 8:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
R Muffet

I like when listening to recordings of presentations, eg, those from IT Conversations, you can hear the presenter adjusting their laptop volume.

The "tuck" "tuck" "tuck" is a sure giveaway that it's Mac 'book of some description.

Cool to think how many 'influencers' in the industry have gone Mac these days.

September 12 2007 at 8:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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