I have some old USB speakers as well as well as a USB headset that both respond to my Mac M1 (OS 13.13.1) output volume up/down settings, including my keyboard buttons associated with up/down volume; as they should.

I just purchased a new set of desktop USB speakers, and they are not responding to my Sound Output settings, whether I use the slider in the menubar, the slider in the System Settings, or my keyboard keys for both up/down volume. Oddly, the mute key and settings work fine.

Been awhile since I purchased new speakers. Is there a setting I'm missing?

---

M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

Check out Audio MIDI Setup:

[support.apple.com]

This is the typical behavior of audio devices that the OS sees as "digital" outputs. For instance, when my monitor is connected via displayport, HDMI, or thunderbolt (which all carry digital audio signals), the speaker level has to be adjusted on the monitor itself. A nice convenience of getting a Studio Display is that I can again use the keyboard buttons.

Perhaps your other USB devices are seen as analog devices for whatever reason (i.e. how they handle the audio conversion).

I've gone through this exact page, and in the Audio Midi app, the volume slider shows that it's responding to up and down inputs from my keyboard and others, but the sound (from whatever, Music, YouTube, etc) doesn't change. The only way to alter the volume is actually physically adjusting the knob on the speakers. So weird.

Quote
btfc
Check out Audio MIDI Setup:

[support.apple.com]

---

M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

Kind of like Gareth is saying, I bet the digital info is being sent straight to the speakers, and the speakers basically have an audio interface built in. So the volume has to be set on the speakers. Or now that I think about it, perhaps they don't use Core Audio? Do you have to install a driver for the speakers? Is there one available? Idk, just thinking out loud.

Edit: there do seem to be audio devices that are not, or are not fully, core audio compliant. That could be the prob.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2023 12:21PM by kj.

I think this is the issue. Screw it, I'm returning it and going with Apple's Homepod system. Don't have time for this. Thanks all! Apple for the win.

---

M1 2020 Mac mini (16G 2T) • Ventura 13.x • Dual 25" Acer 1440p LCDs • M1 2020 13" MBAir (256G 8G) •

there may be a driver that your speaker manufacturer offers to enable integration with the built-in volume keys. Have you checked to see if something is available?

Tuqqer,

Make sure you've chosen the correct output in the Output pane of Sound preferences. It could be set to the incorrect device. Since you tried this already, maybe the sound pref is skewed and needs replacement.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2023 01:38PM by Robert M.

I’m at my infusion clinic now, so I don’t have access to my M1, but I ended up using an inexpensive USB DAC adapter plugged into the small USB hub we have connected to the dock. It’s an easy-peasy $12 solution, that works great. I’ll update with links when I get home later today.
==

I ended up using an inexpensive USB DAC adapter plugged into the small USB hub we have connected to the dock. It’s an easy-peasy $12 solution, that works great.


Does this limit volume control to that on the speaker(S)?

That's what happens with my Audioengine D1 DAC connected to my 2012 mini.

The DAC then has a volume control that handles all the audio out the system would normally handle.

VLC's volume is independent of the DAC and it's controlled via the keyboard and/or trackpad.

So no keyboard control when audio is piped through the DAC, but in tuqq's case, he has no audio whatsoever.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Quote
RAMd®d
I ended up using an inexpensive USB DAC adapter plugged into the small USB hub we have connected to the dock. It’s an easy-peasy $12 solution, that works great.


Does this limit volume control to that on the speaker(S)?

That's what happens with my Audioengine D1 DAC connected to my 2012 mini.

The DAC then has a volume control that handles all the audio out the system would normally handle.

VLC's volume is independent of the DAC and it's controlled via the keyboard and/or trackpad.

So no keyboard control when audio is piped through the DAC, but in tuqq's case, he has no audio whatsoever.

It just shows up as "USB Audio Device" in the Audio Output list, and thus far has always allowed whatever is plugged into it to maintain both Mac control and/or device simultaneously, as desired..... so basically, you have to have some modicum of volume set on both; if either is muted, no sound gets thru, Set whatever your desired max volume is on one of 'em, and use the other to control 0 - YourMax as desired. I guess that's pretty similar to your situation? My thought vis a vis tuqq was that shifting/adding controls might jump start his audio.
==