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Your computer is a mean multimedia machine with the ability to mix sounds from different sources and play them through built-in speakers, external speakers, or headphones. Macs and PCs can play audio CDs, DVDs, and digital video files, as well as iTunes music.
 | You can control the volume and other characteristics of the sound coming out of your computer's speakers, headphones, or external speakers. Even if you connect your computer to a stereo amplifier with its own volume and equalizer controls, it's best to get the volume right at the source — your computer and iTunes — and then adjust the output volume as you please on your stereo or external speaker unit. |
Volume is controlled by the computer system's audio controls. iTunes also controls the volume, but that control is within the range of the computer's volume setting. For example, if you set your computer's volume to half and set iTunes volume to full, you get half volume because the computer is limiting the volume to half. If you set your computer volume at half and reduce the iTunes volume to half, you actually get one-quarter volume — half the computer's setting. The sound can be further adjusted after it leaves your computer by using the stereo system or external speakers with controls.
The appropriate volume depends entirely on your preferences for hearing music, but in general, the maximum level of output from your computer is preferable when connecting to a stereo system or speakers with volume controls. After setting your computer to the maximum volume, adjust the iTunes volume or your stereo or speaker volume (or both) to get the best sound. When using the computer's speakers or headphones, the computer's volume and the iTunes volume are the only volume controls that you have, so after adjusting the volume on your computer to the maximum level (or lower if you prefer), adjust the iTunes volume.
Adjusting the sound on a Mac
The Mac was built for sound from the very start. Making and playing music has been part of the Mac culture since day one, when Steve Jobs introduced the original Mac to an audience with music coming from its small speaker. (It played simple tones, but it was the first personal computer with built-in sound.)
Today's Mac comes with built-in or external speakers and at least one headphone/line-out connection that you can use to connect external speakers or a stereo system. Mac OS X lets you configure output speakers and control levels for stereo speakers and multichannel audio devices.
If you use external speakers, headphones, or a stereo system, make sure that you connect these devices properly before adjusting the volume. To adjust the volume on your Mac, follow these steps:
1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu or the Dock, and then click the Sound icon.
You can have iTunes open and playing music while you do this.
2. In the Sound preferences window, click Output.
If you have headphones attached, a Headphones option appears in the list of sound output devices; if not, an External Speakers option appears. If you have external speakers and a pair of headphones attached to your Mac, the external speakers disappear from the Sound preferences, but they're still enabled.
3. Adjust the volume by dragging the Output Volume slider.
You can drag the slider to adjust the volume as you listen to music. You also have a Mute button in this window — click the Mute check box to silence your Mac. You can also adjust the stereo balance by dragging the Balance slider to put more music in the left or right channels.
4. Close the Preferences window by choosing System Preferences, Quit System Preferences or by clicking the red button in the upper-left corner of the window.
The Sound preferences window isn't like a dialog — when you change settings, you can hear the effect immediately without having to click an OK button. (There isn't an OK button, anyway.)
Adjusting the Sound in Windows
Windows XP and Windows 2000 let you configure output speakers and control levels for stereo speakers and multichannel audio devices.
Use the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog to change the volume. To open this window, choose Start, Control Panel, and click the Sounds and Audio Devices icon. Then click the Volume tab.
The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog offers the Device volume slider — drag this slider to set the volume. You can also silence your PC by selecting the Mute check box.
If you select the Place Volume Icon in the Taskbar option, and your sound card supports changing the volume with software, a speaker icon appears in the notification area of Windows. You can then change the volume quickly without having to open the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties dialog — simply click the speaker icon and drag the slider that pops up.
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