One thing to remember is that all those amazing controls only work on Apple keyboards. If, like me, you are cheap and didn't spring for the Apple keyboard and have a mini or other mac without a built-in keyboard, you can't access any of this. I have no idea why (well, actually, it's probably so more people buy official Apple gear) but there it is. I really wish I could access these controls from the keyboard, but... On May 22, 2013, at 11:38 AM, Esther <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi Teresa, > > You can bring up your system sound settings using the keyboard > shortcut Fn+Option+F10, or substitute any of the other media keys for > controlling sound for F10 (e.g. F11 or F12, where Fn+F11 mutes, Fn+F11 > decreases volume, and Fn+F12 increases volume). I'm assuming that > your keyboard preferences are set with "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as > standard function keys" checked. The general rule is that you can get > quick access to the preferences settings menu for a related F-key > control by pressing the Option key together with the shortcut > combination you'd use. So adding a press of the Option key to any > volume-related F-key shortcut will bring up the sound preferences > settings menu. Similarly, adding a press of the Option key to any > brightness-related F-key shortcut will bring up the display > preferences settings menu, which contains a slider for setting > brightness. On my 13" MacBook AIr there are controls for raising and > lowering the brightness of the backlit keyboard keys with the F5 and > F6 keys, so pressing Option+Fn+F5 or F6 will let me bring up the > keyboard preferences settings menu. That won't work on laptop models > without backlit keyboards, like the 11" MacBook Air, and I don't think > it will work with your Mac Mini. Also, if I'm giving instructions to > someone who isn't using VoiceOnver the shortcut keys are Option+F10, > F11, or F12 (without the Fn key press) to bring up the sound > preferences settings menu, and Option+F1 or F2 to bring up the display > preferences settings menu. > > A second tip, if you want to adjust volume or brightness in finer > grain increments, hold down the Option+Shift keys as well. So for > lowering volume with the media keys, this is Fn+Option+Shift+F11, and > for raising the volume this is Fn+Option+Shift+F12. > > Now, an easier way to switch your audio devices without having to > bring up your system sound preferences settings is to get a free app > named Audio Switcher. This sits in your status menubar, so you > navigate there with either Control+F8 or VO+m+m, and then switch > devices from its menu. I'll point you to the MacUpdate page: > https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/26433/audio-switcher > You can download from there, but you should also check the link to the > developer's web page to read the documentation. For people who > remember using SoundSource, a freebie from Rogue Amoeba that worked > accessibly up through Leopard to let you switch your audio devices, > Audio Switcher is like that. (SoundSource isn't compatible with > Mountain Lion). > > HTH. Cheers, > > Esther > > On May 22, 3:19 am, Teresa Cochran <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hi, all, >> >> I have a Mac Mini, and since it doesn't have a microphone jack, I've been >> switching back and forth between using my USB headset for system sound when >> Skype is loaded, and using my headphone jack/speakers. I'm wondering if >> there's a way to get to these settings quickly so I don't have to open >> system preferences, then sound. Of course, I could just keep the sounds >> dialog open, but I'm curious if there might be a way to show this in the >> status menu volume control settings, or something similar? >> >> Thanks, >> Teresa > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from Mac Mini) [email protected] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
