My Mac won't shut up...even when I tell it to.

August 21, 2006 7:27 PM

Why does my new Mac still make noises when I turn the sound all the way down?

I've just bought a shiny new Macbook. This is my first Mac after years of Windows machines, and this problem is driving me nuts. When I open videos on Youtube or any other embedded video, the volume just seems to override whatever volume I've set the system for.
I usually keep the sound turned all the way down at night. Click on a video link and sound is blaring out of the speakers at max volume until I adjust the sound back down again. What the?

This is with Firefox 1.5.0.6.

posted by Eddie Mars to computers & internet (4 comments total)

Could it be something wonky with the OS? Have you updated? (Mind you, I have a new MacBook, and haven't had this problem in the last few months, same browser.)

What about updating your Flash?
posted by Dasein at 7:49 PM on August 21, 2006

In the sound control panel you have Alert Volume and Output Volume, are both of these turned down? Also, do you have this hooked up to external speakers or a usb or firewire audio-out box?
posted by doctor_negative at 8:05 PM on August 21, 2006

Are you sure you're controlling the output of the right sound output device? In System Preferences -> Sound -> Output, you can select a particular device and then change only that device's volume.

SoundSource is a little application that lives on the menu bar and allows you to do the same thing.
posted by beniamino at 8:55 PM on August 21, 2006

You could use my Ultimate Silencer Solution for laptops: rip off the plug of a broken headphone/micro/whatever and plug it in the laptop to disable sound :) unless it makes sounds even when headphones are plugged?
posted by a007r at 2:53 PM on August 22, 2006