The roof is only mildly warm
September 23, 2010 11:19 AM Subscribe
How can I universally raise the volume of my Macbook Pro? My maximum volume frequently isn't loud enough.
I know my speakers are capable of being loud. I've been using VLC/Movist to up the volume on files I play, and I can get plenty loud. But VLC is ugly and doesn't support a lot of things that I'd like supported. I'm trying to use my laptop as a media center for the living room, and so using an app like Plex is much more convenient. Problem is, Plex doesn't let me artificially raise the volume.
What are my options for getting my files to play louder that don't lock me into VLC? I'd really rather not invest in speakers at the moment, and if my computer CAN play loudly, I'd much rather stick to using it.
I know my speakers are capable of being loud. I've been using VLC/Movist to up the volume on files I play, and I can get plenty loud. But VLC is ugly and doesn't support a lot of things that I'd like supported. I'm trying to use my laptop as a media center for the living room, and so using an app like Plex is much more convenient. Problem is, Plex doesn't let me artificially raise the volume.
What are my options for getting my files to play louder that don't lock me into VLC? I'd really rather not invest in speakers at the moment, and if my computer CAN play loudly, I'd much rather stick to using it.
The only way to increase the output volume past the OS's maximum setting is via software. Audio Hijack Pro can do this (for $32, cheaper than speakers), but you'll probably experience a slight lag while watching video.
Once VLC is playing, it displays no interface, so your criticism is curious. What formats does it not support that you'd like supported?
posted by pmbuko at 11:37 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Once VLC is playing, it displays no interface, so your criticism is curious. What formats does it not support that you'd like supported?
posted by pmbuko at 11:37 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
You could use Audio Hijack Pro to run all your audio through a filter that would increase the volume. It costs $32, since it's mostly used for many other (awesome) features.
You could also consider getting a cheap receiver or pre-amp from a thrift store. If you can get the inputs and outputs right, it should give you a lot more oomph without very much effort.
posted by bcwinters at 11:38 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
You could also consider getting a cheap receiver or pre-amp from a thrift store. If you can get the inputs and outputs right, it should give you a lot more oomph without very much effort.
posted by bcwinters at 11:38 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you are using it as a media center, I would try to go with using the optical output and an appropriate receiver/amplifier - that way all volume would be handled on the receiver as it should be (as well as possibly support surround-sound formats etc)
posted by TravellingDen at 11:46 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by TravellingDen at 11:46 AM on September 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I imagine you could put an inexpensive (or expensive) amplified between your laptop's audio out and external speakers, or else get powered speakers with their own amplifier.
posted by zippy at 11:48 AM on September 23, 2010
posted by zippy at 11:48 AM on September 23, 2010
I've had the same concern with my MBP, even just with iTunes. I've read the suggestions before re: Audio Hijack Pro. However, I usually go to iTunes own equalizer and raise the "preamp" fader. That squeezes a bit more out of the track playing. If one can do that with iTunes, shouldn't there be a way to do it elsewhere without paying for it?
posted by skypieces at 12:43 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by skypieces at 12:43 PM on September 23, 2010
You could try a combination of Soundflower and Audacity if you don't want to pay $32. The way it would work is:
Your app > Soundflower > Audacity recording with hardware playthrough > MBP speakers
posted by spaghettification at 1:33 PM on September 23, 2010
Your app > Soundflower > Audacity recording with hardware playthrough > MBP speakers
posted by spaghettification at 1:33 PM on September 23, 2010
A simple (though little-known) solution for upping the volume of any media being played by Quicktime Player is to hit Shift plus the "up" arrow. This will take the audio up to the same level that VLC is capable of. This also works for .mov and .mp4 media played via Quicktime in any browser: hit Shift and click on the volume symbol - an extended volume scale will become available to its left.
posted by progosk at 3:10 PM on September 23, 2010
posted by progosk at 3:10 PM on September 23, 2010
Audio Hijack Pro can do this (for $32, cheaper than speakers), but you'll probably experience a slight lag while watching video.I use Audio Hijack Pro to loud-ify too-quiet video files all the time, and I have never experienced any kind of lag.
posted by blueberry at 4:27 PM on September 23, 2010
I have a MacBook Pro and I also DESPISE how low the peak volume is, especially for a $2200 machine!!
AudioHijack Pro helps a little, but not near enough. The worst thing is that downloadable files played through VLC get suitably loud, but web-based content is not near loud enough.
Sometimes I just have to plug in external speakers, which is a pain when I'm laying in bed and want to watch something with my wife, via the laptop.
posted by newfers at 7:39 PM on September 23, 2010
AudioHijack Pro helps a little, but not near enough. The worst thing is that downloadable files played through VLC get suitably loud, but web-based content is not near loud enough.
Sometimes I just have to plug in external speakers, which is a pain when I'm laying in bed and want to watch something with my wife, via the laptop.
posted by newfers at 7:39 PM on September 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
You have likely thought of this but....Do you have a stereo system or portable "boom Box" with a line input
?
posted by Studiogeek at 11:34 AM on September 23, 2010