Route audio on Mac differently based on location (or a switch)

November 5, 2019 10:30 AM

I'm producing music, so at home I have a USB-connected audio interface through which I route all of my audio. When I have my laptop on the road, I need my audio switched around so that it comes out of the built-in speakers. I'm tired of having to go into sound options and switch this back and forth every time I plug in. Is there a software / MacOS built-in solution to either be able to detect when the audio interface has been plugged in and switch, or to create a hotkey or something to switch between audio configurations?
posted by softlord to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

If you option-click on the volume icon on the menu bar (you may need to have this set to display if it doesn't already, which is in the options menu), all your audio inputs and outputs will be visible and you can select them from there. Not quite hotkey-quick, but quicker than going straight to settings.
posted by furnace.heart at 10:35 AM on November 5, 2019 [2 favorites]

Hmmm, maybe check Rogue Amoeba's software: Airfoil and/or SoundSource?
posted by terrapin at 10:36 AM on November 5, 2019

Check out ControlPlane. This can apply numerous changes to your configuration based on your current "context", and context can be determined by a bunch of different cues, such as what network you're on, what devices are attached, etc.
posted by adamrice at 10:43 AM on November 5, 2019 [2 favorites]