Switching Audio Output on iMac
 

Alright here's the deal-- I have a y-cable running from the headphone jack on my iMac, to my audio receiver. Half of the time, I like having the sound from my computer running to my audio system so I can listen to my music real loud. But, the other half of the time I don't want the sound running through my system and rocking my room. Right now, I just pop the audio cable in and out of the headphone jack when I want to change where the sound goes, but is there a way I can leave the cable plugged in at all times and just switch the output source from my comp? I've been searching and so far it doesn't seem like I can. If you can help i'll be really really psyched.

Sure. The simple way is System Preferences > Sound > Outputs tab--switch to whatever autput you want.

Or alternatively, Audio MIDI Setup is an app found in /Applications/Utilities. Go to the Audio Devices tab and switch Default Output to whatever output you wish.

Trevor

This was my first thought but with the cable plugged in, the only option under "Choose a device for sound output" is 'Headphones.' With the cable unplugged it just lists 'Internal-speakers.' I will try the other way you mentioned.

Then you need to tell us a lot more about where you want the audio to switch to. I was assuming that you had some other audio output device that you wanted to switch to, like a USB or FireWire audio device, for example, but it sounds like you do not. So give us a lot more words and description to tell us what you want to happen.

Trevor

I want to be able to leave the audio cable plugged in to the headphone jack and from my computer switch the audio output from my audio system to the internal speakers in my iMac. It seems like with an audio cable plugged into the headphone jack on the iMac it automatically overrides the ability to use the internal speakers and that this is impossible. Really sucks if you can't toggle back and forth without plugging/unpluggin the wire everytime.

Ah, so it's not the switching that matters, it's the defeating of the normalized headphone jack. I think but am not sure that Rogue Amoeba's free SoundSource might be able to do that.

If that doesn't work, you could also try Sound Menu.

Trevor

well sound source doesn't work, simply makes system preferences>sound>output quicker to access, still only lists one output. Trying the other one you mentioned now.

neither one of the these apps let's you do what i'm trying to do, and i don't really see much of a difference between the two.. they just make it quicker to access options already there

I really don't think there is a solution here, as the sound output on an iMac is an analog plug. It can only output an electrical signal, but it's not smart enough to know where it's going. The solution here would be to get an I/O box that would act as a switch for your different audio outputs while accepting the iMac as the sole input, or you could just turn off the audio system when you don't want to hear it.

Nevermind....it looks like you really DO just want to switch from the headphone jack to the internal speakers. You SHOULD be able to do this already through the regular sound output menu in the system preferences. I thought what you were trying to do was switch between two audio outputs that were split from the headphone jack.

OK. I haven't used it, and read that it lets you do the opposite (on the Mac Pro, where both headphone jack and speaker output simultaneously, you can use it to turn off the speaker when you plug in the headphone jack).

Since it doesn't do what you want, I've got to suspect that the headphone jack is indeed wired in such a way that it is normalled to the speaker. If that's the case, you won't be able to control it with software. So, you'll need some kind of hardware solution to the problem.

Trevor

No only one output from the headphone jack, but it still won't allow me to select the internal speakers with any cable plugged in to the headphone jack, really whack. Gotta just plug and unplug the cable from the back of the computer every time i want to switch the output. Thanks apple.

The problem with a lot of Macs (certainly both of mine) is that plugging a minijack into the receptacle on the Mac hard wires the receptacle -- it's not a software detection, it's a mechanical switch redirection.

I have the same limitation on my iMac as you do on your Mac. Here's one possible solution.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic

If you connect the audio system to the iMic, you can use SoundSource to switch between USB audio and your headphones.

Thanks but that's not what I'm trying to do.. I want to be able to switch between the headphones and internal speakers without unplugging the wire from the headphone jack.

Edit: Unless I could hook my audio system to the iMac through the USB and toggle audio output between USB and internal headphones?

Edit #2: Ehhh I can't see paying $50 dollars just to be able to do this.. currently searching for a very cheap 3.5mm to usb converter

does anyone know for sure if that would work? Plugging the audio y-cable in to a 3.5mm/USB converter, plugging that in to a USB port on my computer. Does anyone know for sure if I'd then be able to switch between that output and the internal speakers???

Yes, that will work - if the adapter that you use is an iMic. That's the 'cheap' USB to 3.5mm that you are looking for... :) The iMic is essentially an external sound card/interface. I'm not aware of another product that will do what you want for less. Other audio interfaces are more expensive.

I am sorry if I am Hijacking the tread, but I have a similar problem. I have a set of external speakers (two and a sub) plugged into the jack in the rear of my iMac. I would like to be able to use the internal speakers also, but when I plug in the external speakers there is no option to choose both internal and external. I guess this is because the jack cuts off the internal when external are plugged in. Is this wrong or do I have a setting messed up?

You're right -- there is no option to run both the internal and external speakers if you have plugged the externals (as I do) into the audio out minijack receptacle on the Mac. Using an iMic or something like it is your only option for both.

What is an iMic?

The iMic is an external USB/audio interface
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic

That is one cool device. Now I am sorry I desposed of all my vinyl.

Google is your friend: iMic

It surely has a place in the lineup of products.

$50 for this little bit of convience is not cheap. There are like $10 3.5mm to USB converters that I'm looking to get but want to know for sure if it's going to work. I don't see why it wouldn't, but just wanted to get some conformation. Here's an example of what I'm talking about, there are cheaper ones: http://www.schooloutfitters.com/cata...Feed_CAL-AX-14

This is the one I was looking at/referring to last night.. more compact and cheaper.. only downfall is it might be a little space-consuming if you have to/want to plug it into a usb hub with the ports close together

http://www.outletpc.com/c5214.html


Edit: Like I was saying last night, while I don't know for sure I can't see why something like this wouldn't work. If the 3.5mm output jack is in fact normalized which it seems to be, that's why a wire being plugged in overrides the ability to use the internal speakers. Therefore, if audio output is being directed to an external source (speakers) via a USB port, one should have the ability to switch between the internal/external speakers without unplugging the wire from the adapter, or unplugging the adapter from the comp. :D

http://iwin2win.stores.yahoo.net/usbstauadro.html

Even cheaper yet. $8. Froogle rocks. :D

I think you are right, I think it will work. I have used a generic USB headset with mic and headphones on a Mac. I had no problems and no drivers were needed. A generic USB to analog sound device should work the same way. And yes, once one source is on USB and one is on the built in headphone jack you will be able to switch back and forth.

I have an el-cheapo set of earphones (Plantronic) that came with one too.

Hooray. Reps please :D


Edit: Oh wait, there's no reps on this form.. :-\
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/end thread

Looks like it would work at minimal expense.

Yeah another option is a USB Hub with an audio pass through. I'm currently searching for a USB hub / card reader that also has an audio pass through but haven't found a device that's all 3 in 1 yet

How did it go?
 

Hi Tussinmonstr, Wondering if the cheap USB 'portable sound card' trick worked on your mac? I'm looking for the same thing and the advertisers here say it is not compatible with Mac OS.... but I can't see why. Thanks!

I bought a cheap USB Dongle on EBay for $5.00 and it worked as soon as I added it to my iMac. I can play simulated 5.1 sound from my stereo speakers and I can use the microphone in iChat. The thing I can't do is choose both the USB sound and the internal iMac speakers. It does give greater depth to the sound than when the speakers were plugged into the iMac directly and not in the USB dongle. This similar to what I bought.
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-to-Mic-S...QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks for this info, I was about to buy a similar USB to audio but need to keep the internal speakers running in addition to audio out. Maybe will have to splurge on the Griffin imic....

I don't know if the Imic would allow you to choose both. The Sound control panel shows the internal speakers as well as the USB but I couldn't choose both. Do you know a way of doing that?

Hey, you COULD route the headphone jack into the line-in; that would let you switch/select line-in or internal microphone and run the sound through QuickTime!

Apple probably removed the option of selecting sound source so that retardos don't confuse their little noggins about it. It still should provide an "advanced" option for a manual override of the hardware switch.

a couple of tips, I know it's a bit late!

I was researching the possibility of switching between headphones/internal while something is plugged in and am fairly satisfied now as is mentioned here that it's impossible, which is annoying.
Anyway:

an alternative to the imic which I settled on is this:
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA202.aspx
It's made by a company specialising in professional audio (studio) equipment, and seems like a more audiophile solution at a very decent price.

Also, if you want the option of having audio coming from both internal speakers and a usb interface, try this:
http://cycling74.com/products/soundflower/

very powerful, if a little complex, software that can, as well as routing to both internal and external outputs, output specific programs to different outputs, so for example you could have itunes playing through external speakers while your browser played through the external speakers.


Just my two cents...

It's not a hardware switch!
 

I've been searching this problem for days. To recap: I keep my headphones plugged in all the time. Sometimes I want to hear through the internal speakers of my iMac so I have to unplug my headphones, which are inconveniently plugged in the back. Why can't I just switch the Output Device in the Sound Preferences Pane?

I started planning a simple switch box that would that would close the circuit when you unplug the headphones, thus enabling the internal speakers. This would work if it were a hardware issue. In fact, it still might, but a software solution is far more elegant.

And how do I know it's a software issue? I restarted my iMac with the headphones plugged in and heard the startup chime, that's how! When you first boot the iMac the external speakers work, then once all the software loads, sound comes from the headphones only. Go ahead, try it. I'll wait...

See!? I found a few references to a CHUDswitch terminal script that was written for a few Hackintosh machines, but the driver on those Hackintoshes isn't the same as on a real iMac. Long story short, I'm not shelling out cash to fix this problem now that I know a simple script might work. The quest is on!

I just wanted to let you all know it's not a hardware issue. It's all software.

The startup tone is hard wired too -- it always sounds.

Yes, not a software issue - it's a hardware switch in the headphone jack.
As NovaScotian says, the startup tone bypasses the audio output.

The easy way?
Use your headphones in a USB sound card, such as an iMic. The headphones then don't disconnect the internal speakers, and you can choose between outputs through any convenient method.

No, it's a software issue. Using the Bootcamp drivers you can toggle output (internal <-> external) in the Win 7 soundsetting.

Not true - if i "mute" the computer before i turn it off, it does not sound.

I'm pretty sure this is a software issue (albeit, very low-level. maybe even kernel?)

It just surprises me that, after being a windows guy for the longest time where I could do so many simple things easily (open a file with Enter, instead of renaming it, output sound to my headphones AND my computer speakers, etc..) that i'm not as annoyed I can't do it on a mac.

Normally, when I got annoyed at things that mac could do well not on windows (expose, ux, etc..) I would think to switch. But being on the mac, the thought of going back to windows hasn't even entered my mind.

Is that crazy? am I a mac fanboy?... scary...

Muting does not mute the boot chime on every Mac, because the boot chime is produced by the ROM. Not a software issue. Some Macs still sound the boot chime, even if the sound has been muted in software. This depends on the model. That's also why the boot chime may ignore other software or hardware connected to the Mac.

AFAIK, no PPC Macs will sound the boot chime if the sound in the system has previously been muted. This will reset (unmute) if you reset the PRAM. Newer intel Macs may or may not produce a boot chime, even though muted. That's my point, the boot chime is not a software issue.

Has this been resolved?
 

Hello,
I know this is an old post and am not sure if it has been resolved but I would like to do the same thing as the original poster.
It has been mentioned that plugging in headphones hardwires the output to that output, however if this is the case why when I have my headphones connected during startup to I hear the startup chime through the iMac speakers??

Just means that your model iMac is one of those whose boot ROM directs the startup chime to the iMac's speakers no matter what you've chosen in the Sound Prefs or external plug. Some folks who really object to the startup chime mute their sound with an AppleScript before shutting down (so you can't hear the chime), and then set it back where it was as the machine starts up. I don't shut my machines down, so it's not an issue.