Alert Sounds on OS X

Phil St. Romain · 02-22-2002, 04:13 PM

Alert sounds can be added to Mac OS X. Files must be in .aiff format. Drop them in the /System/Library/Sounds folder.

I've been using the freeware SoundApp for OS 9 to convert sounds to aiff format. iTunes will convert MP3 sounds to aiff, if you've got a short MP3 sound you'd like to use.

There are other apps that can be used to make aiff sounds--Amadeus, for example, which is shareware. You can find these on versiontracker.com

I'm aware that some have posted alert sounds on the net for downloading. Anyone know where? Any other recommendations on apps for making aiff?

Phil

tammys · 03-16-2002, 02:12 PM

I converted a sound file through QuickTime Pro to .aiff but when I tried to drop it into the Sound folder as you suggested an alert box came up telling me I can not modify the Sound folder.

Is it because the .aiff file was created through QuickTime Pro? Or am I getting to the Sound folder through the wrong path?

I am brand-spanking new - only 3 days out of the box - to OS X on my new, groovy iMac. It came with version 10.1.2. Does this version have anything to do with why I can't just drop that .aiff file into the Sound folder?

I really liked using my own alert sounds in 9.0+.

Thanks for any feedback!

03-16-2002, 04:23 PM

I did a google search on HAL and found some good quotes "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" among others. Beware, some are better quality than others. Then I used Sound Studio to boost the volume so it would be the same as the other alerts and convert it to an aiff file. Tammys, you have to be root (or move the files as root from the command line) to get the files where they need to go. If you're brand new to OS X, it might be easier and less scary to log in as root and move the files by hand.

Russ R. · 04-02-2002, 08:00 PM

I'm aware that some have posted alert sounds on the net for downloading

I have some on my Homepage. I need to get off my butt and do some more. But, if you want them:

here

Dr.Evil · 04-02-2002, 08:48 PM

Anything that can be placed in /System/Library (with a couple obscure execptions) is better placed in /Library (for all local users), /Network/Library (for all users on the network), or ~/Library (for just you). That, tammys, is why you're getting a warning. Placing .aiff files in any of those three directories should work just fine.

brodie · 04-03-2002, 04:15 AM

I posted a blank.aiff - no sound on my file sharing blank aiff just because i hate alert sounds, real annoying when listening to music and turnin up the vol.

didde · 04-03-2002, 07:29 AM

Quote:


	Originally posted by tammys I converted a sound file through QuickTime Pro to .aiff but when I tried to drop it into the Sound folder as you suggested an alert box came up telling me I can not modify the Sound folder. Is it because the .aiff file was created through QuickTime Pro? Or am I getting to the Sound folder through the wrong path? I am brand-spanking new - only 3 days out of the box - to OS X on my new, groovy iMac. It came with version 10.1.2. Does this version have anything to do with why I can't just drop that .aiff file into the Sound folder? I really liked using my own alert sounds in 9.0+. Thanks for any feedback!

Hey!

You have be logged in as root to able to mess around with the /System/Library.. So basically you should not do that at all. Try using the /Library instead..

Good luck.

04-03-2002, 11:15 AM

brodie you're a genius!! I HATE the alert sound when turning up the volume during a movie, song, or actually any other time too. I have HAL telling me "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" for comedic value only (and it's only funny the first 497 times). I saw a thing on Resexcellence.com about mucking about with Hexedit to get rid of the beep when changing the volume, but couldn't get it to work, so in the meantime, I'll just use a blank .aiff as you have. Thanks!

drjones · 04-03-2002, 01:15 PM

I put 30 some aiff's on my macpage:

http://homepage.mac.com/drjones

I used to be a sound junkie, but haven't collected much lately. You might be old enough to want the 'Klaatu Birata Nicto' which i got while watching the movie with an old Wallstreet PB one day. You don't see 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' on the tube much anymore

Algernon · 04-11-2002, 12:16 PM

Has anyone else had a problem when trying to use custom sounds in mail or when changing the volume? When I do either, the sound is really distorted like it's way above the max volume or something.

ziggygallaway · 04-13-2002, 01:05 AM

I've followed all the above, typed in the sudo... opend syst. pref's/sounds and it recognized the .aiff, wonderful, I thought. set the preferences to that sound and ...

it appears that my alert pref's are random (?!?) one second purr, the next 'frog' (almost always frog though...) and the volume for alerts seems to default to master volume.

(14'ibook, powerPC g3, osx 10.1.3, not networked/single user) any thoughts?

02-22-2002, 04:13 PM	#1
Phil St. Romain Site Admin Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,350	Alert Sounds on OS X Alert sounds can be added to Mac OS X. Files must be in .aiff format. Drop them in the /System/Library/Sounds folder. I've been using the freeware SoundApp for OS 9 to convert sounds to aiff format. iTunes will convert MP3 sounds to aiff, if you've got a short MP3 sound you'd like to use. There are other apps that can be used to make aiff sounds--Amadeus, for example, which is shareware. You can find these on versiontracker.com I'm aware that some have posted alert sounds on the net for downloading. Anyone know where? Any other recommendations on apps for making aiff? Phil

04-02-2002, 08:00 PM	#4
Russ R. Triple-A Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 212	Alert sounds I'm aware that some have posted alert sounds on the net for downloading I have some on my Homepage. I need to get off my butt and do some more. But, if you want them: here Last edited by Russ R.; 04-02-2002 at 08:04 PM.

04-02-2002, 08:48 PM	#5
Dr.Evil Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 63	Don't put files in /System! Anything that can be placed in /System/Library (with a couple obscure execptions) is better placed in /Library (for all local users), /Network/Library (for all users on the network), or ~/Library (for just you). That, tammys, is why you're getting a warning. Placing .aiff files in any of those three directories should work just fine.

04-03-2002, 01:15 PM	#9
drjones Prospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: inside the beltway (DC) Posts: 23	More alerts, some familiar, some not I put 30 some aiff's on my macpage: http://homepage.mac.com/drjones I used to be a sound junkie, but haven't collected much lately. You might be old enough to want the 'Klaatu Birata Nicto' which i got while watching the movie with an old Wallstreet PB one day. You don't see 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' on the tube much anymore

04-11-2002, 12:16 PM	#10
Algernon Prospect Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In a house on a hill. Posts: 2	Sound distortion Has anyone else had a problem when trying to use custom sounds in mail or when changing the volume? When I do either, the sound is really distorted like it's way above the max volume or something. __________________ To do is to be - Socrates To be is to do -Plato Do Be Do Be Do - Sinatra

03-16-2002, 02:12 PM	#2
tammys Prospect Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 3	I converted a sound file through QuickTime Pro to .aiff but when I tried to drop it into the Sound folder as you suggested an alert box came up telling me I can not modify the Sound folder. Is it because the .aiff file was created through QuickTime Pro? Or am I getting to the Sound folder through the wrong path? I am brand-spanking new - only 3 days out of the box - to OS X on my new, groovy iMac. It came with version 10.1.2. Does this version have anything to do with why I can't just drop that .aiff file into the Sound folder? I really liked using my own alert sounds in 9.0+. Thanks for any feedback!

03-16-2002, 04:23 PM	#3
Titanium Man Guest Posts: n/a	I did a google search on HAL and found some good quotes "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" among others. Beware, some are better quality than others. Then I used Sound Studio to boost the volume so it would be the same as the other alerts and convert it to an aiff file. Tammys, you have to be root (or move the files as root from the command line) to get the files where they need to go. If you're brand new to OS X, it might be easier and less scary to log in as root and move the files by hand.

04-03-2002, 04:15 AM	#6
brodie Triple-A Player Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 143	I posted a blank.aiff - no sound on my file sharing blank aiff just because i hate alert sounds, real annoying when listening to music and turnin up the vol.

04-03-2002, 11:15 AM	#8
Titanium Man Guest Posts: n/a	brodie you're a genius!! I HATE the alert sound when turning up the volume during a movie, song, or actually any other time too. I have HAL telling me "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" for comedic value only (and it's only funny the first 497 times). I saw a thing on Resexcellence.com about mucking about with Hexedit to get rid of the beep when changing the volume, but couldn't get it to work, so in the meantime, I'll just use a blank .aiff as you have. Thanks!

04-13-2002, 01:05 AM	#11
ziggygallaway Prospect Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 2	random alert sound pref's I've followed all the above, typed in the sudo... opend syst. pref's/sounds and it recognized the .aiff, wonderful, I thought. set the preferences to that sound and ... it appears that my alert pref's are random (?!?) one second purr, the next 'frog' (almost always frog though...) and the volume for alerts seems to default to master volume. (14'ibook, powerPC g3, osx 10.1.3, not networked/single user) any thoughts?

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