Sound preferences in macOS are crucial for managing how audio is handled on your Apple device. Whether you're adjusting the volume, changing the input/output devices, or configuring sound effects, understanding how to navigate and modify these settings can significantly enhance your user experience. This article will guide you through the steps to access and configure sound preferences on macOS, ensuring you can tailor your audio settings to your needs.

Examples:

1. Accessing Sound Preferences via System Preferences:

   • Open the Apple menu by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
   • Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
   • Click on the "Sound" icon to open the Sound preferences pane.

2. Adjusting Output Volume:

   • Within the Sound preferences pane, navigate to the "Output" tab.
   • Select your preferred output device from the list (e.g., internal speakers, headphones, external speakers).
   • Use the volume slider at the bottom to adjust the output volume to your desired level.

3. Changing Input Devices:

   • Go to the "Input" tab in the Sound preferences pane.
   • Choose your preferred input device from the list (e.g., built-in microphone, external microphone).
   • Adjust the input volume using the slider to ensure your voice or audio input is captured clearly.

4. Configuring Sound Effects:

   • In the Sound preferences pane, click on the "Sound Effects" tab.
   • Select your preferred alert sound from the list.
   • Use the sliders to adjust the alert volume and choose whether to play sound effects through the selected output device or internal speakers.

5. Using Terminal to Adjust Volume:

   • Open the Terminal application from the Utilities folder or by searching for it using Spotlight.
   • To increase the volume, type the following command and press Enter:

     osascript -e "set volume output volume 75"

   • To decrease the volume, type:

     osascript -e "set volume output volume 25"

   • To mute the volume, use:

     osascript -e "set volume output muted true"