Disabling Sound Devices

[jasonmvp]

I've run into a "fun" (spelled with a capital "F"!) problem on my Macbook Pro (2018 era). I think this is an OS question vs hardware question, which is why I'm posting it here. If mods feel it needs to be moved, go for it.

The setup: One Macbook Pro 2018 connected to two different CalDigit TS3+ docks. One dock has a single 4K panel connected via DP, the other has two 4K displays connected via DP and mini-DP. Each dock provides the Mac with a USB input and output device for sound; they both have mic inputs and speaker outputs. They ALSO each have a SPDIF output for sound.

That means eight sound outputs:

• Display 1 (DP)
• Display 2 (DP)
• Display 3 (DP)
• Dock 1 (USB)
• Dock 1 (SPDIF)
• Dock 2 (USB)
• Dock 2 (SPDIF)
• Built-in Speakers

Unfortunately, I use a couple of applications that are... let's call them not-very-intelligent. Instead of using the device I have set as the default, they attempt to do their own enumeration of devices and allow you to pick on for input and output. Annnd naturally, their little internal array of devices is limited to 4 or 6 or something. In other words: I inevitably can't use the sound device I want with the app.

So: I need a way to disable some of these sound devices. I'd love it, for instance, if I could just remove the displays; I'll never use them for sound output. The problem is, Audio MIDI Setup will NOT let me remove them. The minus key is greyed out for each of them.

My work-around at this point in time is to make sure I connect the appropriate dock with the right sound input/output device first, and then the other one second. Which seems a bit silly, but it appears to work. I'd rather just nuke the DisplayPort audio devices from orbit and call it a day. Is there another way to do it?

Thanks.