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Dual Studio Displays: how will the speakers work?
- Thread starter warmbear
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Good questions, I was thinking the same, plus the cameras. How would they work. I ordered one to see how I like it before ordering a 2nd.
I was also wondering about this. It would be nice if you could set the audio to that the left channel is fed to the speakers in the left monitor and the right channel is fed to the speakers in the right monitor. But what about a three monitor set up? Ideally, you'd be able to spread the stereo image across all three monitors. Having designed a monitor with built-in speakers and computers that can support two, three or (in some cases) up to four of the monitors, you'd think that Apple would have put in a lot of thought into how to configure the audio. But in like of the AirPods Max/lossless audio fiasco, I wouldn't bet on in.
Nothing special. The Mac just sees two cameras and two audio output devices and you can choose which one you want to use (same as choosing between the camera/speakers in a laptop and those in the screen). And if you’re using a laptop and plug and unplug the screens, pretty often the Mac will forget which one you were using and choose the wrong one.
There was a tool a while ago that let you create a custom virtual audio output, using the left speaker of the left display for the left channel and the right speaker of the right display for the right channel, or something like that, but it had downsides such as the loss of usage of the keyboard volume controls.
There was a tool a while ago that let you create a custom virtual audio output, using the left speaker of the left display for the left channel and the right speaker of the right display for the right channel, or something like that, but it had downsides such as the loss of usage of the keyboard volume controls.
I’ve tried with the midi app, both an aggregate, and multi-output device. Prefer the multi output with the left display mapped to the left outputs and the right display mapped to the right outputs.
I also tried the loop back app which is certainly easier to use, but get similar results with the custom config in the midi app, and free!
You get both Studio Displays playing at the same time but at a price. You can use Audio MIDI Setup under Applications/Utilities and create an aggregated sound device. Then select the aggregate for sound output. BUT....you lose all volume control from control center or your keyboard. I've set this up and it works, and you still can adjust volume with the slider in the Music app, but it's a pain. Not sure if it's worth it. But it works.
Hi Keith, I was having the same issue and came across this on another thread (Thanks @astrorider) that allows you to use MIDI and retain volume control with the keyboard. It's working like a champ for me!
"Then, to control this new multi-output device with your keyboard, install MultiSoundChanger.app to your Applications folder, and set it as a Login Item so it launches on login (System Preferences > Users & Groups). MultiSoundChanger.app has media key support and adds a menubar item too."