Mac Pro - Line Out Weirdness?

[dpaanlka]

I just got my Mac Pro, and I noticed that when I plug my ViewSonic's built in speakers to the Line-Out port on the back the sound doesn't come through. It does, however, if I plug them into the headphone jack in the front.

What am I missing here? This is strange to me coming from several generations of Power Macs.

 

[dpaanlka]

Nevermind... figured it out.

 

[theBB]

Nevermind... figured it out.

Care to share?

 

[dpaanlka]

System Preferences -> Sound -> Output -> Line Out

I guess you have to manually set it... isn't that odd for a Mac?

 

[dusanv]

System Preferences -> Sound -> Output -> Line Out

I guess you have to manually set it... isn't that odd for a Mac?

What's more odd is that mine came like that, I didn't have to do anything...

 

[Cromulent]

Yeah it uses the built-in speaker by default. It had me scratching my head for a while. It still annoys me that Windows uses the built in speaker as well as the line out port though.

 

[techster85]

the truly frustrating part is that you can only use the headphone OR the line out, you have to switch between the two sources in System Preferences...

 

[product26]

having to manually set these options is good for those of us who use 3rd party pro audio hardware. Choosing my Firewire 1814 as my primary output / input device, and having it stay that way is exactly what I need.

you must remember that these things were designed with pro applications in mind. In the middle of a mixing / recording session you don't want your audio device switching on you because you plugged in your USB hub that just happens to have an audio device connected to it.

 

[product26]

the truly frustrating part is that you can only use the headphone OR the line out, you have to switch between the two sources in System Preferences...

most pro audio hardware has headphone out integrated, the ports that are on the tower are only there because people would bitch if they weren't.

 

[Shekky]

most pro audio hardware has headphone out integrated, the ports that are on the tower are only there because people would bitch if they weren't.

yeah thats true I was confused cause I couldn't figure this out at first lol they should add something about it in the manual or something about having to switch this.