Why is macOS so awkward about volume control?

[TechnoLawyer]

Can someone explain to me why I can't have a simple universal volume control when connected to use speakers through HDMI? Hook up a monitor via HDMI with built in speakers, and universal volume control mostly goes away, and all volume control goes away from keyboard shorts.

WHY? This isn't an issue in Windows. Hook up any speakers you want, any way you want, and volume control is universal and works the same.

 

[hwojtek]

HDMI volume is controlled on the receiving side by design, so MacOS is following the standard rules.
You may easily overcome this limitation by using Soundflower or Loopback and routing your monitor sound to Soundflower / Loopback within the app and then selecting either as the default sound output device in Sound preference pane. This will bring back OS volume control.

The endgame however, is Soundsource.

 

[BrianBaughn]

The situation is actually the same for both macOS and Windows. If the maker of the audio device provides drivers or firmware that incorporate the OS's volume control then it works. If they don't, it doesn't.

I have a USB headphone set that works with the macOS volume control…just buttons for up and down…and I'm sure it would work like that in Windows, also.

I have a PreSonus USB audio interface that doesn't work like that and I'm pretty sure it doesn't in Windows, either, as it has an analogue resistor-based volume knob and you can't make that move with the buttons on your keyboard.

I've seen USB audio devices that actually do work with the macOS system volume. One that I remember had a volume knob on it but the knob itself didn't have stops in either direction…turning it just sent an up or down volume command to the OS.

 

[TechnoLawyer]

The situation is actually the same for both macOS and Windows. If the maker of the audio device provides drivers or firmware that incorporate the OS's volume control then it works. If they don't, it doesn't.

I have a USB headphone set that works with the macOS volume control…just buttons for up and down…and I'm sure it would work like that in Windows, also.

I have a PreSonus USB audio interface that doesn't work like that and I'm pretty sure it doesn't in Windows, either, as it has an analogue resistor-based volume knob and you can't make that move with the buttons on your keyboard.

I've seen USB audio devices that actually do work with the macOS system volume. One that I remember had a volume knob on it but the knob itself didn't have stops in either direction…turning it just sent an up or down volume command to the OS.

So I've only encountered devices in this scenario with proper drivers for windows I guess?

I guess I'll try running the speakers off a usb-c hub instead of the monitor.

 

[joevt]

Do HDMI audio receivers support DDC/CI for volume control? If so, then try https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl
My AllRez command might be able to show a list of supported DDC/CI options. #177

 

[MacGizmo]

Big thumbs-up for MonitorControl mentioned by @joevt - I recently installed it to use with two LG monitors with my new Mac Studio (one connected with Thunderbolt, the other with HDMI, neither of which works with volume or brightness keys on the keyboard. It works great and it's free/open source.

 

[logaandm]

The situation is actually the same for both macOS and Windows. If the maker of the audio device provides drivers or firmware that incorporate the OS's volume control then it works. If they don't, it doesn't.

Yes, there is a driver for HDMI audio and just like the keyboard and mouse Microsoft and Linux wrote it more than 20 years ago.

I have never had a Linux or Windows install where I couldn't control the HDMI volume. This is Apple and the purist example of Apple arrogance.

Why won't Apple write the simple driver for this?

1. So they can sell more Apple Monitors
2. Sheaple

Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

 

[logaandm]

Big thumbs-up for MonitorControl mentioned by @joevt - I recently installed it to use with two LG monitors with my new Mac Studio (one connected with Thunderbolt, the other with HDMI, neither of which works with volume or brightness keys on the keyboard. It works great and it's free/open source.

I couldn't get MonitorControl to work with my HDMI dock. eqMac works well enough and is free just for HDMI.