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SoundPeek

How to use SoundPeek to see your audio devices and defaults, switch the default device, and move the volume slider or mute the default output.

Updated

The question it answers: why is my audio going to the wrong place?

What you see

  • The current default output and default input device, and every device that can do each direction, default first.
  • Per device: connection type (built-in, USB, Bluetooth, HDMI and so on), sample rate, channel count and volume.
  • On the default output device only: a volume slider and a Mute button, where the device lets macOS change them. Every other device shows its volume as a percentage, or Not exposed by this device.
  • Anything a device does not report reads Not reported or Not exposed by this device. Nothing is estimated.
  • Devices with the same name are told apart, for example USB Audio (1) and Headset (Bluetooth).

How to use it

  1. Open SoundPeek. It updates when a device is plugged in or removed while the screen is open; press ⌘R to read again.
  2. Check which device is the default for output and for input.
  3. To change it, press Set as default on a device. The Default badge moves to it. To go back, set the other device as the default.
  4. Drag the volume slider on the default output device to set its volume. To change another device’s volume, make it the default output first. The value is sent a moment after you stop moving, and the slider keeps your value until the device confirms it.
  5. Press Mute or Unmute on the default output device, if it allows it. Moving the slider does not change mute.
  6. Copy the audio report for a support thread. It contains no device IDs or serial numbers.

Good to know

  • SoundPeek changes something only when you press a button or move a slider, and shows a message only when a change fails. It never switches devices by itself, even when a new one appears.
  • Many HDMI, DisplayPort and some USB audio devices do not let macOS change their volume or mute. They get no slider or button even when they are the default, and say so.
  • Volume or mute changed elsewhere (the menu bar, the keyboard) shows up on the next device change or when you refresh.
  • Per-app volume and “which app is using audio” are not shown: macOS offers no supported way to read them.

Privacy and safety

SoundPeek never opens an audio stream, so it cannot record or listen, and macOS never asks for Microphone access. It needs no permission and makes no network request. Device names are never logged.