Feature & Windows Vista Walter on 11 Dec 2006 08:41 pm
Vista Volume Mixer adds per program volume control
Previous versions of Windows let you set the volume levels only for inputs (such as microphones) and outputs (such as speakers and headphones). The new Volume Mixer in Windows Vista lets you set volume levels for each program. While some programs offer the ability to control the program’s volume inside the program’s interface, some don’t. The new Volume Mixer makes it easier to control volume for every program in a single place.
The Volume Mixer shows the currently-running programs that make sound (a program shows up on the mixer the first time the program makes a sound). Simply adjust the volume for each program how you want it. And once you set the volume for a program, Windows remembers the setting.
To get the Volume Mixer, just click the speaker icon in the Notification Area (where the clock is) and then click Mixer at the bottom of the volume slider. Or, just hit Start and type sndvol in the Search box.
on 29 Mar 2007 at 11:30 am 1.Tony said …
Hi!
Do you know how to “save” the Volume Mixer settings? The Mixer always seems to “forget” the adjustings at start-up…
on 02 Apr 2007 at 11:08 am 2.Walter said …
I have the same problem. I don’t think it does save Mixer settings for individual programs. Instead, it looks like whenever they start, it sets them to the level of the main volume. I’ll check into it some more.
on 26 Jun 2007 at 9:00 pm 3.ellevelyn said …
Hi, I accidentally ‘deactivated’ the mixer and now it’s gone. How can I can a reversal? Now it keeps saying No Audio Output Device is Installed.. Help pls
on 11 Aug 2007 at 3:41 am 4.Barrie said …
I have the same problem, even when I set the volume where I want it, Windows never remembers and randomly sets them for different applications. It’s very aggravating. If there are any solutions, please help!
on 11 Aug 2007 at 1:25 pm 5.Walter said …
Windows doesn’t randomly set them, but it also doesn’t exactly forget them. Rather, it seems to base the setting for a particular application relative to the master volume. Here’s an example:
The master volume is set at 50. You load up a game and set that games volume to 30. Now, use the slider to change the master volume and you’ll see that all the other volume levels change in relation to the master volume. So, you can set applications to different levels compared to each other, but when you adjust the master volume, it makes all apps that much louder or softer.
And it keeps these adjustments. Make some settings and close it. Now, mess around with your master volume level just by clicking the speaker icon and sliding the volume. Now, open mixer again and you should see that all those app volumes are still in the relative position you set them.
on 11 Aug 2007 at 1:49 pm 6.Walter Glenn » More on Vista Volume Mixer said …
[…] Since my last article on Vista’s new Volume Mixer, I got a few comments from people saying that Vista didn’t remember their settings and just set volume for other apps somewhat randomly. But Volume Mixer does remember the settings, just not the way you might think. I thought I’d do a follow-up with a few more details about Vista Volume Mixer. Take a look at the picture below: […]
on 11 Dec 2007 at 10:38 pm 7.Spoonman said …
Anyone knows if there is something like this but for windows xp (x64 the better)
Sorry about my english.
on 17 May 2008 at 3:25 am 8.FJ said …
Hmm how can I put a mic device on that mixer list, when I record something even if I have set the volume to 20% at taskbar or controlpanel sound or hd sound icons, as I start recording it always resets the value to 100% messing up my recordings.
on 02 Jul 2008 at 10:50 pm 9.Mall said …
This mixer stinks. It does NOT remembered the volume settings for most programs. It is a real pain. I have to have the volume on speakers all of the way up in order to have full volume control over applications such as television, radio, and media player. But whenever I load up a new application it sets the volume to match the speaker volume. Or worse, a windows error or application error suddenly pops up and makes the windows shake it is so loud (not to mention the mood it puts my family in when it happens at 2am). Since in vista you can’t control application volume until the application is running, you get blasted every time. I have no idea why you can’t simply associate default volumes with services and applications. They could have at least included a default sound level for all new processes option…too obvious and simple I guess. The only alternative I have to random loud blasts of sound is to turn the volume down all of the time and give up multimedia in vista altogether.
If they couldn’t implement the audio per application right, why mess with it at all? With the old mixers you could just set your volumes the way you want and then control the volumes within the multimedia applications themselves.