1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,840
You know what really overcooks my rib eye to an inedible extra well done?

2
00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,160
How horribly inconvenient Windows audio settings

3
00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:11,200
have been for years. I mean, sure, turning the volume up and down

4
00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,660
typically isn't hard. In fact, you can often do it from your keyboard.

5
00:00:14,660 --> 00:00:18,480
But trying to do just about anything else is such a chore.

6
00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:24,640
Even something as simple as switching your output, say from your desktop speakers to a pair of headphones,

7
00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,280
often requires going into a separate sound settings app

8
00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:34,400
and instructing your sound chip to treat your headphone out and your speaker out as two separate outputs.

9
00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:39,800
Now, once you've done that, switching between the two is just a matter of opening up the volume slider,

10
00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,640
clicking on the name of the output above it, and then clicking the speakers that you want.

11
00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,640
But it isn't very obvious how to do this

12
00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,600
as you more or less have to know that the menu exists beforehand.

13
00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,400
I mean, the only hint you get is a little arrow above the volume slider.

14
00:00:55,400 --> 00:01:00,880
Fair enough though, I've got that memorized. And then Windows 11 rolls around and Microsoft,

15
00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,360
for whatever reason, decides, hey, you know what users really need right now?

16
00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,440
For the sound options to be even more of a pain.

17
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:15,100
Now clicking the notification area brings up a quick settings menu that isn't even audio specific

18
00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:20,040
with another tiny arrow next to the volume slider that is somehow even less obvious

19
00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:24,960
than the one in Windows 10. Then you've got the fact that it's also not super clear

20
00:01:24,960 --> 00:01:27,960
how to adjust the volume for individual programs.

21
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:33,800
And with how many things on our PCs can be constantly screeching at us these days,

22
00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:38,320
I would say that's a pretty important feature to have quick access to.

23
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:43,120
Especially if you've gotten tired of how auto-playing video ads inside your web browser

24
00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:49,960
can startle the crap out of you if you aren't ready for them. In Windows 10 and 11, that option isn't even located

25
00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:55,000
anywhere in that volume slider menu. You instead have to right click

26
00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,040
and select open volume mixer where you're then greeted

27
00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,080
with the list of individual programs and their volume levels.

28
00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,320
Windows 11 finally did ditch that old school looking volume mixer

29
00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,520
that's been basically unchanged since today as a Windows 7 in favor of something more modern.

30
00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:15,020
But it's still an annoying treasure hunt if you don't know exactly what to click on.

31
00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:20,880
So then what if you wanna change any additional settings like your input device or your left right balance?

32
00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,720
Well, guess what? There is yet another menu for all of that

33
00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,360
simply called sound settings that is separate from the volume mixer.

34
00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:34,680
And look, maybe working your way through this maze of mouse clicks isn't as infuriating to you

35
00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:38,720
as it is to me. But the point is that it shouldn't be hard

36
00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:44,640
to put many of these commonly used settings on one sound panel that comes up with a single click.

37
00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:49,360
In fact, there are actually third party solutions out there that do a much better job

38
00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:53,160
than what Windows offers by default. One such app is called Ear Trumpet,

39
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:58,160
not to be confused with the old school hearing aid. Ear Trumpet, who did not sponsor this video,

40
00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,880
offers quick access to a seamless looking volume mixer for easy individual app control,

41
00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,200
even allowing you to change your sound output on a per app basis, which you can do in Windows.

42
00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,040
But again, it's hidden beneath a couple of submenus.

43
00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:16,880
It was developed by a team of only three people. So you gotta think it wouldn't be that hard for Microsoft

44
00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,880
to make the built-in audio experience a little more streamlined, especially considering that the team behind Ear Trumpet

45
00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,880
is actually made up of ex-Microsoft employees.

46
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:29,080
Maybe their workers are just prohibited from having too many good ideas at one time.

47
00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:35,060
But you're not prohibited from watching more of our videos, leaving a like or a dislike or subscribing.

48
00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:36,360
Yeah, subscribing is good.