WEBVTT

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You know what really overcooks my rib eye to an inedible extra well done?

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How horribly inconvenient Windows audio settings

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have been for years. I mean, sure, turning the volume up and down

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typically isn't hard. In fact, you can often do it from your keyboard.

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But trying to do just about anything else is such a chore.

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Even something as simple as switching your output, say from your desktop speakers to a pair of headphones,

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often requires going into a separate sound settings app

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and instructing your sound chip to treat your headphone out and your speaker out as two separate outputs.

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Now, once you've done that, switching between the two is just a matter of opening up the volume slider,

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clicking on the name of the output above it, and then clicking the speakers that you want.

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But it isn't very obvious how to do this

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as you more or less have to know that the menu exists beforehand.

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I mean, the only hint you get is a little arrow above the volume slider.

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Fair enough though, I've got that memorized. And then Windows 11 rolls around and Microsoft,

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for whatever reason, decides, hey, you know what users really need right now?

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For the sound options to be even more of a pain.

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Now clicking the notification area brings up a quick settings menu that isn't even audio specific

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with another tiny arrow next to the volume slider that is somehow even less obvious

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than the one in Windows 10. Then you've got the fact that it's also not super clear

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how to adjust the volume for individual programs.

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And with how many things on our PCs can be constantly screeching at us these days,

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I would say that's a pretty important feature to have quick access to.

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Especially if you've gotten tired of how auto-playing video ads inside your web browser

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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

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anywhere in that volume slider menu. You instead have to right click

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and select open volume mixer where you're then greeted

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with the list of individual programs and their volume levels.

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Windows 11 finally did ditch that old school looking volume mixer

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that's been basically unchanged since today as a Windows 7 in favor of something more modern.

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But it's still an annoying treasure hunt if you don't know exactly what to click on.

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So then what if you wanna change any additional settings like your input device or your left right balance?

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Well, guess what? There is yet another menu for all of that

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simply called sound settings that is separate from the volume mixer.

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And look, maybe working your way through this maze of mouse clicks isn't as infuriating to you

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as it is to me. But the point is that it shouldn't be hard

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to put many of these commonly used settings on one sound panel that comes up with a single click.

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In fact, there are actually third party solutions out there that do a much better job

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than what Windows offers by default. One such app is called Ear Trumpet,

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not to be confused with the old school hearing aid. Ear Trumpet, who did not sponsor this video,

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offers quick access to a seamless looking volume mixer for easy individual app control,

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even allowing you to change your sound output on a per app basis, which you can do in Windows.

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But again, it's hidden beneath a couple of submenus.

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It was developed by a team of only three people. So you gotta think it wouldn't be that hard for Microsoft

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to make the built-in audio experience a little more streamlined, especially considering that the team behind Ear Trumpet

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is actually made up of ex-Microsoft employees.

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Maybe their workers are just prohibited from having too many good ideas at one time.

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But you're not prohibited from watching more of our videos, leaving a like or a dislike or subscribing.

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Yeah, subscribing is good.