Spike Software’s (http://www.spikesoft.net) Audio Switcher, an update to its menubar applet utility for Mac OS X, has recently been revved to version 2.5.2.
Audio Switcher allows you to switch your audio input and output between different audio devices. It supports a range of devices, as well as the built-in audio hardware of your Mac desktop or laptop. Version 2.5.2 is a maintenance release that fixes a few bugs, including a bug where Audio Switcher would not correctly set the level on the default device on some computers.
Audio Switcher automatically detects when your audio devices are connected or disconnected and you can even set a given device as your default input or output device; the app will switch to this device anytime it is connected. Audio Switcher also allows you to set a default volume or gain level for your devices.
When switching between your devices, you can set a default volume or gain and when switching to a new device, Audio Switcher can automatically set the volume or gain. Setting Audio Switcher as a login item allows all of these features to work as soon as it launches.
Audio Switcher was originally developed to fill a void in Mac OS X. Earlier versions of the operating system didn’t allow simple switching between audio devices. Users had to open the System Preferences and select devices there. Audio Switcher was developed in 2007 to allow users a simpler, more direct way of switching devices; from the menubar. Apple has since made this simpler as well, but Audio Switcher goes a bit further still. by allowing users to select default devices and volume and gain levels.
Audio Switcher requires Mac OS X 10.7 or later. Version 2.5.2 costs US$4.99 and is available worldwide through the Mac App Store in the Utilities category. Current users can receive the free update via the Mac Store.