New volume control behavior in iTunes 10

Sep 07, '10 07:30:00AM

Contributed by: tchenj

In iTunes 10, if you select multiple speakers with the new AirPlay feature iTunes will allow you to fine tune the output volume of each speaker.

Previously, sharing to an Airport Express resulted in both outputs being tied directly to the current volume that iTunes was set to use. Set the output to 100% and all speakers would be set to 100%. Move it to 50% and all the speakers will move to 50%.

The new controller has a 'master volume' bar. The highest volume determines the 'master volume'. If the highest volume slider is at 80% then the master volume slider sets itself to 80%. Any change to either the master volume or the highest volume directly correlates to the other. If the highest volume (V1) dips below another volume level (V2) the master volume binds itself to the new highest volume level (V2). This can only happen if the highest volume level is adjusted directly, and not as a result of adjusting the master volume.

Any lower volume changes at a 1:1 percentile change. So if the master volume (necessarily the highest volume) is at 90% and moves to 45% (effectively halving the volume) any lower volumes would also be halved (80-40, 70-35, etc.). Moving the master volume slider guarantees that the higher volume remains the higher volume and the lower volume remains the lower.

Both the Remote app and the main volume slider found in the normal iTunes window map directly to the 'master volume' slider. Adjusting either changes the highest volume directly, while the lower volumes are adjusted according to the percentage change.

[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one.]

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