Discover new ways of configuring the audio on your Mac and maintain focus with soothing background sounds
Audio on the Mac keeps on getting better, but even if you don’t have the latest M2-powered Mac, sounds are still pretty good. There are new ways to configure sounds in macOS Ventura, and it is easier than ever to customise the audio output and input.
Like the iPhone, the Mac now has background sounds, like Ocean, Stream, Rain and others. You might find these relaxing when working, or they could be used to mask distracting sounds around you. It is an interesting feature and one that you should try the next time you need to focus on a task. Use them either with AirPods or the Mac’s speakers.
Step-by-step Configure sounds on the Mac
1It is useful to add the audio icon to the menu bar. Open System Settings and select ‘Control Centre’ in the sidebar, then click Sound>Always Show in Menu Bar.
2 Click the speaker icon in the menu bar to select the sound output device, or hold down option and click the speaker to also select the audio input. Click ‘Sound Settings’.
3 An Alert is a common type of notification, and you can choose the sound that accompanies it. Click the menu to the right of ‘Alert sound’ and select the effect you want.
4 Use the switch here to enable/disable interface sounds. You can enable or disable the sound that plays on your Mac’s startup by toggling the relevant switch.
5 Further down the settings is a list of output devices. Select the one to use, such as speakers or headphones. Adjust the volume for each device, which can be different
