SetSoundVolume 1.5
©1995 By Alex Rampell

Introduction

Introducing SetSoundVolume, the easiest and most powerful way to change your computer’s sound level—that is, how loud it beeps and plays sounds.  Now, using the Apple way, you either have to go to the Sound control panel, exiting whatever application you’re using, or use an AppleScript (w/ System 7.5), either way cumbersome.  But with SetSoundVolume, you can change the volume on the fly, with a single key or mouse click, even, for example, while playing a game!
Now there are a great deal of sound utilities out there, but SetSoundVolume is, by far, the easiest, most configurable, and most powerful.
Let’s Get Started

In order to install and start using SetSoundVolume (which is a control panel), drag it into your Control Panels folder, which is in your System Folder.  Now, restart.
SetSoundVolume “comes” with a set of built-in preferences.
Using these built in preferences, you can change the volume using the Control key and the number of the sound volume you wish to set.

So, with the preset preferences:
Control-0: Set the sound level to 0 (off).
Control-1: Set the sound level to 1.
....
Control-7: Set the sound level to 7.

-AND-
Function keys (if you have an extended keyboard).
F1 will set the sound level to 1.
F5 will set it to five.
....
But, F8 will set it to 0 (off).

Once you set the sound volume, you will hear a beep of the appropriate level.

Configuration

SetSoundVolume allows *many* different configurations, including using any combination of keys, turning off the alert beep, using a pop up menu, and using the Function keys (F1-F8).  This section will show you how.

Here’s a description of what each button does, but first, how the whole thing works.

Now, as shown above, there are buttons Command, Control, Option, and Shift, which are “modifiers” that you choose to change the sound volume
So, if Control and Shift are selected, then:

Control-Shift-1 will set the sound level to 1.
etc, etc.

Please note, though, that some modifier combination are “reserved.”  For example, Apple-Shift is reserved for FKeys (Apple-Shift-3 will take a picture!), and SetSoundVolume, if you pick a combination like Apple-Shift, will be the only program that will recognize it.
What you normally shouldn’t pick: (By themselves)
Shift
Option
Command
Apple-Shift
Option-Shift
Almost all other key combinations are OK.

There is another way to change the sound volume using SetSoundVolume.  If you select the Use Pop Up Menu button, then you will be able to see the current sound volume setting and change it from a pop-up menu.

If the Control and Shift buttons are checked, and the Use Pop Up Menu button is checked, then Control-Shift- Mouse Click will pop up a menu at the location of your mouse, allowing you to change the sound volume on the fly.

Best of all (and easiest) is the Use Function Keys... button.  The control panel comes preset to use Function keys, except for when the shift key is down.  So if your favorite application also uses F1-F8, then holding down Shift + Function Key will let that app recognize them.

If you hit F8, the sound level will be set to 0.  F1-F7 simply set it to 1 through 7.

When you hit that button (use function keys...), you'll be presented with a dialog box asking what options you want.  In 95% of cases, you'll want to leave it like it is.  The other two buttons in that dialog are self explanatory.

And, the last important button:
Beep when volume set.
Normally, when you change the sound level, you will hear a beep of the appropriate level.  However, some people don’t like this, so if “Beep when volume set” is selected, then after setting the sound level with SetSoundVolume, you will not hear the beep.

The About/Help button will get you here, and the Register button will tell you your registration status.

Registration

As soon as you installed SetSoundVolume, you got the annoying (sorry folks) reminder message.  This is reminding you to send in your shareware fee.  This software is not free!  Just as you have to pay to buy software in a store, you have to pay to use software known as shareware.  Shareware is a unique system of distribution that relies on honesty, and works by letting the user try before he/she buys.
What this means is that you have a reasonable amount of time, say 15 days, to fairly evaluate this software, and if you continue to use it, you are expected to pay a fee to license the software.  When your fee is received, you will receive a registration code to eliminate all messages.
Send $6 to:
Alex Rampell
1186 North Ocean Way
Palm Beach, FL 33480
-Or- (Get your registration code faster), before 6/1/96
Alex Rampell
c/o Phillips Academy
Andover, MA 01810

PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS, such as an America On-Line screenname, etc.  You will get your registration instantly.
Please, if you don't have an E-Mail address, add an extra 75¢ for shipping and processing charges.

Send Ideas!!!!

I'm looking for new utilities to write...so if you have an idea, send it this way.  You can E-Mail me at:
lottsim@aol.com

If I use your idea, you'll get a free copy plus my eternal gratitude (which can be good).

Other Stuff...

That’s about all the info you need to know...one more thing, actually: holding down the Control key on startup will stop the loading of SetSoundVolume.  This software is a knocked-off part of the Voldeps program, only includes one more feature.  Voldeps is a $10 control panel that includes these four functions:
-A 1-2K, simple screensaver.
-A sound volume changer.
-A monitor depth changer.
-A disk ejector.

Volume/Depth Switcher combines all these functions into one easy control panel, and is available on America On-Line.

Each individual feature of Volume/Depth Switcher will all be available as separate, $6 control panels that add a few features.

SetSoundVolume, unlike almost every other (that I know of...) sound level changer, actually saves the sound level to disk, so that it is saved after restart and shut down!, just like the sound control panel does.  Perfect for PowerBooks, because you can turn the volume off before Shut Down or Restart, and when you turn it back on, you won't hear that annoying and distracting “Doing!”

Other Stuff...(con’d)

I’d like to thank Ken Worley, for his sample control panel program, and although this program doesn’t use it, his is what got me started.
I’d also like to thank my beta-testers, and everyone who has supported shareware.
And James W. Walker, for this excellent help system that you're using:)