MacBook Air: automatic selection of USB headsets for sound output

Is there a way to let the MacBook Air automatically detect an external USB headset,
and switch from internal speakers to the USB headset, and reverse to speakers when the
USB headset is disconnected ?
It's nice that you can manually select the output in System Preferences / Sound,
but it would be nice also to be able to make the computer use the USB headset
whenever it's plugged in.
Same for the microphone (sound input selection, for USB headsets with a microphone).

USB hub works fine on my 23 Cinema display with the Air, haven't tried the others but I use the USB on display to plug in my mobile broadband ( live out in the sticks and don't get cable or DSL ) and it lets me switch between my Air and MB Pro fine.

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Messages won't connect to bluetooth headset for sound output

I have a Plantronics Voyager Legend bluetooth headset that can pair with more than one device. I got it so I could switch back and forth from my phone to my MacBook Pro (running Mavericks) easily. It works great everywhere. EXCEPT, it won't work for Messages sound output. I've talked with three different Apple support people and with Plantronics. I tried a workaround I found elsewhere using Soundflower, but that did not work either. I've checked all settings, unpaired/repaired, shut down/rebooted/reset; looked for software issues; downloaded the current firmware; tried turning bluetooth off my phone to see if that was an issue; and probably some other things I'm forgetting; all to no avail.
Any ideas?

Following up on the above...
My S10-HD paired straight out of the box w/ my iPod Touch 2G; however, when I tried to pair it with my iPad 2, the iPad 2 would just search...and search...and search.
On page 7 of the S10-HD manual, you'll see a note saying, "To pair your headphones again, press and hold the "0" (power) key until the status light becomes steadily lit in blue".
This proved to be the key to getting the S10-HD to work with the iPad 2. The S10-HD needs to be "off", then you'll have to press and hold for around 7 to 10 seconds.
Furthermore, it appears (from my own testing; your results may differ) that the S10-HD can only be paired to one device at a time. That may sound obvious, but what it means is that you'll first have to turn off Bluetooth on the paired device with which the S10-HD is currently connected, then connect it to the other device with which it is already paired. (Kind of a pain, but I can live with it.)
Also, if there's anyone considering the S9-HD or who's had an S9-HD fail because of sweat incursion (i.e., you use it at the gym, etc.), Motorola is offering a warranty upgrade from the S9-HD to the S10-HD. What you need to know is: (1) The S9-HD will fail from the least bit of sweat entering the unit through the speakers; and (2) The S9-HD sounds better than the S10-HD (a lot better...it's a tradeoff you have to be willing to live with if you want these for exercise). To get the S10-HD if you've experienced prob's w/ your S9-HD as described, call Julie Scofield in the Consumer Advocacy Office at Motorola's Corporate Headquarters: (847) 523-5852.

I logged onto my MacBook Air and it is asking me for my "local items" keychain password for several different things. I do not know what this is or how to get rid of it. Please help. Thanks.

I logged onto my MacBook Air and it is asking me for my "local items" keychain password for several different things. I do not know what this is or how to get rid of it. Please help. Thanks.

There are several possible causes for this issue. Please take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried, testing after each one, until it's resolved. Back up all data before making any changes.
Step 1
Follow the directions in this support article.
Step 2
Open the iCloud preference pane and uncheck the Keychain box. You'll be prompted to delete the local iCloud keychain. Confirm. Then re-check the box. Follow one of the procedures described in this support article to set up iCloud Keychain on an additional device.
Step 3
Open the Keychains folder as in Step 1. There should be a file in that folder with the name "login.keychain". If there is also a file iwith the name "login_renamed_1.keychain", then please do as follows:
Rename login.keychain to "login-old.keychain".
Rename login_renamed_1.keychain to "login.keychain".
You can then close the folder.
Launch the Keychain Access application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Keychain Access in the icon grid.
Delete the login keychain from the keychain list. Choose Delete References when prompted, not Delete References & Files.
Select
File ▹ Add Keychain...
from the menu bar. Add back the file now named "login.keychain". If any of your needed keychain items are missing from it, also add back the file now named "login-old.keychain". I suggest you transfer any needed items from that keychain to the login keychain, then delete it. The transfers are made by drag-and-drop in Keychain Access. You'll need to enter your password for each item transferred.
Select
Keychain Access ▹ Keychain First Aid
from the menu bar and repair the keychain. Quit Keychain Access.

In my Apple Macbook Air, most of the USB Flash/Thumb Drives are not shown in the Finder Window. Only a few Brands of USB /Flash Thumb Drives are shown or compatible or shown in the Finder. How do I use any Flash/Thumb Drive with my Apple MacAir?

In my Apple Macbook Air, most of the USB Flash/Thumb Drives are not shown in the Finder Window. Only a few Brands of USB /Flash Thumb Drives are shown or compatible or shown in the Finder. How do I use any Flash/Thumb Drive with my Apple MacAir?

Yes, junker thumb drives pour like rain in the market.
Which makes are working on your Air, and which arent?
Stick to Sandisk and a couple of other reliable mfg. of memory sticks

If i have 64gb ssd on macbook air, what is the maximun capacity for boocamp?

if i have 64gb ssd on macbook air, what is the maximun capacity for boocamp?
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Hard to say without more information.
For some helpful info:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634
Consider doubling the memory and storage requirements stated in the article.
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookair/bootcamp/
Best.

My MacBook Air is in a support profile for one of my Apple IDs while all my other devices are in a support profile for a different one of my Apple IDs; how can I combine under one?

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Actually, this can be done without merging Apple IDs, as I found just by trying this out: I went into the support profile for the Apple ID that had only my Mac listed. I then chose to disassociate the Mac from that Apple ID. I signed out and signed in using my other Apple ID (the one with all my other Apple devices). I chose to add/register a new device, entered my Mac's serial number, and now it is associated with all my other Apple devices under a single Apple ID. No merger of Apple IDs required.

Macbook air 2013 needs power button pressed for 10 seconds before it turns on?

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Reset SMC. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Choose the method for:
"Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".
If this does not help, contact Apple.
Genius Bar reservation:
http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
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Click once on the sleep/wake button to ignore the caller and the call will eventually
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My macbook air doesn't start after being for 2 months off, My macbook air doesn't start after being for 2 months oof

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Plug it in and leave it on the charger for about 5 minutes then try to turn it on. If that doesnt work, contact apple and have it sent out for repair or take it to your local apple store. they will probably cover it for free if no physical damage has been done.

My Macbook air 11" suddenly lost the color for the back button and some of the other buttons in Safari

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Thanks for the question. Let’s try resetting your computers PRAM/NVRAM:
About NVRAM and PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
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Matt M.

DYNEX USB Headset no sound

Hello everyone,
I plugged in my DYNEX USB headset for the first time using ARCH linux, and I have no sound.
Things I did to try and make it work:
-It was recognized in alsamixer's sound card selection. I selected the card.
-I unmuted the master sound in alsa by using the command: amixer sset Master unmute.
-I used pavucontrol to select the headset
Anyone have any ideas why i am not getting any sound?

Better bouble check if it is unmuted and volume not 0 - not just "alsa master" like you did with amixer; it's probably best if you select the card in alsamixer (F6 or something) and check the channels. You can save those settings with "alsactl store".
Do you have sound if you select the headset for an application stream manually?
( p.E. start video in mplayer, look for it in pavucontrol under playback / applications, set its sink to the headset )
If that works the easiest way to get it working permanently might be:
- activate module-combine at the the TOP of /etc/pulse/default.pa MANUALLY (it tends to map channels wrong if you have more than 2; also that should ensure that the combine sink is always at the top, which can avoid some trouble).
e.g.
load-module module-combine channels=6 channel_map=front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe
( surround example; customize for your channels )
- delete the default / per application settings in ~/.pulse/* (in my experience those get rather useless in any case after a new sound device is added)
- make sure your combined sink is at the top with "pacmd list-sinks"
example:
$ pacmd list-sinks | head
4 sink(s) available.
* index: 0
name: <combined>
driver: <module-combine-sink.c>
flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
state: RUNNING
suspend cause:
priority: 1000
volume: front-left: 45864 / 70% / -9,30 dB, front-right: 45864 / 70% / -9,30 dB, rear-left: 45864 / 70% / -9,30 dB, rear-right: 45864 / 70% / -9,30 dB, front-center: 45864 / 70% / -9,30 dB, lfe: 45864 / 70% / -9,30 dB
- make it the default sink:
pacmd set-default-sink "combined"
You might have to "killall pulseaudio" before / in between steps to make sure it reloads settings / doesn't change them back etc.
Good luck!

Can I use my headset for "sound-out" and phone mic...

I have an E51 and the headset that came with it. I would like to achieve the following during calls: To use the headset for sound-out (i.e. as headphones) and the phone mic for sound-in. The mic on the headset gives a lot of static and I would rather use the phone mic (girlfriend complains).
So I tried this: Under Tools>Settings>General>Enhancement, I set the Default to Headphones.
Still, when I connect my headset it says "Default Enhancement: Headset" and the headset mic is automatically used.
The default enhancement settings does not seem to matter.
Does anyone know if there is a way to solve this? Is there a way to manually switch between the headset and phone mics?
Thanks!

Thanks for the reply. I am not using a bluetooth headset but a cabled one (that one that came with the phone for me -- I guess nokia skimped a bit here, not shipping with a bt headset).
I was recently told basically the same thing you are saying in a store, that it is not possible to use the mic for sound-in during a headset call. He also said that any cabled headset or even *headphones* will be recognized as a headset by nokia phones because they all have the same 3 connectors (right, left, mic) on the 2.5mm jack. Can that really be right?
So that means that even if I get a set of cabled headphones for my e51, I will not be able to use them for sound-out during a call?
cheers

Managing multiple choise for sound output

Hi
I am using external speakers for playing my music - either via direct plug in or via Airport Express.
I am using USB headset for Skype and iChat.
Today it is not possible for me to have my headset plugged in - ready to use
and at the same time listen to my music via my external speakers.
It is an either or - situation which is quite irritating
Is there any way to manage this in an easy way?

I purchased an inexpensive Bluetooth headset to use for Skype. I leave Skpye's preferences set in such a way that it defaults to my headset for both input and output. This allows me to use the internal speakers for audio.

Hello, I just bought a 2013 Mac mini and I cannot get the sound to output to my Dell U2713HM monitor. I went to sound output but even though my Dell shows up there when I select it there is no sound output to it. I am using a mini DP to DP cable...

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Hi Alxx911, and John Hammer1. After reading John's reply - " You can plug something into it's headphone jack. though" . I thought i'd try out of curiosity. I plugged in some headphones. I didn't expect anything to happen and nothing happened. The audio jack is for the Dell soundbar which is optional.
Here's a direct copy and paste from the users manual: Section About Your Monitor.
Attaching the Soundbar AX510 / AX510PA (Optional) CAUTION: Do not use with any device other than the Dell Soundbar. NOTE: The Soundbar power connector (+12 V DC output) is for the optional Dell Soundbar AX510/AX510PAonly. To attach the Soundbar: 1. Working from the back of the monitor, attach the Soundbar by aligning the two slots with the two tabs along the bottom of the monitor. 2. Slide the Soundbar to the left until it snaps into place. 3. Connectthe Soundbar with the DC power connector. 4. Insert the mini stereo plug from the back of the Soundbar into the computerís audio output jack. For HDMI/DP, you can insert the mini stereo plug into the monitorís audio output port. If there is no sound, check your PC if the Audio output is configured to HDMI/DP output.
This monitor has no speakers. (Like John Hammer1 mentioned). The no speakers feature was one of the reasons I chose this monitor.
Good Luck !

System preferences in iMac for sound output shows only headphones. How do I change this to get sound through computer? Thanks.

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There is a switch in the jack that may be stuck. Try plugging and unplugging a headset plug into the socket a few times.
You might try dipping the headset plug into some pure alcohol, wiping it nearly dry, and repeating the process to clean/clear the socket.

MacBook Air: automatic selection of USB headsets for sound output

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