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Set Windows Master Volume

Requirement

You want to set the Windows Master Volume programatically from Sound Mill. But there is no native Sound Mill feature to do this. This may be useful to guarentee the Master Volume is set to a predetermined level before beginning Sound Mill operation.

Solution Summary

You can invoke an external program from a Sound Mill Sound Item that will set the Windows Master Volume to a desired percent of maximum volume. Optionally, you can execute the external program from a step within a Sound Mill automation script. The program can also be called from a Windows batch file with the syntax below.

This example sets the Windows MasterVolume to 50% of full volume
SetMasterVolumeXP.exe 50

Valid percent value is 0 to 100 (muted to maximum volume). A non-numeric or out of range number will produce an undetermined result.


Program download links

Procedure

  1. Download this SetMasterVolume exe program file. Place it in any folder on your hard drive.
  2. In Soundmill, Setup up an external program definition for it.
    In the SoundList Editor, go to Tools -- Automation -- External Programs -- Edit , then click the Add button. Browse to the downloaded exe file.
  3. Then make a SoundItem to execute the external program.
    In the SoundList Editor, go to Edit Sound Item -- Add Run External Program Item .
  4. In the SoundItem Variable field type the desired percent of volume. (0 to 100).
    Select the new SoundItem and in the Descriptors section, put the desired percent value into the Variable field. (see Figure 1.)
  5. Optionally, you can execute the external program from a step within a Sound Mill automation script.
    This is done in the Automator Script Editor .

Test It

Select the SoundItem, then click the Play button to execute. Check the Windows Master Volume from the system tray icon to confirm that it works. (speaker icon on lower left corner of Windows taskbar)

Figure 1. Descriptors Variable field
Figure 1. Descriptors Variable field