Tip - OS X - fine-grained volume adjust

[ben schmidt]

Adjusting Volume on your OS X computer, using the Volume Up and Down keys, puts up a thermometer display with discrete steps.

Sometimes you want the volume to change in smaller steps. In that case hold down the Shift and Option keys while using the Volume Up and Down keys. Each keypress will now change the volume 1/4 "step".

...b

[GNV]

I presume you mean the F keys.  What I was about to say is that it doesn't work for me.  Then I thought I ought to be a bit smart and checked in Preferences, and there is a checkbox under Keyboard which was checked.  Since the F keys weren't working, I unchecked and oddly enough they now work.  Is that a bit weird?  In case it helps someone else.

[ben schmidt]

I presume you mean the F keys.  What I was about to say is that it doesn't work for me.  Then I thought I ought to be a bit smart and checked in Preferences, and there is a checkbox under Keyboard which was checked.  Since the F keys weren't working, I unchecked and oddly enough they now work.  Is that a bit weird?  In case it helps someone else.

There is an optional checkbox in the Keyboard Preferences pane labelled:
   Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys
   When this option is selected, press the Fn key to use the special
   features printed on each key.

By default this checkbox is not checked. But if it has been checked, then the above tips would require you to also press the "fn" key, viz: fn+shift+opt+volume up  (or volume down). Or you could just uncheck this checkbox as suggested by GNV.

...b

References:

• Fine Tune Volume Adjustment in OS X by Holding Alt/Option+Shift, lifehacker.com  Apr 15, 2010
• Use fine-grain volume control in 10.5, Rob Griffiths, Macworld.com  Jan 25, 200