- Forum >
- Topic: Troubleshooting >
- volume control?
volume control?
The sounds on Duolingo are set really high for my system compared to anything else (wmp, youtube, etc). Is there any volume control or way to lower the volume?
83 Comments
It would be cool to have a volume control here. I use duolingo on multiple computers both with speakers and headphones and I have this problem on all of them: the sound is too loud and that leaves me only with imperfect solutions (like to lower the volume for everything else there is... ). The sound is definitely too loud.
I have a work-around. Here's what I do.
I use another browser specifically for Duoling (In my case I used Microsoft Edge for Duolingo and Chrome for my background apps audio/video). In order to do this I have to use a third-party volume mixer in order to control the sounds of different applications. For this I use an app called Ear Trumpet. https://github.com/File-New-Project/EarTrumpet/releases. The reason why the third-party software is necessary is that windows doesn't separate Edge and Internet Explorer from standard system sounds, so you can't adjust them individually.
If you're using IE or Microsoft Edge as your primary browser you can adjust the volume of Chrome or Firefox in the standard volume control located on the bottom right side of your screen on the taskbar.
I hope this helps.
This was the reason I stopped using Duolingo over 2 years ago, and I will not be using it again until this very simple feature is added. As a software engineer, I know how simple such a feature would be. I also know it will not be prioritized unless it becomes a serious issue for more than 68 users. Please share this post and encourage others to chime in.
Please allow volume control for duolingo. Google specifically said they won't be adding functionality for individual tab volume control because it should be the responsibility of the website (http://thenextweb.com/google/2014/02/11/google-explains-wont-add-mute-tab-option-chrome-considers-tab-audio-api-extensions/). While there is the option to enable muting tabs (chrome://flags/#enable-tab-audio-muting), this doesn't help this situation.
I've also had this problem of the sound being loud compared to other websites. I can use the mixer to adjust the browser/plugin down, but then it applies to other sites I view with the same browser/plugin and I still have to adjust it up and down. A volume control in the settings would be much appreciated!
Volume was good for me for several months, then suddenly jumped way too loud after I rebooted one time. Guessing that was related, I restarted my machine while duolingo was open in Firefox, and while the osx volume was set at about 30% level. After the restart, duolingo volume was once again good. Kind of a pain, and a volume control would be great, but this seemed to work for me (crosses fingers it will stay this way).
This feature would be so useful in environments such as libraries where the kiosk mode of a terminal is enabled, locking users out from the control panel and rendering the system volume controls inaccessible. In this environment, the only way to control audio volume is to use a separate control within a web site, YouTube being an example, as other users have pointed out.
Disappointing to see that this was posted 4 years ago and has not been addressed.
Please consider implementing an audio level control directly into the website.
I can work around this issue by using a different Browser for Duolingo only and forcing the volume of that Browser to be at ~20% volume. This really shouldn't be necessary though.
I also find the volume to be too loud when using duolingo on my computer. I use the latest version of Chrome. I usually use duolingo while watching a video in another window (Hulu, etc). Duolingo is always too loud in comparison. Even when the video is at the highest volume and the computer volume is reduced, it is still too loud. Volume control within the site would be most helpful. Thank you.
119
Hey Guys. I found this workaround which is very simple and works for me. I use this app called volume manager for google chrome. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/volume-manager/kakeffogmhndegdafnbobknemagiikak/related After you download it, exit chrome and re-enter to check if it is working for you or not. for me it worked :). And you can also control volume for different tabs which is great. good luck
297
I did something similar to this. Chrome is my primary browser. Now I just use Duolingo in Firefox, then, I open Volume Mixer and decrease the sound for Firefox. This way I can control Duolingo's sound without bothering any other apps or systems sounds. I do hope they fix this. It's very obnoxious to have a voice yelling at you while you're trying to learn.
1020
A userscript that adds a volume control option to the settings page.
https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/41474453
1020
There is a userscript that adds this feature. https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/41474453
613
Is this ever going to be fixed? I started Duolingo up and practically blew out my TV speakers.
297
I've been trying to figure out this extremely loud volume forever. Did anyone here find a fix?
252
I find the speaking is much quieter than the sound effects. Usually mute after solving each lesson as the sound effects are BLASTING.
421
Some of these comments were date 6years ago or so! Do we know if a solution has been reached. As for me, I listen to classical music while on Duolingo. So what I try to do is to put my youtube volume higher and lower the computer volume. So that Duo wont be too painful to my ears... Still, it would be really nice if there was a built in volume in the software. Nicely interactive though! I very much enjoy it.
1444
I have the exact opposite problem, Duo keeps asking me to listen, but I can NOT hear ANYTHING whatsoever (and before you all jump on me for having sound off, I do NOT have my sound off, or even turned down in the slightest.) can't hear anything Duo says on my phone, computer, laptop, tablet, any device. ...This stinks, but Duo no longer works for vocal exercises.
I know you said that you don't have your sound off, or even turned down in the slightest, but were you referring to your computer's/phone's volume control? If so, then you might want to go into your Duolingo settings and click on microphone and/or speaker.
Sometimes Duolingo just suddenly goes silent for me. It's no problem, I just open it again in another tab and boom, problem fixed. But it's annoying for sure.
Also, the s-sounds are sometimes painfully sharp on the Spanish class. The male voice sometimes says the letter s in words so sharp that it feels like someone's blowing a whistle right next to my ear. Seriously, we need volume control. Apparently it's been needed for years already.
We want volume controls for Duolingo! All these years and not even some answer... so sad! My problem is that the sound effects are very loud and annoying. I would like some option to disable those sound effects (end of lesson, correct answer etc) while still being able to listen to the spoken language.
272
If you are using Chrome, then an extension can work. I found this one actually works for the issue: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/volume-master/jghecgabfgfdldnmbfkhmffcabddioke/related?hl=en Good luck!
2509
We've rendered our sounds at a normal level and I haven't experienced this problem on any computer, browser, or mobile device that I've used. Are there any application-specific volume controls in your operating system?
Hi Bren. I use DL on 3 different PCs, with 3 different OSs, and find this problem on all of them. The volume of DL is much louder than other internet media sources such as youtube, even with them set on full. I'm guessing this is due to the quality of recording being much higher with DL. Is there any plan to add a volume slide into the settings, or is the issue not significant enough? Cheers.
DuoLingo's volume is relative to most of my applications and sites at their loudest settings. Since using the highest settings can cause distortion with certain applications and sites (thankfully not with duoLingo), many of us turn the volume down a bit, making duoLingo far louder than everything else with no way to control it. We just have to always remember to lower the volume when starting up duoLingo otherwise we end up jumping out of our seat or waking up half of the house with a side of ear ringing.
This happens regardless of which browser I use, which computer, USB headphones, 3.5mm headphones, external audio interface with studio monitors, etc.
"Normal" volume rendering is relative. We aren't talking about recording levels or the volume of a track. If a track or video is recorded a little on the loud side, listeners have the option of turning it down. Since you have no way of knowing how each of us set our other sites and applications, attempting to guess a mean volume is impossible. I have no idea why you haven't added a bit of code to give us a volume setting.
Why you would assume we all use each of our applications and sites at max volume and adjust the computer master volume levels only is beyond me. Give us a volume fader please.
dude it's been two years since you posted this and everyone told you how wrong you are (from the users point of view anyways, which is what should matter). Why is there still no volume option??!!
I'm trying to listen to music on my computer while using duolingo. I don't want to completely mute duolingo, but I want it to be quieter in relation to the music and I already have the music players volume maxed out. Duolingo's volume is about the same as my music at max, problem is I want duolinger to be quieter but all I can do is turn everything down or up together.
I am using OS X (El Capitan) in combination with an external display via mini-Displayport. In this setting, OS X does not allow to control the volume settings at all. This means I have to either change the volume inside apps (Youtube, VLC, iTunes) or on the monitor with a tiny button below the screen. Since all the other applications are relatively quiet, I have to turn up my speaker to setting 35. In duolingo that is muuuch too loud. I have to go down to 14-15 in the setting. But then everything else ist way to quiet. This means that EVERY TIME I use duolingo (with my external display), I have to adjust the volume settings manually by reaching across the desk, fumbling with the one button on the display to the sound setting and adjust it. After finishing I have to repeat it to readjust to normal sound. This is driving my crazy. We should have a volume slider in settings at least. Please!