How to Fix macOS Volume Keys Not Controlling Tonex One Headphone Volume: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re like me and use the IK Multimedia Tonex One as an audio interface, connecting it to your Mac and routing sound to monitoring headphones, you’ve probably hit this frustrating snag: the macOS volume keys (F10/F11/F12) don’t work. Press them, and all you get is a “prohibited” symbol. For someone who loves using shortcuts to tweak volume, this drove me nuts. After some trial and error, I found a fix—and it’s free! Here’s my experience to save you the hassle.

#TonexOne #macOSAudio #AudioInterface #SoundControl #MusicProduction

The Problem: Why Don’t the Volume Keys Work?

The Tonex One is an awesome guitar tone simulator, but as an audio interface, it has a quirk: macOS can’t control its output volume via software. The knob on the Tonex One only adjusts the monitoring volume of your guitar input (the sound coming from your guitar into the device), not the audio coming from your Mac (like Spotify or YouTube). That means you’re stuck tweaking app-specific sliders or living with inconsistent levels—super annoying.

My goal? Use software to control the Mac’s audio going into the Tonex One, preferably with those handy F10/F11/F12 keys. I tested tools like BlackHole, eqMac, and Background Music, and finally landed on a winning combo.

#AudioTroubleshooting #MacTips #TonexTips

The Solution: BlackHole + Tonex + eqMac Combo

After messing around, I learned that neither BlackHole nor Tonex One alone could fix this, but “aggregating” them and adding eqMac made the macOS volume keys work for Mac audio. Here’s how to do it:

1. Tools You’ll Need

BlackHole: Free virtual audio driver. Download: https://existential.audio/blackhole/
eqMac: Free volume control tool. Download: https://eqmac.app/
Tonex One: Your audio interface, connected via USB to your Mac.

#FreeTools #AudioSoftware #DIYAudio

2. Install and Set Up BlackHole and eqMac

Download and install BlackHole (I used the 2ch version—simple and effective).
Download and install eqMac; it’ll show up in your menu bar after setup.
Restart your Mac to ensure both tools run smoothly.

3. Create an Aggregate Device

Open Audio MIDI Setup (found in Applications > Utilities).
Click the “+” at the bottom left and select “Create Aggregate Device.”
Check the boxes for “BlackHole 2ch” and “Tonex One” on the right.
Set the “Clock Source” to Tonex One (its hardware clock is more stable).
Click the “Aggregate Device” on the left and rename it “BlackHole + Tonex” for clarity.

#AudioMIDISetup #MacAudioHack

4. Set Your Audio Output

Go to System Preferences > Sound > Output.
In the output device list, select “BlackHole + Tonex.”
Note: You won’t see “BlackHole + Tonex (eqMac)” right away. Once you pick “BlackHole + Tonex,” eqMac kicks in, and the name updates to “BlackHole + Tonex (eqMac).”
Open eqMac and confirm its output device is set to “BlackHole + Tonex.”

5. Test and Tweak

Play some music (I tested with YouTube) and press F10 (mute), F11 (down), and F12 (up) to see if the Mac’s audio volume adjusts.
If it works, congrats! Your volume keys now control the Mac audio through your headphones.
Tonex One Knob Note: The knob on the Tonex One only tweaks your guitar’s input volume, not the Mac’s audio—that’s why we’re using eqMac to take charge.

#SoundTest #MusicGear

Why This Works

Tonex One Limitation: On its own, it blocks macOS from controlling the Mac’s output volume; the knob is just for guitar input.
BlackHole’s Role: Routes Mac audio to eqMac for processing.
eqMac’s Magic: Takes over volume control and enables F10/F11/F12. After selecting “BlackHole + Tonex,” eqMac adds its virtual driver, showing as “BlackHole + Tonex (eqMac).”
Aggregate Device Trick: Combines BlackHole and Tonex One, bypassing the hardware limitation so software can adjust Mac audio.

I tried BlackHole and Tonex One solo—still got that pesky symbol. This combo was the breakthrough.

#TechExplained #AudioEngineering

Things to Watch For

Sound Quality & Latency: If you hear pops or lag, check Audio MIDI Setup’s sample rate (48kHz is a safe bet).
Tonex One Knob: Don’t expect it to adjust Mac audio—it’s only for guitar input. eqMac handles the rest.
Stability: eqMac might crash occasionally; a quick restart fixes it.

#ProTips #AudioSetup

Wrap-Up

This fix finally let me control my Tonex One headphone volume from macOS with the volume keys—no more slider juggling. If you’re facing the same issue, give this free solution a shot! Got questions or a better tweak? Drop a comment below. I’ll keep sharing audio tips, so stick around for more handy tricks!

#GuitarGear #TonexTutorial #MacHacks #AudioSolutions