This section describes the monitor and sound configurations that you can set.
Use the Monitor preference tool to configure the monitors that your computer uses.
Choose System → Preferences → Monitor to display the Monitor preference tool.
Drag the graphical representations of the monitors in the upper left part of the window to set how your monitors are arranged. Monitor Preferences displays small labels in the top left corner of each monitor to help you identify which rectangle corresponds to which monitor.
Changes you make in Monitor Preferences don't take effect until you click the Apply button. Settings will revert to their previous settings unless you confirm the changes. This is to prevent bad display settings from rendering your computer unusable.
The following table describes the monitor preferences:
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The following list explains the options you can set for each monitor. The currently selected monitor is the one whose graphical representation has a bold black outline. It is also indicated by the background color of the section label.
On / Off – Individual monitors can be completely disabled by selecting Off.
Resolution – Determines the resolution to use for the currently selected monitor. Resolution refers to the pixel dimensions of the screen. A larger resolution means that more items fit on the screen, but everything will be smaller.
Refresh rate – Determines the refresh rate to use for the currently selected monitor. The refresh rate determines how often the computer redraws the screen. A refresh rate that is too low (below 60) makes the monitor flicker and can cause visual discomfort. This problem is less noticeable on LCD displays.
Rotation – Determines the rotation for the currently selected monitor. This option might not be supported on all graphics cards.
The Sound preference tool enables you to control devices and volume for sound input and output. You can also specify which sounds to play when particular events occur.
Choose System → Preferences → Sound to display the Sound preference tool.
You can customize settings in the following functional areas:
Playback
Recording
Sound Theme
Most computers have only one audio device that controls both sound recording and playback. If your computer has more than one audio device, you can switch between them using the Device drop-down list at the top of the window.
Use the Playback tab to set your preferences for sound output. The following table lists the recording preferences that you can modify.
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Depending on your computer's sound card and the devices that are attached to it, you might also see other sliders, check boxes, or lists on the Playback tab that enable you to control sound output. You can choose which controls appear on the tab by clicking the Preferences button.
Use the Recording tab to set your preferences for sound input. The following table lists the recording preferences that you can modify.
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Depending on your computer's sound card and the devices that are attached to it, you might see other sliders, check boxes, or lists on the Recording tab that enable you to control sound input. You can choose which controls appear on the tab by clicking the Preferences button.
A sound theme is collection of sound effects that are associated to various events, such as opening a dialog, clicking a button, or selecting an item in a menu. One of the most prominent event sounds is the system alert sound that is often played to indicate a keyboard input error. Use the Sound Theme tab of the Sound Preference tool to choose a sound theme and modify the bell sound.
The following table lists the sound effects preferences that you can modify.
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