> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://en.blog.themarfa.name/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# How to Limit Volume Level on macOS
- URL: https://en.blog.themarfa.name/how-to-limit-volume-level-on-macos/
- Published: 2026-03-26T06:58:03.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-26T06:58:03.000Z
- Description: SoundSource lets you cap the maximum volume and smooth out sudden audio spikes in macOS, so you don’t have to adjust volume manually.
- Author: Konstantin Dokuchaev
- Tags: macos, SoundSource

When watching YouTube, audio levels can vary a lot between videos, forcing you to constantly change the system volume. To avoid this, you can set a unified maximum volume level.

You can do this using the [**SoundSource**](https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/) app, which allows you to control macOS audio for each individual application or audio device.

Honestly, using this app just to set a maximum volume might feel like overkill. However, as it turns out, there are no other apps on macOS that handle this task as effectively.

To limit the volume of a device, open the settings menu and select **Audio Devices**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/c7/31c7da9c-f519-464c-9a3b-2d4144b557a6/content/images/2026/03/image-22.png)

In the **Output Devices** section, you’ll see all available audio output devices in your system.

To set a limit, simply choose the desired device from the list and, on the right panel under **Output**, specify the maximum volume level using **Max Volume**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/c7/31c7da9c-f519-464c-9a3b-2d4144b557a6/content/images/2026/03/image-23.png)

Now, regardless of the actual volume level, it won’t exceed the limit you’ve set.

Since you’ve installed such a powerful tool, you can also configure peak limiting—reducing sudden audio spikes.

To do this, open the main SoundSource window and, in the **System** section for the output device, click **Add Effect**.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/c7/31c7da9c-f519-464c-9a3b-2d4144b557a6/content/images/2026/03/image-24.png)

Search for **AUDynamicsProcessor** among the effects and enable it.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/c7/31c7da9c-f519-464c-9a3b-2d4144b557a6/content/images/2026/03/image-25.png)

In the settings that appear, configure the limiter parameters as needed (for example, similar to the values shown in your screenshot).

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/c7/31c7da9c-f519-464c-9a3b-2d4144b557a6/content/images/2026/03/image-26.png)

Now your audio is not only capped at a maximum level, but any sudden spikes will also be automatically reduced using filters.

[Try SoundSource](https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/)