ichat will not produce incoming/outgoing message alert sounds

[Danielle]

Hi all,

My ichat stopped producing the incoming/outgoing alert sounds a few weeks ago.  I've done everything I can to remedy the problem.  Checked my audio outputs, completely closed ichat and restarted, restarted my computer (10.6.4), etc. and it still won't produce the alert sounds.  When I go into the menu and select the alert sounds, I can hear them then.  But that's the only time.  Ideas?  Suggestions?  Comments?

Thanks!
-Danielle

[Paddy]

Welcome to TS, Danielle! Wot? Your dad hasn't figured this out for you yet? (Just kidding, Chris...)

You could try deleting your iChat prefs - be aware that you will lose saved Status Messages, Font Style, Bubble and Font colour preferences too, but you may also lose corrupted alert sound prefs. You could make a note of the settings you have now before deleting the .plist file if you have any doubts that you'll not remember anything vital.

The preference file is found in User->Library->Preferences and it's called com.apple.ichat.plist. Drag it to your desktop with iChat closed, and then restart iChat and see if that has solved the problem. If it has, delete the .plist file on your desktop. The application automatically recreates a pref file any time you delete it.

Also check your system sound - it's possible that you have that turned way down and it might affect things.

[krissel]

If Paddy's advice isn't successful, do this:

Quit iChat
Go to the main (not user) /Library/Preferences and move the following to the desktop:
com.apple.DeviceSettings.plist
and com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist  (you will then have to go the Sound pref panel to reset the sliders)
Open iChat

Not fixed? Try this:

Quit iChat
Go to  Users/your account/Library/Preferences and move the following to the desktop:
com.apple.soundpref.plist
and com.apple.systemsound.plist
Open iChat

If that doesn't work:

Quit iChat
Open Activity Monitor
Select show All processes
Find coreaudiod
Click on Quit process icon in upper part of window
Restart iChat

One of these should do the trick. Some other ideas that worked for others (this is a long standing problem with iChat) are opening and closing Garageband (it resets some audio settings) and opening Utilities/AudioMidi setup and choosing to set the rate to 44100.0 Hz.

Welcome to TS!  

[Xairbusdriver]

First, Welcome Aboard, Danielle! It'll be good to have someone helping us keep Chris under control!

Secondly, if the great advice above doesn't help, contact gunug who is becoming our newest iChat expert!

[chriskleeman]

Hey daughterly-daughter! I see you've garnered quite the welcoming committee!

  to TS indeed!

I don't have any more tips to add here, as Kris and Paddy have already weighed in with more info than I could ever come up with!

And, you'll get used to XABD in time... he's definitely an acquired taste!    

Great to have you here at TS!

All the best,

Dad

[dolphin]

Welcome to TS Danielle!  As you are finding out already, this is a great place to get answers to anything MAC and more!

Again  

[Danielle]

Hey guys!

Thanks for the welcome.  I'll do my best to keep Chris in line.    Before I posted I had actually tried opening garage band before, and checking on my sound prefs.  Neither worked.  I probably should've mentioned that.    Kris, your last suggestion worked!  I tried Paddy's first, and then your first two suggestions and got no results.  And for some reason when I went into my users library prefs and tried to remove com.apple.soundpref.plist
and com.apple.systemsound.plist, they wouldn't move to the desktop.  It automatically made a copy and that was what came onto the desktop.  It was very strange.   Anyhow, going into Activity Monitor worked!  Thanks Kris!  Thanks to all of you!  

-Danielle

[chriskleeman]

Yeah, we won't mention the 20 minutes I just spent on the phone with you!

Hey Danielle, I'm grinning from ear to ear! Great to know you were able to fix your problem from the suggestions here!

Now, I'll try to behave...  

CK

[Danielle]

You're annoying.