Mac OSX Sounds

Windows users have always sought various ways to enhance the operating system. Most of the tools touch on visual aspect of the product but the best tweaking tools incorporate options for altering the sound, too.

In the case of Mac OSX Sounds the customization is exclusively for the audio part of the operating system and, as the name suggests, it is designed to replace the sounds in Windows with those available for Mac systems.

There is no interface available because the product is just a bundle of audio files that can replace the default sounds in Microsoft’s OS for some of the actions.

The packaged is wrapped as a SOUNDPACK file, which can be opened using the SoundPackager from Stardock Corporation. This tool can also be used to apply the audio changes but they are also loaded automatically in Window’ Sound applet accessible from the Control Panel.

Mac OSX Sounds is a small collection that comprises a set of 23 files, each describing a different action.

There are sharp, metallic sounds for minimizing application windows, for alerting of critical battery levels, disconnecting devices or receiving a new email message.

Additional files can replace the sounds of the system logging on or off or add new ones for maximizing application windows, popping up a menu or for informing of device failure.

The collection is pretty interesting and some users might find it useful, although if you are accustomed to the default, more quiet implementation in Windows you may not find the audio alerts too appealing, especially for simple actions such as minimizing or maximizing application windows.

It is worth changing the sound scheme in Windows even if on a temporary basis. Even if not all the files are linked to actions some of them are pretty nice and refreshing.