Get the Sound Output Device Name with AppleScript

Question

How can I get the current sound output device name with AppleScript?

For example, in my System Preferences: Sound pane "Internal Speakers" is currently selected. All I need to do is retrieve that device name -- "Internal Speakers" or "Headphones" or "Bluetooth Speakers" -- whichever is currently in use.

(I do not need a switcher/changer to another device.)

Answer 1

SwitchAudioSource http://code.google.com/p/switchaudio-osx/ is a command-line utility which works under Lion and Mtn Lion (I don't know about newer OS X versions). If it works for you, then you can use it in an AppleScript, as follows:

on run

    set theSwitch to "path_to_SwitchAudioSource"
    set theLine to "Current audio output device is:"

    do shell script theSwitch & " -c"
    display dialog theLine & return & return & result buttons {"OK"}

end run

Answer 2

Just to help out a bit more:

In your main user directory /home// create a directory named 'bin' and put SwitchAudioSource in there.

Here's some AppleScript which switches back and forth between two sources, the default 'headphone' mini jack output on the back of my Mac Mini (a laptop should be different), and my Sennheiser USB headsest.

Call me 'Captain Obvious', but here you go:

`on run

set theSwitch to "~/bin/SwitchAudioSource"
set theSource to do shell script theSwitch & " -c"

if theSource = "Built-in Output" then
    do shell script theSwitch & " -s \"Sennheiser USB headset\""
else
    do shell script theSwitch & " -s \"Built-in Output\""
end if

end run`

Answer 3

Something like this.

tell application "System Preferences"
    reveal pane id "com.apple.preference.sound"
end tell

tell application "System Events"
    tell application process "System Preferences"
        tell tab group 1 of window "Sound"
            click radio button "Output"
            tell table 1 of scroll area 1
                set selected_row to (first UI element whose selected is true)
                set currentOutput to value of text field 1 of selected_row as text
                display dialog currentOutput
            end tell
        end tell
    end tell
end tell

if application "System Preferences" is running then
    tell application "System Preferences" to quit
end if