IndieVolume -- Per Application Volume Control

One of the nicer features of Windows Vista is independent volume control for every application. IndieVolume brings this feature to Windows XP (also ME, 2000, and 2003) -- and apparently has done so for several years. This program is payware, unlike most of the programs I review, but it provides a unique feature that I haven't seen in any freeware application.

From the IndieVolume web site:

IndieVolume allows every application have separate volume level, independent of other applications volume level. For example, you are listening to the music, and suddenly some application LOUDLY shouts or dings. With IndieVolume you just configure shouting application to sound at different (lower) volume compared with the volume at which player application is playing music.

IndieVolume also supports per-application balance and mute. For example, you have occasionally visited one of that websites, that play horrible sounds in the background. Using IndieVolume you can just mute web browser not to output any sound at all. Or you like to play flash games and would like to control volume level. IndieVolume can do that as well.

IndieVolume worked with every application I tried. It can even be configured to handle most Windows sounds. Applications can be given the "exclusive" right to control the sound. When an exclusive application is making sound, all other applications setup to be controlled by IndieVolume will be muted.

This program has two drawbacks. First, the price. In my opinion, $24.95 is a bit pricey for a one-trick pony application. Second, each application that you want IndieVolume to control must be configured in IndieVolume. There is no "default" configuration that applies to all programs not specially configured. If a program is not configured in IndieVolume, IndieVolume does not control its sound volume.

Even with these drawbacks, IndieVolume is a very nice and very useful program.

Rating: 5.0
Operating System: Windows ME, 2000, XP, 2003
Special Requirements: DirectX 8 or 9
License: Commercial (7 Day Demo)
Price: $24.95
Version: 2.1.66.132
Web Site: http://www.indievolume.com/

Tags: IndieVolume, Windows, Volume Control, Utilities