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Firefox 49: set default HTML5 video volume

Mozilla has added a new feature to Firefox 49 -- currently available if you run Firefox Nightly -- that allows you to set a default HTML5 video volume in the browser.

While it is usually possible to change the volume of audio or video content using an interface that is provided on sites, browsers usually don't provide you with options to change the default volume.

Other options may be available, for instance on Windows where you can change the volume of Firefox or whichever browser you are using to adjust the volume of audio this way.

Some sites may remember the volume setting and use it from that moment on automatically (until you clear cookies or whichever system they are using to store the information).

One of the issues with web audio, and it is the same with audio on TV, is that different shows, movies or advertisement may use different noise levels.

Advertisement is usually louder than other content, but if you look at a site like YouTube, you will encounter videos that are louder or quieter than others.

Setting the default HTML5 video volume in Firefox

firefox default volume

Firefox 49 ships with a new setting that allows you to adjust the default volume of HTML5 videos in the browser.

Please note that this may not work on all sites using HTML to stream video content to your device. It has no effect on YouTube for instance currently while it works fine when HTML 5 videos are played directly in Firefox without custom player interface.

To change the default volume in Firefox, do the following:

  1. Load about:config in the browser's address bar.
  2. Confirm that you will be careful if this is the first time you open the configuration screen.
  3. Search for the preference media.default_volume.
  4. It's default value is 1.0 which equates 100% volume.
  5. Double-click on the line and a prompt should appear.
  6. Use it to change the value using the same system, e.g. 0.1 for 10%, or 0.6 for 60%.

Firefox will use the new default volume for HTML5 videos on all supported pages from now on. You can test this by opening a video page like this one to see the result right there.

It is unclear right now whether Mozilla will implement an option to change the volume on Firefox's options page, or if the preference will be the only option to change the volume. If the latter is the case, it probably will remain a good kept secret that barely anyone knows about. 

Now You: What's your take on the volume of web video?

 

This article was first seen on ComTek's "TekBits" Technology News

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