How to Add a Custom Alert Sound to Mac OS X

Give your Mac a new voice with a custom alert sound. You’re not stuck with the the same old alert sounds on OS X. You can add an audio clip of anything you like, from a clip on your favorite TV show to one of your kids talking into your Mac's microphone. The alert sound possibilities you can use to customize your Mac are endless.

Instructions

1. 

   Open up a new Finder window and go to your home directory. Navigate to your ~/Library/Sounds folder.

2. Find the new sound you want to use as your new alert sound, and drag the sound to to your ~/Library/Sounds folder.

3. 

   In your Finder, click on the Apple Menu in the upper left hand corner and select “System Preferences.”

4. 

   Click on “Sounds” in “System Preferences” and then click on “Sound Effects.” Your new custom sound will be in the list of “Alert Sounds.” Select the sound to activate it as your new custom sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Your custom alert sound must be in .aiff format. You can use iTunes to convert .mp3’s to .aiff files.