Abstract: A portable device includes a plurality of audio hardware outputs that may have different ranges of audio output levels associated with each of the hardware outputs. The portable device further includes two software applications that may have different volume control schemes. A check is made to determine what hardware output is being used and which software application is being used to generate audible output. The hardware and software levels are automatically mapped together and controlled so that a user may use a single volume control user interface to adjust the volume regardless of the software application or hardware output that is selected.