Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com.  Today let me show you how to create an  
Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com.  Today let me show you how to create an  

alarm clock using Automator and  the Calendar App on your Mac. 
alarm clock using Automator and  the Calendar App on your Mac. 

MacMost is brought to you thanks to a great  group of more than 1000 supporters. Go to  
MacMost is brought to you thanks to a great  group of more than 1000 supporters. Go to  

MacMost.com/patreon. There you can  read more about the Patreon Campaign.  
MacMost.com/patreon. There you can  read more about the Patreon Campaign.  

Join us and get exclusive  content and course discounts.
Join us and get exclusive  content and course discounts.

If you have ever tried to set an alarm  on your Mac you know it can be kind  
If you have ever tried to set an alarm  on your Mac you know it can be kind  

of frustrating. If you ask Siri you won't  get any help. (Siri set an alarm for 1 pm.  
of frustrating. If you ask Siri you won't  get any help. (Siri set an alarm for 1 pm.  

I can't set an alarm here. How about a reminder  instead). Of course you can set a reminder but a  
I can't set an alarm here. How about a reminder  instead). Of course you can set a reminder but a  

reminder is going to give you kind of a quiet  notification with a little thing at the top  
reminder is going to give you kind of a quiet  notification with a little thing at the top  

right hand corner of your screen. That's fine for  getting a notification while you're working but if  
right hand corner of your screen. That's fine for  getting a notification while you're working but if  

you're in another part of the room or taking a nap  it's not going to wake you up. Now there are other  
you're in another part of the room or taking a nap  it's not going to wake you up. Now there are other  

ways to set alarms on your Mac. For instance, you  can get a third party app to do this in the App  
ways to set alarms on your Mac. For instance, you  can get a third party app to do this in the App  

Store. But these either cost money, bug you for  in-app purchases, or show advertisements in them.
Store. But these either cost money, bug you for  in-app purchases, or show advertisements in them.

Another thing you can do is you can go into the  Calendar. In the Calendar you can set an event to  
Another thing you can do is you can go into the  Calendar. In the Calendar you can set an event to  

happen at a certain time. You can even associate  a sound with that event. But sometimes you may  
happen at a certain time. You can even associate  a sound with that event. But sometimes you may  

have the volume on your Mac set too low for that  to work and it's kind of clunky to constantly be  
have the volume on your Mac set too low for that  to work and it's kind of clunky to constantly be  

setting these events in the Calendar. So let me  show you an easier way you can do it using the  
setting these events in the Calendar. So let me  show you an easier way you can do it using the  

Calendar but also using Automator. Setting this  up the first time is going to have a lot of steps.  
Calendar but also using Automator. Setting this  up the first time is going to have a lot of steps.  

But once you have it setup I'm going to show you  how easy it is to then reuse that alarm easily.
But once you have it setup I'm going to show you  how easy it is to then reuse that alarm easily.

So let's start off here in Automator. I'm  going to use the Calendar Alarm here. So let's  
So let's start off here in Automator. I'm  going to use the Calendar Alarm here. So let's  

choose and I'm going to lookup JAVA Script,  because I'm going to use JAVA Script instead of  
choose and I'm going to lookup JAVA Script,  because I'm going to use JAVA Script instead of  

Apple Script like I always do, and use run JAVA  Script here to write a simple script that will  
Apple Script like I always do, and use run JAVA  Script here to write a simple script that will  

work in Automator. You would think there would  just be some Automator actions that you could add  
work in Automator. You would think there would  just be some Automator actions that you could add  

that would play a sound but that's not the case.  You could have some music played in the Music App.  
that would play a sound but that's not the case.  You could have some music played in the Music App.  

It's kind of clunky. So instead let's  have it done here with JAVA Script.
It's kind of clunky. So instead let's  have it done here with JAVA Script.

Okay, so here's my script. You can see I start  off here with the regular function declaration  
Okay, so here's my script. You can see I start  off here with the regular function declaration  

and then I use app equals the current application  here just to give us something to trigger these  
and then I use app equals the current application  here just to give us something to trigger these  

things. Include StandardAdditions so we can  do a lot of scripting with this app. Now we're  
things. Include StandardAdditions so we can  do a lot of scripting with this app. Now we're  

going to get the original volume so the volume  where the system preferences are set right now.  
going to get the original volume so the volume  where the system preferences are set right now.  

That way we could set it back to that later  on. Fortunately the volume settings output  
That way we could set it back to that later  on. Fortunately the volume settings output  

volume gives us a number between a zero  and a hundred instead of up to seven.  
volume gives us a number between a zero  and a hundred instead of up to seven.  

So to get a number between zero and seven we  divide by hundred multiplied by seven. Then we  
So to get a number between zero and seven we  divide by hundred multiplied by seven. Then we  

go and set the current volume all the way up to  the top to seven. Then we're going to display  
go and set the current volume all the way up to  the top to seven. Then we're going to display  

Notifications. I like to display the notifications  instead of using something else to trigger the  
Notifications. I like to display the notifications  instead of using something else to trigger the  

sound because it puts something visual on  the screen and it's simple and easy to do.  
sound because it puts something visual on  the screen and it's simple and easy to do.  

I'm just going to call this Notification Alarm  Clock. That's all it needs to show there.  
I'm just going to call this Notification Alarm  Clock. That's all it needs to show there.  

I'm going to set to the sound Rooster. Now where's  the Sound Rooster? Well, in the Finder if you use  
I'm going to set to the sound Rooster. Now where's  the Sound Rooster? Well, in the Finder if you use  

the Go Menu here, hold the option key down and  go to your User Library, so this is not the  
the Go Menu here, hold the option key down and  go to your User Library, so this is not the  

System Library but the User Library, you'll find  a folder called Sounds. If it's not there you can  
System Library but the User Library, you'll find  a folder called Sounds. If it's not there you can  

always create it. In there you'll find anything  you've added that has a custom system sound. So  
always create it. In there you'll find anything  you've added that has a custom system sound. So  

I put a file in there called Rooster.MFA,  it's a simple little rooster sound, and if  
I put a file in there called Rooster.MFA,  it's a simple little rooster sound, and if  

this was an AIFF file it would actually appear  in System Preferences. Since it's not it won't  
this was an AIFF file it would actually appear  in System Preferences. Since it's not it won't  

appear in System Preferences as an alert sound  but I can still use it as a Notification Sound.
appear in System Preferences as an alert sound  but I can still use it as a Notification Sound.

So then after showing the Alert with that sound  it's going to wait three seconds. Why? Well,  
So then after showing the Alert with that sound  it's going to wait three seconds. Why? Well,  

we're going to set the volume back to the original  volume. If we do that immediately then you'll only  
we're going to set the volume back to the original  volume. If we do that immediately then you'll only  

hear the sound played at the original volume.  You want to delay three seconds. Give the  
hear the sound played at the original volume.  You want to delay three seconds. Give the  

sound sometime to play before going back to the  original volume. So let's give this a test run.  
sound sometime to play before going back to the  original volume. So let's give this a test run.  

Here I'm going to use the Run button and (rooster  crowing) and you could see the alert show up.  
Here I'm going to use the Run button and (rooster  crowing) and you could see the alert show up.  

Great. So, let's save this. When I go to Save  it will tell me there's a calendar alarm in  
Great. So, let's save this. When I go to Save  it will tell me there's a calendar alarm in  

Automator. It's going to say Saved Calendar alarm  as and I'll just call it Alarm Clock and Save.  
Automator. It's going to say Saved Calendar alarm  as and I'll just call it Alarm Clock and Save.  

Then it's going to launch the calendar  app. It's going to play it right away.  
Then it's going to launch the calendar  app. It's going to play it right away.  

Notice what it did here. It created Automator calendar here  
Notice what it did here. It created Automator calendar here  

on my Mac. That's because, of course, syncing  these to the iPhone or something would be  
on my Mac. That's because, of course, syncing  these to the iPhone or something would be  

useless.There's no Automator there. So this is  just going to run on my Mac, which is perfect!  
useless.There's no Automator there. So this is  just going to run on my Mac, which is perfect!  

I don't want my alarms going off on all my Apple  devices. This is an alarm I'm making for my Mac.
I don't want my alarms going off on all my Apple  devices. This is an alarm I'm making for my Mac.

Now in this Automator Calendar is this  alarm clock here. It's just this one event,  
Now in this Automator Calendar is this  alarm clock here. It's just this one event,  

an entire calendar for one event. Great. I  can go to the alarm clock here and I could see  
an entire calendar for one event. Great. I  can go to the alarm clock here and I could see  

there's the time for this alarm so I'll change  it to something in the future. Now I can Quit  
there's the time for this alarm so I'll change  it to something in the future. Now I can Quit  

Calendar and I could Quit Automator. When  the clock strikes 12:03 it should give me  
Calendar and I could Quit Automator. When  the clock strikes 12:03 it should give me  

that alarm which is going to be a Notification  including that sound. There you go. You see the  
that alarm which is going to be a Notification  including that sound. There you go. You see the  

Calendar notification and the notification  coming from the Automator action there.
Calendar notification and the notification  coming from the Automator action there.

Now you may be saying, boy that's a lot of steps  to set an alarm on a Mac. But you only have to do  
Now you may be saying, boy that's a lot of steps  to set an alarm on a Mac. But you only have to do  

most of the steps the first time you set this up.  Because this isn't going anywhere. You could see  
most of the steps the first time you set this up.  Because this isn't going anywhere. You could see  

it's still here set for that time. So if I want  to use the alarm again all I need to do is change  
it's still here set for that time. So if I want  to use the alarm again all I need to do is change  

the time for the alarm. So I can set it to another  time. So just keep moving this forward in time  
the time for the alarm. So I can set it to another  time. So just keep moving this forward in time  

using it whenever you need to. You could  even get rid of this display notification  
using it whenever you need to. You could  even get rid of this display notification  

and instead have it speak something. Something  like this so now when you run this, (Wake Up)  
and instead have it speak something. Something  like this so now when you run this, (Wake Up)  

you get a bit of synthesized speech instead.  You could set this to whatever you want.  
you get a bit of synthesized speech instead.  You could set this to whatever you want.  

You could have it even loop here. So I've  created a simple little forward loop to go  
You could have it even loop here. So I've  created a simple little forward loop to go  

three times, speak something, delay three  seconds and then it would speak it again  
three times, speak something, delay three  seconds and then it would speak it again  

and do that three times and then set the  volume back at the end. You could add a Using  
and do that three times and then set the  volume back at the end. You could add a Using  

Parameter here to have it speak with one  of the other standard voices. (Wake Up).
Parameter here to have it speak with one  of the other standard voices. (Wake Up).

So I hope that could be handy for some  people. It's not ideal. I wish Apple would,  
So I hope that could be handy for some  people. It's not ideal. I wish Apple would,  

at some point in the future, add a full  clock app with an alarm to the Mac.  
at some point in the future, add a full  clock app with an alarm to the Mac.  

Maybe we'll see that in an upcoming  version of macOS. Thanks for watching.
Maybe we'll see that in an upcoming  version of macOS. Thanks for watching.