Customizing my Samsung Galaxy S4?

Unfortunately there isn't a lower level of Sound shortcut - Yes, it sucks about the phone. You can try searching the App store like the other answerer said, but that's kind of like admitting you'll need add-ons and new third party applications for every basic functionality you want. (sorry).

The fact that you have to download Camera Zoom FX for the sole purpose of turning off the shutter noise is absolutley ridiculous.

Yes there are Contact shortcuts but not direct dial. Again, try 3rd party app.

1. to toggle "completely silenced" back to "whatever sound settings you had before" - quickly back and forth. with the old LG phone this was a single-swipe, and in fact, without even unlocking the screen

---------- basic sound widgets or get a sound widget on playstore. As for lock screen, swipe down notification bar on lock screen to change sound instanty

2. put a shortcut on the desktop that goes to direct-dial or direct-tex

---------- contact shortcuts.

3. put a shortcut on the desktop that goes NOT ONLY TO AN APP - like "Settings", but goes to a more granular level of same - i.e., on the old LG phone I could put a shortcut that went all the way to the level of SETTINGS > SOUND > VOLUME, whereas on this phone it seems the best I can do is Settings, which is not at all quick nor convenient.

----------sound app

4. to force the volume for Notifications to mirror whatever is the volume for Ringtone (simplify changing the volume).

----------sound app

Update : Also, to turn off the horrible Camera shutter sound.........Incredibly, I can find no way to do this in Settings>Sounds, nor in Camera > Settings.

--------- most stock camera apps dont have this option... get Camera Zoom FX

Update 2: Ok, I have now found out how to get a direct-contact shortcut (still not Direct-to-Text, or Direct-Dial, but close enough, I guess..Funny that such a fancy new phone cannot match the capability of the older ones though!)

--------- someone needs to search playstore and learn.... you are use to old LG UI............ features that are no longer needed in a ROM due to the customizable free apps available, thus freeing system memory for other features.therefore letting the customer choose.... honestly, you shoul not have gotten the GS4, as its features dont match you... should have stayed with LG and gotten a G2

I've also gotten a shortcut down to the level of "Sound".......But not Volume.

Still need 1) toggle in between TOTALLY MUTE and PRE-SET SOUND SETTINGS, and 2) turn off Camera sound, and 3) force notification volume to mirror ringtone volume.