JACK Audio Connection Kit vs BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver

Struggling to choose between JACK Audio Connection Kit and BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

JACK Audio Connection Kit is a Audio & Music solution with tags like audio, music, production, editing, connection, server.

It boasts features such as Real-time audio routing between applications, Low latency performance, Support for multiple audio interfaces, Audio effects plugin hosting, MIDI routing, Audio sample rate conversion and pros including Low latency, Flexible routing, Wide compatibility, Active development community, Open source.

On the other hand, BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver is a Audio & Music product tagged with audio, driver, loopback, latency, routing, macos.

Its standout features include Virtual audio driver that creates a virtual output device, Allows routing audio between applications with no latency, Works with any macOS audio application, Creates a virtual output that can be selected as an output device in audio apps, Allows audio streaming and recording without additional hardware, Compatible with all major DAWs, audio editors, etc., and it shines with pros like Zero latency audio routing, No additional hardware needed, Works with all audio apps, Simple to setup and use, Free and open source.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

JACK Audio Connection Kit

JACK Audio Connection Kit

JACK Audio Connection Kit is a cross-platform audio server designed to enable low latency audio connections between applications on Linux, macOS, and Windows systems. It allows audio apps to share audio data in real-time.

Categories:
audio music production editing connection server

JACK Audio Connection Kit Features

  1. Real-time audio routing between applications
  2. Low latency performance
  3. Support for multiple audio interfaces
  4. Audio effects plugin hosting
  5. MIDI routing
  6. Audio sample rate conversion

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Low latency

Flexible routing

Wide compatibility

Active development community

Open source

Cons

Complex configuration

Steep learning curve

Can cause audio glitches if not set up properly

Limited Windows support


BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver

BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver

BlackHole is a virtual audio driver for macOS that allows applications to pass audio to other applications with zero latency. It's useful for routing audio between music apps, streaming audio, or using audio apps without sound cards.

Categories:
audio driver loopback latency routing macos

BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver Features

  1. Virtual audio driver that creates a virtual output device
  2. Allows routing audio between applications with no latency
  3. Works with any macOS audio application
  4. Creates a virtual output that can be selected as an output device in audio apps
  5. Allows audio streaming and recording without additional hardware
  6. Compatible with all major DAWs, audio editors, etc.

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Zero latency audio routing

No additional hardware needed

Works with all audio apps

Simple to setup and use

Free and open source

Cons

Mac only

Can sometimes cause audio glitches

Requires audio apps to support virtual outputs

Limited to stereo output