Soundflower vs BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver

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

Soundflower is a Audio & Music solution with tags like audio, routing, virtual-audio, interapp-audio.

It boasts features such as Allows routing audio between applications, Creates a virtual audio interface with 2 channels, Can be used to record system audio, Works as a system extension on MacOS and pros including Free and open source, Simple to setup and use, Allows flexibility in audio routing, Can enable audio recording from any app.

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.

Soundflower

Soundflower

Soundflower is a free, open source MacOS system extension that allows applications to pass audio to other applications. It's useful for routing audio between audio apps, recording system audio, and more. Soundflower creates a virtual audio interface with 2 channels that can be used to transmit audio in real-time.

Categories:
audio routing virtual-audio interapp-audio

Soundflower Features

  1. Allows routing audio between applications
  2. Creates a virtual audio interface with 2 channels
  3. Can be used to record system audio
  4. Works as a system extension on MacOS

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Simple to setup and use

Allows flexibility in audio routing

Can enable audio recording from any app

Cons

MacOS only

Can introduce latency

Requires restarting apps to change routing

Can be complicated for non-technical users


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