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.

Feature	Soundflower	BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Audio & Music	Audio & Music

Product Overview

Soundflower

Description: 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.

BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

Soundflower Features

• 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

BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver Features

• 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.

Pros & Cons Analysis

Soundflower

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

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

Pricing Comparison

Soundflower

• Open Source

BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver

• Free
• Open Source