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.
audio
music
production
editing
connection
server
Jack Audio Connection Kit: Low Latency Cross-Platform Audio Server
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.
What is JACK Audio Connection Kit?
JACK Audio Connection Kit (or JACK) is an audio server designed for low latency audio performance and flexible routing of audio signals between applications and devices. It works by taking over the audio card and providing a common interface that audio applications can connect to in order to share audio data between each other.
Some key features of JACK include:
- Low latency performance for professional audio applications like recording, effects, synthesis, and live performance.
- Flexibility in routing audio signals between applications and devices.
- Synchronous execution of all connected audio applications.
- Support for a range of OS platforms - Linux, macOS, Windows.
- JACK runs as a server, which audio applications connect to as clients. This allows them to be executed on different machines across a network if required.
- Extensibility through support for plugins and session management tools.
JACK is aimed primarily at Linux and macOS platforms for pro audio and MIDI applications. It is commonly used in applications like Ardour, Qtractor, REAPER, Guitarix, etc to enable advanced audio routing options. The low latency performance makes it well suited to live performance software like guitar amp modelers and effect processors.
JACK Audio Connection Kit Features
Features
- Real-time audio routing between applications
- Low latency performance
- Support for multiple audio interfaces
- Audio effects plugin hosting
- MIDI routing
- 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
Official Links
The Best JACK Audio Connection Kit Alternatives
Top Audio & Music and Audio Editing & Production and other similar apps like JACK Audio Connection Kit
VB-Audio VoiceMeeter
VB-Audio VoiceMeeter is a fully featured virtual audio mixer and router for Windows. It allows users to manage multiple audio inputs and outputs, mixing them together and applying effects. Some key features include:Mixing multiple audio sources - VoiceMeeter can take input from devices like microphones, video game capture cards, music...
Virtual Audio Cable
Virtual Audio Cable is a Windows software that creates virtual audio devices to route audio internally between applications and devices on a computer. It works like physical audio patch cables that audio engineers use to connect hardware, but instead connects apps and soundcards within Windows.The software installs virtual input and...
Soundflower
Soundflower is a free, open source MacOS system extension that creates a virtual audio interface to allow applications to transmit audio to other applications in real-time. Developed by Cycling '74, Soundflower functions as an intermediate step in an audio routing setup, enabling users to take audio output from one app...
Loopback
LoopBack is an open-source Node.js framework that allows developers to quickly create REST APIs and connect them to backend data sources. Some key features of LoopBack include:Dynamic API creation using LoopBack's CLI and scaffolder toolsConnectors for databases like MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, PostgreSQL and moreAuthentication using Passport, authentication providers like Facebook/Google...
BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver
BlackHole is an open source virtual audio driver for macOS developed by Existential Audio. It creates a virtual audio output device that other audio apps can route audio to. The audio sent to BlackHole can then be accessed as an input by other apps on the system.This allows you to...
Dante Via
Dante Via is a free, open-source SOCKS5 proxy client application developed by Inferno Nettverk A/S. It provides an easy way for users to route their internet traffic through the Tor network to enhance privacy and security.Some key features of Dante Via include:User-friendly graphical interface for configuring connectionsSupports routing traffic through...
Synchronous Audio Router
Synchronous Audio Router (SAR) is a feature-rich Windows application designed for advanced audio routing between different apps and devices. It provides an intuitive graphical interface that allows users to connect audio streams in a flexible and customizable manner.Some key features of SAR include:Ability to route audio between different Windows apps,...
VB-Audio Virtual Cable
VB-Audio Virtual Cable is a lightweight, free software application for Windows that enables you to transfer audio streams between applications in real-time. It works by installing virtual audio cables on your computer that can pass audio data between programs.Some key features of VB-Audio Virtual Cable include:Allows routing audio between music...
Sound Siphon
Sound Siphon is an audio capture and recording utility for macOS that allows you to record all system audio or audio from specific apps on your Mac. Developed by Static Z Software, Sound Siphon provides an easy way to capture any audio playing on your Mac, whether it's streaming music,...
Dante Virtual Soundcard
Dante Virtual Soundcard by Audinate is a software application that enables you to route digital audio over standard Ethernet networks. It works using Audinate's Dante audio networking technology and provides a virtual soundcard on your computer that can transmit and receive audio channels to and from other Dante-enabled devices.Some key...
GroundControl
GroundControl is an open-source web-based project management and collaboration software. It is designed as an alternative to tools like Basecamp and Asana with a focus on providing robust task management and team workflow features.Some of the key capabilities of GroundControl include:Task boards with drag-and-drop support for managing project to-do itemsInteractive...
PipeWire
PipeWire is an open source project that provides a low-latency, multimedia server designed to replace PulseAudio and JACK on Linux systems. It handles routing, devices, sessions and metadata for audio and video streams.Some key features and goals of PipeWire include:Unified handling of audio and video streamsLow audio/video latency for pro...
AudioBus
AudioBus is an audio routing application designed specifically for Apple's iOS devices including iPhone and iPad. It allows audio apps running on iOS to communicate with each other directly by acting as a virtual audio cable to route audio between them.Some key features and uses of AudioBus include:Routing audio from...
SoundDesk
SoundDesk is an easy-to-use digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for Windows. It enables users to record, edit, and mix audio tracks with effects, similar to other DAW software like Audacity or Adobe Audition.Key features of SoundDesk include:Multi-track audio editing and mixingVST plugin support for adding effects and instrumentsAudio restoration tools...
SoundDesk Virtual Devices
SoundDesk Virtual Devices is an audio software that offers virtual audio input and output devices on Windows systems. It works by installing virtual sound cards that applications can interface with just like physical audio devices.Some key features of SoundDesk Virtual Devices include:Ability to route audio between applications without physical cable...
Helvum
Helvum is an open-source, cross-platform note taking application designed with flexibility and customizability as key priorities. It provides users with a variety of tools to organize their notes and tailor the app to their personal workflow.At its core, Helvum allows users to create rich text notes that support text formatting...
