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
audio
routing
virtual-audio
interapp-audio
Soundflower: MacOS Audio Routing Extension
Free, open source system extension for routing audio between applications, recording system audio, and more, creating a virtual audio interface with 2 channels.
What is 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 and send it as an input to another app.
Some key features and uses of Soundflower include:
- Route audio between applications like Spotify, Logic Pro, Audacity, Ableton Live, etc.
- Record any audio from your Mac's system sounds or applications
- Set up audio effects chains by sending audio from one effect app to another
- Capture audio from streaming sites, videos, games, and more
Soundflower installs drivers to create a 2-channel virtual audio device on your Mac. Applications can then transmit audio to this virtual interface where it can be received as an input source by other apps in real-time. This makes it easy to grab audio from anywhere in your system and manipulate it however you like.
Though powerful, Soundflower can have a bit of a learning curve in setting up complex audio routing workflows. So while it's very versatile, it may be overkill for basic tasks. But for advanced audio routing it's an indispensable tool for macOS users and audio production.
Soundflower Features
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
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
Official Links
The Best Soundflower Alternatives
Top Audio & Music and Audio Routing and other similar apps like Soundflower
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...
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...
Wave Link
Wave Link is an audio mixing software that was created by Elgato, a company known for making products for content creators and streamers. It integrates with other Elgato products but can also be used as a standalone audio mixer.The main purpose of Wave Link is to give streamers and content...
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
WireTap Studio
WireTap Studio is a feature-rich podcast recording and editing software for Windows and Mac. It provides a complete solution for podcasters to record, edit, enhance, publish and track their audio and video podcast episodes.Some of the key features of WireTap Studio include:Intuitive audio and video recording - Record podcasts easily...
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...
PulseMeeter
PulseMeeter is a free, open-source audio mixer and router program for Windows. It is designed to route audio between different applications and devices on a Windows computer.Some key features of PulseMeeter include:Audio mixing capabilities to combine and adjust levels of multiple audio sourcesBuilt-in audio effects like compression, equalizer, reverb, and...
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...
