What Is LitLink?
LitLink installs a lightweight kernel-level audio driver that operates at near-zero latency. Unlike other virtual audio cables for Mac, LitLink includes a companion app that handles all configuration automatically. There is no need to open Audio MIDI Setup, create aggregate devices, or configure multi-output devices manually.
LitLink is completely free. No subscription, no trial period, no feature restrictions.
How Does LitLink Compare to BlackHole?
LitLink
- Free No cost, no restrictions
- One-toggle setup Automatic multi-output device
- Built-in mic passthrough Voice + system audio combined
- Automatic device creation No Audio MIDI Setup needed
- Companion app included Visual controls and status
- Persists across restarts Set it once, forget it
BlackHole
- Free and open-source
- Manual Audio MIDI Setup required
- No mic passthrough
- Must create multi-output device manually
- No companion app
- Manual reconfiguration after driver updates
BlackHole is a solid open-source project that works well for users comfortable with creating multi-output devices in Audio MIDI Setup. LitLink wraps all of those manual steps into a single toggle. The audio quality is identical: both operate at the kernel level with 32-bit float, 48 kHz stereo passthrough.
How Do You Set Up LitLink?
- Download and install LitLink Free, no account required
- Open the LitLink app Runs in the menu bar
- Toggle System Audio Passthrough One click, done
- Select Audio Bridge as input in your app Discord, OBS, Zoom, etc.
- Optional: toggle Mic Passthrough Combines your voice with system audio
That is the entire setup. No Audio MIDI Setup. No multi-output device configuration. No master clock settings. LitLink handles all of it behind the scenes.
How Does Mic Passthrough Work in LitLink?
BlackHole and other virtual audio cables cannot combine microphone input with system audio without additional software or complex aggregate device configurations. LitLink handles this natively. Toggle mic passthrough on, select your microphone, and both audio streams are mixed into the Audio Bridge virtual device.
The mic passthrough operates through a minimal ring buffer (~42ms) to bridge the timing difference between your physical microphone and the virtual audio device. This latency is imperceptible in voice calls and streaming. Streamers who use LitPads as a custom soundboard app alongside LitLink can route soundboard audio, microphone input, and system audio into a single stream.
Which Applications Work with LitLink?
Streamers who need to route soundboard audio into OBS pair LitPads with LitLink for a two-component setup: LitPads outputs to speakers, LitLink captures system audio and sends it to the virtual device, and OBS reads from Audio Bridge. The same approach works for sending soundboard audio into Discord voice channels.
How Does LitLink Compare to Loopback?
LitLink covers all common use cases with zero manual configuration. Loopback is only necessary for professional radio production or multi-application recording setups that require per-application audio isolation. A detailed breakdown of all three options is available in the audio routing on Mac guide.
What Are the Technical Specifications of LitLink?
- HAL audio driver Kernel-level, near-zero latency
- 32-bit float audio Studio-grade quality
- 48 kHz sample rate Standard broadcast quality
- Stereo passthrough 2-channel audio
- macOS 14+ required Sonoma and later
The driver operates at the same level as BlackHole and other kernel audio drivers. The difference is the companion app that automates the configuration steps that other drivers leave to the user. LitPads users who need a soundboard for streaming get the simplest possible audio chain: LitPads for sounds, LitLink for routing, and OBS or Discord for output.
Marcel Iseli is an indie developer, DJ, and music producer with over 20 years behind the decks and in the studio. Rooted in hip hop culture, he collects drum machines, samplers, and vintage audio gear. LitPads grew out of that obsession: decades of triggering samples on hardware led him to build the software equivalent he always wanted.