Virtual Audio Cable for Mac — Free and Paid Options Compared

What Is a Virtual Audio Cable on Mac?

A virtual audio cable is software that creates a virtual audio device on macOS. One application outputs audio to the virtual device, and another application reads from it as if it were a microphone. This lets custom soundboard apps route audio into streaming, voice chat, and recording software without physical hardware.

macOS does not include a built-in virtual audio cable. Third-party drivers fill this gap. The two main options are BlackHole (free, open-source) and Loopback by Rogue Amoeba ($99, commercial). Both create virtual audio devices that appear in System Settings and in any application's audio device list.

How Does BlackHole Compare to Loopback?

BlackHole is free and creates a simple virtual audio device for routing audio between applications. Loopback costs $99 and provides a visual interface for creating complex multi-source, multi-output audio routing configurations. BlackHole covers 90% of use cases. Loopback covers advanced routing that BlackHole cannot handle.

BlackHole

Free, open-source

Loopback

$99, visual interface

BlackHole Latency

Sub-millisecond

BlackHole Coverage

90% of use cases

BlackHole combined with macOS Audio MIDI Setup creates a multi-output device that routes audio to both headphones and the virtual cable simultaneously. The setup takes five minutes and requires no ongoing configuration. The BlackHole audio setup on Mac walks through every step.

Loopback provides a drag-and-drop interface for routing specific application outputs to specific virtual devices. Loopback can capture audio from individual applications (only the soundboard, not the entire system) and route it to a custom virtual device. This level of control is useful for professional radio production or multi-application recording setups.

Which Virtual Audio Cable Should You Use with a Soundboard?

BlackHole is the recommended virtual audio cable for soundboard users on Mac. The free price, simple setup, and reliable operation make it the standard choice. Loopback is only necessary for users who need application-level audio isolation or complex multi-device routing beyond what a multi-output device provides.

LitPads users route audio through BlackHole to reach OBS, Discord, Zoom, or any application. The combined cost of LitPads Pro ($14.99) plus BlackHole (free) is $14.99 total. The combined cost of Farrago ($29) plus Loopback ($99) is $128 total for a similar result with fewer soundboard features.

The audio routing on Mac covers both approaches in detail, including troubleshooting for common issues like sample rate mismatches and drift correction.

How Do You Test a Virtual Audio Cable on Mac?

Test a virtual audio cable by setting the soundboard output to the multi-output device, opening the receiving application (OBS, Discord, Zoom), selecting BlackHole as the input device, and triggering a sound. The receiving application's audio meter should show activity when the soundboard pad fires.

Set system output to the multi-output device System Settings > Sound > Output
Select BlackHole 2ch as input in the receiving app OBS, Discord, or Zoom
Trigger a pad in LitPads confirm the audio meter responds

If no audio appears, verify the multi-output device master clock is set to your physical headphones or speakers in Audio MIDI Setup.

Discord's voice settings page includes an input level meter that shows real-time audio levels. Trigger a pad in LitPads and confirm the meter responds. OBS shows audio levels in the mixer panel for each audio input capture source. Zoom shows a microphone test in Settings under Audio.

Common issues include Discord noise suppression filtering out soundboard audio (disable it), OBS not showing the BlackHole source (add it as Audio Input Capture), and no audio output (the multi-output device master clock is not set correctly in Audio MIDI Setup).

Does a Virtual Audio Cable Add Latency?

BlackHole adds negligible latency (sub-millisecond). The virtual device operates at the kernel level and passes audio buffers directly between applications without processing. The perceived latency of a soundboard trigger through BlackHole into OBS is identical to direct speaker output for all practical purposes.

Loopback adds slightly more latency due to its routing engine, but the difference is imperceptible in real-time use. Neither tool adds enough latency to affect streaming, voice chat, or live performance.

The Mac soundboard software guide covers audio latency considerations across different soundboard apps and how the audio engine architecture affects trigger response time.

Marcel Iseli

Indie Developer · DJ · Producer

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.