Mac Different Audio Outputs Per Application: Route Apps to Separate Speakers

Why Mac Users Need Different Audio Outputs Per App

You're listening to Spotify through your speakers when a Zoom call starts. Instead of elegant audio routing, you're stuck fumbling with system settings, unplugging cables, or suffering through music bleeding into your meeting audio.

This scenario plays out dozens of times daily for Mac users who work from home. Unlike Windows, which has handled per-app audio routing gracefully for years, macOS treats all audio as one monolithic stream. But there are ways around Apple's limitation.

Method 1: Use Audio MIDI Setup (Built-in, Limited)

macOS includes a hidden tool called Audio MIDI Setup that can create aggregate audio devices, but it's clunky and doesn't give you true per-app control.

1. Open Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup
2. Click the + button and select Create Aggregate Device
3. Check the boxes for the audio outputs you want to combine
4. Set this aggregate device as your system output

The problem? This creates one combined output, not separate routing for different apps. You still can't send Spotify to speakers while Discord goes to headphones.

Method 2: App-Specific Audio Settings (Partial Solution)

Some apps have built-in audio output selection:

Spotify:

1. Open Spotify Preferences
2. Scroll to Audio Quality
3. Look for output device selection (only available with some audio drivers)

Zoom:

1. Go to Zoom > Preferences > Audio
2. Select different Speaker and Microphone devices
3. Test your setup before important calls

Discord:

1. Open User Settings (gear icon)
2. Navigate to Voice & Video
3. Choose different Output Device

The limitation? Most Mac apps don't include output selection. Chrome, Safari, Music, and hundreds of other apps are stuck using the system default.

Method 3: Dedicated Audio Routing Software (Complete Solution)

For true per-app audio control, you need software designed specifically for this purpose. This is where tools like Soundish come in.

Soundish provides the audio routing control that macOS should have included:

• Per-app output routing: Send Spotify to your speakers while Discord goes to headphones
• Individual volume control: Turn down Chrome tabs without affecting your music
• Multi-process support: Handle complex apps like Chrome that spawn multiple processes
• Audio profiles: Save and restore different routing configurations

Unlike expensive alternatives that cost $40-50, Soundish focuses on core audio routing features at a fraction of the price.

Real-World Audio Routing Scenarios

Scenario 1: Work From Home You want music playing through your desk speakers for ambient sound, but all meeting audio (Zoom, Teams, Discord) should go to your headphones so family members aren't disturbed.

Scenario 2: Content Creation You're recording a podcast while monitoring reference audio. Your recording software needs to hear one mix while your headphones get a different monitoring mix.

Scenario 3: Gaming + Communication Game audio goes to your gaming headset for immersion, but voice chat routes to a separate device so you can adjust levels independently.

Why This Problem Exists on Mac

Apple's audio architecture prioritizes simplicity over flexibility. The Core Audio system assumes most users want all audio going to one output device. This philosophy works for casual users but breaks down for professionals and power users who need granular control.

Windows has included a volume mixer since Vista, and Linux users have had PulseAudio routing for over a decade. macOS remains the outlier in treating audio as an all-or-nothing proposition.

Requirements for Audio Routing Software

Any solution you choose needs:

• macOS 14.2+ compatibility: Apple's Core Audio Tap API enables proper per-app control
• Low system impact: Audio routing shouldn't bog down your Mac
• Reliable app detection: The software must correctly identify and route audio from complex apps
• Simple interface: You shouldn't need an audio engineering degree to route Spotify

Getting Started with Per-App Audio Routing

Start simple: identify your most common audio routing needs. Do you primarily need to separate music from calls? Gaming audio from chat? Video conferencing from notification sounds?

Once you understand your patterns, you can choose the right approach. Built-in solutions work for basic needs, but if you're serious about audio control on Mac, dedicated routing software eliminates the daily frustration of fighting with system audio settings.

The days of choosing between all your audio going to speakers OR headphones are over. With proper routing, your Mac can finally handle audio as intelligently as you need it to.