How to Control Volume for Individual Apps on Mac (No More Volume Mixer Envy)

Why macOS Doesn't Have a Built-in Volume Mixer

If you've switched from Windows to Mac, you've probably noticed something missing: there's no volume mixer. On Windows, you can easily adjust the volume for Spotify while keeping Discord quiet, or mute those annoying Chrome tabs without affecting your music. On macOS, Apple has traditionally taken a "one volume to rule them all" approach.

This design philosophy works fine until you need granular control. Maybe you're in a video call and someone's mic is too loud, but turning down system volume also makes your music inaudible. Or perhaps you want your notifications quiet while keeping your productivity playlist at the perfect level.

What macOS Offers Out of the Box

Apple has made some progress with per-app audio control, but it's limited:

Audio MIDI Setup: This built-in utility lets you create aggregate audio devices and route audio, but it's complex and doesn't offer simple volume sliders per app.

Individual App Controls: Some apps like Spotify and VLC have their own volume controls, but these are inconsistent and don't work for system sounds or web browsers.

System Preferences Audio: You can choose different output devices for different apps, but again, no volume mixing.

These solutions are either too technical for most users or simply don't provide the straightforward per-app volume control that Windows users expect.

Third-Party Solutions: What Are Your Options?

SoundSource ($49)

Rogue Amoeba's SoundSource is the premium solution. It offers comprehensive per-app volume control, 10-band EQ, Audio Unit plugin support, and AirPlay routing. It's powerful but expensive for users who just want basic volume mixing.

Sound Control (~$29)

A mid-range option that provides per-app volume control with a clean interface. It's more affordable than SoundSource but still costs more than some users want to spend for basic functionality.

eqMac Pro ($40)

Focuses heavily on equalization with some volume control features. Great if you need EQ, but overkill if you just want to adjust app volumes.

Soundish (Budget-Friendly Alternative)

For users who want core per-app volume functionality without the premium price, Soundish offers the essentials: per-app volume control from 0-200%, per-app output routing (send Spotify to speakers while Discord goes to headphones), and per-app mute controls.

Soundish supports multi-process apps like Chrome and Brave, so you can control browser audio separately from other applications. It includes features like audio profiles to save and restore your preferred configurations, and volume overdrive up to 200% for quiet audio sources.

How Per-App Volume Control Actually Works

These apps use macOS's Core Audio system to intercept audio streams before they reach your speakers. They create virtual audio taps for each application, allowing independent volume adjustment without affecting the original audio quality.

The process requires a one-time driver installation and accessibility permissions, which is why you'll see these requests when first launching any per-app audio control software.

Setting Up Per-App Audio Control

Whichever solution you choose, the setup process is similar:

1. Install the app and grant necessary permissions (usually Accessibility and Audio)
2. Allow the driver installation when prompted (required for audio interception)
3. Configure your apps by adjusting individual volume sliders
4. Set up routing if you want different apps going to different outputs
5. Save profiles for different scenarios (work, gaming, music production)

When Per-App Control Is Most Useful

Video Conferencing: Keep meeting audio clear while muting notification sounds

Content Creation: Balance game audio, voice chat, and streaming software independently

Music Production: Route different audio sources to different monitors or headphones

Daily Computing: Control browser tab audio without affecting your music player

Gaming: Adjust game audio while keeping Discord or TeamSpeak at comfortable levels

Making the Right Choice

If you need professional features like EQ, Audio Unit plugins, or advanced routing, SoundSource justifies its price. But if you just want the volume mixer functionality that Windows has had for years, more affordable options like Soundish provide the core features without the premium cost.

The key is identifying what you actually need. Most users switching from Windows simply want per-app volume sliders and basic output routing – features that don't require a $49 investment.

Per-app volume control transforms how you interact with audio on Mac, giving you the granular control that should have been built-in from the start.