Download SoundSource for Mac

In the edit

Version 6.1.4 landed on 17 September 2026, and the headline is the updated ARK plugin to 13.5.4. For a wedding photographer editing in a coffee shop, that means fewer surprises when Bluetooth headphones decide to misbehave — the release fixes both a crash and output performance issues with Bluetooth devices on macOS 27. But the real reason SoundSource stays on my dock is the deeper control it gives over audio without diving into system preferences mid-edit.

• Per-app volume and output routing. Quiet Lightroom, keep Spotify loud. Or send Lightroom’s audio (when reviewing slideshows) to one speaker and system sounds to another. Two clicks per app.
• Output Groups. Route the same audio to your studio monitors and a pair of headphones at the same time. Handy when you’re demoing a gallery edit to a couple while still monitoring your own mix.
• Input device switching. Swap from your desk mic to the camera’s shotgun input without unplugging anything. Useful when you’re recording quick voiceovers or client interviews.
• Quick system sound access. Change alert volume, input gain, or output device from a single menu bar icon. No hunting through System Settings during a tight edit session.
• AirPlay streaming support. Toss a podcast or a client’s highlight reel to an AirPlay speaker while the main output stays on your headphones.
• ARK plugin ecosystem. The updated plugin framework means third-party audio effects (like a simple compressor or high-pass filter) can sit between any app and your output, live. Great for taming rough interview audio before it hits your ears.

SoundSource 6 requires macOS 15 or later, runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and is English-only. It’s one of those tools that disappears into the workflow until you need it — then you wonder how you edited without it.

Setting up a podcast recording session with per-app audio

Here is a typical scenario I walk through when I need to record a short client interview or a voiceover for a wedding film. SoundSource makes it simple to keep everything separate without patching cables or restarting apps.

1. Open SoundSource from the menu bar. The icon sits in the top-right corner, always within reach.
2. Set the system output to your headphones so you hear everything clearly while you work.
3. Set the system input to your microphone of choice. I use a shotgun mic for interviews, but a lavalier works just as well.
4. Open your recording app (QuickTime, Audacity, or whatever you prefer). In SoundSource, find that app in the list and set its input device to the same microphone. This step keeps the recording clean and separate from any other system noise.
5. Route your playback app (Spotify, a web browser, or a video player) to your headphones only. That way your interview subject hears their own voice clearly, but you hear the music or video you are referencing.
6. Save the whole configuration as a preset. Name it “Podcast session” or “Interview setup.” Next time, one click restores every device and volume level to exactly where you left them.

The real time-saver is that you never have to open System Settings or unplug anything. When the session ends, you can switch back to your normal editing setup with a single preset.

Essential for podcasters and voiceover artists

This app is not for everyone, but for a few types of Mac users it becomes essential. Podcast creators and voiceover artists benefit from the per-app routing and input switching because they can keep their recording chain predictable without fighting system sound. Home audio users who manage a mix of AirPlay speakers, USB interfaces, and Bluetooth headphones will appreciate Output Groups, which let you send audio to multiple destinations at once without a hardware mixer.

If you are a photographer or video editor who works in coffee shops or co-working spaces, the ability to mute one app’s output while keeping another audible is a small but constant relief. And if you ever present slideshows or demo reels to clients, being able to switch your entire audio setup with one click saves you from fumbling with cables and settings when you should be focusing on the work.

Per-device volume and input gain in the menu bar

• Volume control per device — not just per app. If your USB interface is too loud and your built-in speakers are quiet, you can balance them independently from the same menu bar menu.
• Input gain adjustment lives right next to the output volume. No need to dig into the sound panel of your recording app.
• Output Groups preserve their relative volumes. If you have your monitors set quieter than your headphones, that balance stays when you switch groups.
• The ARK plugin update (13.5.4) means any third-party audio effect you already own that uses the ARK framework will work without compatibility hiccups. If you use a noise gate or a de-esser plugin, this matters more than you might think.
• Presets include input and output devices — not just volume levels. So a preset called “Editing with headphones” can switch your output to headphones, your input to your desk mic, and your system alert volume to zero, all at once.

SoundSource 6.1.4 is the kind of tool that makes you wonder why macOS does not handle audio this way by default. It does one thing — give you direct control over what you hear and how you record — and it does it without getting in your way.

New this release

• ARK plugin updated to version 13.5.4
• Fixed a crash when Bluetooth devices don't honour requested buffer sizes on macOS 27
• Fixed Bluetooth output device performance issues on macOS 27

Mac it needs

• macOS 15 or later
• 64-bit processor (Intel or Apple Silicon)
• Interface language: English