The easiest way to capture system audio
in any DAW or recorder
Three recording paths from one install — a VST plugin for your DAW, a virtual input device for any app, or one-click capture from the menu bar. No aggregate devices, no Audio MIDI Setup, no output to swap. macOS and Windows.
As featured in
Works with
One minute demo: drop the plugin, record, done.
Really clean and logical design and a workflow I liked instantly. The best solution for me.
Peter Lemberg · Logic Pro user
Three ways to capture
Use the workflow you already know
One install, three recording paths. Pick whichever fits your tool.
1. Inside your DAW
Drop the AudioRoute Capture VST3/AU plugin onto a track in Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, or Reaper. System audio flows in, ready to record.
2. As a virtual mic
Select AudioRoute Input as the recording device in Audacity, OBS, Zoom, QuickTime — anything that sees an audio input.
3. Direct to file
One click in the menu bar app. Captures to a clean WAV file at your chosen sample rate and bit depth. No DAW needed.
In your DAW
Record system audio onto any track
AudioRoute installs a native VST3 (and Audio Unit on Mac) plugin called AudioRoute Capture. Drop it onto an audio track and your DAW sees the entire system audio output as input — perfect for sampling, podcasts, lessons, or capturing reference tracks.
- ✓ VST3 on macOS and Windows · AU on macOS
- ✓ Sample-accurate, low-latency
- ✓ No buses, no cables, no Loopback fees
DAW-specific walkthrough: How to record system audio in Logic Pro →
Anywhere on your system
A real input device — not a hack
AudioRoute Input registers as a system-wide audio input. Any app that can record from a microphone can record system audio: Audacity, OBS, Zoom, Discord, QuickTime, GarageBand, Voice Memos.
- ✓ Native Core Audio HAL driver
- ✓ Up to 192 kHz, 32-bit float
- ✓ Feedback protection built in
macOS today. Windows is pending Microsoft's driver attestation review — it'll ship as a free update.
What this unlocks
Mic and system audio on separate tracks — same session
Because AudioRoute doesn't touch your Mac's input or output routing, your audio interface and mic stay available as normal DAW inputs. Arm one track with the AudioRoute plugin (system audio), arm another with your mic — hit record once, get two clean tracks you can edit independently.
- ✓ Podcasts: your mic + a guest's Zoom call, captured separately
- ✓ Tutorials: narration + software audio, fix one without touching the other
- ✓ Live sessions: your instrument + a backing track from YouTube, recorded in parallel
Bit-perfect by default
Sample-for-sample identical, no resampling in the path
Set Audio MIDI Setup to your source's native rate, set AudioRoute to Auto, hit record. The WAV you get is byte-equivalent to what your Mac is playing — no sample-rate conversion, no bit-depth conversion, no DSP between the system audio mix and the file. Works from 44.1 kHz CD-quality up to 192 kHz / 24-bit Hi-Res Lossless.
- ✓ Auto rate follows your default output device automatically (0.1.14+)
- ✓ Daemon → lock-free ring → WAV: just
memcpy, no resampler - ✓ Resampler only fires when you explicitly request a different rate
- ✓ Verify with
afinfo— the file's rate and depth match the source exactly
Nothing to configure
Run the installer, open your DAW — that's it
No Audio MIDI Setup, no aggregate device to assemble, no output to swap. The installer drops in the plugin, the virtual input device, and the capture daemon. There's nothing to wire up afterward — your speakers, your audio interface, and your existing DAW settings stay exactly as they were.
- ✓ One signed installer (notarized
.pkgon macOS, signed.exeon Windows), one admin password - ✓ Plugin and virtual device both available immediately
- ✓ Uninstall cleanly at any time with the bundled uninstaller
Built for daily use
Polished where it matters
Menu bar app
Lives quietly in your menu bar. Status, levels, and one-click recording — always one click away.
Floating overlay
Optional always-on-top recording indicator with a stop button. Stays out of the way.
Auto-updates
Sparkle-powered background updates. New features land automatically — for life.
Bit-perfect Auto
Auto rate follows the device. 44.1 / 48 / 96 / 192 kHz. 16 / 24 / 32-bit float. No resampling in the path.
Feedback safe
Built-in feedback protection prevents the howl when you accidentally route audio back into itself.
Light on resources
Native Apple Silicon. Zero CPU at idle. Doesn't fight Core Audio.
This will be my default app for audio capture going forward — and I have tried them all.
Andy Pink · Composer & Sound Designer · andypink.co.uk · vi-control
The attention to detail is amazing, and the multitude of improvements and additional features have already made this app the most comprehensive I know of for this purpose.
Henrik Hjortnaes · Gearspace
I love it — really easy to use. The feature to snag samples and have them drop into a custom folder is a winner.
Cliff · Ableton user
Much easier than setting up BlackHole for quickly getting system audio into the DAW.
Geoffrey Woytt · Ableton user
I've previously captured system audio using Windows audio drivers in Reaper but it was a hassle. The workflow for AudioRoute is straightforward and quick to set up.
Shaun · Reaper user · Gearspace
Excellent work, especially how seamless the menu bar component is.
Brendan A
Offline operation is highly appreciated.
Yan
Questions
Frequently asked
What does the trial include?
Everything. Full access to the menu bar app, the VST3/AU plugin, the virtual audio device, and all formats. After 14 days you'll need a license to keep recording.
Which platforms are supported?
Both macOS and Windows. macOS 14.2+ (Apple Silicon & Intel) and Windows 10+ (64-bit). The VST3 plugin and the menu-bar / tray app ship on both today. The AudioRoute Input virtual audio device ships on macOS today; the Windows version is pending Microsoft's driver attestation review and will arrive as a free update.
How do I record system audio in Logic Pro?
Load AudioRoute Capture as the instrument on a Software Instrument track (it lives under AU Generators → AudioRoute), then route the track's output to a Bus and record from a matching Audio track. The full step-by-step is in our Logic Pro guide — six steps with screenshots, plus how to avoid feedback during monitoring.
Will my license work on multiple machines?
Yes — your license is tied to your account, not to a single machine. Use it on any Mac or PC you own, mix and match.
How is this different from Loopback or BlackHole?
Three differences. (1) One install: AudioRoute gives you both a virtual device and a DAW plugin — most tools give you one or the other. (2) One-time price: pay once, lifetime updates — no subscription. (3) No aggregate device: AudioRoute doesn't reroute your Mac's output, so your normal monitoring keeps working — no Audio MIDI Setup ritual every time you change setups. For a longer side-by-side, see AudioRoute vs BlackHole.
Refund policy?
14-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Email support@audio-route.com.
Is there a subscription?
No. AudioRoute is one-time payment, lifetime updates, no renewal.
Try it free for 14 days
Download, install, capture. No credit card. No tricks.
Download free trial
Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you:
support@audio-route.com