Some applications on the Mac offer an exclusive “unmixable” format for audio playback. When configured with this option, other software is completely prevented from accessing that app’s audio. This includes SoundSource.
The application will show no audio activity in SoundSource, and SoundSource’s adjustments will have no effect on it. Furthermore, because this is a change an app makes to an audio device, SoundSource will be unable to redirect audio to a device where another app has triggered unmixable audio playback.
When SoundSource detects an application’s playback is set to such a format, it will warn you of the situation.
Most applications with unmixable audio capabilities provide a setting to turn it off within their audio output options. Relevant settings may be named “Integer Mode” or “Direct Mode”. Disabling such a setting will allow the application to use standard audio playback through MacOS, so it will work as expected with SoundSource’s features.
Unmixable playback is related to exclusive device access, commonly known as “hog” mode. With exclusive device access, an application takes over an entire audio device. For unmixable audio, the app applies a format condition to a specific device. In both cases, SoundSource is prevented from using that device when attempting to capture an app’s audio. Some applications offer both options, with the exclusive/hog mode being what’s reported first.
For more details on exclusive device access, see this article about “hog mode” scenarios.
If you need personal assistance or want to provide feedback, our friendly support team is available via email. Click below to get in touch:
Contact UsWe're amazingly responsive! We strive to reply in under 24 hours.
Airfoil
Audio Hijack
Farrago
Fission
Loopback
Piezo
SoundSource