The Ultimate Guide to Loopback 2.0.1: Everything You Need to Know About Cable-Free Audio Routing for Mac
<h1>Loopback 2.0.1: Cable-Free Audio Routing for Mac</h1>
<p>If you are looking for a way to pass audio from one application to another on your Mac, without using any cables or hardware devices, you may want to check out Loopback 2.0.1. Loopback is a software that lets you create virtual audio devices that can combine audio from multiple sources and make it available anywhere on your Mac. Whether you want to play music to your podcast guests, record multiple inputs into one track, create professional screencasts, or stream your gameplay with great sound, Loopback can help you achieve your goals.</p>
Loopback 2.0.1
<p>In this article, we will explain what Loopback is, what's new in version 2.0.1, how to use it, why you should choose it over other solutions, and what are some of the drawbacks and how to overcome them.</p>
<h2>What is Loopback 2.0.1?</h2>
<h3>A brief introduction to Loopback and its features</h3>
<p>Loopback is a software developed by Rogue Amoeba, a company that specializes in MacOS audio products for consumers and professionals alike. Loopback allows you to create virtual audio devices that can capture audio from both application sources and audio input devices, such as microphones or instruments, and route it to any application that accepts audio input, such as Skype, Zoom, GarageBand, Logic, or Audacity.</p>
<p>With Loopback, you can create as many virtual audio devices as you need, each with its own configuration and settings. You can add or remove sources, adjust volume levels, mute or solo channels, pan left or right, and even add effects or filters to your audio. You can also customize the names and icons of your virtual devices, making them easy to identify and select in other applications.</p>
<p>Loopback has an easy-to-understand wire-based interface that gives you all the power of a high-end studio mixing board, right inside your computer. You can see how the audio flows from the sources to the outputs, and change the routing with simple drag-and-drop actions.</p>
<h3>What's new in version 2.0.1?</h3>
<p>Loopback 2.0.1 is the latest version of the software, released on January 25th, 2021. It includes several bug fixes and improvements over the previous versions, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Support for nested devices, allowing one Loopback virtual audio device to be embedded inside another Loopback device. This enables more complex and powerful setups.</li>
<li>Full support for MacOS 10.12 (Sierra), thanks to the updated audio capture system powered by Instant On.</li>
<li>Better handling of device removals and renames.</li>
<li>Improved performance and stability.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you already own a license for Loopback 2.x , you can update to version 2.0.1 for free. If you are new to Loopback, you can download a free trial version from the official website and test it for 20 minutes at a time. To unlock the full features, you will need to purchase a license key for $99.</p>
<h2>How to use Loopback 2.0.1?</h2>
<h3>Creating virtual audio devices</h3>
<p>The first step to use Loopback is to create a virtual audio device that suits your needs. To do this, open the Loopback application and click on the "+" button at the bottom left corner of the window. This will create a new device with a default name and icon. You can change these by clicking on them and typing or choosing from the options available.</p>
<p>Next, you need to add the sources that you want to capture audio from. You can do this by clicking on the "+" button next to the "Sources" label. A list of applications and input devices will appear, and you can select the ones that you want to include in your virtual device. You can also drag and drop applications or input devices from the Finder or other applications into the Loopback window.</p>
<p>Once you have added your sources, you can configure their channel options by clicking on the gear icon next to each source name. A pop-up window will appear, where you can adjust the volume level, mute or solo the source, pan it left or right, and apply effects or filters if you have Audio Hijack installed. You can also rename each source by double-clicking on its name.</p>
<p>Another option that Loopback offers is to create a pass-thru device, which is a virtual device that simply passes audio from one application to another, without any processing or mixing. This can be useful for cases where you want to avoid any latency or feedback issues that may arise from using a regular virtual device. To create a pass-thru device, click on the "+" button next to the "Pass-Thru" label, and select an application or input device as the source.</p>
<h3>Routing audio to different applications</h3>
<p>After creating your virtual audio devices, you can use them as inputs or outputs in any application that accepts audio input or output. For example, if you want to play music from Spotify to your Skype call, you can create a virtual device that combines Spotify and your microphone as sources, and then select that device as your input in Skype's audio settings.</p>
<p>To help you understand how Loopback works, here are some examples of use cases for Loopback:</p>
<h4>Examples of use cases for Loopback</h4>
<h5>Podcasting</h5>
<p>If you are a podcaster, you may want to record your voice and your guests' voices, as well as play music or sound effects during your show. With Loopback, you can create a virtual device that captures all these sources and sends them to your recording software of choice. You can also use Loopback to monitor your own voice and hear what your guests hear.</p>
<h5>Recording</h5>
<p>If you are a musician or a producer, you may want to record multiple inputs into one track, such as vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums, etc. With Loopback, you can create a virtual device that combines all these inputs and sends them to your DAW (digital audio workstation) software of choice. You can also use Loopback to apply effects or filters to your inputs before recording them.</p>
<h5>Screencasting</h5>
<p>If you are a screencaster or a video creator, you may want to record your screen and your voice, as well as play audio from other applications or websites during your video. With Loopback, you can create a virtual device that captures all these sources and sends them to your screen recording software of choice. You can also use Loopback to adjust the volume levels and balance of your sources.</p>
<h5>Gaming</h5>
<p>If you are a gamer or a streamer, you may want to stream your gameplay with great sound quality, as well as communicate with your teammates or viewers via voice chat. With Loopback, you can create a virtual device that captures your game audio and your microphone as sources, and sends them to your streaming software of choice. You can also use Loopback to mix in music or sound effects during your stream.</p>
<h5>Audio Hijack integration</h5>
<p>If you have Audio Hijack installed on your Mac, you can use it in conjunction with Loopback to enhance your audio routing capabilities. Audio Hijack is another software developed by Rogue Amoeba that lets you record any audio from any application or input device on your Mac. You can also apply effects or filters to your audio, such as equalizers, compressors, reverbs, etc. You can also use Audio Hijack to broadcast your audio to the internet or save it to a file.</p>
<p>With Loopback and Audio Hijack, you can create more advanced and flexible audio setups. For example, you can use Loopback to create a virtual device that captures audio from multiple sources, and then use Audio Hijack to process that audio and send it to another application or output. You can also use Audio Hijack to capture audio from a Loopback device and record it or broadcast it.</p>
<p>To use Loopback and Audio Hijack together, you need to add a Loopback device as a source or an output in Audio Hijack's session window. You can also drag and drop a Loopback device from the Loopback window to the Audio Hijack window. You can then configure the settings and effects for your audio as you wish.</p>
<h2>Why choose Loopback 2.0.1?</h2>
<h3>The benefits of Loopback over other solutions</h3>
<p>Loopback is not the only software that can route audio on your Mac, but it is one of the best and most reliable ones. Here are some of the benefits of Loopback over other solutions:</p>
<h4>Easy and powerful interface</h4>
<p>Loopback has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to create and manage your virtual audio devices. You can see how the audio flows from the sources to the outputs, and change the routing with simple drag-and-drop actions. You can also customize the names and icons of your devices, making them easy to identify and select in other applications.</p>
<p>Loopback also has a powerful interface that gives you full control over your audio sources and channels. You can adjust volume levels, mute or solo channels, pan left or right, and even add effects or filters to your audio. You can also create nested devices, allowing you to combine multiple virtual devices into one.</p>
<h4>Works with any application</h4>
<p>Loopback works with any application that accepts audio input or output on your Mac. You can use Loopback to route audio between any combination of applications or input devices, without any limitations or compatibility issues. You can also use Loopback to route audio to multiple applications at once, creating complex and versatile audio setups.</p>
<h4>Supports nested devices</h4>
<p>Loopback supports nested devices, which means that you can embed one Loopback virtual audio device inside another Loopback device. This enables you to create more complex and powerful audio routing scenarios, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mixing multiple sources into one device, and then splitting them into different outputs.</li>
<li>Processing audio from one device with effects or filters, and then sending it to another device.</li>
<li>Combining multiple devices into one device, and then sending it to another application or output.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Compatible with MacOS 10.11 and higher</h4>
<p>Loopback is compatible with MacOS 10.11 (El Capitan) and higher, including MacOS 10.12 (Sierra), MacOS 10.13 (High Sierra), MacOS 10.14 (Mojave), MacOS 10.15 (Catalina), and MacOS 11 (Big Sur). Loopback also supports both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon-based Macs with native performance.</p>
<h3>The drawbacks of Loopback and how to overcome them</h3>
<p>Loopback is not perfect, and it may have some drawbacks or limitations depending on your needs and preferences. Here are some of the drawbacks of Loopback and how to overcome them:</p>
<h4>Requires a valid license key to unlock full features</h4>
<p>Loopback is not a free software, and it requires a valid license key to unlock its full features. The license key costs $99, which may be too expensive for some users who only need basic audio routing functionality. However, there are some ways to overcome this drawback:</p>
<ul>
<li>You can download a free trial version of Loopback from the official website and test it for 20 minutes at a time. This may be enough for some users who only need occasional or temporary audio routing.</li>
<li>You can look for discounts or promotions on the official website or other platforms, such as MacUpdate or StackSocial. Sometimes, you may find deals that offer Loopback at a lower price or bundled with other software products.</li>
<li>You can contact Rogue Amoeba's support team and request a refund if you are not satisfied with Loopback within 14 days of purchase. Rogue Amoeba has a generous refund policy that allows you to get your money back if you are unhappy with their products for any reason.</li>
</ul>
<h4>May cause latency or feedback issues in some scenarios</h <p>4> May cause latency or feedback issues in some scenarios</h4>
<p>Loopback may cause some latency or feedback issues in some scenarios, such as when using a pass-thru device, when routing audio to multiple applications, or when using effects or filters. This may affect the quality or synchronization of your audio, or create unwanted noises or echoes. However, there are some ways to overcome this drawback:</p>
<ul>
<li>You can adjust the buffer size and sample rate of your virtual devices in Loopback's preferences window. A lower buffer size and a higher sample rate may reduce latency, but they may also increase CPU usage and cause glitches or dropouts. A higher buffer size and a lower sample rate may increase latency, but they may also reduce CPU usage and improve stability. You need to find the optimal balance for your setup and needs.</li>
<li>You can use headphones or earphones instead of speakers when using Loopback. This may prevent feedback or echo issues that may occur when the audio from your speakers is picked up by your microphone and sent back to your speakers.</li>
<li>You can use a noise gate or a noise suppression effect on your microphone input to reduce background noise or feedback. You can do this with Audio Hijack or other audio processing software.</li>
</ul>
<h4>Does not support Windows or iOS devices</h4>
<p>Loopback is only available for MacOS devices, and it does not support Windows or iOS devices. This may limit your options if you want to use Loopback with other devices or platforms. However, there are some ways to overcome this drawback:</p>
<ul>
<li>You can use alternative software that offers similar functionality to Loopback for Windows or iOS devices. Some examples are VB-Audio Virtual Cable, Voicemeeter, Soundflower, iShowU Audio Capture, BlackHole, etc. However, these software may have different features, interfaces, compatibility, or quality than Loopback.</li>
<li>You can use online services that allow you to route audio between different devices or platforms over the internet. Some examples are Cleanfeed, Zencastr, Squadcast, Riverside.fm, etc. However, these services may require a subscription fee, an internet connection, or a browser extension to work.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<h3>A summary of the main points and a call to action</h3>
<p>Loopback 2.0.1 is a cable-free audio routing software for Mac that lets you create virtual audio devices that can combine audio from multiple sources and make it available anywhere on your Mac. Whether you want to podcast, record, screencast, game, or stream, Loopback can help you achieve your goals.</p>
<p>Loopback has an easy and powerful interface that gives you full control over your audio sources and channels. You can also create nested devices, allowing you to create more complex and powerful audio setups. Loopback works with any application that accepts audio input or output on your Mac, and it supports MacOS 10.11 and higher, including both Intel-based Macs and Apple Silicon-based Macs.</p>
<p>Loopback has some drawbacks, such as requiring a valid license key to unlock full features, causing latency or feedback issues in some scenarios, and not supporting Windows or iOS devices. However, these drawbacks can be overcome with some workarounds or alternatives.</p>
<p>If you are interested in Loopback 2.0.1, you can download a free trial version from the official website and test it for 20 minutes at a time. To unlock the full features, you will need to purchase a license key for $99. You can also contact Rogue Amoeba's support team if you have any questions or issues with Loopback.</p>
<p>Loopback 2.0.1 is a great software for anyone who wants to route audio on their Mac without any cables or hardware devices. It is easy to use, powerful, versatile, and reliable. Try it today and see what Loopback can do for you!</p>
<h2>FAQs</h2>
<h3>What is the difference between Loopback and Audio Hijack?</h3>
<p>Loopback and Audio Hijack are both software developed by Rogue Amoeba that deal with audio on your Mac. However, they have different purposes and features:</p>
<ul>
<li>Loopback is a software that lets you create virtual audio devices that can capture audio from both application sources and audio input devices, and route it to any application that accepts audio input.</li>
<li>Audio Hijack is a software that lets you record any audio from any application or input device on your Mac. You can also apply effects or filters to your audio, such as equalizers, compressors, reverbs, etc.</li>
</ul>
<p>You can use Loopback and Audio Hijack together to enhance your audio routing capabilities. For example, you can use Loopback to create a virtual device that captures audio from multiple sources, and then use Audio Hijack to process that audio and send it to another application or output. You can also use Audio Hijack to capture audio from a Loopback device and record it or broadcast it.</p>
<h3>How can I monitor the audio from my Loopback devices?</h3>
<p>If you want to monitor the audio from your Loopback devices, you can use one of the following methods:</p>
<ul>
<li>You can use the built-in monitor feature in Loopback. To do this, click on the monitor icon next to the device name, and select an output device from the list. You can also adjust the volume level of the monitor by dragging the slider.</li>
<li>You can use another application that accepts audio input, such as QuickTime Player, Audacity, or GarageBand. To do this, select your Loopback device as the input source in the application's audio settings, and then play or record the audio.</li>
<li>You can use Audio Hijack to monitor the audio from your Loopback devices. To do this, create a new session in Audio Hijack, add a Loopback device as a source, and add an output device as an output. You can also add effects or filters to your audio if you want.</li>
</ul>
<h3>How can I troubleshoot Loopback issues?</h3>
<p>If you encounter any issues with Loopback, such as no sound, distorted sound, or incompatible applications, you can try some of the following steps to troubleshoot them:</p>
<ul>
<li>Make sure that you have the latest version of Loopback installed on your Mac. You can check for updates in Loopback's preferences window, or download the latest version from the official website.</li>
<li>Make sure that you have selected the correct input and output devices in your applications' audio settings. You can also try restarting your applications or your Mac if the settings are not applied correctly.</li>
<li>Make sure that you have configured your virtual devices correctly in Loopback's interface. You can also try removing and adding sources, adjusting volume levels, muting or soloing channels, panning left or right, and applying effects or filters to your audio.</li>
<li>Make sure that you have adjusted the buffer size and sample rate of your virtual devices in Loopback's preferences window. A lower buffer size and a higher sample rate may reduce latency, but they may also increase CPU usage and cause glitches or dropouts. A higher buffer size and a lower sample rate may increase latency, but they may also reduce CPU usage and improve stability. You need to find the optimal balance for your setup and needs.</li>
<li>Make sure that you have used headphones or earphones instead of speakers when using Loopback. This may prevent feedback or echo issues that may occur when the audio from your speakers is picked up by your microphone and sent back to your speakers.</li>
<li>Make sure that you have used a noise gate or a noise suppression effect on your microphone input to reduce background noise or feedback. You can do this with Audio Hijack or other audio processing software.</li>
</ul>
<p>If none of these steps solve your issue, you can contact Rogue Amoeba's support team via email or phone. They are available Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. They are friendly and helpful, and they will try their best to assist you with your issue.</p>
<h3>How can I get more out of Loopback?</h3>
<p>If you want to get more out of Loopback, you can try