Loopback vs Audio Hijack - Whats the Difference?

Loopback and Audio Hijack from Rogue Amoeba can seem like very similar products. In this video I'm talking about the core difference between the two applications and demonstrate this on the Mac.
If you're after a simple answer and don't want to watch the video...
🔊 Audio Hijack is all about re-routing, mixing, processing and recording or streaming audio from multiple sources that already exist on your computer.
💻 Loopback creates virtual audio interfaces which can then be used in other software, including Audio Hijack.
There we go, that wasn't too hard. Please consider watching the video to see a demonstration of both pieces of software in action.
I am a huge fan of Rogue Amoeba software. It's beautifully designed, has a fantastic user interface and works reliably whilst, above all, being incredibly useful. If you do anything audio related on a Mac, these two pieces of software are worth having in your arsenal.
NOTE: I purchased the software myself. This is not an advert.

[@tdcattech]

Audio Hijack 22% Discount - bit.ly/ahtdcat | Loopback 22% Discount - bit.ly/lbtdcat

[@cedricvillani8502]

Can I please have the Affiliate link to the 100% Discount? ?

[@cedricvillani8502]

Oh and just curious, have you ever used or do use a piece of software called Kaleidoscope? (Ver.3 at the moment) it’s a little too pricey for what it does IMO, but I do like it’s interface and ease of use, lol anyway, right so I’m asking because I wonder if you have come across anything similar that’s not $149

[@tdcattech]

😉 I guess that would be nice. Just for info, these aren't affiliate links in that, I don't gain anything from purchases of the software. It's just a discount for my viewers 😁- I think the price is fair though for what this software can do and how well written it is.

[@tdcattech]

No. Never used that. I took a quick look and it looks good but I'm not sure how it would be something I could use. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@zakaroonetwork777]

@@cedricvillani8502 TDCAT is discount code

[@colinaguiar9682]

So well researched, clearly explained and you cut to the chase. It would be great if all youtube videos were like this.

[@monkhood1631]

I was trying to understand the diff between these softwares and you are the first person that actually explained it well!

[@sgtouring]

Thank you so much for this video!! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for and you explained it very clearly and concisely without me having to dig through numerous other videos. Much appreciated!!

[@jfbmusic]

My first-ever TDCatTech video! ("took you long enough", one might say…) Excellent comparison, crystal-clear explanation of the differences, Torsten, thanks!

[@taosophymusic]

I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the difference was in Hijack and Loopback. 6:24 was the kicker!! Finally pulling the trigger on Loopback🙏🏽

[@koenignero]

Thank you for the detailed manual as well as for the discount code!

[@matatoto9805]

Whats also great about loopback is that you can send the virtual outputs to different monitors (physical outputs) and produce the same effect as Hijack.

[@tdcattech]

Yep. Definitely some crossover there.

[@TLMuse]

Thanks for this; I'm an Audio Hijack user, and was wondering how it differed from Loopback. So is Loopback basically like creating an aggregate audio device with Apple's Audio MIDI Setup, only it can include the outputs of apps as part of the aggregate device (i.e., it isn't limited to hardware audio devices)? -Tom

[@TechNolicAl]

What a coincidence - I was looking for a comparison between the two as well, got one from you 😁 Also, not sure if mine's a glitch - but my loopback works unlimited without the trial (no noise after the 20 mins), but weirdly the configuration stays even after quitting loopback.

[@janauknic]

Thanks for this clear explanation. One question though: what if your desired programm has no preferences for audio? Sometimes I like to facetime audio via Messages. But that is not possible, as far as I can see I cannot choose an audio input.

[@tdcattech]

Facetime has audio input choices. If you're talking about on macOS, it's in the Video menu...not in the Preferences where you might expect it to logically be like on every other piece of software. ;-)

[@mgolczewski]

Excellent overview. Thanks!

[@foursite]

used the discount code and it works! Thank you!

[@JacanaProductions]

Any concerns with Ventura running this as an Kernel extensions vs the newer System extensions?

[@sglivetv]

I wished I had found your excellent explainer earlier and saved my money on Loopback. But I still couldn't solve a mystery about Loopback sources. Specifically, I'm trying to turn Elgato Strreamdeck's soundboard into a virtual source. But when I select Finder as a Special Source in Loopback, the indicators don't register any signals when Soundboard is playing. Would you have any advice on the right way to achieve this?

[@mhenkka]

Hi, but Loopback is not the only "virtual device software" you can use with Audio Hijack to route to... there are many free alternatives. What is the benefit of Loopback compared to those free ones?

[@JeremyVarao]

So if I want audio from Logic Pro using my plugin's on guitar tracks, but have them come through to eCamm, which would I use of these 2?

[@matatoto9805]

Loopback bro!

[@rootcellarmusicstudiorobku519]

Excellent explanation thank You

[@Letsynthesize]

I just don't get that why we need LOOPBACK when RME mixer software already offers loopback function... Why can't RME do the same thing natively what LOOPBACK does??

[@MiterAlmeida]

also trying to understand if we can do all of that with totalmix instead of having to use those apss

[@Letsynthesize]

@@MiterAlmeida yeh that’s what I meant :)

[@thebrokenchessboard]

It can do it, but you need something to process. Try reaper (free) which would give you software channels. Then you send into reaper and process the audio and send where you want.

[@Letsynthesize]

@@thebrokenchessboard On Mac it does not work without three third party stuff…

[@DrGrooveBeat]

Thanks Dermot.

[@i_n_c_r_y_p_t_o]

Fantastic explanation, thanks

[@SHAKA-NEU-LU]

I keep trying to figure out why my loopback doesn’t look like this. Nothing to the right pops up

[@klite789]

Thank you for the explanation 💚💚💚

[@moon1225]

Thank you for teaching.

[@themountainofmen]

is there similar solutions to these two for windows?

[@thanhtam0697]

asio linkpro

[@benjamin_hill]

How does the software deal with clock alignment on multiple input devices?

[@tdcattech]

If you're referring to Audio Hijack, the session itself has a sample rate and input devices with different sample rates have to be resampled to match the session rate. Audio Hijack will do this but I'm not sure how well. There's a good article here. www.rogueamoeba.com/support/knowledgebase/?showArticle=SampleRateInfo-AH

[@AlbertoSueri91]

thank you!

[@manitsony6703]

Why you wouls not use rme?why othet software. Thanks

[@tdcattech]

The RME software is superb but it doesn’t do the same job as these two (except its loopback function which is excellent).

[@dandyLbaby]

the name made me think i downloaded a scam plugin but word, audio hijack me