Carla is an audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats. It has some nice features like automation of parameters via MIDI CC (and send output back as MIDI too) and full OSC control.


There are many alternatives to VB-Audio Virtual Cable for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is Carla, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to VB-Audio Virtual Cable and ten of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to VB-Audio Virtual Cable are JACK Audio Connection Kit, BlackHole Audio Loopback Driver, Soundflower and Loopback.
Carla is an audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats. It has some nice features like automation of parameters via MIDI CC (and send output back as MIDI too) and full OSC control.


JACK is a professional sound server daemon that provides real-time low latency connections for both audio and MIDI data between applications that implement its API. The API can be used through either JACK1 or JACK2.

Virtual Cable is very easy to use, and connects output to input and input to output. Jack is a difficult to use audio server. See the differences? They can't be compared.
This is for pro audio and for people that care. VB-Audio is a product that is shilled by trolls and who knows what or how they're spying on your system. JACK has been around for over a decade or more--trusted and reliable.


BlackHole is a modern macOS virtual audio driver that allows applications to pass audio to other applications with zero additional latency.

Soundflower is a Mac OS X system extension that allows applications to pass audio to other applications. Soundflower is easy to use, it simply presents itself as an audio device, allowing any audio application to send and receive audio with no other support needed.

Configure advanced audio routing by creating virtual devices on macOS, supporting up to 64 input/output channels. Customize and mix audio from multiple sources, including hidden ones like Siri. It offers Pass-Thru for direct sound transfers and full accessibility via VoiceOver, ideal for audio processing.




SoundDesk is the easiest way to turn your macOS into a professional mixing desk.




While SoundDesk includes similar functionality through the virtual driver and virtual cable extensions, the purpose of the app seems to be very different.


GroundControl virtual audio drivers allow applications to pass audio to other applications with zero latency.


The SoundDesk Virtual Devices are connectors that you can use to route audio across apps.







iShowU Audio Capture is an extension to OS X to record audio from your computer. This new-and-improved audio driver replaces Soundflower and provides new features and improvements in order to make recording audio more stable and easy to do.
VB-audio simply connects audio streams between devices. JACK is a virtual audio server and requires other unrelated programs and additional expertise to have the same functionality, if it is even possible.