Audio Router

Getting Started

Initial Setup

Audio Router requires a companion audio driver and helper service. When you launch the app for the first time after extracting it from the downloaded ".dmg" file, the Setup panel opens automatically. Select "Install Driver" to install the required driver and helper and finish setting up Audio Router.

Reinstall or repair the driver

Audio Router relies on its bundled audio driver and helper service. If either component is unavailable, or the shared configuration folder cannot be accessed, the app automatically opens the Setup panel to help you reinstall the driver or repair the helper service.

1. Choose Install Driver or Repair Driver. Complete the macOS Installer window. Administrator approval may be required.
2. Return to Audio Router. Wait while the app finishes setup. If prompted, choose Check Again after a moment.
3. Retry if necessary. Use the setup panel to open the install log when the installer completes but the helper still does not load.

Create your first session

1. Add a session. Click the large + button at the bottom of the sidebar (Newly created sessions automatically have the pass-through device added).
2. Select it. Newly created Audio Router device will be selected automatically. Its row is highlighted and its volume control appears.
3. Name it. If you like to rename it, click the pencil on the selected row. Enter your desired name and press Return or click elsewhere to finish.
4. Enable it. Newly created session will be enabled by default. Use the power button to toggle it. A green indicator means enabled; a red indicator means disabled.

Workspace orientation

• Colored blocks represent input sources, the Audio Router channel matrix, and monitor devices.
• Small circles on block edges are ports. Red curves are active wires.
• Horizontal level meters show live signal activity; green is lower and yellow/orange/red is progressively hotter.
• The sliders/settings icon in a block header opens that node’s options panel.

How Audio Router works

Audio Router presents each configuration as a session. A session contains one virtual Audio Router device output, one or more input sources, a channel matrix, optional monitor devices, and the wires connecting them.

Sessions can be configured with pass-through device or with application and hardware input sources. If a session is configured with a pass-through device, it will not allow any other sources to be added. If a session is configured with application or hardware input sources, the pass-through device will not be available.

Remove pass-through to add application or hardware input sources, and remove all application and hardware sources to add pass-through device.

Build a route

Add input sources

1. Select a session. Source controls are unavailable until a session is selected.
2. Open Sources. Click (+) button beside Sources. The list refreshes when the popover opens.
3. Choose a source. Select a running app, an available hardware input, or Pass-Through.

Connect ports

1. Start at a port. Drag from a circular port on a source or destination block.
2. Drop on a compatible port. Release when the target port highlights or snaps. A red wire appears.
3. Repeat per channel. Wire left/right or individual hardware channels to the required output channels.

When a new input source is added, wires are automatically created to connect it to the output channels. To remove a wire, click the line, when it's selected then click Remove Wire. Clicking empty canvas clears the selection.

Manage output channels

Use (+) and (−) beside Channels to add or remove stereo pairs. A session has at least 2 channels and supports up to 32. Removing a pair also removes connections that use those ports.

Add a monitor device

1. Click (+) beside Monitor. Choose an available output device. The popover shows its output-channel count.
2. Connect Channels to Monitor. Ports are auto connected between the Audio Router device output channels and the monitor device. Connections can be deleted or recreated as draging from Channels output ports to monitor input ports.
3. Listen and meter. Start playback and confirm movement in the source, channel, and monitor meters.

Controls reference

Input Node options

• Source and monitor nodes: adjust input/output or monitor volume and mute state.
• Application sources: use Mute when capturing to control whether original app output is muted while Audio Router captures it.

Selection behavior

• Select a source or monitor block before using its toolbar (−) button.
• Select a wire before Remove Wire becomes available.
• Unavailable controls are dimmed. Hover over one to see its action or reason.

Reading status and meters

Pass-Through routing

Workflow A — Pass-Through routing

1. Create or select a session.
2. Add Pass-Through. Choose it from Sources while the session has no capture sources.
3. Map channels. Connect/Route Channels as you prefer.
4. Adjust level if needed. Open the Pass-Through options from its block header.

App and microphone routing

Workflow B — Mix an app and microphone

1. Add the application. Click Sources (+) and choose the required running app "Only running apps will be shown in the list." from the popup list (To be able to add a application, remove pass-through device if it's present).
2. Add the microphone. Open Sources again and choose the external microphone or audio interface.
3. Map the app. Connect/Route the app’s left/right outputs to Channels.
4. Map the microphone. Connect its channel to the required output channel or channels. Multiple sources can contribute to the channel mix.
5. Add headphones. Click Monitor (+), choose the speaker, headphone device etc., and connect Channels 1/2 to its left/right inputs.
6. Balance the mix. Set gain/mute in each source’s options. Avoid sustained orange/red meter levels.

Workflow C — Expand beyond stereo

1. Add channel pairs. Use Channels (+) until the matrix has the number of outputs you need.
2. Wire intentionally. Map each source channel to the desired numbered output. Use channel labels identify the ports.
3. Match the destination. Choose a monitor or downstream app/device capable of using those channels.

Troubleshooting

Safe reset sequence

1. Stop playback. Lower monitor volume and stop microphone monitoring.
2. Disable the session. Use the sidebar power icon.
3. Simplify the graph. Keep one source, two Channels, and one monitor; recreate the wires.
4. Test left to right. Confirm source, Channels, then monitor activity before adding more sources.
5. Re-enable and expand. Add remaining nodes one at a time.

Subscription, help, and uninstallation

Free mode and subscription

In free mode, consuming audio trough Audio Router longer than 10 minutes include noise. A subscription unlocks unlimited clean routing. Use Help → Subscription… to activate a license, refresh or restore status, or open billing management. Checkout and billing are handled through Lemon Squeezy.

Cancel a subscription

You can cancel future subscription renewals at any time through Lemon Squeezy:

1. Open Subscription. In Audio Router, choose Help → Subscription….
2. Open Billing. Click Billing to open the Audio Router billing portal.
3. Sign in. Enter the email address used at checkout and follow the secure sign-in link sent by Lemon Squeezy.
4. Cancel renewal. Open the active subscription, choose Cancel subscription, and confirm.

You can also open the Audio Router billing portal directly.

When the paid period ends, Audio Router updates the license during its periodic check. To refresh immediately, choose Help → Subscription… and click Check License.

Help and support

Uninstall Audio Router

Choose Help → Uninstall Audio Router, review the warning, and confirm. This removes the driver, helper LaunchAgent, and shared AudioRouter support files then delete the "Audio Router.app" from application folder.

Quick success checklist

• The driver and helper are installed and responding.
• A session is selected, enabled, and unmuted.
• Every source has a wire to the intended Channels port.
• Channels has the required number of output pairs.
• A monitor is added and wired if local listening is required.
• Meters show signal from left to right without sustained clipping.