Streaming audio on Mac
Streaming audio on Mac is two jobs: OBS decides what goes into the stream, and SoundDial sets how loud each app is in your own headphones.
Mid-stream you need to hear chat, the game, Discord and your music at levels that make sense to you. The Mac gives you one volume for all of them, and turning it down to hear Discord takes the game down too.
What OBS does
OBS Studio 30 and later on macOS 13 and later has a macOS Audio Capture source that captures all desktop audio or just one app, according to OBS's own guide. On older macOS, the guide points to Loopback or Sound Siphon for per-app capture and notes that VB-CABLE does not support it.
A capture source brings audio into OBS. Its fader in OBS's audio mixer sets the level in the stream and the recording. That is a different thing from how loud the game is in your headphones.
What SoundDial does on a streaming Mac
- Turn the game down in your ears so you can hear Discord and yourself think
- Boost a quiet Discord call or video above 100%, up to 200%
- Keep music low, or mute it, without touching the other apps
- Lower a noisy chat or alert app so its sounds stop startling you
- Send Discord to your headphones with Play Through while the game stays on another device
Save the setup as a profile, for example “Streaming”, and switch to it with one click or from the Shortcuts app.
What SoundDial does not do
- It does not capture audio or feed it into OBS, Twitch or any other app
- It creates no virtual audio device and installs no virtual driver
- It is not a stream mixer: set the levels your viewers get in OBS
SoundDial changes how loud each app plays on your Mac. For routing audio into a stream, use OBS's capture sources, and check your stream mix in a test recording.
Calls during a stream
If you talk with your team on Discord while you stream, note that Discord is one of SoundDial's call apps. While it uses your microphone, “Lower other apps during calls” (on by default) plays your other apps at 30% of their volume on your Mac. If you want the game at full level in your headphones, raise the level or turn the setting off under Auto-Duck in SoundDial's Settings.
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FAQ
Can SoundDial send game audio to OBS?
No. SoundDial does not capture audio or create a device other apps can record from. Use OBS's macOS Audio Capture source, or a routing tool on older macOS.
Does SoundDial change what my viewers hear?
SoundDial is not a streaming tool and does not feed audio into the stream. Set your stream levels in OBS and check them in a test recording.
Does SoundDial record my microphone?
No. It does not read or record microphone audio. It only checks whether a call app reports audio input in use.
SoundDial: a volume slider and mute button for every app.
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