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kyleneideck / BackgroundMusic

Background Music, a macOS audio utility: automatically pause your music, set individual apps' volumes and record system audio.
GNU General Public License v2.0
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Feature Request > Route a Specific Apps Audio to an Output Device #571

Open andrewhathaway opened 2 years ago

andrewhathaway commented 2 years ago

I often use a HomePod at my desk for listening to audio from various sources (some that don't directly support AirPlay etc) and it would be great to be able to have a specific apps audio route to the HomePod so that all notification sounds etc continue to be sent to the default output device.

If this is out of scope, feel free to close and I'll look for alternatives. :)

fleytman commented 1 year ago

@kyleneideck Hello,

I'd like to add my voice to the request for a feature that would allow selecting an audio source for each application in BackgroundMusic. This feature has been long-awaited and would significantly enhance the usability of BackgroundMusic.

Use Case: For instance, consider a scenario where I'm playing a cartoon on the computer monitor for my child, but I also need to receive notifications from the MacBook's built-in speakers or headphones. Currently, certain applications, including web browsers, don't provide the option to select an audio source. This forces users to either listen to all sounds through one device or go through cumbersome settings adjustments.

Alternatives: I've explored existing solutions and found that there are paid applications like SoundSource and SoundControl that offer similar functionality. However, accessibility might be limited for many users due to the cost. Additionally, there are applications like Loopback and SoundSiphon, which are designed with more professional use cases in mind, often used by streamers and professionals in the audio field. In contrast, solutions like SoundSource and SoundControl align more closely with the user-friendly concept of BackgroundMusic and cater to scenarios like mine.

Proposal: Adding the capability to choose an audio source for each application within BackgroundMusic would be an invaluable addition for the macOS user community. This request has already gained significant attention from users, as evidenced by the long-standing request in Issue 271 (2000).

I've also noticed alternatives such as Soundflower and BlackHole that could potentially be configured for similar purposes, although I'm not entirely familiar with their setup process.

Thank you for your attention to this request, and I hope you will consider the possibility of implementing this feature in future versions of BackgroundMusic.