Support → Loopback

Using Loopback with VoiceOver

We know that many users with vision impairments work (and play) with audio extensively. To help facilitate that, we strive to make Loopback fully accessible to those using VoiceOver on their Macs. While Loopback is easy to get started with, this guide offers additional tips to help you maximize its potential when using VoiceOver.

A brief overview of Loopback’s interface

Loopback’s main window is divided into two major areas: the Devices list on the left and the Device Editor on the right. The Devices list contains all the virtual audio devices you have created, while the Device Editor allows you to configure the currently selected device.

Navigation between and within these areas uses VO-Left Arrow and VO-Right Arrow. Additional options within an element can be accessed with VO-Shift-Down, while VO-Shift-Up returns you to the previous level.

Working with the Devices list

The Devices list is announced by VoiceOver as Devices — List of all virtual devices. Each device in the list has an On/Off switch and a Volume slider.

When a device is toggled On, it is available throughout MacOS and other applications. Toggling a device Off is like unplugging physical hardware from your Mac — it can still be configured within Loopback, but it will not appear elsewhere.

Creating a new device

1. Navigate to the New Virtual Device button at the bottom of the Devices list.
2. Press VO—Space bar to add a new device.
3. The Name field is automatically highlighted so you can type a descriptive name.
4. Press Return or navigate away to save the name.

Each new device receives a default name of "Loopback Audio", with numbers appended when that name is already in use. Using descriptive names will help you identify your devices throughout MacOS and in other applications. For example, a virtual device capturing audio from a microphone and Spotify, intended for sharing with Zoom callers, might be named "Mic + Spotify for Zoom".

Renaming a device

1. Select the device in the Devices list.
2. Navigate right to the top of the Device Editor to locate the Name field.
3. Press VO—Space bar to activate the field, then enter a new name.
4. Press Return or navigate away to save.

Deleting a device

1. Select the device you wish to delete in the Devices list.
2. Navigate to the Delete Virtual Device button at the bottom right of the list.
3. Press VO—Space bar to delete the selected device.

Configuring devices in the Device Editor

The Device Editor is where you configure each Loopback device. VoiceOver announces this area as Device Configuration, followed by the device name. It contains three columns: Sources, Output Channels, and Monitors.

When a new device is created, Loopback automatically adds a Pass-Thru source and a default pair of output channels. You then customize the device to suit your needs by adding sources, adjusting output channels, and optionally adding monitors.

Sources

Sources provide audio to your Loopback device. They can be applications, hardware audio devices, other Loopback virtual devices, or the special Pass-Thru source. VoiceOver announces each source tile with a role description that identifies its type, such as enabled application source or enabled audio device source.

Adding a source:

1. Navigate to the Sources column in the Device Editor.
2. Press VO—Space bar on the New Sources button to open a menu with the following options:
   • Select Application... — Opens the Applications folder to select a specific app.
   • Running Applications — A list of currently open applications.
   • Special Sources — Processes not found in the Applications folder. See our article on working with audio from special and hidden sources for details.
   • Audio Devices — Hardware and third-party virtual audio devices detected by MacOS.
   • Virtual Devices — Other Loopback virtual audio devices, when they exist.
3. Navigate to the desired source and press VO—Space bar to add it.

To add additional sources, use VO-Shift-Up to exit the current source tile, then navigate back to the New Sources button and repeat the process.

Deleting a source: Navigate to the source and press Command-Delete.

Customizing sources

Each source tile has an Options section that expands automatically when VoiceOver focus enters the tile. With a source selected, use VO-Shift-Down to access its controls:

• On/Off switch — Announced as Turn this source on or off. Activate with Space bar or VO—Space bar.
• Source Channels — The list of channels available for wiring to output channels.
• Mute button — Found in the Options section. Announced as Mutes the source.
• Mute when capturing (application sources only) — Silences the app’s audio from the default output while capturing it through Loopback.
• Volume slider — Announced as source volume. Adjust with the Left and Right Arrow keys, or type an exact value and press Return.

Many microphones, including built-in Mac microphones, use only the left channel (Channel 1) by default. Loopback automatically routes these single-channel inputs as dual-mono, sending Channel 1 to both Channels 1 and 2 in the Output Channels column.

For more on the Pass-Thru source, including adjusting its channel count, see the Notes on Pass-Thru chapter of the Loopback manual.

Output Channels

The Output Channels column sits in the middle of the Device Editor. Each Loopback device starts with one pair of output channels (Channels 1 and 2), with up to 64 channels available. VoiceOver announces each group with its role description, Output channels group, followed by the group name.

Adding output channel pairs:

1. Within the Device Editor, use VO-Shift-Down to enter it. The Device Name field will be selected.
2. Press VO-Right Arrow twice to reach the New Output Channels button.
3. Press VO—Space bar to add a new channel pair. Focus moves to the newly created pair.

To add more pairs, use VO-Shift-Up to return to the Device Editor level, then VO-Left Arrow twice to return to the button.

Deleting output channel pairs: Navigate to the channel pair and press Command-Delete. The default pair (Channels 1 and 2) cannot be deleted.

Pass-Thru sources will automatically wire to new output channel pairs. Application and Audio Device sources only wire to the first pair. If you need audio on additional channels, you can save some work by deleting the source, adding the desired number of output channel pairs, then re-adding the source to have it auto-wired.

Monitors

Monitors are listening devices, such as headphones or speakers connected via USB, Thunderbolt, or the headphone jack. VoiceOver announces each monitor tile as enabled monitor or disabled monitor.

Adding a monitor:

1. Within the Device Editor, use VO-Shift-Down to enter it.
2. Press VO-Right Arrow three times to reach the New Monitor menu button.
3. Press VO—Space bar to open the Audio Devices menu.
4. Navigate to the desired monitor and press VO—Space bar to add it.

Deleting a monitor: Navigate to the monitor and press Command-Delete.

Monitor controls mirror those of sources: an On/Off switch, a volume slider (announced as monitor volume), and a mute button. For best results, avoid adding third-party virtual audio devices to the Monitors column. For more on monitors, see the Monitors chapter of the Loopback manual.

Custom wiring

Loopback automatically creates wires between Sources, Output Channels, and Monitors. You can also create custom wiring configurations. VoiceOver announces each wire with the role description wire.

Wires are created starting from individual channels. Navigate to a channel within a source or monitor tile, and VoiceOver will provide context-sensitive help text describing the available actions, such as VO space bar to create a wire to a source channel.

Creating a wire:

1. Enter the Device Editor with VO-Shift-Down. The first source will be selected.
2. Navigate to the Output Channels group. If needed, use VO-Down Arrow to select a different channel group.
3. Use VO-Shift-Down to enter the group, then navigate to the desired output channel.
4. Press VO—Space bar to create a new wire to the selected output channel.
5. Each new wire automatically connects to Channel 1 of the source. To change the channel mapping, use the Up and Down Arrow keys (without VO) to move the wire to a different target channel.

Deleting a wire: With a wire selected, press Command-Delete.

When adjusting wires, VoiceOver announces: Use the up/down arrow keys to adjust the target channel, then VO space bar to finalize the wire. Any other actions will cancel the wire creation.

Going further

For more on all of Loopback’s features and capabilities, the Loopback manual is a useful reference. Additional tips and troubleshooting resources are available in the Loopback Support Center.

If you have questions or suggestions about using Loopback with VoiceOver, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

← Back to Loopback Support Center