Route Mac Audio into Your Browser with BlackHole
Updated 2026-10-18
On a Mac, browser apps can only listen to a microphone. BlackHole is a free, open-source virtual audio driver: apps play into it, and your browser records from it. With a Multi-Output Device you can keep hearing the sound at the same time.
💡 For audio playing in a Chrome or Edge tab (YouTube, Google Meet, web Zoom), skip BlackHole: choose Tab or screen audio in LiveToka’s microphone list and share the tab with audio. BlackHole is for desktop apps.
1. Install BlackHole
- Download the 2ch version from the official BlackHole page (Existential Audio) and run the installer, or
- With Homebrew:
brew install blackhole-2ch - Restart audio apps (or the Mac) so the new device shows up.
2. Create a Multi-Output Device (to keep hearing the audio)
- Open Audio MIDI Setup (Applications → Utilities).
- Click + at the bottom left → Create Multi-Output Device.
- Tick your headphones or speakers and BlackHole 2ch. Put your headphones first and enable Drift Correction for BlackHole.
- Optionally rename it, for example “Speakers + BlackHole”.
3. Send sound to the Multi-Output Device
- Whole Mac: System Settings → Sound → Output → choose the Multi-Output Device.
- One app: if the app has its own speaker setting (Zoom: Settings → Audio → Speaker), choose the Multi-Output Device there and leave the system output alone.
Note: macOS volume keys do not control a Multi-Output Device. Adjust volume in the app, or switch the output back when you are done.
4. Use BlackHole as the microphone in your browser
- In LiveToka, choose BlackHole 2ch in the microphone list next to “Audio Input”.
- Tick 🔊 Computer audio to turn off echo cancellation and noise suppression for this signal.
- Press Start and play the audio.
The first time, macOS may ask whether your browser can use the microphone — allow it. You can check later in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
Troubleshooting
- Level meter does not move: the app is probably still playing to your speakers only. Re-check its output device.
- No sound in your headphones: make sure your headphones are ticked in the Multi-Output Device.
- Audio drifts or crackles: enable Drift Correction on every device except the first, and use the same sample rate (48 kHz) for all of them in Audio MIDI Setup.
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Related guides
- Capture Computer Audio in Your Browser with VB-CABLE on Windows
- Microphone Not Working in Chrome on a Website: How to Fix It
- Translated Captions in Zoom, Teams and Meet — and When to Use a Browser Tool
Use cases
Frequently asked questions
Is BlackHole safe and free?
BlackHole is open-source and free to use. Download it only from the official Existential Audio site or Homebrew.
Can I capture my own microphone and the call at the same time?
Not with BlackHole alone. You would need an aggregate device or a mixer app. For translating what others say, capturing the call audio is usually enough.