SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba is the longest-running per-app volume control app for Mac. It's powerful, well-made, and comes with features like per-app EQ, audio effect chains, and per-app output routing. It's also $39, requires a system audio driver (ACE), and has more features than most people will ever use.
If all you want is to turn down Spotify without affecting Zoom — and you don't need a full audio engineering toolkit — SoundSource might be more than you need. Here's what to consider.
What SoundSource does well
Credit where it's due — SoundSource is a polished, professional app:
- Per-app volume control with fine-grained sliders
- Per-app EQ with built-in equalizers and Audio Unit plugin support
- Per-app output routing — send different apps to different speakers
- Volume boost past 100%
- System-wide audio effects
If you're a podcaster, streamer, or audio professional who needs per-app EQ and effect chains, SoundSource is purpose-built for you.
Where SoundSource falls short for regular users
Price
$39 USD is steep for a volume control app. If you don't use the EQ, audio effects, or per-app routing, you're paying for features you'll never touch.
System driver
SoundSource installs a custom system audio driver called ACE (Audio Capture Engine). This works well but adds complexity — it needs to be updated with each macOS release, can occasionally conflict with other audio software, and means you're running third-party code at the system audio level. Some IT departments in corporate environments block kernel extensions and system-level audio drivers.
No volume profiles
Despite its extensive feature set, SoundSource doesn't have a profile system. You can't save a "Meeting" configuration and a "Focus" configuration and switch between them. Every time your situation changes, you adjust each slider manually.
No auto-ducking
SoundSource doesn't automatically lower background audio when you join a call. There's no call detection, no automatic volume adjustment, no hands-free workflow for the most common use case of a per-app mixer.
SoundDial: focused on what most people actually need
SoundDial takes a different approach: do the core job perfectly, skip the features most people don't need, and add the workflow features that SoundSource misses.
| Feature | SoundDial | SoundSource |
|---|---|---|
| Per-app volume | Yes (0-200%) | Yes |
| Per-app mute | Yes | Yes |
| Volume profiles | Yes | No |
| Auto-ducking | Yes | No |
| Volume memory | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app EQ | No | Yes |
| Per-app output routing | No | Yes |
| System audio driver | Not needed | Required (ACE) |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes | Yes |
| Price | €14.99 one-time | $39 USD |
Which should you choose?
- Choose SoundSource if: You need per-app EQ, audio effect chains, or per-app output routing. You're a podcaster, streamer, or audio professional. You don't mind the price and the system driver.
- Choose SoundDial if: You want per-app volume control with profiles and auto-ducking. You want something lighter that doesn't install a system driver. You want to spend less. You're a remote worker, gamer, student, or anyone who just wants to turn Slack down without affecting Zoom.
SoundDial is available on the Mac App Store — which means it's been reviewed by Apple, sandboxed for security, and installs/uninstalls cleanly like any App Store app. No downloading DMGs from random websites, no system driver installations, no granting kernel extension permissions. One-time purchase, no subscription.