The Zoom Audio Routing Problem on Mac
If you're working from home on Mac, you've probably faced this scenario: You're in a Zoom call with your headphones on, but you want your music or notifications to play through your speakers. Or maybe you want Zoom audio through your monitor speakers while keeping Slack notifications in your AirPods.
Unfortunately, macOS doesn't make this easy. When you change your system audio output, it affects every app at once. There's no built-in way to send Zoom to your headphones while keeping Spotify on your speakers.
Why Mac Doesn't Have Per-App Audio Routing
Unlike Windows, which has included per-app audio control since Vista, macOS treats audio output as a system-wide setting. Apple's philosophy has traditionally been "one output device for everything," which works fine until you need more granular control.
This becomes especially problematic during video calls when you need:
- Call audio isolated to headphones for privacy
- Background music continuing through speakers
- System notifications staying audible but not intrusive
- Different volume levels for different types of audio
Method 1: Zoom's Built-in Audio Settings
Zoom actually has some built-in audio routing options that many users miss:
- In Zoom, go to Settings > Audio
- Look for "Speaker" and "Microphone" dropdowns
- These can be set independently of your system audio
This works well if you only need to route Zoom differently, but it has limitations:
- You have to remember to change it in Zoom every time
- Other apps still follow system audio settings
- No volume control per app
- Settings reset if Zoom updates
Method 2: Audio MIDI Setup (Advanced Users)
macOS includes Audio MIDI Setup for creating aggregate audio devices:
- Open Audio MIDI Setup (Applications > Utilities)
- Click the "+" and select "Create Aggregate Device"
- Check the boxes for devices you want to combine
- Set this as your system output
- Configure individual apps to use specific components
This method is powerful but complicated, and many apps don't respect these settings anyway.
Method 3: Dedicated Per-App Audio Control
The most reliable solution is using dedicated software designed for per-app audio routing. Soundish addresses exactly this problem by giving you Windows-style per-app audio control on Mac.
With Soundish, you can:
- Route Zoom to your headphones while keeping music on speakers
- Set different volume levels for each app (0-200% range)
- Mute specific apps without affecting others
- Save audio profiles for different work scenarios
- Control everything from the menu bar without diving into system settings
For example, you could set up a "Meeting Profile" where:
- Zoom goes to your headphones at 80% volume
- Slack stays on speakers at 50% volume
- Music apps are automatically muted
- Everything else uses your default speakers
Setting Up Your Ideal Zoom Audio Configuration
Here's how to create the perfect audio setup for video calls:
Before Your Meeting
- Set your primary audio output to your preferred speakers
- Route Zoom specifically to your headphones using per-app control
- Lower notification volumes so they're audible but not disruptive
- Keep music apps at low volume on speakers for ambient sound
During Meetings
- Zoom audio stays isolated in your headphones
- You can still hear important notifications from speakers
- Background music continues at your preferred level
- No audio conflicts when screen sharing or playing media
Why This Matters for Remote Work
Proper audio routing isn't just about convenience—it's about professionalism and productivity:
Privacy: Keep sensitive meeting audio contained to headphones
Focus: Maintain ambient music or white noise without call interference
Awareness: Stay alert to important notifications while in meetings
Flexibility: Quickly adjust individual app volumes without affecting your call
Beyond Zoom: Other Apps That Benefit
Once you have per-app audio control, you'll find uses beyond just Zoom:
- Teams or Meet calls to headphones, Spotify to speakers
- Discord voice chat isolated from gaming audio
- YouTube or Netflix at different volumes than system sounds
- Podcast apps separate from notification sounds
The Bottom Line
macOS's one-size-fits-all audio approach doesn't match how we actually use our computers. Whether you choose Zoom's built-in settings for simple scenarios or invest in dedicated per-app audio control for comprehensive routing, having the right setup makes remote work significantly more pleasant.
The key is choosing a solution that works consistently across all your apps, not just Zoom. Your audio setup should adapt to your workflow, not the other way around.
Originally published at appish.app
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