Virtual audio device software
sourced only to the developers. No proper sourcing. (proposed by Roxy the dog)
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Virtual audio device (VAD, virtual sound card) means a "peripheral" computer device emulated (simulated) by software (usually a virtual device driver). Virtual devices are implemented entirely programmatically, without additional hardware, and run on the resources of a computer's central processor. For any computer program, such a virtual device is generally indistinguishable from a regular hardware device (built-in or external, like USB one).
Sometimes virtual audio devices are already built into the operating system (for example, a MIDI synthesizer in Windows). But in most cases, they are implemented by third-party software.
The main purpose of virtual audio device software is to route real-time audio streams between applications. This allows, for example, to direct the sound generated by a music program to an application that broadcasts audio to the network. Another example is the direction of sound from a program receiving an encoded radio broadcast to a decoder program for extracting encoded data (for example, weather reports). This allows to combine audio applications with each other in various ways without overloading each of them with functions that are not typical of it.
An ordinary (hardware) audio device has its own processor that performs the main work of transmitting and processing audio streams. In a virtual audio device, all this is done by software code running on the main CPU which has to be shared in real time with the operating system and user applications. To ensure that there are no failures (gaps, pops, glitches) when working with real-time sound, the CPU must have sufficient performance reserve, and applications must perform all necessary actions in a timely manner.
There is virtual audio device software for almost any popular operating system.
Windows
Virtual Audio Cable
Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) is made in the form of a virtual device driver that creates pairs of audio recording and playback devices that are internally connected to each other, forming a "virtual audio cable". Any application can play audio to the cable's playback device, and any other application can receive this audio from the corresponding recording device. The software was first implemented for Windows 95, and subsequently ported to the Windows NT line of operating systems (2000, XP, Vista, 7-11). This software
VB-Cable
VB-Audio Software provides a virtual audio device that routes audio from a virtual playback endpoint to a corresponding recording endpoint.[1] The same developer also provides a virtual audio mixer that includes virtual audio input and output devices and allows routing and mixing between applications and physical audio devices.[2]
Thin Audio Gateway
Thin Audio Gateway (TAG) is a virtual audio solution similar to Virtual Audio Cable (VAC). While VAC creates virtual audio "pipes" called "virtual cables", to transfer from the playback pin/endpoint to the recording one, Thin Audio Gateway creates independent pins/endpoints and presents them to a host application from the "back side" of normal Windows audio data exchange.[3]
Virtual Cables
Another alternative is Virtual Cables a Windows application distributed through the Microsoft Store. It creates virtual USB Audio Class devices through USB/IP, which Windows exposes as playback and recording devices using its built-in USB audio driver.[4] The project also maintains an official website and publishes its source code and releases GitHub[5][6]
Linux
JACK
JACK Audio Connection Kit (or JACK) is a professional sound server API and pair of daemon implementations to provide real-time, low-latency connections for both audio and MIDI data between applications.[7]
PipeWire Soundpad
PipeWire Soundpad (PWSP) is a modern application that lets you play audio files directly through your microphone. Designed specifically for Linux, it talks to PipeWire natively: it creates its own virtual microphone and wires everything up itself, so you never have to build a routing setup by hand.[8]
MacOS
BlackHole
BlackHole is a modern macOS virtual audio loopback driver that allows applications to pass audio to other applications with zero additional latency.[9]
VeRTC Virtual Sound Card
VeRTCVirtualSoundCard can be used to share device audio during screen sharing with the RTC SDK.[10]
References
- ^ "VB-Audio Virtual Apps". VB-Audio. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ^ "Voicemeeter Virtual Audio Mixer". VB-Audio. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ^ "Thin Audio Gateway". Official site. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ^ "Virtual Cables". Microsoft Store. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ^ "Virtual Cables". Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ^ "tarekwasfy01/Virtual-Cables". GitHub. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ^ "JACK". Official site. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ^ "PipeWire Soundpad (PWSP)". GitHub. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ^ "BlackHole: Audio Loopback Driver". GitHub. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ^ "macOS (VeRTC Virtual Sound Card)". Developer site. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
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