Lossless badge, but output differs
Apple Music may play ALAC while the selected Mac output sample rate is still set to something else. Trace shows the detected playback format and Mac output sample rate together.
Built first for Apple Music Lossless on Mac.
Apple Music says Lossless. Output may not match.
Audex Trace shows the live playback format and your Mac output sample rate, so you can see when Apple Music and macOS do not match.
Launch price: $19.99 until June 30. $29.99 after June.
Output match status
Playing 24-bit / 192 kHz
Output 44.1 kHz
A track can be playing in Hi-Res Lossless while your Mac output is still set to another sample rate. Trace makes that mismatch visible immediately.
What Trace catches
Apple Music shows the badge. Trace shows what can still go wrong.
Trace is built for the moments where the visible label is not enough: the current playback format, the selected Mac output, and signs that the next queued track may fail or skip all matter before the music reaches your ears.
Dolby Atmos/AAC route surprises
Metadata alone can make it hard to tell which variant is active for the current route. Trace labels Dolby Atmos, AAC, Lossless, or Hi-Res states cautiously when Apple Music and the output route expose enough detail.
Next track may fail or skip
Trace Pro can flag some upcoming tracks with best-effort skip risk signals before playback reaches them. It makes likely queue issues visible earlier, but it is not a guaranteed skip-bug fix.
Detection depends on macOS, Apple Music settings, the output route, and device support. After installing, play a track in Apple Music and run Compatibility Check before buying Pro.
The gap
Manual setup checks one moment. Trace watches the session.
Audio MIDI Setup is useful, but it was not built to follow Apple Music while your queue changes. Trace keeps the playback path visible in the background, then Pro can optionally reduce some manual switching when your output device supports it.
Manual Audio MIDI Setup
- Open a separate utility to inspect or change the Mac output format.
- Check one device setting while Apple Music may move between 44.1, 48, 96, and 192 kHz.
- Find queue quality or skip issues only when playback reaches the track.
Trace Pro running in the background
- In Pro, keep codec, bit depth, sample rate, and output match status visible in a resident player.
- Use optional Auto Sample Rate Match in Pro to reduce manual changes on compatible output devices.
- Preview estimated queue quality and best-effort skip warnings before the next track interrupts playback.
Solution
Start with what is actually playing.
Audex Trace is for Apple Music listeners who want to know what their Mac is really doing: live playback format first, output match next, then queue estimates and warnings before the next track arrives.
Actual Playback Readout
In Trace Pro, read the current Apple Music playback format live, including codec, bit depth, and sample rate while you listen.
Output Match Status
Compare Apple Music playback with your Mac’s current output device so a Hi-Res track and a mismatched output setting are visible together.
Auto Sample Rate Match
Optional assist for compatible output devices. Trace can help keep supported Mac output devices matched, but not every device or route can be controlled.
Playing Next Queue
Open a compact queue view and see up to 3 upcoming Apple Music tracks without leaving the player.
Estimated Queue Quality
In Trace Pro, preview estimated Lossless, Hi-Res, or Dolby availability from available metadata until each queued track starts.
Skip Risk Detection
In Trace Pro, show Pro-only, best-effort warnings for some tracks that may fail, become unavailable, or interrupt playback before they reach the player.
Current playback is read live. Queue quality and skip warnings are best-effort Pro signals until each track starts. Output match and Auto Sample Rate Match depend on the selected output device and route.
Demo: Playing Next, estimated queue quality, and skip warnings
See upcoming Apple Music tracks before they interrupt playback. Upcoming queue quality is estimated until playback starts, and skip warnings are best-effort signals, not a guarantee that every Apple Music skip will be detected.
Apps
Built for Music.app playback.
Music.app source
Status
Apple Music catalog
Supported
Local files played in Music.app
Experimental
Trust
Clear before you pay.
Free Compatibility CheckConfirm detection on your own Mac before buying Pro.
One-time purchaseLaunch price $19.99 until the end of June. Regular price $29.99. No subscription.
Built for macOS and Apple MusicFocused on Music.app playback as a local Mac utility for macOS 15 and later.
Signed Mac appDistributed as a signed and notarized Mac utility through GitHub Releases.
Independent appNot affiliated with Apple.
Private by designNo Apple Music sign-in, no audio upload, and no listening history upload for quality detection.
Pricing
One-time purchase. No subscription.
Please run the free Compatibility Check on this Mac before buying Pro. The free download includes Compatibility Check, basic detection, basic now playing, and a limited preview so you can confirm your setup works before paying.
Launch offer
$19.99
Save $10 during launch window
Launch price: $19.99 until the end of June. Regular price: $29.99. One-time purchase. No subscription.
One-time lifetime license for Audex Trace Pro. Unlocks live playback readout, output match status, optional Auto Sample Rate Match for compatible devices, estimated queue quality, and Pro-only best-effort skip warnings for some queued-track issues. Playing Next itself is included in the free download.
Have you run Compatibility Check on this Mac?Audex Trace depends on what macOS and Apple Music expose on your machine. Please install the free build, play an Apple Music track, and run Compatibility Check before buying Pro.
Free
Try it on your own Mac before paying.
- Compatibility Check
- Basic detection test
- Basic now playing
- Playing Next queue
- Limited preview
- Confirm your setup works
Pro
Unlock the full listening companion.
- Actual playback readout
- Output match status
- Optional Auto Sample Rate Match
- Estimated queue quality
- Best-effort skip warnings
- Lifetime license
Playback-format detection depends on your macOS version, Music settings, Apple Music behavior, and output device. For best real-time detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music. Treat skip warnings as an added Pro signal, not the sole reason to buy.
Requirements
Designed for recent macOS and Apple Music.
Requires macOS 15 or later with the Apple Music app installed.
Tested on macOS 26.3.1 and 26.4.1.
macOS 14 and earlier are not officially supported.
Local Apple Music playback on the Mac.
One-time purchase with no subscription.
Auto Sample Rate Match requires an output device that exposes compatible macOS sample rates and affects the selected macOS output device, not only Apple Music.
Privacy
Built for your Mac, not for tracking.
Local detection
Playback format detection runs locally on your Mac.
No audio or history upload
Audex Trace does not modify, record, or upload your audio, and no listening history is uploaded for quality detection.
No Apple Music sign-in
No Apple Music account sign-in or cloud library API access.
Limited network use
License verification, update checks, purchase checkout, optional artwork fallback, and minimal anonymous website or pre-purchase app events may use the network.
FAQ
Common questions about Audex Trace.
Audex Trace requires macOS 15 or later and the Apple Music app. Download it free, play a track in Apple Music, then run Compatibility Check on your own Mac before buying Pro.
Policy
A narrow refund policy for compatibility.
7-day compatibility refund. If Audex Trace cannot detect Apple Music playback format on a supported macOS version, contact support@audex.dev within 7 days.
Known limitation. Future macOS or Apple Music updates may require Audex Trace updates.
Download
Audex Trace 1.2.3 is available now.
Download the signed and notarized macOS app from GitHub Releases. Requires macOS 15 or later.
Pro launch price ends June 30.
After installing, open Audex Trace, play a track in Apple Music, then run the built-in Compatibility Check on your own Mac before purchasing Pro. Apple Music Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade can make playback-format detection delayed or unavailable around track changes.