This maintenance update improves playback-format detection reliability after Audex Trace 1.3.
Improvements
- Improved playback-format detection reliability during ordinary track changes.
- Reduced cases where confirmed playback details fall back to an estimate or remain unavailable.
- Confirmed playback quality now remains stable while track information finishes loading.
- Improved diagnostics for intermittent playback-format detection issues.
Download AudexTrace-1.3.1.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Compatibility notes
- Requires macOS 15 or later.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
Audex Trace 1.3 helps you understand what Apple Music is playing now, what’s coming next, and whether another format or release may offer a higher-quality option. It adds playback quality suggestions, more precise Playing Next estimates, and a unified view of playback and output details.
Improvements
- For Pro users, added playback quality suggestions for Apple Music tracks. A sparkles button reveals up to two relevant formats available on the current release or another release in the compact player and menu bar, while the expanded notch can show them below the playback controls. When available, Apple Lossless suggestions include best-effort bit depth and sample-rate details such as ALAC 24-bit / 96 kHz.
- Added suggestion controls in Preferences for Dolby and Spatial Audio, Lossless, and higher-quality Apple Lossless alternatives, including an option to limit Dolby suggestions to supported outputs.
- Playing Next now stays prepared in the background, including artwork, so opening it shows the current queue immediately. For Pro users, its quality estimates are also prepared in advance; when enough information is available, best-effort Apple Lossless estimates include bit depth and sample rate, while otherwise the broader Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless label is preserved.
- The compact player now opens a combined Playback and Output details panel when you click either the playback-format label or the output-status label.
- Playback details can show the codec, bit depth, sample rate, and channel count. AAC downmix playback is identified when that information is available, and estimated playback information is clearly marked.
- When only the general playback tier is available, Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless labels are preserved instead of being reduced to a generic codec name.
- Output details now group the device name, current sample rate, device format, supported sample rates, and a plain-language explanation of whether the playback and output sample rates match. The Output section remains available when playback details are unavailable or Audio Quality is turned off, and unavailable values are omitted instead of being guessed.
- Compact player, menu bar, and notch playback labels now include the detected sample rate for AAC, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Audio when available.
- Sample-rate status wording is now consistent across the compact player and menu bar: Sample rate matched or Sample rate differs.
- For Pro users, added an opt-in Include Lossy and Dolby setting for Auto Sample Rate Match. It is off by default; when enabled, AAC, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Audio can drive automatic output sample-rate changes in addition to lossless playback.
- Improved Auto Sample Rate Match reliability when playback and output changes happen close together.
- Improved playback-format attribution during rapid track changes, reducing brief carryover, flicker, or mislabeling from the previous track.
- Improved playback-time stability during playback, pause, and Apple Music Radio.
- Tracks without available artwork no longer continue showing artwork from the previous track after artwork lookup completes.
- Improved format details for supported local audio files, including PCM playback information when available. These details now remain steadier during repeated playback updates, and supported local PCM playback can also participate in Auto Sample Rate Match.
- Long playback times now remain in total-hours form, such as 25:01:01, instead of switching to a day-based format.
- Improved menu bar panel resizing and Playing Next transitions when content changes quickly.
Transparency notes
- Playback quality suggestions and Playing Next format labels are best-effort availability estimates. Even when bit depth and sample rate are shown, they do not confirm which rendition Apple Music will select for playback. Playback details remain the source for the format currently detected on the Mac.
- Sample rate matched means that the detected playback sample rate and the output device sample rate are equal. It does not claim exclusive access, bit-perfect delivery, or that the playback and hardware channel layouts are identical.
- Playback > Channels describes the current playback format. Output > Device format describes the hardware output configuration; these values may legitimately differ, especially for multichannel and spatial playback.
- Auto Sample Rate Match follows playback sample rates that are eligible under your settings. If playback changes between lossless, AAC, or Dolby formats, enabling Include Lossy and Dolby allows the output sample rate to follow those changes as well. Estimated values remain controlled separately by Use estimates for sample-rate matching.
Download AudexTrace-1.3.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Compatibility notes
- Requires macOS 15 or later.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
Compatibility Check is now Playback Verification. Same feature, clearer name: it verifies what Apple Music is actually playing on your Mac before you buy Pro. All functionality is unchanged.
Improvements
- Menu, preferences, and verification window labels now use Verify Playback and Verify Sample Rate (previously Run Check and Run Match Check).
- Output sample-rate details now show the current Device format when available, matching the wording used by Audio MIDI Setup. Output matched is still based on sample rate only.
- The notch expanded view now shows the output sample rate next to the playback format (for example, ALAC 24/96 → 96).
- License verification now includes an anonymous device identifier generated randomly by Audex Trace and hashed on your Mac. It does not use hardware serial numbers, device names, or personal information, and is only sent as part of the standard license check.
- Minor visual refinements to notch controls and button highlights.
Download AudexTrace-1.2.5.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Compatibility notes
- Requires macOS 15 or later.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
- Improved Compatibility Check playback-format detection when Apple Music takes longer to start playback or report fresh format information.
- Added clearer Compatibility Check results when playback is unavailable, Automation access is disabled, or the check cannot complete.
- Improved Playing Next quality estimates and controls, especially for downloaded or local queue items.
- Improved playback display polish, including labels, contrast, and compact player details.
- Improved playback state stability around brief zero-position or duration updates from Apple Music.
Download AudexTrace-1.2.4.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Compatibility notes
- Requires macOS 15 or later.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
Maintenance update focused on Apple Music lifecycle handling and release polish.
Improvements
- Fixed an issue where Audex Trace could unexpectedly launch or relaunch Apple Music while monitoring playback.
- Improved the empty/waiting state when Apple Music is not currently running.
- Improved Music access recovery when macOS Automation permission needs attention.
Download AudexTrace-1.2.3.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Compatibility notes
- Requires macOS 15 or later.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
Maintenance update for Audex Trace 1.2, focused on artwork background readability, clearer Preferences organization, and Compatibility Check polish.
Download AudexTrace-1.2.2.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Improvements
- Added background style options for the player window and menu bar panel: Plain, Translucent, and Artwork.
- Added separate Player Window and Menu Bar appearance settings so each surface can be tuned independently.
- Improved dynamic artwork backgrounds and text contrast across the mini player, menu bar panel, and Playing Next panel.
- Improved artwork background transitions when opening or closing Playing Next.
- Reorganized Preferences into clearer sections for Player Window, Menu Bar, Notch, Playback, and Playing Next.
- Improved Compatibility Check guidance when Apple Music is not currently playing a track.
Fixes
- Fixed Compatibility Check guidance appearing for Pro users.
- Fixed Compatibility Check scrolling while detection is running.
- Fixed cases where Playing Next text could choose the wrong contrast color.
- Fixed several small visual inconsistencies in preference labels, experimental badges, and artwork-backed controls.
Compatibility notes
- Compatibility Check needs an active Apple Music playback session to detect the current playback format and sample-rate behavior on your Mac.
- Auto Sample Rate Match depends on the output device exposing compatible macOS sample rates.
Maintenance update for Audex Trace 1.2, focused on Playing Next reliability, playback format display consistency, and menu bar/notch interaction polish.
Download AudexTrace-1.2.1.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Improvements
- Improved Playing Next artwork handling for upcoming tracks when Apple Music does not provide enough identifier data.
- Improved playback format detection around track changes, especially when queue and quality features are active.
- Standardized playback format labels across the app, such as
ALAC 24-bit / 48 kHz and ALAC 24-bit / 96 kHz.
- Refined the expanded notch player with denser controls, better seek bar spacing, marquee text for long metadata, and more accurate hover areas.
- Improved release metadata handling so download links and release references can point to the exact versioned build.
Fixes
- Fixed menu bar popovers after changing UI scale.
- Fixed keyboard input behavior around menu bar popovers.
- Fixed queue/window layout behavior when the player is near screen edges.
- Fixed expanded notch control hover feedback so the visible hover state matches the actual interactive area.
Feature update for Apple Music listeners on macOS 15 and later, centered on Playing Next and earlier visibility into upcoming playback issues.
Download AudexTrace-1.2.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
What's new
- Added Playing Next, a compact queue view for upcoming Apple Music tracks.
- Playing Next is available for free with upcoming track metadata and artwork.
- Pro users can now see estimated queue quality for upcoming tracks, including Lossless, Hi-Res, or Dolby availability before playback reaches them.
- Pro users can now see skip warnings for queued tracks that look likely to fail or be skipped.
- Added Playing Next preferences so queue details, quality estimates, and skip warnings can be shown or hidden.
Improvements
- Reduced CPU usage while audio-quality features are active.
- Improved queue refresh behavior and artwork stability around track changes.
- Improved compact player layout, footer alignment, and playback transitions.
- Refined menu bar and notch presentation for the new queue experience.
- Improved Preferences organization with a clearer Support and Feedback area.
Maintenance update for macOS 15 and later.
Download AudexTrace-1.1.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
What's changed
- Refined compact player, menu bar, and notch interaction polish.
- Improved expanded notch layout behavior.
- Improved artwork fallback transitions so artwork changes feel steadier.
- Made playback state changes feel steadier after play/pause interactions.
- Kept Apple Music playback format display, output match status, and experimental Auto Sample Rate Match available for Pro users.
- Fixed release publishing so the public site points to the exact versioned download and release page.
Compatibility notes
- Requires macOS 15 or later.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
- Auto Sample Rate Match depends on the output device exposing compatible macOS sample rates.
Initial public release for macOS 15 and later.
Download AudexTrace-1.0.zip, unzip it, and move Audex Trace.app to /Applications.
Highlights
- Apple Music mini player with playback controls, track metadata, and album artwork.
- Menu bar controls with playback-status visuals.
- Optional notch overlay for quick now-playing access.
- Local playback format detection for Apple Music, including codec, bit depth, and sample rate.
- Output sample-rate match status for Pro users.
- Experimental Auto Sample Rate Match for Pro users.
- Built-in Compatibility Check so users can verify playback-format detection before buying Pro.
- Signed and notarized release distributed through GitHub Releases.
- Automatic update support for future releases.
Before buying Pro
- Run the built-in Compatibility Check on your own Mac.
- For best real-time playback-format detection, turn off Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music.
- Auto Sample Rate Match depends on the output device exposing compatible macOS sample rates.
Known limitations
- Apple Music can prepare upcoming tracks before playback starts, so Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade may make format detection delayed or unavailable around track changes.
- macOS 14 and earlier are not officially supported.
