Built first for Apple Music Lossless on Mac.

Apple Music says Lossless. Output may not match.

Q: Why verify playback before buying?

Playback-format detection depends on macOS, Music settings, Apple Music behavior, the active playback route, and the output device. Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade in Music can delay detection or make it unavailable around track changes. Play a track in Apple Music first; Playback Verification then lets you confirm detection on your setup.

Q: Can I use one Trace Pro license on more than one Mac?

Yes. One Trace Pro license covers all Macs you personally use. Enter the same license key on each Mac; first-time activation and key changes require an internet connection.

Q: What does Apple Music's Lossless badge not show?

The badge describes track availability or a playback label, but it does not clearly show the detected playback format and the Mac output sample rate together. Trace shows those layers side by side.

Q: Who is Audex Trace for?

Audex Trace is for Apple Music Lossless and Hi-Res listeners on Mac, especially people using DACs, audio interfaces, or Audio MIDI Setup. It is not for Spotify or YouTube Music, is not an EQ or audio enhancer, does not make low-quality tracks Hi-Res, and does not upload your audio.

Q: Does it work with DACs, AirPods, or Dolby Atmos?

Trace is designed for Apple Music playback on the Mac and shows detected playback details across supported routes. Format labels, output matching, and available sample rates depend on the device, route, and macOS support.

Q: Is Audex Trace affiliated with Apple?

No. Audex Trace is an independent macOS app and is not affiliated with Apple. Apple Music and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.

Audex Trace lets you verify what Apple Music is actually playing on your Mac — live codec, bit depth, and sample rate — and whether your Mac output matches.

Verify Playback — Free

Trace Pro is $29.99 as a one-time purchase. No subscription.

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 shows that mismatch.

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.

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.

Dolby Atmos/AAC route surprises

Metadata alone can make it hard to tell which variant is active for the current route. Trace shows the detected format: Dolby Atmos, AAC, Lossless, or Hi-Res.

Next track may fail or skip

Trace Pro flags upcoming tracks with skip-risk warnings before playback reaches them, so possible queue issues are visible earlier.

The free download includes Playback Verification. Play a track in Apple Music and confirm detection on your own Mac before buying Pro.

Download free and verify playback Buy 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, and Pro adds automatic sample rate matching.

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.
Turn on Auto Sample Rate Match in Pro instead of switching the output format by hand.
Preview queue quality estimates and skip warnings before the next track interrupts playback.

Read the sample rate mismatch guide Download free and verify 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

Trace Pro switches supported output devices to match what is playing.

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 Lossless, Hi-Res, or Dolby availability for each queued track before it starts.

Skip Risk Detection

In Trace Pro, get warnings for queued tracks that may fail, become unavailable, or interrupt playback, before they reach the player.

Demo: Playing Next, estimated queue quality, and skip warnings

See upcoming Apple Music tracks, their queue quality estimates, and skip warnings before they interrupt playback.

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.

Playback VerificationConfirm detection on your own Mac before buying Pro.

One-time purchaseTrace Pro is $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.

Contact Support View Pro pricing

Pricing

One-time purchase. No subscription.

Verify playback first. If Trace does not detect playback format on your Mac, don't buy Pro.

Trace Pro $29.99

One-time lifetime license

$29.99 one-time purchase. No subscription.

One-time lifetime license for Audex Trace Pro. One license covers all Macs you personally use; enter the same license key on each Mac for online verification. Unlocks live playback readout, output match status, Auto Sample Rate Match, queue quality estimates, and skip warnings. Playing Next itself is included in the free download.

Verify playback first. If Trace does not detect playback format on your Mac, don't buy Pro.

Free

Free forever. No time limits.

Now Playing with playback controls
Track metadata and artwork
Playing Next queue
Playback Verification — verify detection on your Mac before buying Pro.

Pro

Unlock the full listening companion.

Actual playback readout
Output match status
Auto Sample Rate Match
Queue quality estimates
Skip warnings
Lifetime license for all Macs you personally use

Requirements

Designed for recent macOS and Apple Music.

Requires macOS 15 or later with the Apple Music app installed.

Tested on macOS 15.4, 26.3, 26.3.1, 26.4.1, and 26.5. See tested setups.

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.

Read Privacy Details

FAQ

Common questions about Audex Trace.

Does Audex Trace work on my Mac?

Audex Trace requires macOS 15 or later and the Apple Music app. Download it free, play a track in Apple Music, then verify playback on your own Mac before buying Pro.

Why verify playback before buying?

Can I use one Trace Pro license on more than one Mac?

What does Apple Music’s Lossless badge not show?

Does Trace change my sample rate automatically?

Trace Pro includes optional Auto Sample Rate Match for compatible output devices that expose matching macOS sample rates. It depends on the device and route, and affects the selected macOS output device, not only Apple Music. Switching a device’s sample rate can briefly interrupt audio on some output devices. This is inherent to changing the device rate on macOS and applies to any tool that switches rates. In our testing, FiiO KA11 shows a brief gap during the switch; built-in speakers do not.

What is actual, estimated, and optional?

Current playback is read live. Upcoming queue quality is estimated from available metadata until each track starts. Output match compares Apple Music playback with your Mac’s current output device. Auto Sample Rate Match is optional and device-dependent. Skip warnings flag possible issues before a track plays, but not every Apple Music skip is detected. Skip warnings are a supporting signal, not a reason to buy on their own.

Does it work with DACs, AirPods, or Dolby Atmos?

Who is Audex Trace for?

Is Audex Trace affiliated with Apple?

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.

Personal Mac license. One Trace Pro license covers all Macs you personally use. Enter the same license key on each Mac; first-time activation and key changes require an internet connection.

Known limitation. Future macOS or Apple Music updates may require Audex Trace updates.

Download

Audex Trace 1.2.5 is available now.

Download the signed and notarized macOS app from GitHub Releases. Requires macOS 15 or later.

Trace Pro is $29.99 as a one-time purchase.

The free version has no time limit. After installing, use Now Playing and Playing Next as usual, and verify playback before purchasing Pro if you want playback format readout.

Free Download View GitHub Release View Changelog