# Audex Trace

Audex Trace is a macOS Apple Music companion for Lossless and Hi-Res listeners.

Official site: https://trace.audex.dev/

Download: https://trace-auth.audex.dev/download?version=1.2.1&source=llms_txt

Release notes: https://github.com/audexdev/trace-releases/releases/tag/v1.2.1

Changelog: https://trace.audex.dev/changelog.html
Privacy: https://trace.audex.dev/privacy.html
Sample rate mismatch guide: https://trace.audex.dev/apple-music-sample-rate-mismatch-mac.html

Current version: 1.2.1

Minimum macOS version: macOS 15

Primary supported player: Apple Music on macOS

Key features:
- Apple Music mini player for macOS
- Playing Next queue with up to 3 upcoming Apple Music tracks
- Queue quality estimates for Lossless and Hi-Res availability before playback starts
- Skip warnings for upcoming tracks that may fail or skip
- Playback format readout for codec, bit depth, and sample rate
- Output sample-rate match status
- Experimental Auto Sample Rate Match
- Menu bar and notch player views
- Built-in Compatibility Check before purchase

Pricing:
- Free download for Compatibility Check, basic detection test, basic now playing, limited preview, and confirming your setup works before paying.
- Audex Trace Pro launch offer: $19.99 one-time purchase
- Playing Next queue is included in the free download.
- Pro includes queue quality estimates, skip warnings, playback readout, output match status, Auto Sample Rate Match, and a lifetime license.
- Regular price: $29.99 one-time purchase
- No subscription

Known limitations:
- Apple Music Song Transitions, AutoMix, or Crossfade can make playback-format detection delayed or unavailable around track changes.
- Auto Sample Rate Match depends on the output device exposing compatible macOS sample rates.
- macOS 14 and earlier are not officially supported.

Apple Music sample rate mismatch guide:
- Explains why Apple Music on Mac can show Lossless or Hi-Res Lossless while the selected macOS output format in Audio MIDI Setup remains fixed.
- Covers searches such as Apple Music sample rate mismatch Mac, Apple Music Lossless Mac sample rate, Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless external DAC Mac, Apple Music sample rate not changing, Audio MIDI Setup sample rate, Mac Apple Music 44.1 48 kHz output, Apple Music Lossless not working Mac, DAC sample rate Mac, and Apple Music Hi-Res Lossless output.
- Clarifies that Apple Music playback format and Mac output sample rate are different layers.
- Recommends checking Music audio quality settings, Audio MIDI Setup, output device support, and DAC or audio interface sample-rate displays.

Privacy summary:
- Playback format detection runs locally on the Mac.
- Audex Trace does not modify, enhance, record, or upload audio.
- License verification, update checks, purchase checkout, artwork fallback, and minimal website download/checkout counts may use the network.
- No listening history is uploaded for audio-quality detection.
- No Apple Music account sign-in or cloud library API access is required.
- Website download and checkout events may be counted with minimal, non-audio attribution data such as source/ref/UTM parameters, anonymous browser/session IDs, release version, landing page, referrer host, coarse country, optional salted IP hash, and Stripe Checkout session ID.

FAQ:

Q: What is Audex Trace?
A: Audex Trace is a macOS Apple Music companion that shows playback format details such as codec, bit depth, sample rate, output match status, and what is coming next in Playing Next.

Q: Does Audex Trace change Apple Music audio?
A: No. Audex Trace does not modify, enhance, record, or upload audio. Playback format detection runs locally on the Mac.

Q: Can Audex Trace automatically match the Mac output sample rate?
A: Audex Trace Pro includes experimental Auto Sample Rate Match for compatible output devices that expose matching macOS sample rates.

Q: Which macOS version does Audex Trace require?
A: Audex Trace requires macOS 15 or later and the Apple Music app.

Q: Where can I download Audex Trace?
A: Audex Trace is distributed through GitHub Releases from the official site at https://trace.audex.dev/.