Early 2020 we released a new application audio capture driver, called "SWB Audio Capture". I know. It's an amazingly original name :)
This entirely replaces the older "iShowU Audio Capture" driver.
The driver is bundled as part of the iShowU Instant and Studio2 series of screen recording apps. It is also available as a standalone menu bar app.
Why did we do this?
A couple of reasons.
- Apple are deprecating the older 'kext' based approach. At some point "iShowU Audio Capture" is going to stop working. We would rather have sorted out a solution for that before it happens.
- There were some long standing bugs that we never quite ironed out of the older driver. Notably: crackling audio for some users.
- The new driver architecture gives us options for the future, such as per-app volume levels and perhaps per-app recording while still being able to hear/preview all apps. That later feature doesn't exist yet; but it gives you an idea that there's more available and more options than we had with the older kext based method.
What does it mean for me?
At the moment the real impact is a one (1!) minute disruption to your workflow as you install the new driver.
Our expectation is an overall better experience, by far. The new 'SWB Audio Capture' driver:
- Is faster (less latency, better video/audio sync, better GaragaBand/Logic usage)
- Is easier to work with internally. We can add features more easily. That means less time to get new stuff/features working.
- Has more audio Hz options (up to 192Khz at the moment)
- Is vastly superior with regard to "install experience". Click a button. Enter your password. You are done. No more installer package + 'allow'ing the kext in system preferences + reboots. All that is gone (and good riddance).
Zero Risk Upgrade
The new driver is chosen by the apps, if it is installed. Thus you can keep both installed if you're worried about something failing (pretty unlikely from our testing so far). The old 'kext' driver can happily co-exist with the new one, it just isn't used. If you uninstall the new driver, the apps will simply revert to using the older driver. So there's zero risk in upgrading.
We don't envisage any problems with the upgrade, but we do always like to make a way out in case something unforseen happens - hence the ability to uninstall and fallback to that older kext driver. We honestly don't see this being something people will do. It's there purely "in case".
When we have gathered sufficient feedback to prove there are no problems; we'll update the apps to also intentionally uninstall the old one. Then the kext will be no more!!!.
Comments
21 comments
Am I missing something? Not seeing where I can download this. Thanks!
It's packaged inside the iShowU apps (instant / studio2). It's not a separate driver anymore. There's no separate download, as it's intended to work with those two apps.
The primary motivation was to remove the KEXT as KEXT's for this kind of usage have been deprecated by Apple for some time. A side-effect of that is that the new driver can be bundled with the app, which makes much more sense for our existing products.
Few folks like me were using it without iShow product and it works awesome with Apple Midi app. Any chance of getting it back as free standalone driver?
At this stage I'm not sure. SWB Is a small company, and one of the pain points with the previous driver is that I got a lot of support requests about it. It's possible to do (in fact its pretty easy), but I have made no progress on it.
I'm trying this with an iShowU Instant trial. So far I can't record the application audio without the output being simultaneously duplicated to the built-in speaker, even when a headphone is plugged in. I need the headphone to be the monitor, not the speaker. Have I missed the info on how to do this?
Well, on further experimentation I was able to make the multi-output device include the built-in audio, which was treated as the headphone when plugged in. Then I made the multi-output device the output for iShowU Instant. This wasn't intuitive, though.
I can't get IShowU Instant to record my microphone (via Scarlett One) and Premiere Pro discrete in PCM. Mixdown t Apple Lossles or AAC works fine. But PCM only records Premiere Pro and no Microphone. I'm on 10.14.6. I've bought the Advance add-on and installed the SWB Audio Capture. Help please...
Neil, I'm here for only 'SWB Audio Capture' (was looking for iShowU Audio Capture) but happy to pay for it.
I just have one question. If I buy iShowU Instant, can I install only SWB Audio Capture without installing iShowU Instant?
Kevin: you *can*, but the audio playthrough won't work, as that is baked into the iShowU apps themselves. I'm pondering if I write a paid-for variant of this.
I will buy it! I use the old one daily and would love to support SWB by purchasing the “new version” that is yet to be.
I'm in the same boat as Asif and Kevin. I really like the simple and effective stand alone driver. It adds exactly the capability to Apple midi I was looking for. If you build it's heir I will buy it.
Thinking about what is needed from your perspective: a way to have playthrough. That might be an invisible app (with menu bar), or perhaps some app that doesn't need to run all the time. Any ideas on what you'd like to see would be appreciated/will help my thinking!
just installed ishowu studio... works like a dream. love it! also would love if the driver was sold separately. thanks for the great work!
OMG, just leave the link to download it!
there IS no link. It's part of the iShowU series of apps now.
Came here from this support article at Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/content-hub/post/capturing-desktop-audio-in-streamlabs-obs-for-mac
I would have gladly paid $30 or $40 for a solution. Things don't have to be free. Seems I'll now have to got to loopback and buy their tool for $107 (with taxes in my country) which is quite a bit for a band with no income :-)
Another option to consider if it moves you. Continue to distribute the standalone gratuit, but charge for support or some other freemium type of model.
If there is no link then where is it? How do I download it?
Because its bundled as part of the apps - it's not downloadable separately on its own. I'll update the article with links / this info
Thank you for your product. :-) A big fan of it... !
Was using it on my older Macs and working perfectly.
Upgraded to M1 and bought the complete bundle.
Surprisingly I can't see the Audio Capture as a separate app for the laptop.
It is asking me for a subscription!
When I do use it, it has a "UNREGISTERED" voice coming in the beginning!
Please provide a solution.... I have already purchased the $75 + taxes bundle 😅
ANOTHER QUESTION: How to record my mic, only when I select UNMUTE in Zoom. And not all the time while my zoom call or class or webinar is on.... If my zoom meeting is on and I am on mute but the mic is being recorded... then does it record my mic ALL THE TIME with my background noises etc? or ONLY when I unmute on Zoom and ask a question or speak something!? How can I make it so that it only records my mic when I select unmute in Zoom!? Thank you.
Hello Sameer!
Thanks for your support of my work, much appreciated!
1) as long as either Studio2 or Instant is running; the "registration msg" should not play
2) I'd need to think on this, and maybe ask you more about it. I'm just now working on fixing the mic echo issue with SWB Audio Capture; but that's specific to SWB Audio App. With other apps; it's likely different. Maybe send me a req to support@shinywhitebox.com and we can hook up/zoom over this?
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