Audex Trace - Real-time playback format detection for Apple Music

[audexdev]

I built Audex Trace because I couldn’t find a Mac app that showed what Apple Music was actually streaming in real time.

One thing I noticed is that Apple Music can start a song in AAC before switching to ALAC or Hi-Res Lossless, while metadata-based apps may show “Lossless” or “Hi-Res Lossless” from the beginning. Audex Trace detects the actual playback format live, including codec, bit depth, sample rate, Dolby Atmos status, and whether your Mac’s output sample rate is matched.

It also shows quality estimates for upcoming tracks and can warn when a track looks likely to skip before it plays.

There’s a free compatibility check, and the Pro unlock is $19.99 one-time (launch price). macOS 15+.

Audex Trace

A macOS Apple Music companion for seeing what is playing now and what is coming next.

trace.audex.dev

I’d love feedback from other Apple Music / Mac audio users.

 

[audexdev]

1.3 is out, and it adds something I didn't expect to build.

The track you are playing may also exist in the catalog at a higher bit depth or sample rate, or in Dolby Atmos, on a different release. Apple Music does not show you that comparison while you are listening.

Trace 1.3 checks for those alternate releases while a track is playing, and can open one directly in Music. It suggests rather than switches, so you decide.

Trace compares formats, not masters. Higher numbers do not always mean a better mastering, and Trace does not claim they do.

Other changes in 1.3:
- Playback and Output details are now one panel: codec, bit depth, sample rate, channels, output device format, supported rates, and whether the rates match
- Playing Next quality estimates are prepared in the background, so the queue shows immediately
- Auto Sample Rate Match can optionally follow AAC and Dolby playback too (off by default)
- More accurate format attribution during rapid track changes, with further reliability fixes in 1.3.1

The free version still includes Playback Verification, so you can confirm detection works on your own Mac and DAC before buying Pro ($29.99 one-time).
Download and details: https://trace.audex.dev/

Note: the price in the first post is from launch and is out of date. Pro is $29.99 one-time.

Happy to answer questions about how it behaves on specific setups.