Installing Audio Hijack on your Mac is a straightforward process, typically involving downloading the application, moving it to your Applications folder, and then completing a required system component installation after the first launch.
Quick Installation Overview
Here's a simplified view of the installation journey:
- Download: Get the Audio Hijack application file.
- Install App: Copy or drag the application to your Applications folder.
- Launch & Install ACE: Run the app and follow prompts to install the necessary audio component (ACE).
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Follow these steps for a smooth installation of Audio Hijack:
Step 1: Download Audio Hijack
- Visit the official Rogue Amoeba website to download the latest version of Audio Hijack.
- Locate the downloaded file, which will typically be a
.dmgdisk image.
Step 2: Install the Application
- Double-click the downloaded
.dmgfile to mount the disk image. A new Finder window should open showing the disk image contents. - In the window, you will usually see the Audio Hijack application icon and an alias or shortcut to your "Applications" folder.
- Drag the Audio Hijack application icon onto the "Applications" folder shortcut to copy the application to your main Applications directory.
Step 3: Launch and Install the ACE Component
Audio Hijack requires a background component called ACE (Audio Capture Engine) to capture audio from various sources. This component needs to be installed separately after you first launch the application.
Based on the provided information:
- Once you've typically restarted MacOS after the initial application installation and logged into your account, launch Audio Hijack.
- You'll immediately be prompted to install ACE to continue.
- Click the Install button in the prompt.
- You will then be required to provide an administrator name and password for your Mac when prompted to authorize the system-level installation.
- Audio Hijack will now complete the installation of ACE.
Note: Installing system components like ACE requires administrator privileges because they integrate deeply with macOS audio processing.
Step 4: Verify Installation (Optional)
After the ACE installation is complete, Audio Hijack should fully launch. You can check its preferences or the "Sources" list within the application to confirm that it can detect audio from different applications or input devices.
Summary Table
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Download | Get the .dmg file |
From the official Rogue Amoeba website. |
| 2. Install App | Drag app to Applications folder | Mount the .dmg and copy the app file. |
| 3. Launch & Install ACE | Open app and follow prompt | Launch Audio Hijack, click Install for ACE, provide admin credentials. |
| 4. Verify | Open Audio Hijack | Check sources are available. |
Following these steps will ensure Audio Hijack and its essential ACE component are correctly installed on your macOS system, allowing you to begin capturing and manipulating audio.
