Audex Trace

What is Audex Trace?

Audex Trace is a macOS companion app for Apple Music playback. It is designed to show what Apple Music is actually playing now, along with the playback route and upcoming queue items, so users can inspect details that are not always visible in Apple Music itself.

The app focuses on Music.app playback on macOS 15 and later. Its free download includes basic detection, a limited now playing view, and a Compatibility Check before users decide whether to buy the Pro version. The Pro version adds deeper playback details, queue quality estimates, skip warnings, and an experimental auto sample rate matching feature for compatible devices.

Key Features

• Current playback readout: Shows the active codec, bit depth, sample rate, and output match status so users can see the playback format in context.
• Playing Next queue view: Displays up to 3 upcoming Apple Music tracks in a compact queue view without leaving the player.
• Compatibility Check before Pro purchase: Lets users play a track and confirm whether their Mac and playback route are detected properly before buying Pro.
• Estimated queue quality in Pro: Preview likely Lossless, Hi-Res, or Dolby availability for queued tracks before playback reaches them.
• Skip risk detection in Pro: Flags upcoming tracks that may fail or skip so potential playback issues are visible earlier.
• Experimental Auto Sample Rate Match in Pro: Can update compatible Mac output devices as Apple Music moves between Lossless and Hi-Res sample rates.
• Resident player views: Keeps playback controls and track details available in compact player, menu bar, or optional notch views.

How to Use Audex Trace

Install Audex Trace on a Mac running macOS 15 or later, then play a track in Apple Music. Run Compatibility Check to confirm that your setup is detected correctly before deciding whether to buy Pro.

From there, keep the app running while you listen. Use the free version to see basic now playing information and the Playing Next queue, or use Pro to view deeper playback details, queue estimates, and sample rate match tools when your device supports them.

Use Cases

• Checking what Apple Music is really outputting: A listener can compare the track’s playback format with the Mac output sample rate instead of relying only on the badge shown in Apple Music.
• Watching a queue before the next track starts: Someone listening to a long queue can see upcoming tracks in advance and notice whether playback quality or compatibility may change.
• Reducing manual audio setup changes: A user with a compatible external device can use Pro’s experimental auto sample rate matching to reduce repeated switching in Audio MIDI Setup.
• Diagnosing route-dependent playback differences: Someone using different output devices can inspect whether Dolby Atmos, AAC, Lossless, or Hi-Res is actually being exposed for the current route.
• Spotting possible skips earlier: A listener who wants fewer interruptions can review skip warnings before the queue reaches a track that may fail.

FAQ

• Does Audex Trace work with Apple Music? Yes. The app is built first for Apple Music and focuses on Music.app playback on macOS.

• Which macOS versions are supported? The source says the app is available for macOS 15 and later.

• Is there a free version? Yes. The free download includes Compatibility Check, basic detection, basic now playing, and a limited preview.

• What does the Pro version add? Pro unlocks estimated queue quality, skip warnings, playback readout, output match status, and experimental Auto Sample Rate Match.

• Is it a subscription? No. The source describes Pro as a one-time purchase with a lifetime license.

Alternatives

• Apple Music alone: Suitable if you only need standard playback and the built-in queue, but it does not provide the same level of format and route visibility described for Trace.
• Audio MIDI Setup: Useful for inspecting or changing the Mac output format, but it is a separate utility rather than an Apple Music playback companion.
• Other music player utilities: Some apps focus on general playback control or library browsing, but Trace is specifically centered on Apple Music session visibility and queue diagnostics.
• Manual system audio checks: Users can inspect output settings and playback behavior separately, though this requires switching between tools instead of keeping everything visible in one resident view.