Soundboards for streaming on a Mac
On a Mac, the soundboards that run natively are Farrago, Voicemod's Mac app and Honkpad; Soundpad is Windows only. For streaming, the easiest audio path is a soundboard that plays inside an OBS browser source, which needs no virtual cable. Otherwise, OBS 30 on macOS 13 or newer can capture a soundboard app's audio directly.
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What runs on macOS
| Tool | On a Mac | What it is for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honkpad | Yes, macOS 12+, Apple Silicon and Intel | Meme sounds with GIFs on stream, triggered by hotkeys or Twitch chat | Download |
| Farrago | Yes, macOS 14 to 27 (version 2.2.0) | Soundboard for podcasts, live shows and calls; keyboard, MIDI, OSC and Stream Deck control; free trial, paid licence | rogueamoeba.com |
| Voicemod | Yes, desktop app for PC and Mac | Voice changer with a soundboard for voice chat; free has one soundboard, PRO several | voicemod.net, Free vs PRO |
| Soundpad | No, Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 | Plays sounds into your microphone in voice chats and games | leppsoft.com |
| Streamer.bot | Experimental only | Stream automation bot; Windows app, macOS via Whisky is unsupported and deprecated | docs.streamer.bot |
| Lumia Stream | Yes, Apple Silicon Mac | Stream automation with chat commands, overlays and lights; Free and Premium | lumiastream.com |
| OBS media sources + hotkeys | Yes | Built into OBS; no viewer triggers | OBS sources guide |
Getting soundboard audio into OBS on a Mac
- Browser-source tools (Honkpad, Sound Alerts, Blerp): add the tool's overlay as a browser source. The audio plays inside OBS; nothing else to route.
- Desktop soundboards (Farrago, Voicemod): on OBS 30 or newer with macOS 13 or newer, add a macOS Audio Capture source and pick the soundboard app (OBS guide).
- Older macOS or OBS: route the app through a virtual audio device and add that device as an Audio Input Capture source.
- Check the OBS Audio Mixer: the new source's meter should move when you play a sound. Monitor with headphones so the sound isn't picked up twice by your microphone.
Where each one is better
- Farrago: the most polished Mac soundboard for podcasts and live shows, with sets, an editor and MIDI or OSC control. It has no viewer triggers or GIFs.
- Voicemod: the pick if you want a voice changer and sounds in Discord or calls. Its soundboard plays into your microphone, not as a visual on stream.
- Lumia Stream: broad automation on Mac, Windows and Linux, including lights.
- Honkpad: sound plus GIF plus caption on stream, Twitch chat commands and channel points with text, and a setup wizard for OBS. Early access: no Twitch login yet, and the Windows installer is unsigned.
FAQ
Is Soundpad available for Mac?
No. Soundpad's official site lists Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 only (leppsoft.com). See Honkpad vs Soundpad.
Does Voicemod's soundboard work on Mac?
Yes. Voicemod says the Mac version includes the soundboard's sound clips (voicemod.net). It plays into your microphone for calls and voice chat. See Honkpad vs Voicemod on Mac.
Do I need BlackHole or Loopback to stream soundboard audio on a Mac?
Not with OBS 30 or newer on macOS 13 or newer: the macOS Audio Capture source can capture one app (OBS guide). Browser-source overlays don't need any capture at all.
Can Streamer.bot run on a Mac?
Only experimentally. Its docs say macOS is not officially supported and the Whisky method is deprecated (docs.streamer.bot).
What does Honkpad need on a Mac?
macOS 12 or newer, Apple Silicon or Intel, and OBS. The DMG is signed and notarized by Apple.
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