Background Music is a macOS audio utility that automatically pauses your music, controls individual application volumes, and enables system audio recording.
The tool addresses the friction of managing audio across multiple applications on macOS. When you play audio from any source—a video, a notification, a call—Background Music detects it and automatically pauses your music player, then resumes playback once the other audio stops. Beyond auto-pause, it provides per-application volume control, letting you adjust how loud each app plays independently and even boost quiet applications above their normal maximum. It also acts as a virtual audio input device, allowing you to record system audio through QuickTime Player or create aggregate devices combining system audio with microphone input.
The tool currently supports auto-pause for iTunes, Spotify, VLC, VOX, Decibel, Hermes, Swinsian, and GPMDP, with the README noting that adding support for new music players is usually straightforward. Background Music requires macOS 10.13 or later and installs without requiring a system restart. The project is marked as still in alpha, so adopters should expect ongoing development and potential rough edges. Those seeking a lightweight way to manage system audio across applications without manual intervention will find this useful, particularly if they frequently switch between music and other audio sources.
The project maintains a substantial user base reporting real-world issues, with almost all open issues raised by outside users rather than the core team. Responses to issues and pull requests typically arrive within one to two weeks. Work in the issue tracker centers on bug fixes, enhancements, and music player support.
