Soundflower can't be installed on an iMac with High Sierra.

How can I install Soundflower on a 2009 iMac/High Sierra?

OR...

Any suggestions for any other similar audio app?

iMac, macOS 10.13

Posted on May 4, 2025 01:16 PM

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8 replies

May 4, 2025 03:44 PM in response to ZHMMMY

In my experience most E-bay & Amazon sellers DO NOT setup their machines correctly. We get questions on these forums almost daily from users that have bought from them and are very frustrated. By that I mean that what we see are many resellers do not follow Apple's steps in What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your Mac which leaves buyers in a bind as they have purchased an unusable device and then many times have to fight to get their money back.


I am very happy your experiences have been the opposite however for most it's not worth that gamble when there are excellent alternatives available.


I am empathetic towards your financial & social situation, however there are alternatives available to you. For example a very high quality iMac that will run Sequoia is about $1,079.00 on Macsales.com (https://eshop.macsales.com/configure-my-mac/imac#screen-size:24-0-inch)

If $1079 it too much to shell out in one purchase, then Apple offers 12 month same as cash financing that many buyers simply are not aware of. That means you can buy an Apple refurbished machine for about $121 per month, ( https://www.apple.com/shop/product/G1313LL/A/Refurbished-24-inch-iMac-Apple-M1-Chip-with-8%E2%80%91Core-CPU-and-8%E2%80%91Core-GPU-Gigabit-Ethernet-Silver?fnode=ac893e0669c79864a9064dc2930d27b9056cc9b03d36a5d86267268498f8ab5c5159ce2b457527bc637da72cb33cb2a1a8ff0c338db9fde0cbb1e4853c07c741fc95441f6a50028c5a16108b19c335d6) Yes, that is more than $1079 total but you are using someone else's money for free for 12 months and perhaps a $121 per month pill is easier to swallow.


While I won't discuss my financial situation or living situation with you, the point I'm attempting to make is please don't feel like you are boxed into living with only a 16 year old Mac. There are alternatives available to you if you are willing and able to spend some time to research.


Best of luck to you.

May 4, 2025 02:19 PM in response to ZHMMMY

+1 on MartinR's advice. Also, if you can I'd recommend that you contact the developers of Soundflower, which is not an Apple app. As you are learning, by using such an old machine and version of Mac OS that software developers dropped support for this will become more and more of a problem. At 16+ years old you may be ready for a computer upgrade.


You may want to consider a new or newer Mac, note I did not say iMac which means that a current Mac mini M4 would be an excellent replacement if you spec it out wisely. If new is out of the question, consider one of Apple's refurbished Macs or buy a used one from a VERY reputable reseller such as Macsales.com. Don't buy used from:


  • E-Bay
  • Marketplace
  • Amazon
  • Craigslist
  • Local PC shop
  • Friend, neighbor, relative, acquaintance and of course a stranger


If you want to know why, please ask and we are happy to explain why.


May 4, 2025 03:10 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I've used Soundflower for years on five different Macs - two iMacs and three Desktop Pros - and never with any problems until now.

Four of those Macs I bought used on eBay and one from Amazon. Both of those companies are reputable in that they will immediately give a refund if there is a problem with an item. So please don't downplay eBay or Amazon.

As for considering a new or later model computer? A lot of Americans simply cannot afford to spend the money.

For example, I am 89, my wife is 85 and now our only income is Social Security. We also on that small income are total support for a 53yo slacker son who hasn't worked in 5 years. Go figger. I wish I could afford a new computer. Or a new car. As for the others on your list of despicables, I totally agree.

May 4, 2025 05:54 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I do understand there are many who can't understand being poor. When I had my graphics company I only bought new macs. Haha, it was a big deal when I upgraded our macs 45 years ago to haha Mac Quadra 950s. After a car accident disabled me in 92 I lost everything I owned. Social Security checks are basic survival so yes, 121.00 per month now is a big expense when you are also supporting a 53yo slacker. Otherwise I'd drive a better car than a 2000 Buick and I'd own the latest Mac. The best I can do is to try to fix a broken iMac.


I did install Blackhole and it "looks like" it is working. It may very well be working?? No audio from any source including iTunes. So now I'm wondering if some part of the audio system is broken. Could it be a bad memory stick or some transistor or whatever. After I reinstalled High Sierra, in the sound preference there was only options for microphone or line input and that is weird. No audio also in safe mode. I also checked midi audio settings and that looks okay. Any idea what the problem is?

May 4, 2025 07:47 PM in response to ZHMMMY

You are right, I have never been poor however I have family that is. In their case it is due to making poor life decisions and being downright lazy so I find myself having little empathy for them. I have seen others become financially challenged for many reasons including illness, accidents and other types of misfortune. However, I have also learned that as long as you have a good mind and use it, one can also reverse many misfortunes. I obviously don't know you and so I am not judging I'm just saying.


Well I'm done recommending to you and can only wish you the best of luck sir.

May 6, 2025 07:32 AM in response to ZHMMMY

This article about Soundflower is from 2023, so therefore there must be a version for High Sierra - have you tried the Internet Archive for an older version compatible with High Sierra?


https://www.ac3filter.net/how-does-soundflower-work/


ETA: I found this page on the Internet Archive:


https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/soundflower

Try the second link which is to Cycling74, the original developers of the software before it went over to Rogue Amoeba.

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Soundflower can't be installed on an iMac with High Sierra.

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