# Virtual Audio Device Basics

With Loopback's virtual audio devices, you can route audio around your computer in powerful new ways. These virtual devices appear throughout your system in the same way as physical devices, like microphones or speakers do. Let's begin by discussing the basics of how virtual audio devices work.

### Loopback at Startup

Loopback's Main Window in Its Default View

Loopback has a single window which lists all of your current virtual audio devices in the device list on the left side. When you first launch Loopback, you'll see the “Loopback Audio” device. This default device is automatically created and enabled when you first install Loopback.

### Creating and Deleting Virtual Audio Devices

Controls for Adding and Removing Virtual Audio Devices

To create your first virtual audio device, a helpful bubble will guide you to the “(+)New Virtual Device” button. Click this, and a new device will appear in the device list, already enabled and ready for further configuration as desired.

To delete a virtual audio device entirely, highlight it in the list, then click the “(-)” button. Note that device deletion can't be undone. You can, of course, create a new device.

Rather than permanently deleting a device, you may instead wish to temporarily disable it.

### Enabling and Disabling Virtual Audio Devices

The “iTunes & Mic” Device Is Enabled;
The “Loopback Audio” Device Is Disabled

Newly created virtual audio devices are enabled by default, so that they can be used immediately. To disable a device, click the checkbox next to its name in the device list. To re-enable the device, click the checkbox back on.

It may be useful to think of disabling a virtual audio device as the equivalent of unplugging a physical device from your computer. Likewise, enabling a virtual device is the equivalent of plugging a physical device into your computer.

### Set It and Forget It

The Loopback application does not need to be running for your virtual audio devices to appear throughout the system. Once you’ve created and configured things in Loopback, you can quit the app. The virtual audio device will persist, even across machine restarts.

### Using Your Devices

This page covers the basics of creating devices. For more information on actually using these devices on your Mac, see the Device Usage page.