library improvements

Add --flush option to reduce stdout buffering latency

.gitignore

@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ DerivedData/
 .swiftpm/configuration/registries.json
 .swiftpm/xcode/package.xcworkspace/contents.xcworkspacedata
 .netrc
+*.pcm
+*.wav

Package.swift

@@ -8,7 +8,37 @@ let package = Package(
   platforms: [
     .macOS("14.2")
   ],
+  products: [
+    // Library that can be imported by other packages
+    .library(
+      name: "AudioTeeCore",
+      targets: ["AudioTeeCore"]
+    ),
+    // CLI executable
+    .executable(
+      name: "audiotee",
+      targets: ["AudioTeeCLI"]
+    )
+  ],
   targets: [
-        .executableTarget(name: "audiotee")
+    // Core library with all business logic
+    .target(
+      name: "AudioTeeCore",
+      path: "Sources/AudioTeeCore"
+    ),
+    
+    // CLI executable that uses the library
+    .executableTarget(
+      name: "AudioTeeCLI",
+      dependencies: ["AudioTeeCore"],
+      path: "Sources/AudioTeeCLI"
+    ),
+    
+    // Tests for the library
+    .testTarget(
+      name: "AudioTeeCoreTests",
+      dependencies: ["AudioTeeCore"],
+      path: "Tests/AudioTeeCoreTests"
+    )
   ]
 )

README.md

@@ -2,18 +2,21 @@
 
 **⚠️ API Instability Warning: The AudioTee API is unstable at present and subject to change without notice.**
 
-AudioTee captures your Mac's system audio output and writes it in PCM encoded chunks to `stdout` at regular intervals. All logging and metadata information is written to `stderr`, meaning at its simplest you can
+AudioTee captures your Mac's system audio output and writes it in PCM encoded chunks to `stdout` at regular intervals. All logging and metadata information is written to `stderr`, meaning at its simplest you can capture whatever's playing through your speakers to a file like this:
-capture system audio to a file like this:
 
 ```bash
 /path/to/audiotee > output.pcm
 ```
 
-System audio is captured using the [Core Audio taps](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps) API introduced in macOS 14.2 (released in December 2023). You can do whatever you want with this audio - stream it somewhere else, save it to disk, visualise it, etc.
+It's more likely you want to capture this output programmatically. Check out [AudioTee.js](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audioteejs) for a simple Node.js package which does this.
 
-By default, audiotee captures audio output from **all** running processes. Tap output is forced to `mono` (not yet configurable) and preserves your output device's sample rate (configurable via the `--sample-rate` flag). Only the default output device is currently supported.
+System audio is captured using the [Core Audio taps](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps) API introduced in macOS 14.2 (released in December 2023). You can do whatever you want with this audio - save it to disk, visualise it, transcribe it, etc.
 
-My original (and so far only) use case is streaming audio to a parent process which communicates with a realtime ASR service, so AudioTee makes some design decisions you might not agree with. Open an issue or a PR and we can talk about them. I'm also no Swift developer, so contributions improving codebase idioms and general hygiene are welcome. I have internal variations (and, franky, improvements) of audiotee which allow recording mic input as well as system audio, and I'm open to making that part of the main API.
+By default, AudioTee captures audio output from **all** running processes. Tap output defaults to `mono` (configurable via the `--stereo` flag) and preserves your output device's sample rate (configurable via the `--sample-rate` flag). Only the default output device is currently supported.
+
+My original (and so far only) use case is streaming audio to a parent process which communicates with a realtime ASR service, so AudioTee makes some design decisions you might not agree with. Open an issue or a PR and we can talk about them. I'm also no Swift developer, so contributions improving codebase idioms and general hygiene are welcome. I have internal variations (and, frankly, improvements) of AudioTee which allow recording mic input as well as system audio, and I'm open to making that part of the main API.
+
+## Why?
 
 Recording system audio is harder than it should be on macOS, and folks often wrestle with outdated advice and poorly documented APIs. It's a boring problem which stands in the way of lots of fun applications. There's more code here than you need to solve this problem yourself: the main classes of interest are probably [`Core/AudioTapManager`](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audiotee/blob/main/Sources/Core/AudioTapManager.swift) and [`Core/AudioRecorder`](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audiotee/blob/main/Sources/Core/AudioRecorder.swift). Everything's wired together in [`CLI/AudioTee`](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audiotee/blob/main/Sources/CLI/AudioTee.swift). The rest is just CLI configuration support, output formatting logic, and some utility functions you could probably live without.
 
@@ -25,7 +28,7 @@ Recording system audio is harder than it should be on macOS, and folks often wre
 
 ## Quick start
 
-The following will start capturing audio output from all running programs and write raw PCM audio data to your terminal:
+The following will start capturing audio output from all running programs and write binary chunks of raw PCM audio data to your terminal:
 
 ```bash
 git clone git@github.com:makeusabrew/audiotee.git
@@ -74,11 +77,14 @@ Replace the path below with `.build/<arch>/<target>/audiotee`, e.g. `build/arm64
 
 ### Audio conversion
 
-Note that performing sample rate conversion will also convert the output bit depth to
+Note that performing _any_ sample rate conversion will also convert the output bit depth to
-16-bit - assuming an original depth of 32-bit this results in a loss of dynamic range in exchange for half the output chunk size. For ASR services, 16-bit is sufficient, but it's a behaviour worth being aware of.
+16-bit - assuming an original depth of 32-bit this results in a loss of dynamic range in exchange for a 50% reduction in output size. For ASR services, 16-bit is sufficient, but it's a non-obvious behaviour worth being aware of.
 
 ```bash
-# Convert to 16kHz mono (useful for ASR services)
+# No sample rate preserves your device's default (probably 44.1 or 48kHz with 32-bit float bit depth)
+./audiotee
+
+# Any sample rate (even one matching your device default) converts to 16-bit signed integers (half the bandwidth)
 ./audiotee --sample-rate 16000
 
 # Other supported sample rates: 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000
@@ -118,12 +124,12 @@ Note that trying to include or exclude a PID which isn't currently playing audio
 
 ## Output
 
-AudioTee writes raw PCM audio data directly to `stdout` in chunks. All logging, metadata, and status information is written to `stderr`, allowing for clean separation of audio data from program output.
+AudioTee writes raw PCM audio data directly to `stdout` in chunks. All logging, metadata, and status information is written to `stderr`.
 
 ### Audio format
 
 - **Format**: Raw PCM audio data
-- **Channels**: Mono (1 channel)
+- **Channels**: 1 in Mono mode (default), 2 in stereo mode
 - **Sample rate**: Matches your output device's sample rate by default (configurable)
 - **Bit depth**: 32-bit float by default, or 16-bit when sample rate conversion is performed
 - **Endianness**: Little-endian
@@ -146,20 +152,21 @@ All program logs are written to `stderr` and can be captured separately:
 - `--include-processes`: Process IDs to tap (space-separated, empty = all processes)
 - `--exclude-processes`: Process IDs to exclude (space-separated, empty = none)
 - `--mute`: Mute processes being tapped
+- `--stereo`: Record in stereo
 - `--sample-rate`: Target sample rate (8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000)
 - `--chunk-duration`: Audio chunk duration in seconds [default: 0.2, max: 5.0]
 
 ## Permissions
 
-There is no provision in the code to pre-emptively check for the required `NSAudioCaptureUsageDescription` permission,
+There is no provision in the code to pre-emptively check for the required `NSAudioCaptureUsageDescription` permission, so you'll be prompted the first time AudioTee tries to record anything. Note that some terminal emulators like iTerm don't always prompt for these permissions (though the macOS builtin terminal definitely does), so you might need to grant them ahead of time if audiotee runs but never records anything.
-so you'll be prompted the first time AudioTee tries to record anything. If you want to check and/or request permissions ahead of time, check out [AudioCap's clever TCC probing approach](https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap/blob/main/AudioCap/ProcessTap/AudioRecordingPermission.swift). Note that some terminal emulators like
-iTerm don't always prompt for these permissions (the macOS builtin terminal definitely does), so you
-might need to grant them ahead of time if audiotee looks like it's running but never records anything.
 
-## References
+If you want to check and/or request permissions ahead of time, check out [AudioCap's fantastic TCC probing approach](https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap/blob/main/AudioCap/ProcessTap/AudioRecordingPermission.swift). 
+
+## References / useful links
 
 - [Apple Core Audio Taps Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudio/capturing-system-audio-with-core-audio-taps)
 - [AudioCap Implementation](https://github.com/insidegui/AudioCap)
+- [AudioTee.js](https://github.com/makeusabrew/audioteejs)
 
 ## License
 

Sources/AudioTeeCLI/AudioTee.swift

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import AudioTeeCore
 import CoreAudio
 import Foundation
 
@@ -5,8 +6,10 @@ struct AudioTee {
   var includeProcesses: [Int32] = []
   var excludeProcesses: [Int32] = []
   var mute: Bool = false
+  var stereo: Bool = false
   var sampleRate: Double?
   var chunkDuration: Double = 0.2
+  var flush: Bool = false
 
   init() {}
 
@@ -30,6 +33,7 @@ struct AudioTee {
           audiotee --include-processes 1234 5678 9012  # Tap only these processes
           audiotee --exclude-processes 1234 5678       # Tap everything except these
           audiotee --mute                       # Mute processes being tapped
+          audiotee --flush                      # Flush stdout after each chunk
         """
     )
 
@@ -40,6 +44,8 @@ struct AudioTee {
     parser.addArrayOption(
       name: "exclude-processes", help: "Process IDs to exclude (space-separated)")
     parser.addFlag(name: "mute", help: "Mute processes being tapped")
+    parser.addFlag(name: "stereo", help: "Records in stereo")
+    parser.addFlag(name: "flush", help: "Flush stdout after each audio chunk (reduces latency when piping)")
     parser.addOption(
       name: "sample-rate",
       help: "Target sample rate (8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000)")
@@ -56,6 +62,8 @@ struct AudioTee {
       audioTee.includeProcesses = try parser.getArrayValue("include-processes", as: Int32.self)
       audioTee.excludeProcesses = try parser.getArrayValue("exclude-processes", as: Int32.self)
       audioTee.mute = parser.getFlag("mute")
+      audioTee.stereo = parser.getFlag("stereo")
+      audioTee.flush = parser.getFlag("flush")
       audioTee.sampleRate = try parser.getOptionalValue("sample-rate", as: Double.self)
       audioTee.chunkDuration = try parser.getValue("chunk-duration", as: Double.self)
 
@@ -91,11 +99,11 @@ struct AudioTee {
   func run() throws {
     setupSignalHandlers()
 
-    Logger.info("Starting AudioTee...")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.info("Starting AudioTee...")
 
     // Validate chunk duration
     guard chunkDuration > 0 && chunkDuration <= 5.0 else {
-      Logger.error(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
         "Invalid chunk duration",
         context: ["chunk_duration": String(chunkDuration), "valid_range": "0.0 < duration <= 5.0"])
       throw ExitCode.failure
@@ -107,14 +115,15 @@ struct AudioTee {
     let tapConfig = TapConfiguration(
       processes: processes,
       muteBehavior: mute ? .muted : .unmuted,
-      isExclusive: isExclusive
+      isExclusive: isExclusive,
+      isMono: !stereo
     )
 
     let audioTapManager = AudioTapManager()
     do {
       try audioTapManager.setupAudioTap(with: tapConfig)
     } catch AudioTeeError.pidTranslationFailed(let failedPIDs) {
-      Logger.error(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
         "Failed to translate process IDs to audio objects",
         context: [
           "failed_pids": failedPIDs.map(String.init).joined(separator: ", "),
@@ -122,21 +131,21 @@ struct AudioTee {
         ])
       throw ExitCode.failure
     } catch {
-      Logger.error(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
         "Failed to setup audio tap", context: ["error": String(describing: error)])
       throw ExitCode.failure
     }
 
     guard let deviceID = audioTapManager.getDeviceID() else {
-      Logger.error("Failed to get device ID from audio tap manager")
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Failed to get device ID from audio tap manager")
       throw ExitCode.failure
     }
 
-    let outputHandler = BinaryAudioOutputHandler()
+    let outputHandler = BinaryAudioOutputHandler(flushAfterWrite: flush)
-    let recorder = AudioRecorder(
+    let recorder = try AudioRecorder(
       deviceID: deviceID, outputHandler: outputHandler, convertToSampleRate: sampleRate,
       chunkDuration: chunkDuration)
-    recorder.startRecording()
+    try recorder.startRecording()
 
     // Run until the run loop is stopped (by signal handler)
     while true {
@@ -146,17 +155,17 @@ struct AudioTee {
       }
     }
 
-    Logger.info("Shutting down...")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.info("Shutting down...")
     recorder.stopRecording()
   }
 
   private func setupSignalHandlers() {
     signal(SIGINT) { _ in
-      Logger.info("Received SIGINT, initiating graceful shutdown...")
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.info("Received SIGINT, initiating graceful shutdown...")
       CFRunLoopStop(CFRunLoopGetMain())
     }
     signal(SIGTERM) { _ in
-      Logger.info("Received SIGTERM, initiating graceful shutdown...")
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.info("Received SIGTERM, initiating graceful shutdown...")
       CFRunLoopStop(CFRunLoopGetMain())
     }
   }

Sources/AudioTeeCLI/BinaryOutputHandler.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import AudioTeeCore
+import Foundation
+
+/// CLI-specific output handler that writes raw PCM audio to stdout
+/// and lifecycle messages to stderr via the logger.
+class BinaryAudioOutputHandler: AudioOutputHandler {
+  private let flushAfterWrite: Bool
+
+  init(flushAfterWrite: Bool = false) {
+    self.flushAfterWrite = flushAfterWrite
+  }
+
+  func handleAudioPacket(_ packet: AudioPacket) {
+    // Write raw binary audio data directly to stdout
+    FileHandle.standardOutput.write(packet.data)
+    if flushAfterWrite {
+      fflush(stdout)
+    }
+  }
+
+  func handleMetadata(_ metadata: AudioStreamMetadata) {
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.writeMessage(.metadata, data: metadata)
+  }
+
+  func handleStreamStart() {
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.writeMessage(.streamStart, data: Optional<String>.none)
+  }
+
+  func handleStreamStop() {
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.writeMessage(.streamStop, data: Optional<String>.none)
+  }
+}

Sources/AudioTeeCLI/main.swift

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import AudioTeeCore
 import AudioToolbox
 import Foundation
 

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioBuffer.swift

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public class AudioBuffer {
 
   public func append(_ data: Data) {
     guard availableBytes + data.count <= maxBufferSize else {
-      Logger.error(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
         "Audio buffer overflow",
         context: [
           "requested": String(data.count),
@@ -96,12 +96,10 @@ public class AudioBuffer {
 
     availableBytes -= bytesPerChunk
 
-    let packet = AudioPacket(
+    return AudioPacket(
       timestamp: Date(),
       duration: chunkDuration,
-      rawAudioData: chunkData
+      data: chunkData
     )
-
-    return packet
   }
 }

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioFormatConverter.swift

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
     self.targetFormat = targetAVFormat
     self.avConverter = converter
 
-    Logger.debug(
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
       "Audio converter created",
       context: [
         "source_sample_rate": String(sourceAVFormat.sampleRate),
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
 
     // Warn about upsampling once during initialization
     if targetAVFormat.sampleRate > sourceAVFormat.sampleRate {
-      Logger.info(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.info(
         "Upsampling audio - this doesn't add frequency content above the original Nyquist limit",
         context: [
           "source_rate": String(sourceAVFormat.sampleRate),
@@ -48,13 +48,18 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
     }
   }
 
-  /// Get the target format as AudioStreamBasicDescription
+  /// The source format this converter reads from.
+  public var sourceFormatDescription: AudioStreamBasicDescription {
+    return sourceFormat.streamDescription.pointee
+  }
+
+  /// The target format this converter produces.
   public var targetFormatDescription: AudioStreamBasicDescription {
     return targetFormat.streamDescription.pointee
   }
 
   public func transform(_ packet: AudioPacket) -> AudioPacket {
-    let inputData = packet.rawAudioData
+    let inputData = packet.data
 
     // Calculate frame counts
     let inputFrameCount =
@@ -67,7 +72,7 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
       let inputBuffer = AVAudioPCMBuffer(
         pcmFormat: sourceFormat, frameCapacity: AVAudioFrameCount(inputFrameCount))
     else {
-      Logger.error("Failed to create input buffer")
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Failed to create input buffer")
       return packet
     }
 
@@ -83,7 +88,7 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
       let outputBuffer = AVAudioPCMBuffer(
         pcmFormat: targetFormat, frameCapacity: AVAudioFrameCount(outputFrameCount))
     else {
-      Logger.error("Failed to create output buffer")
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Failed to create output buffer")
       return packet
     }
 
@@ -99,7 +104,7 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
 
     // Check if conversion produced output (regardless of status code)
     guard outputBuffer.frameLength > 0 else {
-      Logger.error(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
         "Audio conversion produced no output",
         context: [
           "status": String(describing: status),
@@ -119,16 +124,10 @@ public class AudioFormatConverter {
     return AudioPacket(
       timestamp: packet.timestamp,
       duration: packet.duration,
-      rawAudioData: outputData
+      data: outputData
     )
   }
-}
 
-// MARK: - Convenience Constructors
-
-extension AudioFormatConverter {
-  /// Create a converter to a specific sample rate with mono PCM 16-bit output
-  /// Since the tap already converts to mono, we hardcode channels to 1
   public static func toSampleRate(
     _ sampleRate: Double, from sourceFormat: AudioStreamBasicDescription
   ) throws -> AudioFormatConverter {
@@ -136,26 +135,17 @@ extension AudioFormatConverter {
     targetFormat.mSampleRate = sampleRate
     targetFormat.mFormatID = kAudioFormatLinearPCM
     targetFormat.mFormatFlags = kAudioFormatFlagIsPacked | kAudioFormatFlagIsSignedInteger
-    targetFormat.mBytesPerPacket = 2
     targetFormat.mFramesPerPacket = 1
-    targetFormat.mBytesPerFrame = 2
-    targetFormat.mChannelsPerFrame = 1  // Always mono since tap handles this
     targetFormat.mBitsPerChannel = 16
+    targetFormat.mChannelsPerFrame = sourceFormat.mChannelsPerFrame
+    targetFormat.mBytesPerFrame =
+      (targetFormat.mBitsPerChannel / 8) * sourceFormat.mChannelsPerFrame
+    targetFormat.mBytesPerPacket = targetFormat.mFramesPerPacket * targetFormat.mBytesPerFrame
 
     return try AudioFormatConverter(sourceFormat: sourceFormat, targetFormat: targetFormat)
   }
 
-  /// Common sample rates for validation
-  public static let supportedSampleRates: [Double] = [
-    8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000,
-  ]
-
-  /// Validate if a sample rate is supported
   public static func isValidSampleRate(_ sampleRate: Double) -> Bool {
-    return supportedSampleRates.contains(sampleRate)
+    return [8000, 16000, 22050, 24000, 32000, 44100, 48000].contains(sampleRate)
   }
 }
-
-// MARK: - Error Types
-
-// AudioConverterError moved to Sources/Core/Errors/AudioTeeErrors.swift

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioFormatManager.swift

@@ -3,25 +3,25 @@ import CoreAudio
 import Foundation
 
 public class AudioFormatManager {
-  public static func getDeviceFormat(deviceID: AudioObjectID) -> AudioStreamBasicDescription {
+  public static func getDeviceFormat(deviceID: AudioObjectID) throws -> AudioStreamBasicDescription {
     // First, wait for the device to become alive/ready
     let deviceReadyTimeout = 2.0  // 2 seconds max wait
     let pollInterval = 0.1  // 100ms poll interval
     let maxPolls = Int(deviceReadyTimeout / pollInterval)
 
-    Logger.debug(
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
       "Waiting for audio device to become ready", context: ["device_id": String(deviceID)])
 
     // Poll device readiness
     for poll in 1...maxPolls {
       if isAudioDeviceValid(deviceID) {
-        Logger.debug(
+        AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
           "Audio device is ready", context: ["device_id": String(deviceID), "polls": String(poll)])
         break
       }
 
       if poll == maxPolls {
-        Logger.info(
+        AudioTeeLogging.logger.info(
           "Device did not become ready within timeout, proceeding anyway",
           context: [
             "device_id": String(deviceID),
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public class AudioFormatManager {
         break
       }
 
-      Logger.info("------- not ready; retrying...")
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.info("------- not ready; retrying...")
 
       Thread.sleep(forTimeInterval: pollInterval)
     }
@@ -49,11 +49,11 @@ public class AudioFormatManager {
         deviceID, &propertyAddress, 0, nil, &propertySize, &streamFormat)
 
       if status == noErr {
-        Logger.debug("Successfully retrieved device format", context: ["attempt": String(attempt)])
+        AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Successfully retrieved device format", context: ["attempt": String(attempt)])
         return streamFormat
       }
 
-      Logger.info(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.info(
         "------- Failed to get stream format after device ready check, retrying...",
         context: [
           "attempt": String(attempt),
@@ -69,16 +69,14 @@ public class AudioFormatManager {
     }
 
     // If all attempts failed after device readiness confirmation, this is a genuine error
-    Logger.error(
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
       "Failed to get device format after device readiness check and retries",
       context: [
         "device_id": String(deviceID),
         "device_was_ready": "true",
       ])
 
-    fatalError(
+    throw AudioTeeError.deviceFormatUnavailable(deviceID)
-      "Failed to get stream format from ready device: \(deviceID). This indicates a Core Audio subsystem error."
-    )
   }
 
   static func createMetadata(for format: AudioStreamBasicDescription) -> AudioStreamMetadata {
@@ -94,14 +92,8 @@ public class AudioFormatManager {
     )
   }
 
-  public static func writeMetadata(for format: AudioStreamBasicDescription) {
-    let metadata = createMetadata(for: format)
-    Logger.writeMessage(.metadata, data: metadata)
-    Logger.writeMessage(.streamStart, data: Optional<String>.none)
-  }
-
   public static func logFormatInfo(_ format: AudioStreamBasicDescription) {
-    Logger.debug(
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
       "Using device's native format",
       context: [
         "channels": String(format.mChannelsPerFrame),

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioPacket.swift

@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@ import Foundation
 public struct AudioPacket {
   public let timestamp: Date
   public let duration: Double
-  public let rawAudioData: Data
+  public let data: Data
 
   public init(
     timestamp: Date,
     duration: Double,
-    rawAudioData: Data
+    data: Data
   ) {
     self.timestamp = timestamp
     self.duration = duration
-    self.rawAudioData = rawAudioData
+    self.data = data
   }
 }

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioRecorder.swift

@@ -5,29 +5,38 @@ import Foundation
 public class AudioRecorder {
   private var deviceID: AudioObjectID
   private var ioProcID: AudioDeviceIOProcID?
-  private var sourceFormat: AudioStreamBasicDescription?
+  private var finalFormat: AudioStreamBasicDescription!
-  private var finalFormat: AudioStreamBasicDescription?
   private var audioBuffer: AudioBuffer?
   private var outputHandler: AudioOutputHandler
   private var converter: AudioFormatConverter?
-  private var chunkDuration: Double
 
-  init(
+  /// The audio format this recorder produces (after any conversion).
+  public var outputFormat: AudioStreamBasicDescription {
+    return finalFormat
+  }
+
+  /// Whether this recorder is performing sample rate conversion.
+  public var isConverting: Bool {
+    return converter != nil
+  }
+
+  public init(
     deviceID: AudioObjectID, outputHandler: AudioOutputHandler, convertToSampleRate: Double? = nil,
     chunkDuration: Double = 0.2
-  ) {
+  ) throws {
     self.deviceID = deviceID
     self.outputHandler = outputHandler
-    self.chunkDuration = chunkDuration
 
     // Get source format and set up conversion if requested
-    let sourceFormat = AudioFormatManager.getDeviceFormat(deviceID: deviceID)
+    let sourceFormat = try AudioFormatManager.getDeviceFormat(deviceID: deviceID)
-    self.sourceFormat = sourceFormat
+
+    // Set up the audio buffer using source format and configurable chunk duration
+    self.audioBuffer = AudioBuffer(format: sourceFormat, chunkDuration: chunkDuration)
 
     if let targetSampleRate = convertToSampleRate {
       // Validate sample rate
       guard AudioFormatConverter.isValidSampleRate(targetSampleRate) else {
-        Logger.error("Invalid sample rate", context: ["sample_rate": String(targetSampleRate)])
+        AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Invalid sample rate", context: ["sample_rate": String(targetSampleRate)])
         self.converter = nil
         self.finalFormat = sourceFormat
         return
@@ -37,10 +46,10 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
         let converter = try AudioFormatConverter.toSampleRate(targetSampleRate, from: sourceFormat)
         self.converter = converter
         self.finalFormat = converter.targetFormatDescription
-        Logger.info(
+        AudioTeeLogging.logger.info(
           "Audio conversion enabled", context: ["target_sample_rate": String(targetSampleRate)])
       } catch {
-        Logger.error(
+        AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
           "Failed to create audio converter, using original format",
           context: ["error": String(describing: error)])
         self.converter = nil
@@ -52,32 +61,24 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
     }
   }
 
-  func startRecording() {
+  public func startRecording() throws {
-    Logger.debug("Starting audio recording")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Starting audio recording")
 
-    guard let sourceFormat = sourceFormat, let finalFormat = finalFormat else {
+    // Log format info and send metadata for final format
-      fatalError("Audio formats not initialized")
-    }
-
-    // Set up the audio buffer using source format and configurable chunk duration
-    self.audioBuffer = AudioBuffer(format: sourceFormat, chunkDuration: chunkDuration)
-
-    // Log format info and send metadata for FINAL format
     AudioFormatManager.logFormatInfo(finalFormat)
     let metadata = AudioFormatManager.createMetadata(for: finalFormat)
     outputHandler.handleMetadata(metadata)
     outputHandler.handleStreamStart()
 
-    // Set up and start the IO proc
+    try setupAndStartIOProc()
-    setupAndStartIOProc()
 
-    Logger.info("Audio device started successfully")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.info("Audio device started successfully")
   }
 
   // Note to self, what about installTap? Would require audio engine and a node?
   // No; AudioEngine.installTap() can only fire as often as 100ms. too slow for us
-  private func setupAndStartIOProc() {
+  private func setupAndStartIOProc() throws {
-    Logger.debug("Creating IO proc")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Creating IO proc")
     var status = AudioDeviceCreateIOProcID(
       deviceID,
       {
@@ -91,15 +92,15 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
     )
 
     guard status == noErr else {
-      fatalError("Failed to create IO proc: \(status)")
+      throw AudioTeeError.ioProcCreationFailed(status)
     }
 
-    Logger.debug("Starting audio device")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Starting audio device")
     status = AudioDeviceStart(deviceID, ioProcID)
 
     if status != noErr {
       cleanupIOProc()
-      fatalError("Failed to start audio device: \(status). Device ID: \(deviceID)")
+      throw AudioTeeError.deviceStartFailed(status)
     }
   }
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
     let firstBuffer = bufferList.mBuffers
 
     guard firstBuffer.mData != nil && firstBuffer.mDataByteSize > 0 else {
-      "Warning: Received empty audio buffer".print(to: .standardError)
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Received empty audio buffer")
       return noErr
     }
 
@@ -116,24 +117,23 @@ public class AudioRecorder {
     let audioData = Data(bytes: firstBuffer.mData!, count: Int(firstBuffer.mDataByteSize))
     audioBuffer?.append(audioData)
 
+    processAudioBuffer()
+
+    return noErr
+  }
+
+  public func stopRecording() {
+    processAudioBuffer()
+    outputHandler.handleStreamStop()
+    cleanupIOProc()
+  }
+
+  private func processAudioBuffer() {
     // Process and send complete chunks, applying conversion if needed
     audioBuffer?.processChunks().forEach { packet in
       let processedPacket = converter?.transform(packet) ?? packet
       outputHandler.handleAudioPacket(processedPacket)
     }
-
-    return noErr
-  }
-
-  func stopRecording() {
-    // Send any remaining buffered audio, applying conversion if needed
-    audioBuffer?.processChunks().forEach { packet in
-      let processedPacket = converter?.transform(packet) ?? packet
-      outputHandler.handleAudioPacket(processedPacket)
-    }
-
-    outputHandler.handleStreamStop()
-    cleanupIOProc()
   }
 
   private func cleanupIOProc() {

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioTapManager.swift

@@ -3,16 +3,14 @@ import AudioToolbox
 import CoreAudio
 import Foundation
 
-class AudioTapManager {
+public class AudioTapManager {
   private var tapID: AudioObjectID?
   private var deviceID: AudioObjectID?
 
-  init() {
+  public init() {}
-    // Empty init - setup happens in setupAudioTap()
-  }
   
   deinit {
-    Logger.debug("Cleaning up audio tap manager")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Cleaning up audio tap manager")
 
     if let tapID = tapID {
       AudioHardwareDestroyProcessTap(tapID)
@@ -26,8 +24,8 @@ class AudioTapManager {
   }
 
   /// Sets up the audio tap and aggregate device
-  func setupAudioTap(with config: TapConfiguration) throws {
+  public func setupAudioTap(with config: TapConfiguration) throws {
-    Logger.debug("Setting up audio tap manager")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Setting up audio tap manager")
 
     tapID = try createSystemAudioTap(with: config)
     deviceID = try createAggregateDevice()
@@ -38,51 +36,47 @@ class AudioTapManager {
 
     try addTapToAggregateDevice(tapID: tapID, deviceID: deviceID)
 
-    Logger.debug("Audio tap manager setup complete")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Audio tap manager setup complete")
   }
 
   /// Returns the aggregate device ID for recording
-  func getDeviceID() -> AudioObjectID? {
+  public func getDeviceID() -> AudioObjectID? {
     return deviceID
   }
 
   private func createSystemAudioTap(with config: TapConfiguration) throws -> AudioObjectID {
-    Logger.debug("Creating tap description")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Creating tap description")
-    // Create a tap description
     let description = CATapDescription()
 
-    // Configure the tap to capture all system audio
     description.name = "audiotee-tap"
     description.processes = try translatePIDsToProcessObjects(config.processes)  // Properly translate PIDs
     description.isPrivate = true
     description.muteBehavior = config.muteBehavior.coreAudioValue
     description.isMixdown = true
-    description.isMono = true
+    description.isMono = config.isMono
     description.isExclusive = config.isExclusive
     description.deviceUID = nil  // system default
     description.stream = 0  // first stream of output device
 
-    Logger.debug(
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
       "Tap description configured",
       context: [
         "name": description.name,
         "processes": String(describing: config.processes),
-        "private": String(description.isPrivate),
         "mute": String(describing: description.muteBehavior),
-        "mixdown": String(description.isMixdown),
         "mono": String(description.isMono),
         "exclusive": String(description.isExclusive),
       ])
 
     // Create the tap
-    Logger.debug("Creating tap")
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug("Creating tap")
     var tapID = AudioObjectID(kAudioObjectUnknown)
     let status = AudioHardwareCreateProcessTap(description, &tapID)
 
-    Logger.debug(
+    AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
       "AudioHardwareCreateProcessTap completed", context: ["status": String(status)])
     guard status == kAudioHardwareNoError else {
-      Logger.error("Failed to create audio tap", context: ["status": String(status)])
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Failed to create audio tap", context: ["status": String(status)])
       throw AudioTeeError.tapCreationFailed(status)
     }
 
@@ -94,7 +88,7 @@ class AudioTapManager {
       tapID, &propertyAddress, 0, nil, &propertySize, &streamDescription)
 
     if formatStatus == noErr {
-      Logger.debug(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
         "Tap format retrieved",
         context: [
           "channels": String(streamDescription.mChannelsPerFrame),
@@ -121,7 +115,7 @@ class AudioTapManager {
     let status = AudioHardwareCreateAggregateDevice(description as CFDictionary, &deviceID)
 
     guard status == kAudioHardwareNoError else {
-      Logger.error("Failed to create aggregate device", context: ["status": String(status)])
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error("Failed to create aggregate device", context: ["status": String(status)])
       throw AudioTeeError.aggregateDeviceCreationFailed(status)
     }
 
@@ -148,7 +142,7 @@ class AudioTapManager {
     }
 
     guard status == kAudioHardwareNoError else {
-      Logger.error(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.error(
         "Failed to add tap to aggregate device", context: ["status": String(status)])
       throw AudioTeeError.tapAssignmentFailed(status)
     }

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/AudioTeeErrors.swift

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import CoreAudio
 import Foundation
 
 // MARK: - Core AudioTee Errors
@@ -8,6 +9,9 @@ public enum AudioTeeError: Error {
   case aggregateDeviceCreationFailed(OSStatus)
   case tapAssignmentFailed(OSStatus)
   case pidTranslationFailed([Int32])
+  case deviceFormatUnavailable(AudioObjectID)
+  case ioProcCreationFailed(OSStatus)
+  case deviceStartFailed(OSStatus)
 }
 
 // MARK: - Audio Format Conversion Errors

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Core/TapConfiguration.swift

@@ -2,10 +2,12 @@ public struct TapConfiguration {
   public let processes: [Int32]
   public let muteBehavior: TapMuteBehavior
   public let isExclusive: Bool
+  public let isMono: Bool
 
-  public init(processes: [Int32], muteBehavior: TapMuteBehavior, isExclusive: Bool) {
+  public init(processes: [Int32], muteBehavior: TapMuteBehavior, isExclusive: Bool, isMono: Bool) {
     self.processes = processes
     self.muteBehavior = muteBehavior
     self.isExclusive = isExclusive
+    self.isMono = isMono
   }
 }

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Output/AudioOutputProtocol.swift

@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-
 import Foundation
 
 /// Protocol for handling audio output in different formats

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Output/MessageType.swift

@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@ public enum MessageType: String, Codable {
   case streamStart = "stream_start"
   case streamStop = "stream_stop"
 
-  // Audio data
-  case audio
-
   // Logging
   case info
   case error

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Utils/AudioTeeLogger.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import Foundation
+
+// MARK: - Logging protocol
+
+/// Protocol that library consumers implement to receive log output.
+/// The library never writes to stderr directly — it calls through this.
+public protocol AudioTeeLogger {
+  func debug(_ message: String, context: [String: String]?)
+  func info(_ message: String, context: [String: String]?)
+  func error(_ message: String, context: [String: String]?)
+
+  /// Called for structured lifecycle messages (metadata, stream_start, stream_stop).
+  /// Default implementation is a no-op — pure library consumers get metadata
+  /// via AudioOutputHandler instead.
+  func writeMessage<T: Codable>(_ type: MessageType, data: T?)
+}
+
+// MARK: - Defaults
+
+extension AudioTeeLogger {
+  /// Library consumers typically don't need structured message output;
+  /// they receive metadata via the AudioOutputHandler protocol instead.
+  public func writeMessage<T: Codable>(_ type: MessageType, data: T?) {}
+
+  /// Convenience overloads so callers can omit context when it's nil.
+  public func debug(_ message: String) { debug(message, context: nil) }
+  public func info(_ message: String) { info(message, context: nil) }
+  public func error(_ message: String) { error(message, context: nil) }
+}
+
+// MARK: - Global logging configuration
+
+/// Global logger instance. Defaults to StderrJSONLogger (CLI behavior).
+/// Library consumers can replace this before calling any AudioTeeCore API.
+///
+///     // Silence all logging:
+///     AudioTeeLogging.logger = NullLogger()
+///
+///     // Custom logging:
+///     AudioTeeLogging.logger = MyOSLogLogger()
+///
+public enum AudioTeeLogging {
+  nonisolated(unsafe) public static var logger: AudioTeeLogger = StderrJSONLogger()
+}

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Utils/Logger.swift

@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 import Foundation
 
-public class Logger {
+/// Default logger implementation that writes JSON messages to stderr.
-  nonisolated(unsafe) private static let dateFormatter: ISO8601DateFormatter = {
+/// This is the CLI-appropriate logger; library consumers can replace it
+/// via AudioTeeLogging.logger.
+public class StderrJSONLogger: AudioTeeLogger {
+  private let dateFormatter: ISO8601DateFormatter = {
     let formatter = ISO8601DateFormatter()
     formatter.formatOptions = [
       .withInternetDateTime,
@@ -10,17 +13,22 @@ public class Logger {
     return formatter
   }()
 
-  private static let jsonEncoder: JSONEncoder = {
+  private let jsonEncoder: JSONEncoder = {
     let encoder = JSONEncoder()
-    encoder.dateEncodingStrategy = .custom { date, encoder in
-      var container = encoder.singleValueContainer()
-      try container.encode(dateFormatter.string(from: date))
-    }
     return encoder
   }()
 
-  // Write any message with the unified envelope
+  public init() {
-  public static func writeMessage<T: Codable>(_ type: MessageType, data: T? = nil) {
+    // Configured in init because stored property initializers can't
+    // reference other instance properties (self.dateFormatter).
+    jsonEncoder.dateEncodingStrategy = .custom { [dateFormatter] date, encoder in
+      var container = encoder.singleValueContainer()
+      try container.encode(dateFormatter.string(from: date))
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Write any message with the unified envelope to stderr
+  public func writeMessage<T: Codable>(_ type: MessageType, data: T?) {
     let message = Message(type: type, data: data)
     do {
       let jsonData = try jsonEncoder.encode(message)
@@ -32,17 +40,17 @@ public class Logger {
   }
 
   // Convenience methods for different message types
-  public static func info(_ message: String, context: [String: String]? = nil) {
+  public func info(_ message: String, context: [String: String]? = nil) {
     let logData = LogData(message: message, context: context)
     writeMessage(.info, data: logData)
   }
 
-  public static func error(_ message: String, context: [String: String]? = nil) {
+  public func error(_ message: String, context: [String: String]? = nil) {
     let logData = LogData(message: message, context: context)
     writeMessage(.error, data: logData)
   }
 
-  public static func debug(_ message: String, context: [String: String]? = nil) {
+  public func debug(_ message: String, context: [String: String]? = nil) {
     let logData = LogData(message: message, context: context)
     writeMessage(.debug, data: logData)
   }

Sources/AudioTeeCore/Utils/Utils.swift

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ func isAudioDeviceValid(_ deviceID: AudioObjectID) -> Bool {
 
   let valid = status == kAudioHardwareNoError && isAlive == 1
 
-  Logger.debug(
+  AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
     "Checked device validity",
     context: [
       "device_id": String(deviceID),
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func translatePIDsToProcessObjects(_ pids: [Int32]) throws -> [AudioObjectID] {
 
     if status == kAudioHardwareNoError && processObject != kAudioObjectUnknown {
       processObjects.append(processObject)
-      Logger.debug(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
         "Translated PID to process object",
         context: [
           "pid": String(pid),
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func translatePIDsToProcessObjects(_ pids: [Int32]) throws -> [AudioObjectID] {
         ])
     } else {
       failedPIDs.append(pid)
-      Logger.debug(
+      AudioTeeLogging.logger.debug(
         "Failed to translate PID to process object",
         context: [
           "pid": String(pid),
@@ -87,11 +87,3 @@ func translatePIDsToProcessObjects(_ pids: [Int32]) throws -> [AudioObjectID] {
 
   return processObjects
 }
-
-extension String {
-    func print(to fileHandle: FileHandle) {
-        if let data = (self + "\n").data(using: .utf8) {
-            fileHandle.write(data)
-        }
-    }
-}

Sources/Output/Handlers/BinaryOutputHandler.swift

@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-import Foundation
-
-/// Binary output with JSON headers (pipe-optimised)
-public class BinaryAudioOutputHandler: AudioOutputHandler {
-  public init() {}
-
-  public func handleAudioPacket(_ packet: AudioPacket) {
-    // Write raw binary audio data directly to stdout
-    FileHandle.standardOutput.write(packet.rawAudioData)
-  }
-
-  public func handleMetadata(_ metadata: AudioStreamMetadata) {
-    Logger.writeMessage(.metadata, data: metadata)
-  }
-
-  public func handleStreamStart() {
-    Logger.writeMessage(.streamStart, data: Optional<String>.none)
-  }
-
-  public func handleStreamStop() {
-    Logger.writeMessage(.streamStop, data: Optional<String>.none)
-  }
-}

Tests/AudioTeeCoreTests/AudioPacketTests.swift

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import XCTest
+@testable import AudioTeeCore
+
+final class AudioPacketTests: XCTestCase {
+  func testPacketCreation() {
+    let timestamp = Date()
+    let duration = 1.0
+    let data = Data([0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04])
+    
+    let packet = AudioPacket(
+      timestamp: timestamp,
+      duration: duration,
+      data: data
+    )
+    
+    XCTAssertEqual(packet.timestamp, timestamp)
+    XCTAssertEqual(packet.duration, duration)
+    XCTAssertEqual(packet.data, data)
+  }
+  
+  func testPacketDataSize() {
+    let packet = AudioPacket(
+      timestamp: Date(),
+      duration: 0.5,
+      data: Data(repeating: 0xFF, count: 1024)
+    )
+    
+    XCTAssertEqual(packet.data.count, 1024)
+  }
+}