How to Set a Mac Audio Device to 96 kHz in Audio MIDI Setup

The short answer

Open Audio MIDI Setup, select the audio device, and choose 96,000 Hz from the Format menu. The 96 kHz option only appears when the connected device and its current driver support that sample rate. On devices with separate input and output sections, set the rate for the side you intend to use.

Before you start

A 96 kHz setting is meaningful for audio capture and playback, but it is not a microphone access permission and it is not the same as selecting which input is active in an app. If the microphone is not detected, fix detection and access first in the app or in System Settings under Privacy and Security. If the device is already detected but another app is controlling its sample rate, close that app or check whether the app exposes its own sample-rate control.

Set the sample rate

• Open Audio MIDI Setup from the Utilities folder inside Applications.

• In the Audio Devices window, select the microphone, interface, or output device from the left column.

• Find the Input or Output section for that device. Click the Format menu and select a value that includes 96,000 Hz.

The menu may show the rate as 96,000 Hz or as 96 kHz depending on the macOS version and driver. If you are setting a capture device, choose the rate in the Input section. If you are setting an output device, choose the rate in the Output section. A combined USB interface may expose both sections independently.

Check that the change took effect

Confirm the selected format remains at 96,000 Hz after clicking away from the device. If the device is in use, macOS may reject or immediately revert the change. Quit the app using the device, repeat the selection, then reopen the app and check the reported sample rate in the app or in Audio MIDI Setup.

If 96 kHz is not listed

• The device may not support 96 kHz at all.

• The current driver may not expose 96 kHz, even if the hardware can support it with different software.

• The port, connection, or current channel configuration may limit the available sample rates.

• Another audio utility or driver control panel may be overriding the available formats.

If the menu lacks 96 kHz, check the manufacturer's documentation for the exact device model and connection type before assuming the hardware can be changed to that rate. Updating or reinstalling the correct driver may add the option, but only when the hardware and driver combination supports it.

Choosing a higher sample rate does not make an unsupported microphone into a 96 kHz device. Audio MIDI Setup only offers the formats that macOS currently receives from the driver.