KidneyHD Audio
A free, open source USB audio driver for Line 6 POD HD pedals on current macOS.
Line 6 stopped updating its driver, and its kernel extension does not load on current Macs without lowering system security. KidneyHD Audio replaces it with a user-space Core Audio driver and a small background service. It needs no Line 6 software and no kernel extension.
What it does
- Makes the pedal a sound card: 48 kHz, 24-bit, two channels in and two out.
- Reports its real latency, so your DAW lines up recordings without a manual offset.
- Follows the macOS volume slider and keys.
- Keeps the pedal's control channel open and shares it, so KidneyHD Edit works while audio plays.
Requirements
macOS 14 or later, on Apple silicon or Intel.
| Pedal | Status |
|---|---|
| POD HD Desktop | Tested |
| POD HD500, HD500X, HD Pro, HD Pro X | Expected to work, untested |
If you own one of the untested models, open an issue with your results, whether it works or not.
Install
Download the installer and open it. Earlier versions and release notes are on the releases page. The installer restarts Core Audio, so sound on the Mac stops for a moment. Then plug in the pedal and choose it in System Settings › Sound or in your DAW. Set your DAW's project to 48 kHz.
To remove it, run this in Terminal:
sudo "/Library/Application Support/KidneyHD Audio/uninstall.sh"Do I need it?
You need it only for USB audio. KidneyHD Edit edits the pedal over USB on its own. The pedal's analog and S/PDIF outputs work without any driver. Firmware updates still need Line 6 Monkey and Line 6's own driver.
Help
The README on GitHub covers troubleshooting, the logs, security and building from source. To report a bug, open a GitHub issue.