Hey folk. I am having a specific issue with aggregate device in audio midi settings. If anyone can help me, I'd be so grateful.

I need to combine the Builtin Output and BlackHole 2ch as one aggregate device. The output 1-2 is Builtin Output, 3-4 is from BlackHole. Input 1-2 is from BlackHole. The channel order cannot altered because it will mess with settings in other audio apps. And I normally use this with my headphone plugged in.

When I try this on my Intel MacBook with Monterey, it works just fine. When I plug in or unplug my headphone, Builtin Output is always there with different icons (speaker or headphone), so can be kept in the aggregate device and it also keeps the channel order.

But on an Intel MacBook Pro with Ventura, there is no Builtin Output or Builtin Input in the setting. Instead, there are MacBook Pro Speaker and MacBook Pro Microphone. The problem is that if I use the MacBook Pro Speaker in the aggregate device, when I plug in a headphone, the MacBook Pro Speaker is gone. Instead, External Headphone appears. So the aggregate device only contains BlackHole, with its outputs being the channel 1-2. OK fine I can get the External Headphone in the aggregate device and set the channels. But if I unplug the headphone, MacBook Pro Speaker is there again and External Headphone is gone. The aggregate device only contains BlackHole again, so channel 1-2 are from BlackHole! You see what I mean? These is no way for me to keep a stable channel order with or without my headphone plugged in. I will have to edit the settings every time, which drives me insane.

Is this an OS change in Ventura and has no solution? I mean, the way it works in Monterey is not great. I wonder what is the problem. Am I using it wrong? Any help would be appreciated!