pls help i'm going crazy

the audio is like i'm underwater and seems to be coming from the HDMI rather than the chatlink?

i have a setup with my Mac, my PS5 and a Monitor without sound.
I also have the Elgado HD60, Stream Deck and Chatlink connected. Everything worked peerfectly without issues and today it just stopped and i am LOSING MY MIND over it lol

i *think* my mac is all of a sudden recognising the chatlink as "external headphone" OUTput instead of an input but theres no way to change it - pls don't come for me i know PC would be a better option i will just simply cry if i have to look at a windows design for longer than 5 minuter

i run it with WaveLink rn as i'm not streaming but same issue on OBS

very specific very very very annoying issue. i even tried a second chatlink to make sure its not the cable, same issue. if anybody knows what could work please helppp <3<3<3<3

ADD ON; i tried with my other mac and downloaded all the apps and have the same problem on there which is making me believe its an issue on either a new mac update OR elgato software issue i am still going crazy though sooooo