Per-app equalizer
Adjust eight frequency bands from 63 Hz to 8 kHz with up to ±12 dB of adjustment for each app that is playing audio.
SOUND
SOUND is a free macOS menu-bar audio utility with per-app EQ, volume control, and output routing for music, calls, media, and production apps.
Per-app audio control for Mac
SOUND is a free macOS menu-bar app for controlling audio on a per-app basis. It combines an equalizer, volume mixer, and output selector so users can adjust individual apps without changing the rest of the Mac's audio.
Each app gets an eight-band equalizer covering 63 Hz to 8 kHz, a separate volume control, and an output choice. A System master handles audio that has not been individually overridden, while custom presets can be synchronized across Macs through iCloud. SOUND processes audio locally in real time and does not require an account.
Features
Per-app volume mixer
Set an individual volume level for each active app, so lowering a meeting, browser tab, or media player does not change other apps.
Audio output routing
Send an app to the system output or pin it to a particular speaker or headset, allowing different apps to use different outputs.
Presets and iCloud sync
Use Flat, Bass Boost, Vocal, Podcast, and Bright presets, or save custom presets that sync across Macs through iCloud.
System master
A System master can shape audio that has not been individually overridden, providing system-wide control alongside per-app exceptions.
Playback feedback and bypass
View a live spectrum glow and BPM readout when SOUND detects musical playback. Processing can also be switched off so apps play untouched.
Use cases
Movie night
Route a film or other media app to preferred speakers while keeping a simultaneous call in a headset, without repeatedly changing the system output.
Calls alongside other audio
Reduce the level of a loud Zoom or other meeting app while leaving music or other background audio at its existing level.
Everyday music
Add low-end or voice-focused EQ to a music track, then save the adjustment as a reusable preset for later listening.
Audio and video production
Use separate app outputs and levels while working in an audio or video production workflow, including supported apps such as Pro Tools, Cubase, Audacity, BandLab, DaVinci Resolve, and OBS Studio.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Combines per-app EQ, volume, and output routing in one menu-bar interface.
- Uses macOS audio capabilities without virtual audio drivers or kernel extensions.
- Includes both per-app exceptions and a System master for broader sound shaping.
- Audio is processed locally, with no account and no recording, storage, or upload of listening activity.
- Available free through the Mac App Store or direct DMG download.
Cons
- Requires macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later, so older Macs and earlier macOS releases are not supported.
- A one-time macOS audio capture permission is required to process audio from other apps.
- Controls are presented for apps that are currently playing audio, rather than as a permanent mixer list for every installed app.
FAQ
Which macOS versions does SOUND support?
SOUND requires macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later. Earlier macOS versions are not supported.
Does SOUND install an audio driver?
No. SOUND uses macOS per-app audio capabilities and does not install virtual audio drivers or kernel extensions. It also does not require a restart, and quitting the app leaves the Mac's audio as it was.
Can SOUND work as a system-wide equalizer?
Yes. SOUND provides a System master for audio that has not been individually overridden, while still allowing separate settings for particular apps.
Does SOUND record or upload audio?
SOUND processes audio locally in real time. It does not record, store, or upload what you listen to, and no account is required.
Is SOUND free?
SOUND is free to download and use through the Mac App Store or as a direct DMG download. No account or email is required.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Mac audio utility
- Platform
- macOS 26 (Tahoe) or later
- Interface
- Menu-bar app
- Audio controls
- Per-app EQ, volume, and output routing
- Distribution
- Mac App Store and direct DMG download
- Processing
- Local, real-time audio processing
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