Your sound stays yours.

The BalanceBar app and this website do different things. Here’s what each handles.

Updated October 12, 2026.

The BalanceBar app

BalanceBar does not collect, transmit or sell personal data. It has no accounts, advertisements, analytics, tracking, payment features or third-party SDKs, and makes no network connections.

The app reads output-device names, identifiers, available volume controls, mono and balance settings locally to show its controls. Shared audio creates a macOS multi-output device and routes sound using CoreAudio; it does not capture audio. It changes sound settings when you use those controls. It does not record, capture or upload audio and does not request microphone access.

Optional volume keys

If you enable Volume keys, macOS requires Input Monitoring permission. BalanceBar subscribes only to system-defined media events and handles volume up, down and mute while shared output is active. It does not subscribe to typed-key events, record keystrokes or transmit input. Turn the switch off to stop listening, or revoke access in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Input Monitoring.

Local preferences

First-launch and Volume keys preferences and shared-audio recovery information, including the prior output’s identifier, stay in the app’s local container. macOS stores the audio settings and optional login registration. Your device name and audio preferences are not sent to MarSys. Mono and balance remain as set. Stopping sharing or quitting restores the previous output when available. Removing the app does not reset your macOS audio preferences.

Apple services

If you download through the Mac App Store, Apple handles distribution and any platform diagnostics according to your Apple settings and Apple’s privacy policy.

This website

The interactive demo runs in your browser. It doesn’t access your microphone, play audio or change your Mac’s sound settings. Demo choices are not saved and disappear when you reload the page.

This site is hosted on Vercel. Hosting and security services may process information such as your IP address, requested pages, browser information and request times to deliver and protect the site. See Vercel’s privacy policy. There are no visitor accounts.

Website statistics

MarSys measures page views, estimated visits and download starts in a private owner-only dashboard. Requests are grouped using a daily changing keyed hash of the IP address and browser information. Raw IP addresses, browser strings, full referral URLs and search queries are not stored in the statistics database. Only the page, time, a broad referral category and the temporary hash are saved, for up to 90 days, in a separate Neon database in Frankfurt. This helps us understand whether people find and download BalanceBar.

The counter sets no analytics cookies and uses no browser storage. It respects Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control signals and filters known bots. Estimates can include automated traffic or combine people on the same network. A download start is not proof of a completed download or an installation. The private owner dashboard uses essential security cookies for login and excluding owner traffic. Hosting providers still handle request information as described above.

Advertising

No advertising-network scripts or advertising cookies are active on this website. The sponsor area currently shows that the placement is available; it is not a paid ad. Ads will only be added with the corresponding privacy information and consent controls.

Optional donations

Donations use an external payment page at ko-fi.com. No payment form or tracking widget is embedded here. That provider handles your payment details under its own privacy policy. MarSys may receive payment records and donor details made available by the provider. Donations are optional, support the project and do not purchase app features.

Support messages

If you email MarSys, your address and message are used to reply and troubleshoot the issue. Include only the information needed for support. Don’t send passwords, payment details or recordings.

Questions or privacy requests

The public support inbox is being set up. For now, the answers on this page cover the current version.

Advertising or payment-provider changes will be reflected here before they are enabled. The app’s privacy practices remain separate from website advertising and donations.