Music playing. A video open in the browser. A call about to start. You want to turn one app down without turning everything else down with it.
I built AppMixer, a Mac menu bar app that gives each app its own volume and output controls.
The everyday controls are free. Pro adds audio processing and automation through a one-time purchase, with a 14-day free trial. No subscription, no account, and no tracking.
Get AppMixer on the Mac App Store
Turn down the browser, keep the music
AppMixer puts volume sliders and mute controls for individual apps in the menu bar. You can lower a video in Safari, keep your music at its current level, or silence one app entirely.
There are also desktop widgets for adjusting an app's volume without opening the menu.
Volume is only part of it. You can choose a different output device for each app, so your music can stay on the speakers while your call goes to your headphones.
An app can also follow the system output, and you can switch the system output from the same menu.
Music on speakers, calls in headphones
These controls are part of the free app, along with:
- Software volume control for HDMI and DisplayPort monitors whose volume macOS cannot control.
- A maximum volume setting for each output device.
- Desktop widgets for raising, lowering, or muting an app's volume.
The free features remain available after the Pro trial ends.
What Pro adds
Pro is for shaping the sound and automating your setup.
It includes a 10-band equalizer with presets for each app, volume boost up to +12 dB with a limiter, loudness leveling, left/right balance, mono, and channel swapping.
You can also:
- Listen through two pairs of headphones, with separate volume and delay controls.
- Play one app on multiple devices at once, with automatic synchronization.
- Automatically lower other apps during calls.
- Save profiles and switch them automatically by output device.
- Use keyboard shortcuts with an on-screen volume display.
- Set device priorities for automatic output switching.
- Set a sleep timer.
For example, two people watching a movie can each use their own headphones and choose their own volume.
About the macOS permission prompt
AppMixer needs the macOS Screen & System Audio Recording permission to control app audio. The name of that permission deserves an explanation, so the app explains why it needs access before macOS asks for it.
Audio is processed locally on your Mac and is never recorded. AppMixer does not save audio recordings. There is no tracking and no account to create.
Requires macOS 14.2 or later.
50 free Pro codes for the DEV community
I'm setting aside 50 codes that unlock AppMixer Pro at no cost for readers here.
If you'd like one, leave a comment saying you're interested. I'll reply with how to receive your code privately. One code per person, for the first 50 requests.
You don't need to leave a review, follow me, or share this post to receive a code. Feedback is welcome, but optional.
If the codes are gone, the everyday audio controls are still free, and you can try Pro free for 14 days.
I'd also like to hear about your audio setup: which apps and output devices do you use together, and what do you wish you could control more easily?
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