Mac App Store · menu-bar app
Volume mixer for Mac
SoundDial is a volume mixer for Mac that lives in the menu bar and gives every app its own volume slider and mute button.
- A slider for every app
- Boost up to 200%
- €14.99 once. No subscription.
One slider. Every app.
Turn the music down. Keep the call loud. The system volume stays put.
A slider for every app
Every running app gets its own volume slider. Turn the music down, keep the call loud, and leave the system volume alone.
Mute one app
Every app has its own mute button. Silence a noisy chat app or an auto-playing video while everything else keeps playing.
Boost up to 200%
A quiet video or call can go above 100% on its own, without making every notification louder. Raise it in steps: there is no limiter.
Panel pieces are illustrations of the SoundDial 1.1 panel, not screenshots.
Mac volume and output
Your Mac's volume. And where it plays.
The top of the panel holds the Mac's own volume and, when more than one output is connected, a picker that switches the whole Mac to your AirPods, a display or the built-in speakers.
- Master volume from 0% to 100%
- Output picker for the Mac's default output
- App sliders stay as they are when you switch
Auto-duck
A call starts. The music steps back.
When a call app uses the microphone, the panel shows Call active and every other app plays quieter. When the call ends, the levels come back. SoundDial never opens or records the microphone.
- On by default, ducks to 30% (10% to 80% in Settings → Auto-Duck)
- Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, Discord, Slack, Webex, Skype and browser calls
- Your sliders keep their values the whole time
Profiles
Set it once. Switch in one click.
Save every app's volume and mute as a profile with a name and one of ten icons. Click its chip and the running apps go back to those levels.
- Save, rename, update, change icon, delete
- Save in the footer makes a quick save
- Work, Focus and Chill start empty: fill them with Update
Remembered volumes
Your levels, kept per app.
With Default volume for new apps set to Remember last, SoundDial keeps the level you set for each app. Prefer a clean start? Choose Always 100%.
- Saved per app and shown again in the panel
- Mute is not remembered
- An app opened later may need a touch of its slider first
Settings
Make it yours.
Five tabs: Setup, General, Appearance, Auto-Duck and About.
Your menu bar, your way
Pick the Dial, Speaker or Waveform icon. Turn on Launch at login so SoundDial is there after every restart, and Show in Dock if you want it in the Dock too (off by default).
A list that reads your way
Show or hide app icons and percentages, and sort apps by Name or Most Recent. SoundDial speaks 34 languages: it follows your Mac, or you pick one in Settings → General.
Setup and privacy
One permission. Nothing leaves your Mac.
A setup card walks you through the one permission macOS needs, System Audio Recording Only, with a button that opens the right page in System Settings and a short setup video.
- Sandboxed
- No network access
- No drivers installed
- No account, no analytics
Panel and settings pieces are illustrations of the SoundDial 1.1 app, not screenshots.
Why a Mac needs a per-app volume mixer
The volume keys change one level for everything. When a video call is too quiet and the music behind it too loud, raising one makes the other worse. SoundDial splits that single level into one slider per app, so you set each source once and stop reaching for the volume keys.
A Mac audio mixer for everyday sound, not a studio
People searching for a Mac audio mixer often want one of two things: a pro tool for recording and studio work, or a simple way to set each app's volume. SoundDial is the second. It does not record anything. It sits in the menu bar and gives you a mixer for the apps you already use: browsers, music players, call apps and games.
How it works
- Install SoundDial from the Mac App Store and open it.
- Follow the setup card: it opens the one permission macOS needs (System Audio Recording Only), so SoundDial can set other apps' volume.
- Click the menu-bar icon and drag each app's slider, or mute it.
Price and requirements
SoundDial is a €14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, with no subscription. It needs macOS 14.2 or later. It works per app, not per browser tab.
FAQ
Does macOS have a volume mixer?
No. macOS has one output volume for every app. SoundDial adds the per-app volume mixer that macOS leaves out.
How much does SoundDial cost?
€14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, no subscription. Local App Store prices vary by country.
Which Macs does it run on?
Any Mac running macOS 14.2 or later.
Can I set the volume of single browser tabs?
No. SoundDial works per app, so all tabs in one browser share that browser's slider.
Can SoundDial lower my music during calls?
Yes. Auto-duck is on by default: while Zoom, Teams, FaceTime, Discord, Slack, Webex, Skype or a browser uses the microphone, other apps play at 30% of their level (adjustable from 10% to 80%), and they come back when the call ends. Turn it off in Settings → Auto-Duck. WhatsApp and Telegram calls are not detected.
Does SoundDial use or record my microphone?
No. For auto-duck it only checks whether a call app's audio input is running; it never opens or records the microphone. SoundDial has no network access, no account and no analytics.
Can I save different volume setups?
Yes. Save the current levels and mutes of all apps as a profile with a name and an icon, then switch with one click in the panel. The Work, Focus and Chill chips start empty until you fill them with Update.
Does SoundDial remember each app's volume?
Yes, with the default setting Remember last (Settings → General → Default volume for new apps). Mute is not remembered, and an app you open later may need a touch of its slider before the saved level applies. Choose Always 100% to start every app at full level.
Can SoundDial start when I log in?
Yes. Turn on Launch at login in Settings → General.
Which languages does SoundDial speak?
34. It follows your Mac's language, or you pick one in Settings → General; SoundDial restarts to apply it.
What permission does SoundDial need?
One: System Audio Recording Only, under Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording. A setup card in the app shows the steps, opens the right page in System Settings and has a short setup video.
Guides and comparisons: SoundDial blog.
Every app. Its own volume.
SoundDial lives in your menu bar. Click it, drag a slider, done.