What is Amplify?
A menu-bar app for macOS that makes your whole Mac louder than its built-in maximum, with a graphic EQ, 3D surround, and independent volume for each app.
Is it free?
Yes — completely free, no ads, no account. If you love it, you can buy me a coffee. Totally optional.
Why does it ask for microphone access?
To boost your sound, Amplify has to read your Mac's audio as it plays. On macOS, reading any audio counts as "microphone" access, so the system asks — even though Amplify never touches your actual mic and records nothing. It's the same permission every audio-processing app needs. Your audio never leaves your Mac.
Why does it install an audio driver?
Boosting every app system-wide requires a virtual audio device that your Mac's sound passes through. Amplify includes its own — built from scratch, signed and notarized by Apple — so there's no third-party driver to install separately. It runs entirely on your Mac.
Is it safe? Is it notarized?
Yes. Amplify is signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so it installs without security warnings. It makes no network connections and collects no data.
Right after installing, an app I had open has no sound. Why?
Installing the audio driver briefly restarts macOS's sound system, which can drop the connection for apps that were already playing. Just quit and reopen that app. It only happens once, right after install.
Does it work with AirPods and external speakers?
Yes. Amplify follows your active output automatically — AirPods, monitor, or built-in speakers — and remembers separate boost and EQ settings for each device.
Will it hurt my speakers or my ears?
A built-in limiter keeps the boosted sound clean rather than distorted. That said, big boosts are loud — start low and bring it up, especially with headphones.
Which Macs are supported?
macOS 15 and later, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
How do I uninstall it?
Quit Amplify, drag the app from your Applications folder to the Trash, and remove the driver at /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/HAL/AmplifyAudio.driver. A one-click uninstaller is on the roadmap.
How do I report a bug or request a feature?
Email hello@oceanwithinstudio.com. A hands-on slider EQ, custom presets, and global hotkeys are already planned.