How eqMac's App Mixer Works for Per-Application Volume Control

eqMac's App Mixer lets you set an individual volume level for each application running on your Mac, similar to the per-app volume mixer in Windows. It is a Pro feature, so you need a Pro license to use it — the free tier does not include it. If your goal is simply to make one app (say, a browser tab or a game) quieter than everything else without touching the system volume, the App Mixer is the tool for that.

What the App Mixer actually does

On macOS, the system volume slider controls everything at once. There is no built-in way to say "keep Spotify at 40% but let my video call stay at 100%." The App Mixer fills that gap by intercepting system audio and applying a separate gain level to each application's stream.

According to eqMac's feature list, the App Mixer "adjust[s] volume per application across the system (just like on Windows)." That is the core behavior: one slider per app, applied on top of the normal system output.

How it fits into eqMac's audio pipeline

eqMac is described as "System Audio processing for macOS," and the App Mixer sits alongside the equalizer stages rather than replacing them. In practice this means:

• The equalizer shapes the tone (bass, mids, treble, or full parametric bands).
• The App Mixer sets relative loudness per application.
• Both then feed your selected output device.

Because eqMac supports "all Audio Device[s]: Built-in, Bluetooth, AirPlay 1, USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, Aggregate and MultiOutput," the per-app levels you set apply regardless of which output you're using — you are not locked to the built-in speakers.

Requirements and availability

The App Mixer is listed as Pro, while the Basic, Advanced, and Headphone Presets features are Free. So if per-app volume is your main reason for installing eqMac, plan for a Pro license rather than the free download.

Practical things to know before relying on it

• It is system-wide, not per-device. The mixer adjusts application volume "across the system," so the same relative levels follow your audio as you switch outputs.
• It pairs with Super Presets. eqMac's Super Presets can "automatically switch presets based on different conditions. For example Output Device or Main Audio App changes." That means you can have a preset that activates when a specific app becomes the main audio source — useful if you want different EQ and volume behavior for, say, a game versus a music player.
• Remote Control is separate. Controlling eqMac from an iOS, iPadOS, or Android device on the same local network is its own Pro feature, not part of the App Mixer itself.

When the App Mixer is the right choice

Use it if you routinely run several audio-producing apps at once and want to rebalance them without muting or quitting anything — for example, keeping background music low while a meeting or video stays at full level. If you only ever play one app at a time, the free equalizer features may be enough and the App Mixer adds little.

For the exact current feature split and licensing terms, check eqMac's own Features and Price pages, since tier assignments are set by the developer and can change.