eqtune

Spec sheet

Product

eqtune is a lightweight, system-wide audio equalizer for macOS.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

License

The software is licensed under either MIT or Apache-2.0, at the user's option.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Audio capture

It uses Apple’s Core Audio process-tap API and says it needs no driver, kernel extension, or Developer ID certificate.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Audio processing

It uses Apple's Core Audio process-tap API on macOS 14.2 or later to apply parametric EQ without a driver or kernel extension.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Battery behavior

Idle auto-off and Low Power Mode auto-off are enabled by default, and the project warns that continuous EQ processing increases battery drain.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Battery impact

The maker says continuous real-time processing costs CPU and can increase battery drain compared with native playback.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Compatibility

The project requires macOS 14.2 or later and currently supports a single mixable, little-endian, interleaved stereo Float32 output stream.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Custom EQ

Users can adjust peaking and shelf bands, preamp, and Q; presets support up to 64 bands.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Device handling

eqtune follows default-output device changes and says plugging in headphones continues to work normally.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Equalizer controls

It supports editable parametric EQ bands, low and high shelves, preamp adjustment, and a soft limiter that is on by default.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Installation

The documented installable distribution is the crates.io package, installed with Cargo; the README also describes building from a clone.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Limiter

A soft limiter is enabled by default and can be toggled globally.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Output switching

It does not replace the default output device and follows changes such as plugging in headphones.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Permission

The first time eqtune is turned on, macOS asks for audio-capture permission.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Permissions

On first activation, macOS asks the user for audio-capture permission.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Power controls

The daemon can auto-disable when media is idle or macOS Low Power Mode is active, with both behaviors enabled by default.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Presets

It ships with bright, mellow, and pro presets, and supports saving, importing, exporting, and editing presets.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Support and integrations

The repository documents Bash, Zsh, and Fish shell completions; it does not state a support offering or third-party service integrations on the page.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Supported formats

It currently supports one mixable, little-endian, interleaved stereo Float32 output stream and does not process mono, multichannel, multistream, or several other listed formats.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Unsupported audio

It does not currently process true mono, multichannel, multistream, non-interleaved, integer-client, nonmixable, big-endian, or encoded-passthrough output streams.Read 5 Oct 2026 · github.com

Where Specifiction places it

• Audio Equalizer Software#17 of 227.1