Spades Audio
Menu-bar audio control for per-app volume, routing, EQ, and presets on Mac.
Tagline
Your Mac's audio command center
The missing macOS mixer Apple never shipped
One app for volume, routing, EQ, and presets
Mute everything except Zoom
The missing macOS audio mixer Apple never shipped.
The product is clearly framed as a native menu-bar utility for per-app control, routing, EQ, and presets, which maps cleanly to the gap left by macOS System Settings and Control Center.
An alternative to installing multiple point tools for volume, EQ, and routing.
Instead of separate apps for app volume, equalization, device switching, and automation, Spades bundles them into one native utility; that consolidation is a strong purchase argument for Mac power users.
A fast fix for the 'too many apps, wrong audio levels' problem.
The strongest pain-killer story is the live workflow: mute everything except Zoom, quiet Slack while mixing, or load a stream preset. The homepage examples make this concrete and easy to visualize.
Primary user
Mac power user who manages multiple audio-heavy apps at once, such as a remote worker, streamer, or content creator
ICP #1
Remote software engineer on a Mac who spends the day in Zoom, Slack, Chrome, and screen shares
Pain
They constantly need to silence background apps, boost call audio, and switch outputs without opening System Settings or digging through app menus
Why this solves
Spades Audio gives them one popover to mute everything except Zoom, change output per app, and save a meeting preset they can trigger instantly
ICP #2
Music producer or mixing engineer using a MacBook with Logic Pro, Spotify, Slack, and browser references
Pain
They want to keep production audio loud and clean while background apps stay quiet, but macOS only offers coarse system-wide volume control
Why this solves
Per-app volume and the 10-band EQ let them shape specific apps without affecting the rest of the system, which is exactly the workflow the homepage example implies
ICP #3
Twitch streamer or live creator running OBS, Discord, game audio, and alerts on one Mac
Pain
They need to rebalance game, voice, and notification levels fast, often while live, and cannot afford a clumsy settings workflow
Why this solves
Spades Audio supports named presets and natural-language AI control like 'set up my streaming audio,' making stream scene changes and audio balancing faster than manual slider juggling
Strengths
- +The page immediately communicates the core job: per-app volume, routing, and EQ from the menu bar.
- +The simulated interactive demo is smart because it shows the product behavior instead of just describing it.
- +The AI control examples are highly concrete, especially 'Mute everything except Zoom' and 'Set up my streaming audio,' which makes the feature feel real.
Weaknesses
- −The hero crams too many claims into one sentence; it tries to sell volume control, microphone level, EQ, routing, Siri, and AI all at once.
- −The page does not clearly explain why someone should choose Spades over SoundSource, which is the obvious benchmark competitor.
- −The pricing section is functional but under-argues the value of Pro; the jump from $29 to $49 needs a stronger proof of why AI, EQ, and grouping are worth it.
- −There is little evidence of reliability, performance, or OS-level integration beyond 'native macOS' and 'local processing,' which matter a lot for audio utilities.
- −The testimonials are good but narrow; they skew toward early-adopter use cases and do not yet establish trust for mainstream professionals.
Fix these
- Add a direct comparison table against SoundSource, eqMac, and Background Music highlighting menu-bar speed, AI control, pricing model, and local processing.
- Split the hero into three distinct value pillars: app control, routing/presets, and AI automation, so the message is easier to digest.
- Create one use-case section for each core persona: meetings, mixing, and streaming, with exact preset examples and before/after states.
- Clarify Pro value with a 'what you unlock' section showing concrete workflows like 'stream mode,' 'meeting mode,' and 'mixing mode' rather than only feature names.
- Add trust signals around local processing, permissions, latency, and macOS compatibility since audio users will worry about stability and system impact.
Drop-in replacement copy
Headline
Your Mac’s audio command center
Per-app volume, routing, EQ, and presets from one menu bar app.
Fix each app without leaving what you’re doing
Mute Slack, boost Zoom, quiet Chrome, or route Spotify somewhere else from the menu bar. You get the control you wish macOS had built in.
Save the setups you use every day
Create presets for meeting mode, stream mode, mixing mode, or focus mode. One click brings your Mac back to the exact audio setup you want.
Shape sound, not just volume
Use the 10-band EQ to tune specific apps instead of changing everything system-wide. Pro adds unlimited presets, grouping, and volume boost when you need more control.
Control it with your voice or AI
Trigger audio changes through Apple Intelligence, Siri Shortcuts, Claude, ChatGPT, and MCP-compatible assistants. Say what you want, and Spades Audio handles the setup.
FAQ
How is this different from SoundSource?
Spades Audio is built around a faster menu-bar workflow and AI control, with presets that make common setups easy to trigger. If you want a lighter, more direct way to manage per-app audio on Mac, that’s the point.
Does it process audio locally?
Yes. It’s designed as a native macOS utility with local processing in mind, so it stays fast and doesn’t feel like a cloud app in disguise.
Will it slow down my Mac?
It’s meant to stay out of the way. The whole product is optimized for quick menu-bar access and minimal friction, not for running a heavy audio suite in the background.
What does Pro unlock?
Pro adds speaker and microphone grouping, volume boost up to 1.5x, unlimited presets, profile import/export, and AI-driven control through supported assistants.
Who is this for?
Anyone on a Mac who constantly manages audio across meetings, music, streaming, or production. If you’ve ever wanted to mute one app without touching the rest, this is for you.
Spades Audio is live. Per-app volume, mute, routing, EQ, and presets from your Mac menu bar. Mute everything except Zoom. Quiet Slack while you mix. Switch to Stream Mode in one click. If you juggle audio all day, this is for you.
I kept losing time to dumb audio stuff on Mac. Open System Settings. Hunt for the right device. Mute the wrong app. Fix levels again. So I built Spades Audio: one menu bar popover for app volume, routing, EQ, and presets. Small tool. Big daily win.
If you work on a Mac with Zoom, Slack, Chrome, Spotify, and one too many tabs open, you know the pain. One app blasts. One disappears. Mic levels drift. Spades Audio lets you fix each app individually without digging through macOS menus.
This is the whole pitch: Mute Slack. Lower Chrome. Keep Zoom loud. Route Spotify to speakers. Save it as Meeting Mode. Then trigger it again with a click or voice. That’s what Spades Audio does.
The nicest feedback so far is usually some version of: “Why doesn’t macOS do this?” “SoundSource is powerful but too much.” “Finally, a menu bar app I’ll actually keep open.” That’s the product sweet spot I’m aiming for.
Spades Audio bundles the stuff Mac power users keep piecing together: Per-app volume Routing 10-band EQ Presets AI control If you’ve been running multiple audio utilities just to stay sane, this is the cleaner setup.
I wanted the fastest possible way to answer: “Why is this app too loud?” “Why can’t I hear the call?” “Why is Spotify in the wrong speaker?” So I put every fix in the menu bar. No settings maze. No system-wide nonsense.
Remote work on Mac should not mean: - hunting for mute buttons - adjusting app sliders one by one - switching outputs in three different places Spades Audio turns that into one preset you can fire instantly.
That’s the kind of command Spades Audio understands. Use presets for stream, meeting, mixing, or focus mode. And if you want, control it with Apple Intelligence, Siri Shortcuts, Claude, ChatGPT, or any MCP app.
The response from early users has been consistent: They don’t want more audio software. They want less clicking. Spades Audio wins when it feels invisible until the moment you need to fix something fast.
Angle: The missing macOS audio mixer
I kept running into the same problem on my Mac: Zoom is too quiet. Spotify is too loud. Slack pings during a call. Chrome decides to route somewhere weird. macOS gives you system volume control. That’s it. So I built Spades Audio: a menu-bar audio command center for per-app volume, mute, routing, EQ, and presets. The goal was simple: - one place to control every app - no settings maze - no separate tools for routing, EQ, and volume - fast enough to use in the middle of a call or session The best products remove friction you stop noticing until it’s gone. That’s what this is for. If you live on a Mac and juggle meetings, music, or streaming, I’d love your feedback.
Angle: Why combine multiple point tools
A lot of Mac users solve audio problems with a patchwork of tools. One app for volume. One for EQ. One for routing. One for automation. That works until it doesn’t. Then you’re context-switching between apps just to make the sound usable. Spades Audio was built to collapse that workflow into one native menu-bar app. The bet is pretty simple: if I can make the common actions faster, people will prefer one clean tool over three half-used ones. That means: - per-app volume and mute - output routing by app - 10-band EQ - presets for meeting, mixing, and streaming setups - AI control when you want to trigger it hands-free I’m curious what matters more to you: fewer tools, or deeper control in each tool?
Angle: Specific workflows for real users
The best audio software isn’t about features. It’s about a workflow you can name. Meeting Mode: Mute background apps, keep Zoom loud, route call audio to the right device. Mixing Mode: Keep production apps clean, quiet Slack, shape the sound with EQ. Stream Mode: Balance game, voice, Discord, and alerts without opening a settings rabbit hole. That’s why Spades Audio has presets. Not because presets sound good on a landing page. Because people do the same audio fixes over and over. If you use a Mac for work, production, or streaming, what would your first preset be?
Tagline
Mac audio control from the menu bar
Description
Per-app volume, routing, EQ, and presets for Mac. Fix Zoom, Slack, Spotify, and stream audio from one menu bar app.
Maker's first comment
I built Spades Audio because I was tired of Mac audio being “good enough” only when everything was behaving perfectly. In real life, my day looks like Zoom calls, Slack pings, browser tabs, music, and occasional recording or streaming - and macOS turns simple audio changes into a scavenger hunt. I wanted one place to do the obvious things fast: mute one app, boost another, route audio differently, save a setup, and get back to work. The more I used it, the more I realized this isn’t just a utility for audio nerds - it’s a daily frustration for anyone who lives on a Mac. The Pro tier adds the stuff power users kept asking for: grouping, boost, profile import/export, and AI control through Apple Intelligence, Siri, Claude, ChatGPT, and MCP-compatible assistants. I’m shipping this because I wanted it for myself first, and I’m hoping it saves other Mac users a lot of tiny annoying clicks.
Pinned maker comment
I’d love feedback on two things: whether the menu-bar workflow feels fast enough for daily use, and whether the Pro upgrade is clear and compelling versus tools like SoundSource.
Meta
Zoom too quiet? Slack too loud?
Hypothesis: remote Mac users will pay for one menu-bar app that fixes per-app audio faster than System Settings. Spades Audio lets you mute, route, EQ, and save presets in one click.
Google Search
Per-app volume for Mac
Hypothesis: people searching for SoundSource alternatives want a simpler menu-bar workflow. Spades Audio gives you per-app control, routing, EQ, and presets without a settings maze.
Reddit Promoted
Mac audio is still annoying.
Hypothesis: indie hackers, remote workers, and streamers in Mac communities are actively looking for a cleaner SoundSource alternative. Spades Audio keeps app audio, routing, and presets in one menu-bar app.
Subreddits
r/macapps
Show the menu-bar workflow and ask for feedback on what Mac users actually want in an audio utility
Rules: Self-promo is allowed only if it’s useful, specific, and honest; avoid hype and respond to comments
r/SideProject
Build story: why you made a Mac audio command center and what you learned shipping it
Rules: Share process, product screenshots, and lessons; avoid pure promotion with no context
r/indiehackers
Founding story plus pricing and positioning lessons from launching a niche Mac utility
Rules: Must be transparent, no spam, and ideally include learnings or a discussion prompt
r/mac
Practical pain-point post about fixing per-app audio on Mac for meetings and remote work
Rules: Be careful with self-promo; lead with problem, screenshots, and ask for advice
r/streaming
Stream audio preset workflow for OBS, Discord, game audio, and alerts on Mac
Rules: Show the streamer use case clearly; avoid dropping a link without useful explanation
Communities
Post a build log and one pricing/positioning question per week. Reply to every comment with concrete numbers, screenshots, and lessons.
Engage in audio, permissions, and macOS workflow threads. Ask for technical feedback on stability and system integration before posting a product link.
Share the narrow positioning lesson: one utility, one pain, one fast workflow. Don’t sell; ask how they’d message it to a Mac power user.
Creator and streamer Discords
Join 2-3 creator Discords where members already discuss OBS, audio routing, and Mac workflows. Offer preset ideas and troubleshooting help before mentioning the product.
Cold outreach template
Hey {firstName} - saw your {context} and thought of Spades Audio. It’s a Mac menu-bar app for per-app volume, routing, EQ, and presets, built for people who juggle Zoom, Slack, Spotify, and other noisy apps. If you want, I can send you a free code and you can tell me if it actually saves clicks.
Product Hunt timing
Launch on Tuesday at 12:01 AM Pacific Time. That gives you a full weekday runway, catches US tech traffic early, and fits the ICP because Mac power users, remote workers, and indie builders are most active on weekdays during work hours.
Indie Hackers post ideas
- 01I built a Mac audio command center because System Settings was too slow
- 02How I’d position a niche Mac utility against a bigger competitor
- 03What I learned pricing a Mac app at $29 vs $49
Competitor alternatives
Current tone of voice
Confident, polished, and slightly playful with a product-led demo style; examples like 'Mute everything except Zoom.' and 'Your Mac's Audio Command Center' make it feel crisp and capability-first rather than enterprise-heavy.
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