Frequently Asked Questions
About MisoEQ
What is MisoEQ?
MisoEQ is a Mac app that turns down the sounds that bother you, like keyboard clicks and chewing, in everything your computer plays. Videos, calls, music and games all pass through it before they reach your speakers or headphones.
Who is it for?
People with misophonia, and anyone else who finds certain small sounds hard to tune out. If a creator's mouth noises or a coworker's typing on a call makes you want to close the tab, MisoEQ is for you.
Which sounds does it filter?
Keyboard and mouse clicks are filtered today. Chewing is experimental: turn on CHEWING WHILE TALKING to try it, and expect it to be a little rough around the edges during the beta. Voices and music are left alone as much as possible.
How it works
How does MisoEQ know what to turn down?
It combines two things: a trigger filter tuned to the sharp, short shape of clicks, and a small speech-enhancement model that separates voices from everything else. When someone is talking, the model keeps their voice clear while the clicks underneath get reduced.
Is MisoEQ "AI"?
Part of it uses machine learning, but not the kind you're probably thinking of. MisoEQ doesn't chat, write, or generate images, video or music. It doesn't make anything up. Its model has one job: telling a voice apart from the noise around it, a few milliseconds at a time.
For the technically curious: the voice model is DeepFilterNet, an open-source speech-enhancement model built to clean up voices in real time. MisoEQ runs it entirely on your Mac.
Will it ruin my music?
No. Once MisoEQ hears music, its trigger filters step aside and only your EQ applies, so songs play through untouched. Talking, like a podcast or a video, is still filtered as usual.
Does it add delay?
The model processes each slice of audio in about 3 milliseconds on a Mac, well under what you'd notice.
Privacy
Why does MisoEQ ask to record audio and access my Documents folder?
Recording system audio is how MisoEQ hears and filters what your Mac plays. It also lets you save a 20-second clip when something sounds wrong. Documents access is only for saving those clips. MisoEQ never uses your microphone. Full details are on our Privacy page.
Does my audio get sent anywhere?
No. Filtering happens on your Mac. We only get a clip if you send us one.
What does MisoEQ keep?
The last 20 seconds, in memory only, constantly overwritten while it filters. It's saved only when you press SAVE LAST 20s, and saved clips are deleted after 24 hours.
How do I send you a problem?
- Turn on Diagnostics > Show Diagnostics (Shift-Command-D).
- Right after you hear the problem, press SAVE LAST 20s.
- Press PLAY to listen to the clip.
- Post it on the MisoEQ Discord with Help > Copy Diagnostics and a note about what happened.
Compatibility and beta
What do I need to run it?
A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or newer) running macOS 14.4 (Sonoma) or later. Intel Macs aren't supported yet because we haven't been able to test on one. It works with any app that plays sound and any speakers or headphones.
Is there a Windows version?
Not yet. Windows is planned after the Mac beta.
Can I control it with a hardware mixer?
Yes. MisoEQ works with control surfaces in MCU mode, such as the PreSonus FaderPort 8, including bank switching and the scribble-strip displays.
How do I join the beta?
Get it at misoeq.com.
How much does it cost?
$5 during the beta, half the $10 launch price. Beta testers don't pay again when MisoEQ launches. Getting it for 50% off is our thank-you for helping test it.
Do I have to pay for updates?
Not for regular updates: fixes and improvements are free. A major upgrade, like support for a new operating system or a big overhaul of the app, is a new purchase. Beta testers always get major upgrades at 50% off.