A little under a month ago, a Sound Booster user named Abby contacted me and reported sound distortions when using the app. She mentioned that she was using bluetooth speakers, and that the sound anomalies only occurred when she was using those speakers. I have a bluetooth headset, and it's used as a part of the routine tests performed with each version of Sound Booster before they are released. However, I have never noticed this happening and could not reproduce it on my end.
As luck would have it, several days ago I purchased a new pair of bluetooth headset. I was using it with Sound Booster casually when I noticed Abby's issue. Now able to reproduce the problem, I went to work to try to fix it. It turns out the problem only occurs if you are using bluetooth headsets and speakers, and only if the app that is playing audio (eg. iTunes) has its volume turned up to the max. My theory is that newer bluetooth headsets and speakers do their own audio boosting and calibration and therefore it would “double boosting” the audio that Sound Booster provides.
The fix is an added option in Preferences named “Bluetooth Volume Over-boost Protection”. It’s a mouthful but does describe what it’s supposed to do fairly clearly. It is on by default for all bluetooth headsets and speakers, and will protect you from over-boosting by encouraging you to use the volume up/down buttons on the bluetooth device and not from the app. Note that you will still be able to use system-wide equalizer, individual app volume adjustment, and other Sound Booster features with this new option turned on. Version 0.31 has been submitted to the Mac App Store and should be live any minute now. Thanks Abby!More
Sound Booster 0.30 Update
The 0.30 version update to Sound Booster has just been uploaded to the Mac App Store. What started out as a compatibility update for Apple's latest OS X 10.12 "macOS Sierra" turned out to be a fairly significant update.
Under the hood, the most helpful change is probably how the audio is handled by the Sound Booster Driver and Sound Booster App, which now aggressively checks audio timestamps and eliminates all video/audio out of sync issues.
Another notable change is the "Sleep When Idle" feature, which will put Sound Booster to sleep if sound has not been played for a user-specified period of time to conserve CPU. However, this feature is experimental, and short notification sounds that wake it up may not be heard due to the delay of waking up.
The final major change is the ability to use bluetooth headsets or other audio output devices that you have on your Mac. This setting, like Sleep When Idle, can be found in Preferences under the Advanced tab.
There are other smaller changes and modifications as well, see the abbreviated change log summary below. Head over to the Mac App Store and check it out now, or see the screenshots from the 0.30 update.
[Major Changes]
* Aggressive syncing to prevent video/audio out of sync issue
* Added setting to allow bluetooth or other external devices to be used with Sound Booster
* Added setting to allow Sound Booster to sleep if idle after a set period of time (Experimental)
[Minor Changes]
* Speed improvements when turning on and off volume boost/equalizer
* Added setting to display equalizer details
* Added Turn On/Off Equalizer button to the status bar pop up
* Tested to be fully compatible with macOS Sierra (10.12)
[File Volume Booster]
* Produce MP4 Audio (m4a) files instead of MP3 files in File Volume Booster
* Better clipping control for File Volume Booster to reduce distortionMore
Under the hood, the most helpful change is probably how the audio is handled by the Sound Booster Driver and Sound Booster App, which now aggressively checks audio timestamps and eliminates all video/audio out of sync issues.
Another notable change is the "Sleep When Idle" feature, which will put Sound Booster to sleep if sound has not been played for a user-specified period of time to conserve CPU. However, this feature is experimental, and short notification sounds that wake it up may not be heard due to the delay of waking up.
The final major change is the ability to use bluetooth headsets or other audio output devices that you have on your Mac. This setting, like Sleep When Idle, can be found in Preferences under the Advanced tab.
There are other smaller changes and modifications as well, see the abbreviated change log summary below. Head over to the Mac App Store and check it out now, or see the screenshots from the 0.30 update.
[Major Changes]
* Aggressive syncing to prevent video/audio out of sync issue
* Added setting to allow bluetooth or other external devices to be used with Sound Booster
* Added setting to allow Sound Booster to sleep if idle after a set period of time (Experimental)
[Minor Changes]
* Speed improvements when turning on and off volume boost/equalizer
* Added setting to display equalizer details
* Added Turn On/Off Equalizer button to the status bar pop up
* Tested to be fully compatible with macOS Sierra (10.12)
[File Volume Booster]
* Produce MP4 Audio (m4a) files instead of MP3 files in File Volume Booster
* Better clipping control for File Volume Booster to reduce distortionMore
Sound Booster Lite
So I received an email from the good folks at MacUpdate, saying that they have listed Sound Booster. They also asked if there is a demo version available that is independent of the Mac App Store.
This got me thinking, because when the idea of Sound Booster was conceived, I wanted to make a free version with basic features, then add In App Purchases for the more advanced features that people might want. However, Apple did not allow this on their App Store due to a conflict with their policies, so I scrapped that plan and made the entire app a one-time-purchase of $5.99.
So, after this kind reminder from MacUpdate, I got to work and produced a Lite version of Sound Booster that is independent of the Mac App Store. It has system-wide volume boosting for all running apps, boosting volume for mp3 files on all devices, etc, all for FREE. For more features like a system-wide equalizer, individual volume adjustments, and other advanced features, one could easily upgrade to the full App Store version.
So there you have it. Download Sound Booster Lite now and enjoy system-wide volume boosting for free!More
This got me thinking, because when the idea of Sound Booster was conceived, I wanted to make a free version with basic features, then add In App Purchases for the more advanced features that people might want. However, Apple did not allow this on their App Store due to a conflict with their policies, so I scrapped that plan and made the entire app a one-time-purchase of $5.99.
So, after this kind reminder from MacUpdate, I got to work and produced a Lite version of Sound Booster that is independent of the Mac App Store. It has system-wide volume boosting for all running apps, boosting volume for mp3 files on all devices, etc, all for FREE. For more features like a system-wide equalizer, individual volume adjustments, and other advanced features, one could easily upgrade to the full App Store version.
So there you have it. Download Sound Booster Lite now and enjoy system-wide volume boosting for free!More
Introducing Sound Booster
Sound Booster is a simple yet powerful app for an enhanced audio experience on your Mac.
Sound Booster works seamlessly in the background, focusing on the following three major features with the help of an optional component:
1. Boosting the volume of all apps on your mac
2. System-wide equalizer
3. Changing the volume of individual apps to your liking
In addition, you can add apps to the Excluded Apps list to automatically switch Sound Booster on or off depending on the currently active application.
Once you try Sound Booster, you'll wonder how you ever went without it! Combining the best features of several audio modification apps on the Mac, Sound Booster is the only app you need to get everything you want out of your Mac audio experience.
PS. Welcome Redditors! If you came here by way of the Reddit giveraway, please stay a while and take a look around. Also, don't hesitate to contact me if you need.More
Sound Booster works seamlessly in the background, focusing on the following three major features with the help of an optional component:
1. Boosting the volume of all apps on your mac
2. System-wide equalizer
3. Changing the volume of individual apps to your liking
In addition, you can add apps to the Excluded Apps list to automatically switch Sound Booster on or off depending on the currently active application.
Once you try Sound Booster, you'll wonder how you ever went without it! Combining the best features of several audio modification apps on the Mac, Sound Booster is the only app you need to get everything you want out of your Mac audio experience.
PS. Welcome Redditors! If you came here by way of the Reddit giveraway, please stay a while and take a look around. Also, don't hesitate to contact me if you need.More
