Privacy Policy
1. Your data stays on your phone
Soundsmith changes how audio sounds using Android's built-in audio effects (dynamics processing and, where your phone supports it, virtualizer) attached to the playback of other apps on your phone. It never records, reads, stores or uploads your audio and does not use the microphone.
To pick a mode automatically (Smart Auto) and to show which app is being enhanced, Soundsmith reads from Android the type of audio that is playing (music, film, speech or game), whether sound goes to the phone speaker or headphones, and the name of the app that opened an audio session. This is used only on your device, at the moment it is needed; it is not stored as a history and is never sent to us or to any partner. Your settings and presets are kept only in the app's private storage; cloud backup of that storage is disabled.
2. Permissions
- Modify audio settings (MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS) — granted at install; lets Soundsmith attach its sound effects to audio playback. No audio is captured.
- Foreground service — special use (FOREGROUND_SERVICE, FOREGROUND_SERVICE_SPECIAL_USE) — only while you have Soundsmith switched on. Android removes audio effects when the app that owns them stops, so a system-wide sound enhancer has to keep running while other apps play. A permanent notification with an Off button is shown the whole time, and you can also switch it off in the app or the Quick Settings tile.
- Notifications (POST_NOTIFICATIONS, asked on Android 13+ the first time you switch Soundsmith on) — for the notification above and, for free users only, one optional tip a day that you can turn off.
- Run at startup (RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED) — granted at install; restarts the enhancer after a reboot only if you left it switched on.
- Internet — ads, analytics, purchases and consent. Your audio and the apps you play are never sent.
- Soundsmith does not request the microphone, Bluetooth, location, contacts, storage or usage-access permissions.
3. Analytics and crash reports (Google Firebase)
With your consent where required, we use Google Analytics for Firebase and Firebase Crashlytics to understand how the app is used and to fix crashes. We log anonymous events such as “paywall viewed” or “purchase completed”, plus device model, OS and app version, approximate region and an app-instance identifier. We never log your content; the app enforces this with an allow-list of event parameters. Crash reports contain the error type and stack trace only. Firebase Remote Config is used to tune paywall and ad settings.
4. Advertising (Google AdMob and Unity Ads)
The free version shows ads: one slim banner on the Presets screen, an occasional full-screen ad after you save a preset, and optional rewarded ads you choose to watch to unlock a Pro feature for an hour. Ads are always muted so they never play over your audio, never appear while you are turning a knob or comparing with the original, during onboarding or on the paywall, and never in the first two minutes of first use. Soundsmith Pro removes all ads.
Ads are served by Google AdMob, with Unity Ads competing through AdMob mediation. These partners may collect the advertising ID, device and usage information and approximate location derived from your IP address to serve and measure ads. See Google's and Unity's privacy policies.
5. Your choices (GDPR, UK GDPR, Swiss FADP, US state laws)
In the EEA, the UK and Switzerland, Soundsmith asks for your consent through Google's consent message (IAB TCF) before personalised ads or analytics are used. If you decline, ads are non-personalised and analytics stays off. In US states with privacy laws (such as California, Virginia, Colorado), you can opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information and targeted advertising. You can change your choice at any time in Settings → Privacy choices.
Legal bases (GDPR): consent for analytics and personalised ads; performance of a contract for the features you use and for purchases; legitimate interest for crash diagnostics where consent is not required. You may request access, deletion, correction or portability of data we control, object to processing, or lodge a complaint with your supervisory authority. California residents (CCPA/CPRA): we do not sell personal information for money; ad partners may receive identifiers as described above, which you can opt out of in Privacy choices. We do not discriminate against users who exercise their rights.
6. Purchases
Subscriptions and the lifetime purchase are processed by Google Play. We never receive your payment details; Google tells the app whether Pro is active.
7. Retention and deletion
Your settings and presets remain on your device until you clear the app's data or uninstall it. Analytics data is retained by Google for up to 14 months. See how to delete your data.
8. Children
Soundsmith is not directed to children under 13 (under 16 in the EEA) and we do not knowingly collect their data.
9. Services we use
Google Firebase (Analytics, Crashlytics, Remote Config), Google AdMob and the User Messaging Platform, Unity Ads (through AdMob mediation) and Google Play Billing.
10. Changes
We will update this page if our practices change and revise the date above.