Questions and answers about AudioBalance

How AudioBalance works

What does AudioBalance do?

AudioBalance evens out the volume of your Windows PC automatically. It measures loudness to ITU-R BS.1770-4 and regulates the sound so that loud parts get quieter and very quiet parts get gently louder. You set once how loud you want to listen, and the app does the rest in the background. More on that: Normalize volume on Windows.

What is the difference between Auto Level and Limit Only?

Auto Level turns loud parts down and gently lifts very quiet ones. Limit Only never turns up: what arrives quieter than the target stays as it is. You can switch between them in the app at any time.

What do Light, Normal and Strong do?

The modes change how tightly and how fast AudioBalance regulates. Light allows 2 LU of room and lets go more slowly, Normal 1 LU, Strong 0.5 LU and faster. LU stands for loudness unit, the unit of loudness measurement.

Does AudioBalance regulate each app on its own?

No. AudioBalance regulates the combined sound of all apps that play through the Windows default output, with one gain for all of it. When a game and music play at the same time, their balance stays as it is.

What does “Keep this volume” do?

One click measures the app that is playing and holds its volume. If the app's own slider is turned down, AudioBalance then regulates it as if it were at 100%. After every change to the app's own slider, click again. The Windows volume and the Windows mixer need no new click. The shortcut is Ctrl+Alt+L.

Which programs does AudioBalance work with?

With everything that plays through the Windows default output: browsers, streaming apps, games and music. These bypass AudioBalance:

• voice chat such as Discord, see below,
• programs in exclusive audio mode,
• programs that pick an output device themselves, such as OBS, music recording software and some games.

Setup

How do I install AudioBalance?

From the Microsoft Store or as a signed direct installer. Both install the same app. The direct installer has a new version right away; in the Store it appears once Microsoft has checked it. The steps are in the quickstart (in German).

Why does AudioBalance need VB-CABLE?

For AudioBalance to process sound system-wide, Windows audio first has to pass through a virtual input and output. For Auto Level the app guides you through installing VB-CABLE, donationware by VB-Audio (www.vb-cable.com). Without VB-CABLE, AudioBalance runs in compatibility mode: Limit Only works, Auto Level does not.

Do I need administrator rights?

Yes, to install it.

Does AudioBalance run on Windows 10, Windows 11 and ARM?

AudioBalance runs on 64-bit (x64) Windows 10 and 11. It is not tested on ARM, and running it there is not guaranteed.

Can I choose the output device myself?

Yes. Automatic follows a suitable physical output. If several speakers, headphones or docks are connected, you can pick one of them. Your choice is saved.

I hear nothing after installing. What should I do?

Check under the output device that the right playback device is selected, or set it to Automatic. Also check that AudioBalance is switched on (it shows “Active”). Right after installing the audio module, you may need to restart your PC once.

Are there keyboard shortcuts?

Yes. Ctrl+Alt+A switches the regulation on or off, Ctrl+Alt+M switches the mode, Ctrl+Alt+L keeps the volume. They work everywhere, even in games.

Games, voice chat and devices

Does AudioBalance regulate Discord?

No, on purpose. AudioBalance only puts the normal Windows default output on VB-CABLE. The default communication device stays your real device. Voice chat such as Discord therefore bypasses AudioBalance, and so does a stream you watch in Discord. Your teammates stay as loud as you set them in Discord, while AudioBalance regulates the game.

How much delay does AudioBalance add?

AudioBalance delays the sound by about 100 ms, VB-CABLE by about 90 ms. Together the sound arrives about 0.2 seconds later. Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth speakers add their own delay.

Is AudioBalance good for gaming?

That depends on the game and your headphones. Expect about 0.2 seconds of delay, plus the delay of Bluetooth headphones if you use them. Ctrl+Alt+A switches the regulation off and on, so you hear right away what it does to the level. The delay stays, because the sound still passes through VB-CABLE and AudioBalance.

Does AudioBalance work with Bluetooth headphones?

Yes, Bluetooth stereo is one of the outputs AudioBalance uses. The headphones' delay adds to that of AudioBalance. Availability and profiles depend on the device driver.

Does it work with a TV, a monitor or a USB headset?

Yes. AudioBalance works with active Windows playback devices: PC speakers and wired audio, Bluetooth stereo, USB headsets and docks, displays and TVs.

Privacy and AI

Is there AI in AudioBalance?

Yes. AudioBalance uses custom AI models trained specifically for volume regulation. They detect whether music, a game, speech or film is playing, so the regulation matches the content. They run entirely on your PC, even offline.

Does my audio leave the computer?

No. The sound is processed locally and not uploaded. Anonymous usage statistics are sent only with your explicit consent. What else is sent is described in the privacy policy.

Does AudioBalance need an internet connection?

Not for processing: measurement, regulation and AI run on your PC. During the trial and with a license, your PC has to be online briefly now and then: every 2 days during the trial, every 7 days with a subscription, every 14 days with a one-time purchase. Otherwise the regulation pauses and the sound keeps playing.

Price and purchase

What is the difference between Normal and Pro?

Both have every feature. Normal runs on 3 PCs at the same time, Pro on 5. Both come as a one-time purchase or monthly. The prices are on the pricing page.

How long do I get updates?

With a one-time purchase you get minor updates and security updates for the major version you bought for at least 12 months from the purchase date. A new major version is an optional upgrade. With a subscription you always have the latest version.

Do I need an account to buy AudioBalance?

No, you can buy without an account.

Can I withdraw from a purchase?

Yes. As a consumer you can withdraw from a purchase within 14 days. You declare it through Withdraw from contract. You cancel a subscription through Cancel contracts here. All conditions are in the terms.