What Afinar needs

macOS 14.4 or newer, on Apple silicon or Intel.

Use a class-compliant USB audio interface to connect your guitar or bass. Select the device and input channel in Afinar’s recording setup.

You can also use the Mac’s built-in microphone to try recording before buying an interface.

Use wired headphones for live monitoring. Speakers can feed music back into an open microphone, and Bluetooth headphones add delay.

Microphone, asked for when you first set up recording. It’s how any audio input reaches an app on macOS, including your interface.

Screen and System Audio Recording, asked for the first time you record along to something playing in the browser. It’s how the song gets into your recording cleanly instead of through a microphone.

Follow the recording setup prompts. You can review these permissions in macOS System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Allow storage for the scores, audio files, and takes you add. Longer takes and separated instruments use more space.

If you use stems, budget around 95 to 190 MB for each song you separate, depending on whether you keep one instrument set or both. You can remove them per song at any time.

You can practice offline with files already imported and sounds already installed.

An internet connection is needed for websites, YouTube, update checks, and the initial downloads used to separate instruments.

What Afinar sends is set out on the privacy page.

Windows and Linux. Afinar is a native Mac app.

iPad is on the way.

Bluetooth headphones add delay during live monitoring. Use wired headphones connected to your audio interface.