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file-new-project/eartrumpet

★ 10,999C#Audience · generalComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

TLDR

Free Windows app that replaces the built-in volume mixer with per-app volume sliders and lets you move individual apps between audio output devices directly from the system tray.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((EarTrumpet))
    What it does
      Per-app volume
      Device routing
      System tray control
    Features
      Light dark mode
      20 plus languages
      Keyboard shortcuts
    Distribution
      Microsoft Store
      Auto updates
      Award winning
    Tech stack
      C# WPF
      Windows native
      Crowdin i18n
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Code map

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Things people build with this

USE CASE 1

Set a different volume level for each app on Windows without opening system settings.

USE CASE 2

Route a video call to headphones while music plays through speakers, without changing system-wide audio defaults.

USE CASE 3

Quickly switch the default audio output device from the system tray without entering Windows settings.

Tech stack

C#WPF.NET

Getting it running

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

In plain English

EarTrumpet is a free Windows application that replaces the built-in volume mixer with something considerably more useful. It lives in the system tray and gives you a separate volume slider for every app that is currently producing sound, rather than forcing you to dig through Windows settings or use the limited controls built into the taskbar icon. Beyond per-app volume control, EarTrumpet lets you move individual applications between different audio output devices on the fly. If you want your music to play through speakers while a video call uses headphones, you can set that up directly from the tray without changing system-wide defaults. You can also manage which device is the default and set custom inputs and outputs per application. The interface adapts to your Windows color scheme and works in both light and dark mode. Keyboard shortcuts can be configured for common actions. The app supports more than 20 languages, with translations contributed through the Crowdin platform. EarTrumpet is available through the Microsoft Store, which handles automatic updates. It won the 2022 Microsoft Store Community Choice Award in the open platform category and has been covered by The Verge, Windows Central, TechQuickie, and Linus Tech Tips as a recommended alternative to Windows' default audio controls. The source code is written in C# using WPF, the Windows-native UI framework. The README is extensive and includes a full translator credit section and additional technical details. The full README is longer than what was shown.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I move Spotify to a different audio output device using EarTrumpet without changing the system-wide default?
Prompt 2
Show me how to configure a keyboard shortcut in EarTrumpet to quickly mute one specific app.
Prompt 3
How do I build EarTrumpet from source using the C# WPF codebase and run it without installing from the Microsoft Store?
Prompt 4
What Windows API does EarTrumpet use to read and set per-app volume levels, and how does it hook into the audio session system?
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