Support & FAQ

🚀 Quick Start

  1. Download and install Squawk from the Mac App Store
  2. Grant microphone access when prompted (required for volume monitoring)
  3. The app appears in your menu bar with the default duck icon
  4. Click the menu bar icon to access controls
  5. Click "Rebaseline" to measure your environment's ambient noise level
  6. Stay quiet for 5 seconds during calibration so it can accurately measure the room's noise floor
  7. The floating widget will show real-time color feedback based on your environment's baseline

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

How does Squawk work?

Squawk uses macOS AVAudioEngine to analyze your microphone input in real-time. It first measures your environment's ambient noise floor (the baseline), then calculates the RMS (Root Mean Square) amplitude of your voice. The color indicator shows whether you're speaking at an appropriate volume relative to your environment's noise level.

Does Squawk record my audio?

No. Squawk ONLY analyzes amplitude (volume level). No audio is recorded, stored, or transmitted. All processing happens locally on your Mac, and the audio data is discarded immediately after analysis.

Why do I need to rebaseline?

Different environments have different ambient noise levels. A quiet library has a lower noise floor than a busy coffee shop. Rebaselining measures your current environment's noise floor and sets it as the reference point (0 dB). This ensures the color indicators show whether you're speaking too loud for that specific environment, not just an arbitrary level.

What do the colors mean?

🟢 Green: You're speaking at an appropriate volume for your environment
🟡 Yellow: You're getting louder than appropriate for your environment
🔴 Red: You're speaking too loud relative to your environment's noise floor

Example: In a quiet library (low baseline), speaking at normal volume might show yellow/red. In a noisy office (high baseline), the same volume might show green.

Which widget type should I use?

Circular: Classic, compact design. Great for corner placement.
Horizontal Bar: Shows your volume journey across color zones. Good for bottom of screen.
Vertical Bar: Slim design perfect for side-of-screen placement.

How do I change sensitivity?

Open Settings from the menu bar and choose a sensitivity profile:
• Normal: Best for typical meetings (10/20 dB thresholds)
• Quiet Workplace: For library/focus environments (5/10 dB)
• Sensitivity Mode: For sound-sensitive individuals (3/5 dB)

Can I move the floating widget?

Yes! Just click and drag the widget to any position on your screen. The position is automatically saved. You can also lock the widget position in Settings → Appearance to prevent accidental moves.

The widget disappeared. How do I get it back?

Click the menu bar icon and ensure "Show Floating Widget" is enabled in Settings → Appearance. If it's still not visible, click "Reset Widget Position" to move it to the center of your screen.

Does Squawk work with external microphones and Bluetooth?

Yes! Squawk works with all audio input devices:
• Built-in Mac microphone
• USB microphones and audio interfaces
• Bluetooth headsets and speakers
• AirPods and other wireless audio devices
Just select your preferred microphone in System Settings, and Squawk will use it automatically.

How much battery does Squawk use?

Squawk uses intelligent adaptive power management. It adjusts its buffer size based on activity:
• High rate during calibration (30 seconds)
• Reduces when baseline is stable
• Ultra-low power after 2 minutes of silence
Typical battery impact is minimal (<1% per hour on modern MacBooks).

What are Squawktistics?

Squawktistics is your speaking statistics dashboard. It shows:
• Time spent in each volume zone (green/yellow/red)
• Speaking patterns over time
• Total monitoring time
Use it to track your progress and improve your speaking consistency.

🔧 Troubleshooting

Squawk isn't detecting my voice

  • Check that microphone permission is granted in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone
  • Ensure your microphone is selected as the input device in System Settings → Sound
  • Try clicking "Rebaseline" to recalibrate
  • Verify your microphone works in other apps

The indicator is always red/yellow

  • Click "Rebaseline" to recalibrate your environment's noise floor
  • Make sure you're rebaselining in a quiet moment (no talking) to accurately measure ambient noise
  • Try a different sensitivity profile in Settings (e.g., "Quiet Workplace" for libraries)
  • Check if your environment is actually very quiet - you may need to speak more softly!

The widget stays on top of everything

This is intentional! The widget uses .statusBar window level to ensure it's always visible during meetings. You can minimize or hide specific apps if needed, or toggle "Show Floating Widget" off when you don't need monitoring.

💻 System Requirements

  • macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later
  • Microphone access permission
  • Built-in Mac microphone, or external microphone (USB, Bluetooth, AirPods, etc.)

📧 Still Need Help?

If you couldn't find an answer to your question, please contact us through the Mac App Store or send feedback directly from the app's menu.

We read and respond to all support requests. Your feedback helps us improve Squawk for everyone!