Privacy Policy

1. Overview

AudioForges ("we", "us") provides free audio tools including YouTube-to-audio conversion and audio analysis. This policy explains what data we collect when you use our site and tools, and how it's used.

2. Information we collect

URLs and files you submit

When you use our converter or analyzer, the YouTube URL or audio file you submit is sent to our backend server solely to process your request. Tools that use AI source separation (vocal removal and stem splitting, including the YouTube-linked versions) route that processing to a third-party GPU compute provider, described in Section 4. Uploaded files and submitted URLs are processed only for the time needed to complete that request. Temporary processing files are automatically deleted after processing finishes, or after a short retention period if required for system reliability. We do not permanently store or distribute the audio files or URLs you submit.

Microphone input

Some browser-based tools, including the instrument tuner and the online voice recorder, request access to your device's microphone. For these tools, audio is captured and processed directly in your browser using your device's own microphone and audio APIs — it is not uploaded to AudioForges servers, recorded by us, or stored by us in any form. For the tuner, this means the microphone signal is analyzed locally to detect pitch in real time. For the voice recorder, your recording is created, played back, and downloaded entirely within your browser. You can stop microphone access at any time using the control provided by the relevant tool or your browser's own site permissions.

Usage analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand aggregate traffic patterns (pages visited, approximate location, device type). Analytics data is processed according to Google's own privacy practices; we use it in aggregate and do not use it to individually identify visitors.

Server logs

Like most websites, our hosting and backend infrastructure automatically records basic technical information for security and reliability purposes, such as IP address, browser type, request timestamps, and error logs. These logs are used for troubleshooting and abuse prevention, not for tracking individual users across sessions.

3. Advertising

We do not currently display third-party advertisements. If advertising is introduced in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated to describe it before those services are enabled.

4. Third-party services

We currently use Google Analytics to understand aggregate site usage, and the following providers to run the site and tools: Vercel for the website, VPS Dime for general backend processing, and RunPod for the GPU-accelerated compute used by our AI vocal-separation and stem-splitting tools. When you use one of those separation tools, the audio file or fetched YouTube audio is processed on RunPod's infrastructure for the time needed to complete that job, under the same no-permanent-storage handling described in Section 2. Each of these providers has its own privacy policy governing how they handle data.

5. Cookies

We use a small number of cookies for basic site functionality ("essential cookies") and, via Google Analytics, cookies that help us understand aggregate traffic patterns ("analytics cookies"). We do not currently use advertising cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect site functionality.

6. How we use your information

Any file or URL you submit is used solely to provide the tool functionality you requested — converting, analyzing, or otherwise processing that specific submission. We do not use submitted content for any other purpose. Microphone-based tools do not send audio to us at all, as described above.

7. Security

We use HTTPS encryption for data in transit, restrict server access to what's necessary to operate the service, and take reasonable measures to protect the infrastructure our tools run on. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to keep processing infrastructure secure and minimize what data is retained in the first place.

8. Children's privacy

AudioForges is not directed toward children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

9. Your rights

You may request information about data we hold or request deletion by contacting us at the email listed on our Contact page.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.