TV Synth Privacy Policy
1. Who we are and what this policy covers
TV Synth is a synthesizer for Apple TV and Mac, including a Mac Audio Unit plug-in, provided by ANIMIST OÜ. This policy explains information handled by the app and by us when you contact us about it. For privacy questions, contact appstore@animist.ee. You do not need to create an account with us to play TV Synth.
Sections 2 to 5 describe the Apple TV app. The Mac app and Audio Unit are covered in section 9. The support, rights and website information applies to both versions.
2. Playing music and Bluetooth MIDI
Sound generation, keyboard visualization and live MIDI processing take place on your Apple TV. The app processes notes, velocity, sustain, pitch bend and modulation to play the instrument. It does not record your performances, use the microphone, or upload live MIDI or generated audio to us.
With Bluetooth permission, the app discovers compatible Bluetooth LE MIDI keyboards and receives performance messages. It uses peripheral identifiers, advertised device names, signal strength and connection state to show available keyboards and manage connections. Names and identifiers of previously connected keyboards are stored locally for reconnection. These are peripheral identifiers, not advertising identifiers. This connection information is not included in the app's iCloud preset library.
3. Settings and presets stored on your Apple TV
The app stores your current sound settings, selected preset, custom preset library, Key Lock settings, Toddler Mode preference and automatic-reconnection preference locally. A saved preset includes its name, sound parameters, a randomly generated preset identifier, and creation/update timestamps. Preset names are free text; please avoid putting personal or sensitive information in them.
The app has no advertising, third-party analytics SDKs, cross-app tracking, or developer-operated account service. It does not request your contacts, photos or location. We do not receive your locally stored sound settings or keyboard activity through an app-operated server.
Optional sound packs are sold as one-time in-app purchases through Apple's App Store. Apple handles payment, Apple Account authentication and purchase history under its own terms and privacy policy. The app reads Apple-verified purchase records on your device to unlock packs and restore access. We do not operate a purchase server or receive your payment card details or Apple Account credentials through the app. A saved sound includes its originating pack identifier so the app can check access when it is restored on another TV.
4. Preset synchronization through iCloud
When iCloud is available to TV Synth, the app automatically uses Apple's iCloud key-value storage to synchronize saved presets between Apple TVs using the same Apple Account. The synchronized library includes preset names, sound parameters, preset identifiers, timestamps, and deletion markers. It does not contain recordings of your performances. Ordinary local preferences such as Toddler Mode and remembered Bluetooth devices are not intentionally added to this synchronized library.
Apple operates iCloud and processes information under its own terms and privacy policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/. We do not operate a separate preset server, and this app does not provide us with access to your private iCloud preset library or your Apple Account credentials. Device backup, diagnostics and other Apple services are separate from the app's explicit preset synchronization.
Playing sounds and saving presets locally remain available without iCloud. The current app has no separate in-app iCloud switch; availability is controlled by your Apple Account and device configuration. Removing the app does not by itself erase an existing iCloud copy of the preset library.
5. Retention, deletion and your choices
You can rename or delete saved sounds in My Presets. When synchronization is available, deletions are sent to iCloud and merged by other connected copies of TV Synth. Synchronization may take time and depends on Apple's service and device connectivity.
Deletion markers retain a preset's random identifier and deletion timestamp to help prevent an older copy from restoring a deleted preset. They do not contain the deleted preset's name or sound parameters. The current app does not automatically expire these markers.
Deleting a saved preset does not necessarily clear the currently loaded editable sound. Load a factory preset to replace that current sound. Remembered keyboard details and other local preferences remain until the app's local data is removed. You can remove the app through Apple TV's system controls; a later installation may download presets still stored in iCloud. Apple manages retention in its service and any backups. Contact us if you need help understanding or removing remaining data; we cannot directly delete your private Apple Account data for you.
You can turn Auto Reconnect off, disconnect a keyboard in the app, or change Bluetooth permission using the system controls available on your device. The on-screen remote keyboard can be used without a Bluetooth MIDI connection.
6. Diagnostics and support correspondence
On Apple TV, TV Synth writes connection and error messages to Apple's system logging facilities. These messages can include Bluetooth device names, signal strength and connection errors. Neither version includes its own automatic log-upload service. Apple may handle diagnostics under your device's diagnostic-sharing settings and its own policies. If you choose to share logs or screenshots with us, check them for information you do not want to disclose.
If you email us, we receive your email address, message and any attachments you choose to send. We use that information to answer your request, troubleshoot the app and handle related privacy or legal obligations. Our email service providers process correspondence to deliver and store it. We do not use support correspondence for advertising or sell it. Please do not send passwords, Apple Account credentials or unnecessary sensitive information.
Where applicable, handling a support request is based on providing the support you request and our legitimate interest in resolving problems; records required by law are handled on that legal basis. We retain correspondence only as long as needed to resolve the request, handle reasonable follow-up and meet applicable legal obligations. You may ask about retention or request deletion by emailing appstore@animist.ee.
7. Your rights and children
Depending on applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, erase or obtain a copy of personal data we hold, to restrict processing, or to object to processing based on legitimate interests. You may complain to your local data-protection authority. Contact appstore@animist.ee to make a request. We can only act on information we hold; device-only settings and private iCloud content are managed on your devices or through Apple.
Toddler Mode changes the interface, not these privacy practices. The app has no child profiles, social features, behavioral advertising or in-app requests for a child's personal details. A parent or guardian should handle support correspondence concerning a child. If you believe a child has sent us personal information unnecessarily, contact us so we can review and delete it where appropriate.
8. Website visits and changes to this policy
Opening animist.ee in a browser is separate from playing TV Synth. The website's hosting systems may process connection information such as IP addresses and technical request logs. These TV Synth information, privacy and support pages contain no analytics scripts, advertising or tracking cookies of their own. For information about statistics used on other parts of the website, see https://www.animist.ee/privacy.html. The app itself does not send performance data to animist.ee.
We may update this policy when the app or our practices change. The revised policy will show a new last-updated date. The public policy is available at https://www.animist.ee/licences/tv-synth/privacy/. For support, visit https://www.animist.ee/licences/tv-synth/support/ or email appstore@animist.ee.
9. Mac app and Audio Unit plug-in
Music and MIDI
Sound generation, the onscreen keyboard and incoming MIDI are processed on your Mac. TV Synth does not record performances, use the microphone or upload MIDI or generated audio to us. The standalone app receives MIDI from sources made available by macOS Core MIDI, including USB, virtual and system-paired Bluetooth MIDI devices. Source names appear in the interface and remain on your Mac. Bluetooth pairing is managed by macOS. The Audio Unit receives MIDI and automation from its host; that host controls its own recording and data handling.
Settings, presets and files
The Mac app stores its last sound and favorite factory-preset identifiers in local app preferences. Imported and exported patch files contain a preset name, category, sound parameters and an optional originating sound-pack identifier. The app accesses files that you explicitly select using macOS file dialogs. A digital audio workstation (DAW) may store the Audio Unit's sound settings in its project. Please avoid putting personal or sensitive information in preset names.
The Mac app does not implement automatic iCloud preset synchronization. Files you save in an iCloud Drive or other synchronized folder are handled by that service. The automatic preset synchronization described in section 4 applies to Apple TV only.
Sound-pack purchases
Optional sound packs are one-time non-consumable purchases through Apple's App Store. Apple handles payment, authentication, purchase history and restoration. TV Synth reads Apple-verified transactions to unlock content. We do not receive your payment-card details or Apple Account credentials through the app and do not operate a purchase server. Sound packs share purchase identity with the Apple TV version when obtained using the same Apple Account.
The standalone Mac app saves verified product identifiers and the time of the check in a protected, non-synchronizing macOS keychain item shared with its embedded Audio Unit. This lets the plug-in read purchase access without making purchases inside the DAW. The snapshot contains no Apple Account identifier or payment details. Refunds and revocations update access when the Mac app refreshes Apple's records. Offline plug-in use retains the last verified purchase snapshot. Keychain items can persist after an app is removed. Use Restore purchases in the standalone app to check access against your current Apple Account.
Previews and data collection
Musical pack previews are bundled recordings generated from this synth. Playback is local; there is no preview streaming service. The Mac app and Audio Unit have no advertising, third-party analytics, tracking or developer-operated account service. They do not request contacts, photos or location. We do not receive your presets, source names, keyboard activity or music through an app-operated server. Apple's store, diagnostics, backup and other system services operate under Apple's privacy policy.
Retention and your choices
Use another sound to replace the current sound, remove favorite stars, or delete exported patch files using Finder. DAW project copies and backups are managed in the host or backup service. Removing the Mac app does not delete files you exported, DAW projects, retained keychain items or purchase history held by Apple. Original factory presets remain available without buying packs. Purchase access can be restored from the Sound packs window using your Apple Account.
The support and privacy rights described in sections 6 and 7 also apply to the Mac version. We cannot directly remove data from your private Apple Account, DAW projects or device backups.