Axyra Octave and your data
Last updated
Octave is an Android app for musicians that runs entirely on your device. This page says what the app keeps on the device, which permissions it asks for and why, what can leave the device (only when you ask), and what Google Play handles itself.
No account
No sign-up, no sign-in. Axyra doesn’t know who you are.
No server
No analytics, no ads. The app’s own code never connects to the internet.
Sound stays on the device
The mic works when you ask, stops when you leave the app, and never listens in the background.
Your data is yours
Export everything as one file, import it back, or erase it all from Settings.
What stays on your device
What you set and make in the app is kept in the app’s own storage on your device and nowhere else: the key and the chord now, your instrument and settings, the practice log, saved progressions, ear-training statistics, and the voice ideas you record yourself.
The app works offline. The theory, the sound and the listening are all computed on the device. There is no account, no Axyra server, no analytics SDK and no advertising.
The app’s data is left out of Android’s backup and isn’t moved to a new phone by itself. To move phones, use the export file described under Export, import and sharing.
The microphone
The app asks for the microphone the first time you use something that listens (tapping Listen, choosing an ear-training set that has you sing, or starting play-along) and tells you why before it asks. It never asks at launch. If you say no, the rest of the app works as usual.
Sound from the microphone is used to find the notes, chords, key, tempo and sung pitch of that moment. It is processed on the device, isn’t kept, and never leaves the device.
Listening turns itself off when you leave the app or the screen goes off; nothing listens in the background. The metronome that plays on after you leave the app doesn’t use the microphone.
The only sound the app keeps is a voice idea, which you record yourself in the progression builder (Octave Plus). The clip stays on the device, belongs to its progression, isn’t included in the export file, and is deleted together with the progression.
MIDI and Bluetooth
You can connect a MIDI keyboard over USB or Bluetooth. The notes you play go only to the app on your device, and while one is connected the app listens to MIDI instead of the microphone.
Finding a Bluetooth keyboard uses the Nearby devices permission (Android 12 and later), which the app declares to Android as never used for location. On Android 11 and earlier, Android requires the location permission to scan for Bluetooth devices; the app asks only when you search for a device in the sources sheet, and never reads your location.
MIDI out (Octave Plus) sends notes only to the device or file you choose.
Export, import and sharing
Data leaves your device only when you ask, and only to the place you choose.
- Export the whole app’s data (progressions, the log, statistics, settings) as one .octave file from the home screen’s ⋮ menu, saved where you choose.
- Import that file back. The app replaces what is on the device only after it has read and checked the whole file.
- Export a progression as text, a picture or a MIDI file (MIDI needs Octave Plus).
- Share a picture of the current screen to an app you pick.
Sound in the background and notifications
The metronome, the drone, backing and the practice timer can keep playing after you leave the app, with an ongoing notification. On Android 13 and later the app asks for the notification permission the first time you press Start.
The practice reminder is a time you set yourself. It is worked out on the device and set again by itself after the phone restarts.
Octave Plus
Purchases and subscriptions of Octave Plus go through Google Play. Google takes the payment and handles receipts, refunds and cancellations under Google’s terms and privacy policy. Axyra never sees your card or payment details.
The app asks Google Play on your device whether your Google account owns Octave Plus, to turn it on and to restore it on another device, and keeps only the state of Plus on the device.
Until Octave Plus goes on sale, the app doesn’t connect to Google Play Billing at all.
What Google Play handles
Downloading, installing and updating the app, and buying Octave Plus with your Google account, are covered by Google’s terms and privacy policy, not Axyra’s. The Google Play Billing Library inside the app is Google’s and works under Google’s policies.
If you let your device share usage and diagnostics with Google, Google may show Axyra reports of the app freezing or crashing in Play Console, as Google decides. The app doesn’t send these reports itself.
Permissions
Every permission in the app, including those its libraries add. Permissions that Android asks you about are asked for only when you use what needs them; normal permissions are granted by Android at install, without asking.
Microphone
RECORD_AUDIO
Hears the notes, chords, key and timing you play or sing, tunes, and records voice ideas.
Asked · The first time you tap Listen, choose an ear-training set that has you sing, or start play-along.
Bluetooth
BLUETOOTH_SCANBLUETOOTH_CONNECTBLUETOOTHBLUETOOTH_ADMIN
Finds and connects a Bluetooth MIDI keyboard, and uses a Bluetooth microphone. Scanning is never used for location. BLUETOOTH and BLUETOOTH_ADMIN apply on Android 11 and earlier.
Asked · When you search for a device in the sources sheet (Android 12 and later).
Location (Android 11 and earlier only)
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Android requires it on these versions to scan for Bluetooth devices. The app never reads your location.
Asked · When you search for a Bluetooth keyboard in the sources sheet.
Notifications
POST_NOTIFICATIONS
The notification of the metronome or timer that is playing, and the practice reminder you set.
Asked · Android 13 and later: at your first Start, or when you turn on the practice reminder.
Playing on after you leave
FOREGROUND_SERVICEFOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK
Keeps the metronome, drone, backing and practice timer playing. Never used for the microphone.
Asked · Not asked (normal permission).
Audio routing
MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS
Takes sound from a connected Bluetooth microphone.
Asked · Not asked (normal permission).
After a restart
RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED
Sets the practice reminder again after the phone restarts.
Asked · Not asked (normal permission).
Vibration
VIBRATE
Short haptics as you drag the tray and turn the circle of fifths.
Asked · Not asked (normal permission).
Google Play Billing
com.android.vending.BILLING
Buys Octave Plus through Google Play, used only once Plus is on sale.
Asked · Not asked (normal permission).
Added by libraries
INTERNETACCESS_NETWORK_STATEWAKE_LOCK
INTERNET comes from the Google Play Billing Library; ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE and WAKE_LOCK come from Android’s WorkManager, which the widgets use. The app’s own code never connects to the internet.
Asked · Not asked (normal permission).
Besides these, androidx defines an internal permission for the app itself (DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION) so other apps can’t send messages to the app’s receivers. The app can see only whether Axyra Spectrum is installed, to open it from the tuner; it can’t see the list of other apps on your device.
Deleting your data
Settings → Erase all data (tap twice) deletes everything the app keeps on the device, voice ideas and reminders included, then closes the app; it opens next time as on the first day. Octave Plus isn’t lost: it comes back from your Google Play receipt.
Uninstalling the app also deletes its data from the device. Axyra has no data of yours on a server to delete. Your purchase history stays with your Google account.
Children
Axyra collects no one’s personal data through this app, children included.
Changes and contact
When this policy changes, this page changes with the date at the top. Questions about privacy:
hello@axyra.one