Your sound stays
on your device.

1. Who we are and what this policy covers

EMPEROR is developed by Mike Gazzaruso, NextEpochs (“we”, “us” or “our”). This policy covers EMPEROR for iPhone and iPad, including its AUv3 instrument extension. It also explains what happens if you contact us about the app or visit this policy page.

During normal use, the EMPEROR iOS app does not collect or transmit personal data to NextEpochs. It has no NextEpochs account requirement, advertising, third-party analytics or tracking. Its interface, factory sounds and sound processing operate locally.

This policy does not cover the separate Mac and Windows editions, desktop licence activation or purchases from the NextEpochs website. Those services, Apple services and third-party audio hosts have their own data practices.

2. Audio, MIDI and expressive controllers

EMPEROR generates and processes sound on your device. MIDI notes, MPE expression, controller movements, modulation and sequencer events are processed locally. EMPEROR does not upload your playing, audio or MIDI performance to NextEpochs or to a cloud service.

The current iOS standalone app does not request microphone access. When EMPEROR runs as an AUv3 instrument, its host manages audio and MIDI connections, including any audio supplied to the extension. The host controls its own recording, permissions, project storage and sharing features.

When you connect a MIDI device or route MIDI to another app, the selected device or app receives the events you send to it. Such connections are part of your music setup, not data collection by NextEpochs.

3. Presets, preferences and project state

User presets and preferences, including your onboarding preference, are stored in local app or extension storage. EMPEROR does not synchronise them with a NextEpochs account or server. A host app can save the instrument’s settings and sequencer data as part of its project.

Import and export operate on files you choose. If you select iCloud Drive or another file provider, that provider may transfer or store your selected file under its own privacy policy. Device backups and host-app backups may also include locally stored data, depending on your settings.

Deleting a USER preset in EMPEROR removes it from the browser; the app keeps a local recovery copy. Removing the app and its data removes its local storage according to iOS behaviour. Offloading an app may retain its data. Neither action automatically deletes exported files, host projects, recovery copies held outside the app or backups; manage those through the relevant host, file provider or backup settings.

4. Purchases and Apple services

Apple handles App Store purchases and payment details. EMPEROR for iOS does not ask you to enter payment card details, create a NextEpochs account or activate a desktop licence.

Apple may process purchase, usage and diagnostic information, and make reports available to developers, under your settings and its own privacy policy. EMPEROR does not include a separate analytics or crash-reporting service operated by NextEpochs.

Compatible audio hosts, connected services and third-party file providers are governed by their own privacy policies. EMPEROR does not control their data collection or cloud features.

5. When you contact us

If you email us, we receive your email address, message and any files or diagnostics you choose to send. We use them to respond and investigate your request. Please include only the information needed for the issue and avoid sending private audio or other sensitive material unnecessarily.

Mike Gazzaruso, NextEpochs is responsible for the personal information you provide in this correspondence. We process it to provide requested support, pursue our legitimate interest in resolving product issues and meet applicable legal obligations. Our email and hosting providers may process it as necessary to deliver those services. We retain correspondence only for as long as needed for these purposes and applicable legal requirements.

6. Visiting this privacy page

This page does not load advertising, analytics, external fonts or tracking scripts, and does not set cookies. The web server receives ordinary request information, such as your IP address, requested URL, browser information and request time, to deliver and secure the page. Website traffic is separate from use of the EMPEROR iOS app.

For the wider NextEpochs website and services, see the NextEpochs website privacy policy.

7. Your choices and rights

You control local files, exports, connected devices and the hosts you use. Because EMPEROR does not send us your performances or locally saved presets, we cannot access or remotely delete those files.

Where applicable data protection law provides these rights, you may request access, correction, deletion or portability of personal information supplied to us, and object to or request restriction of its processing. You may also lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. Use the contact address below to make a request.

8. Children’s privacy

EMPEROR has no account, advertising or tracking features and does not knowingly collect personal information from children through the app. If you believe a child has sent us personal information through a support request, contact us so we can review and address it.

9. Changes to this policy

If EMPEROR’s data practices change, we will update this page and its effective date. Any new permissions will be requested through the relevant platform controls where required.