What is a receipt’s actual file type?
A SaneMode receipt uses the .smode extension and is tied to one specific export. The .smode file stores the session-related details for that export. Receipts can also be shared as a readable PDF companion for recipients on any platform. On macOS, you can preview the .smode file directly in Finder with Quick Look by selecting it and pressing Space.
What does a SaneMode receipt actually show?
A SaneMode receipt shows what SaneMode was able to observe and confirm about one specific export: that exact render’s fingerprint, whether the file still matches the receipt, what session context was observable around that export, and any limits on what could not be confirmed. Session context can include things like MIDI activity or transport events. It does not include your project contents or a play-by-play of your process.
Are receipts giant files full of timestamps and event history?
No. Receipts are designed to stay concise and reviewable. Shared receipts keep time details coarse by default and summarize what was observed around an export rather than dumping a long event log.
Does every receipt include the same level of detail?
No. A receipt only shows what SaneMode was actually able to observe in that session and environment. If something was unavailable, disabled, or could not be confirmed, the receipt says so instead of filling in blanks.
What does a creator disclosure mean, and how does it appear on receipts?
A creator disclosure is an optional statement you choose to attach to an export to add context about human work or AI/ML use in that project. When included, it appears on the receipt as a disclosed label, such as Human-Made (Disclosed), Human-Performed, ML-Processed (Disclosed), or AI/ML Used (Disclosed). It is your own disclosure, not a claim that SaneMode independently verified authorship or detected AI use.
What does local verification check?
Local verification checks whether a file on the same machine still matches the receipt it was tied to. In plain English, it confirms that the receipt belongs to that exact export. In the current pilot, this is a same-machine verification flow, not a cross-device receipt checker.
How is a receipt tied to a specific file?
When SaneMode is armed and sees an export happen in the DAW, it creates the receipt for that exact rendered audio. The receipt is tied to that export at creation time using a one-way audio fingerprint, so it stays specific to that file rather than being reusable across a project.
What if the person I send it to has never seen a SaneMode receipt before?
That’s a fair question. You should not have to explain a whole new system just to send a deliverable. On a Mac, someone can preview the receipt directly in Finder with Quick Look. If they are not on macOS or Quick Look is not available, you can send the PDF companion view alongside the .smode receipt so they have a readable version to reference while the receipt itself stays tied to the export. The receipt is there to travel with the export when it matters, not to ask anyone to adopt a new workflow.
Do collaborators need to have SaneMode downloaded to open a receipt?
No. They do not need SaneMode just to read a receipt. On macOS, they can preview the .smode file in Finder with Quick Look. Otherwise, you can send the PDF companion view alongside the .smode receipt so they have a readable version to reference.
How does receipt viewing differ for Mac users and non-Mac users?
On macOS, a receipt can be previewed directly in Finder with Quick Look. For non-Mac recipients, or when Quick Look is not available, the PDF companion view provides a readable version of the receipt.
What does a Gap or Unknown mean in a receipt?
It means SaneMode could not confirm something under the conditions of that session. That can happen when a signal was unavailable, a permission was off, a check could not run, or the environment did not expose the information. It’s part of keeping the receipt honest about what was and wasn’t observable.
What does a Minimal or Basic coverage strength mean on a receipt?
It means SaneMode was able to observe a narrower set of supporting signals for that export. That can happen if optional signals, such as MIDI activity or transport events, were unavailable or not enabled. In plain terms, the receipt carries less supporting context than a Standard or Full receipt.
What does “coverage” mean?
Coverage means how much supporting information SaneMode was able to observe for that export. More available signals can produce fuller coverage. Fewer available signals can produce lighter coverage.
What does “needs disclosure” mean?
It means an optional local check found something that may need a disclosure decision before sharing. It is a heads-up for review, not a block or final judgment.
Why would I use SaneMode instead of screenshots, screen recordings, or session files?
Screenshots, screen recordings, and session files can still be useful as references, but they are not the same as a receipt tied to a specific export. SaneMode is designed to create a receipt tied to an export, backed by observable workflow, that is easier to review, easier to check, and less dependent on piecing together raw documentation or sharing your full session.
Session Timeline & Workflow
What does SaneMode keep track of during a session?
SaneMode keeps a small set of export-related signals so it can generate a receipt later, such as markers that help connect an export to real session history and any optional workflow indicators you enable. It does not store playable audio, screen contents, messages, keystrokes, project contents, or note-by-note MIDI performances.
What are transport events?
Transport events are simple session markers that occur in a DAW session, like play, stop, and record moments. When available and enabled, they can help strengthen the receipt's supporting context.
What does optional MIDI support mean?
If enabled and available, SaneMode can note that MIDI activity happened during the session. It does not store note-by-note performances or piano-roll edits. It only keeps small high-level summaries that can add context to a receipt.
What do optional local project asset scans do?
Optional local project asset scans can review audio used in a session to add limited context about whether project audio was present around the export. They return a simple high-level result about whether that audio could be locally matched, without exposing the project itself.
What do tool-related features actually do?
They add optional high-level context about whether plug-in-based processing was present around an export, without exposing specific plug-ins, settings, parameter values, or detailed process history.
Usage
Does SaneMode affect my bounce or export?
SaneMode is designed to stay lightweight during export and to avoid interrupting or stalling a normal bounce. Like any DAW tool, behavior can still depend on the host, system, and session conditions, but the goal is to keep receipt capture from getting in the way of the export itself.
Do I need to change how I work to use SaneMode?
No. The core workflow is simple: place SaneMode on your master bus, let it run locally during the session, then arm it before export when you want a receipt.
Can I use SaneMode if I’m not technical?
Yes. The core workflow is designed to be straightforward. You do not need to understand hashes, signatures, or system internals to use SaneMode.
What if I want a receipt without revealing my process?
That is one of the main reasons SaneMode exists. A receipt is meant to show that a real export and real supporting context existed without exposing your full creative process. You choose whether to keep it private or share it.
How does SaneMode fit alongside artists, labels, distributors, or collaborators?
SaneMode gives creators an optional receipt they can choose to share or keep private. It is meant to sit alongside existing music workflows, not replace them or become a condition for payment, collaboration, or release.
Is SaneMode certification or legal proof?
No. SaneMode is not a certification authority, an AI detector, or legal advice. It creates software-generated files based on what it observed for a specific export.
What happens if I bulk export stems or multiple bounces?
In bulk export workflows, SaneMode can tie a receipt to the export event as a whole rather than generate a separate receipt for every individual file inside it. Exact behavior can vary by DAW and export method.
Can I use SaneMode on buses other than the master bus?
Yes. Most people place SaneMode on the master bus when they want a receipt tied to the full export. You can also use it on another bus when you want a receipt tied to that specific stem or submix.
Can SaneMode still be useful if I keep receipts private?
Yes. SaneMode can also be useful purely as a local record of your own work and exports. You can keep receipts in the Vault and never share them unless you choose to.
Vault
What is the Vault?
The Vault is SaneMode’s local storage area for receipts and related local records. Your project folder holds your music files. The Vault holds the receipt history tied to those exports.
How do I find the Vault on my computer?
You can open the Vault from inside SaneMode. If you want direct access, SaneMode can also reveal it in Finder so you can browse it or back it up yourself.
What is the ledger in SaneMode and how does it connect to the Vault?
The ledger is the internal history SaneMode keeps inside the Vault so receipts can point back to recorded system events. In simple terms, it is the session context behind the receipts stored in your Vault.
Setup & Permissions
Do I need Accessibility or other macOS permissions?
Some optional features use macOS permissions to observe limited workflow signals such as play, stop, or record state. You can use SaneMode without granting every optional permission, but receipts may show lighter coverage when those signals are unavailable.
Can SaneMode work without internet?
Core receipt creation behavior is designed to work offline. Some features, such as licensing and certain receipt-creation functions, may require a network connection. If one of those features is unavailable, SaneMode reflects that directly.
What if my DAW or setup doesn’t expose every signal?
That is normal. Different DAWs, hosts, permissions, and system setups expose different levels of information, so receipts can vary in coverage. If you want fuller coverage, use a supported DAW setup and enable any optional permissions or workflow features you want SaneMode to use.
Which DAWs are supported right now?
SaneMode currently supports macOS and has been tested in Logic Pro.
Pilot & Licensing
If I need a refund, how do I get one within the 14-day refund period?
Email billing@sanemode.com within 14 days of purchase and include the email address you used at checkout. If helpful, you can also include your approximate purchase date and a short note about whether the issue was a bug or why SaneMode was not a good fit for your music or DAW workflow, but a full explanation isn’t required. Refunds are usually processed within 24–48 hours, though timing can vary depending on scheduling and payment processing. Once a full refund is issued, the pilot license is automatically deactivated, and the plug-in will no longer remain active.
Do I need a subscription to use SaneMode?
No. The current pilot is a one-time prepaid license, not a subscription. There is no recurring charge and nothing to cancel. The pilot also includes a 14-day no-questions-asked refund period. After that period, refunds are generally not available except where required by law or when a refund is appropriate based on the circumstances.
Do I need to create an account to use SaneMode?
No. The current pilot does not require a traditional account or ongoing dashboard. Access is handled through a one-time pilot license.
Is there a free version right now?
Not currently. The current release is the paid pilot. We may offer a free version later, but for now the pilot uses a one-time license rather than an account or subscription.
Do I need an account to verify a receipt?
No. In the current pilot, verification is a same-machine pass/fail check that re-checks whether the local file still matches the receipt.
Is the pilot license renewable?
Not automatically. The current pilot is a fixed 6-month term, not an auto-renewing plan. Future renewal or upgrade options may be offered later, but this pilot is a defined early-access term with its own pricing.
Can I use the same pilot license on more than one Mac?
Yes. The pilot includes up to 2 seats under one license, so it can be used on up to two Macs within that seat limit.
Does the pilot include future updates during the six months?
The pilot license covers access during the six-month term. Pilot builds may be updated during that time, but the pilot does not promise any specific feature or roadmap outcome.
What happens when the pilot ends?
When the 6-month pilot term ends, the pilot license ends with it unless a next-step option is offered at that time. Because SaneMode is local-first, files, receipts, and Vault records already on your machine remain on your machine.
Data & Privacy
What stays local by default?
Core receipt capture runs locally on your device. By default, your project, playable audio, receipts, and Vault records stay on your machine. In the current pilot, off-device services are limited to billing.
Can I delete Vault records or receipts?
Yes. Your local receipts and Vault records stay under your control. Just keep in mind that if you delete them, future reference or verification may no longer be possible unless you kept a backup.
Does SaneMode record track names, plug-in settings, or arrangement details?
No. SaneMode is designed not to record project contents such as track names, arrangement data, clip contents, or plug-in settings.
What does SaneMode not record?
SaneMode does not store playable audio, project contents, track names, plug-in settings, screen contents, messages, keystrokes, or note-by-note MIDI performances. What it does store stays local by default and under your control.
Troubleshooting & Support
What does it mean if issuance or export is unavailable?
It means SaneMode could not complete that step under the current license, setup, or service conditions. When that happens, it shows the limitation instead of pretending a shareable receipt was issued. Start by checking your license status, network connection if needed, DAW/setup support, bus placement, and whether SaneMode was armed for export.
What should I send support if something goes wrong?
The most helpful basics are your macOS version, DAW version, what you expected to happen, what happened instead, and steps to reproduce it if you can. You can also include a screenshot or screen recording if that helps explain the issue. Before sending anything, review it and redact anything private or sensitive you do not want to share. For setup or technical issues, email support@sanemode.com. For billing or refunds, use billing@sanemode.com.