Privacy Policy

Last updated: March 2026

The Short Version

Onset Engine processes all video and audio locally on your machine. We do not collect, upload, or analyze your media. Telemetry is non-existent. The only internet communication is a one-time license activation check.

What Data We Collect

License Activation

When you activate Onset Engine for the first time, the application makes a single API call to our payment processor (Lemon Squeezy) to verify your license key. This request includes:

  • Your license key
  • A cryptographic hash of your hardware identifier (used for node-locking)

After activation, a signed license file is stored locally on your machine. From that point forward, Onset Engine never contacts the internet again.

Media Files

Your video files, audio files, thumbnails, embeddings, and all AI analysis results are processed and stored entirely on your local machine. Specifically:

  • AI inference (OpenCLIP) runs locally
  • Audio analysis (librosa) runs on your local CPU
  • The SQLite database (library.db) is stored in your project directory
  • All rendered output stays on your local filesystem
  • No files are ever uploaded to any server

Telemetry

None. Onset Engine contains zero telemetry, zero analytics, and zero tracking code. We do not know how often you use the software, what files you process, or what features you use.

Third-Party Services

The following third-party services are used exclusively for payment processing:

  • Lemon Squeezy — Handles payment processing, license key generation, and tax compliance (as Merchant of Record). Their privacy policy is available at lemonsqueezy.com/privacy.

Data Storage

All application data is stored on your local machine in user-accessible directories. You can delete all Onset Engine data at any time by removing the application folder and database. We retain no copies of your data.

Children's Privacy

Onset Engine is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect data from children.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Since Onset Engine doesn't collect data, any changes would be minimal in scope.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy, contact us at privacy@onsetengine.com.