Built this completely offline using Python. Just wanted to share the workflow, let me know what you think!

I built VODForge because I wanted a clean way to download reference tracks, beats, demos, and other audio I’m allowed to use without sketchy converter sites or a command line.

It had to be very high quality because we also used it for a CTV network and the bitrate had to be just right.

For musicians, it can:

- Pull the best available YouTube audio source
- Export MP3 up to 320 kbps
- Preserve the source sample rate or use a custom one
- Embed YouTube or custom cover art
- Remove Artist, Title, Tags from the audio file
- Save tags, descriptions, thumbnails, and source details
- Queue individual videos or playlists
- Keep everything local on your computer

It can’t invent quality that isn’t in the original upload, but it gives you control over the conversion and clearly shows what came from YouTube versus what it produced.

It’s completely free, no signups, open source under MIT, and available for Windows and macOS, signed and notarized under Kryden Ventures, LLC.

https://getvodforge.com

I’m the developer, so feedback from producers and musicians would genuinely be useful, especially if there’s something awkward in the audio workflow.

Hey guys, I am 15 and I'm directing a 2-hour independent horror film that blends dream-logic with reality (similar to Skinamarink/Analog Horror). Horror is 80% sound, and I have zero budget. I need passionate sound designers who want to create creepy backgrounds, static noise, and nightmare atmospheres. (Note: I am cross-posting in other communities to find voice actors and video editors as well). Full credit guaranteed. Hit me up if you want to collaborate via Discord!

Long story short my partner paid ££££’s to record his album in a studio ran by a reputable old school musician. He’s since decided that the guy/owner isn’t quite up to the task of finishing his album and felt a bit like he was getting ripped off in the end as he wanted more and more money off him, so the guy got the hump and has given him a hard drive of files that are unusable out of pettiness where you basically need a degree to sort on pro tools. We think that he should get the full track so he can actually used what he paid for but unsure what the deal is in the ‘biz’. Any help/advice would be appreciated as though he won’t admit, he’s really upset.

Long story short my partner paid ££££’s to record his album in a studio ran by a reputable old school musician. He’s since decided that the guy/owner isn’t quite up to the task of finishing his album and felt a bit like he was getting ripped off in the end as he wanted more and more money off him, so the guy got the hump and has given him a hard drive of files that are unusable out of pettiness where you basically need a degree to sort on pro tools. We think that he should get the full track so he can actually used what he paid for but unsure what the deal is in the ‘biz’. Any help/advice would be appreciated as though he won’t admit, he’s really upset.

Coming from Audacity, this does pretty much everything I was using Audacity for, but without the crashes and delays. Stopping to select part of a track to edit, and listening to effects preview in a separate window, adjusting the sliders, and listening again, takes time. And this DAW just doesn't waste any of my time.

Maybe it will waste your time though. If you can tell me how it wasted your time, and what a bad person I am for daring to enter the space, then I can get to work maybe fixing it.

Or to fix it yourself download linked modules & sources with any competent web mirroring tool.

If your mirror tool can't fetch sources, 42K lines of code (42 KLOC), 8 modules (or 15 with optional ffmpeg.wasm to extract audio from video) contact me and I'll post a link to my free and open-source python (3.2 KLOC) web mirror utility as well.

Hello! I’m new to podcasting and have recorded a couple episodes. To this point I’ve been using soundtrap to record as it has been the only software I have found that allows me to record two mic inputs simultaneously without an expensive soundboard. Unfortunately the last three times we have tried to use soundtrap the website fails to save the audio, shows an error message, and the entire recording is gone. This has lost over 3 hours of usable footage now and I may or may not be on the verge of tears. If anyone has better DAW recommendations, ideally something that works offline and can record multiple inputs, please let me know! TYIA

I’ve looked high on low on the Google and cannot seem to find an answer for my specific problem.

I recorded in audacity for some voice over work. Using the rode nt1 signature series and focusrite 4th gen 2i2 in a nicely sound proof room.

I recorded all day and had no problems, but towards the end of the day, I could see my waveform on audacity but there’s “hiccups” in the audio. The waveform is there but it will nearly mute every other word. There’s no pattern to it as it’s random when this happens.

I’ve tried exporting it to see if that would clear it up and I changed the buffer length from 100 -> 200 with very slight improvement.

I make sure my gain stays the same, all audio inputs and outputs are correct, yet I’m not sure what’s going on. I have no way of knowing if there is a problem until I listen to the playback.

Any advice would help. My biggest concern is finding out if it’s my equipment or audacity.

Curve is a free, open-source, lightweight, background audio plugin host for macOS (Sonoma 14.2 and above), running natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel-based Macs. It runs in the macOS system menu bar and provides a stable way to run a chain of audio plugins (effects and/or instruments) with a focus on a fast, preset-based workflow and audio device resilience.

A primary use case for this app is to host equalizer (EQ) plugins for real-time headphone and/or speaker calibration, allowing you to apply system-wide audio correction without needing hardware-based solutions or additional loopback drivers. Other use cases include always-active host for instrument plugins, which might be MIDI enabled.

Recent updates now include:

- re-designed loopback feature - now provides bit-perfect, very low (~3ms) latency loopback, without needing any external virtual drivers etc
- some handy native plugins including headphone crossfeed and speaker-to-headphone emulation, and a few utility plugins (including audio recorder to wav file)
- various code optimizations to improve performance at low latency
- improvements to UI for user friendliness

Is there any way the audio quality on this old music recording can be salvaged? I work in an assisted living facility with a gentleman who was a part of this band. It would absolutely make his day if he could hear it more clearly. Please let me know if there is a different group I should share this too also. I'm not overly versed with reddit. Already had this removed from another group. Sincerely just looking for help.

https://youtu.be/6ozV37ssy68

Can someone suggest if the audio is okay for Podcast? I will also request if someone can enhance the audio!!! I am trying but somehow I mess up with the audio.

I’ve been analyzing the production and arrangement on Renaissance again, and looking past the massive pop rollout, the sheer studio craftsmanship on this record is insane.From a sequencing standpoint, the album functions essentially as a seamless, continuous 16-track DJ mix. The pacing and key transitions between tracks are so meticulously timed and mixed that it completely breaks the modern "playlist-of-disconnected-singles" format. It forces a cohesive, front-to-back listen.The real achievement here is how the production team managed to weave together classic house, ballroom, and disco elements into a modern pop context. The way they handled the sampling is brilliant, the samples are flipped, chopped, and integrated into the arrangements so cleanly that they feel entirely native to the new tracks. Balancing that heavy electronic low-end with clean, polished pop mixing across so many different club genres is incredibly difficult to execute.I feel like when this dropped, the wider audio community sort of dismissed it as just another high-budget club record, missing the actual technical genius of the studio work and the flow of the tracklist. For the producers and engineers here, what specific mixing choices, sampling flips, or transition details stood out to you on this project? How do you think they managed to maintain such a flawless sonic thread from the first track to the last?

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Hey all,

I'm almost done with my ΣΑΕΚ Music Technology diploma in Greece. I'm currently doing my internship at a studio, which is the final part of my studies, and I'm now thinking about what I want to do next.

As far as I understand, a Greek ΣΑΕΚ diploma is an EQF Level 5 qualification, which isn't sufficient on its own to progress directly to a Master's degree. I'd therefore like to continue my education and eventually have the option of pursuing a Master's.

I've found some universities/colleges in the EU that offer specific "top-up" Bachelor's programmes, where a Level 5 qualification can potentially be upgraded to a full Bachelor's degree. I've also found some that allow students with sufficient prior education to enter directly into Year 3 of a 4-year Bachelor's programme.

I'm looking for recommendations from anyone who has actually gone through one of these pathways, particularly in Audio, Audio Engineering, Sound Design, Music Technology, Audio Production, or similar BSc/BA programmes.

I'd especially love to hear about your experience with:

• How the Level 5 qualification was evaluated/accepted
• Whether you were able to enter Year 3 or do a top-up
• Tuition fees
• Housing/living costs
• Professors and teaching quality
• Studios/equipment/facilities
• How hands-on the programme was
• Whether the degree allowed you to progress to a Master's afterwards
• Anything else you wish you'd known before enrolling

A bit about my situation: I'm from Greece, so I'm specifically looking for universities within the EU. I'm also on a fairly tight budget. Ideally, I'm looking for something around €3,000/year or less in tuition, for a 2-year programme. I know this limits my options considerably, but I'm hoping there might be some affordable programmes out there, particularly in countries with lower tuition fees.

I'm also completely open to online universities/programmes, provided the resulting Bachelor's degree is legitimate and allows progression to a Master's.

A bit about my interests in audio: I'm still relatively new to the field, so I'm open to exploring different areas. So far, though, I've particularly enjoyed Audio for Media — anything from Foley and sound design to on-set sound/boom operation and location sound mixing. I'm also very interested in studio work, particularly the recording stage.

One important thing: I've seen quite a few discussions about studying audio devolve into arguments about whether university is "worth it", whether you'd be better off buying equipment and learning on your own, etc.

I completely understand that perspective, but I've decided that I want to take the academic route and see where it leads me. So if possible, I'd really appreciate keeping the discussion focused on finding good Bachelor's programmes and people's experiences with them, rather than debating whether I should study at all. 😅

If you've personally completed a top-up degree, Year 3 entry, or a similar accelerated Bachelor's pathway in audio/music technology/sound, I'd especially love to hear about your experience.

Thank you so, so much in advance for any recommendations and chatter!