TapeSmith Changelog
All notable changes to TapeSmith are documented here.
The format is based on Keep a Changelog, and this project adheres to Semantic Versioning.
📋 Planned
- Audio test suite expansion (12+ comprehensive tests)
- AI preset engine UX implementation 🤖
- Track analysis UI flow (file chooser, progress, results)
- Performance optimization (Live < 1% CPU, Studio < 3% CPU)
- Modulation map visualization (60fps target)
- UI polish with tape/analog aesthetic 📼
- Factory presets (12-15 presets)
- DAW compatibility validation
- Pluginval Level 10 certification
✨ Added
- Production readiness plan with 3.5-week roadmap
- QA test plan documentation
- Legal documentation (EULA, attributions)
- Versioning system integration
🔄 Changed
- Updated company branding to "KnobSmith Audio"
- Updated company website to knobsmithaudio.com
🔴 Phase 1 Testing - CRITICAL ISSUES FOUND
✨ Added
- Complete Audio Test Suite: 12 comprehensive tests implemented
- AI Preset UX Design: Complete wireframe and implementation spec
✅ Validated
🔒 Real-Time Safety (Architect Audit)
- • No heap allocations in processBlock
- • No mutex locks in audio thread
- • No file I/O in audio thread
- • ScopedNoDenormals present
- • All parameters atomic
⚡ Performance Modes (Lead Developer)
- • Live Mode: 0 samples latency (confirmed)
- • Studio Mode: 6 samples latency with 4x oversampling (confirmed)
📝 Basic Audio Quality
- • 8/12 tests passing (DC offset, noise floor, latency, gain staging)
🔴 CRITICAL FAILURES (4/12 tests)
1. Drive Parameter Smoothing
Zipper noise detected: 0.511442
Fix: Add SmoothedValue for drive parameter
2. Stereo Field Preservation
Stereo field altered: 100.33% change
Fix: Verify TapeSaturationEngine processes stereo independently
3. Transient Preservation
Transient smeared: 41.20% attenuation
Fix: Review wow/flutter and tape delay transient handling
4. Mode Switching Stability
Mode switch click: 0.143460
Fix: Implement crossfade or state reset on mode change
🚫 Status: BLOCKED
All Phase 2, 3, and RC work is BLOCKED until the 4 critical audio quality issues are resolved by Lead Developer.
Real-time safety is confirmed, but audio quality issues must be fixed before continuing.
⚠️ Status: Alpha - NOT FOR PRODUCTION
✨ Added
- Core tape saturation engine with warmth and texture processing
- AI-assisted preset system via TrackAnalysisEngine (offline heuristic) 🤖
- Dual processing modes: Live (low-latency) vs Studio (quality)
- ModulationMapComponent for 60fps visualizations
- TapeSmithLookAndFeel with analog aesthetic 📼
- Audio test suite scaffold
- CMakeLists.txt build configuration
- VST3 and AU formats
- Standalone application
🎯 Features
📼 Tape Saturation
Analog-style warmth without harsh clipping
🎨 Texture Modulation
Character enhancement for organic sound
🤖 AI Presets (Beta)
Track analysis suggests optimal saturation settings
⚡ Live Mode
Zero-latency processing for performance
💎 Studio Mode
Oversampling for maximum quality
📊 Modulation Visualization
Real-time display of saturation character
🏗️ Technical Architecture
- TapeSaturationEngine: Core DSP with harmonic generation
- TrackAnalysisEngine: Offline audio analysis (RMS, spectral, transient)
- AIPresetEngine: Heuristic preset suggestion system
- ModulationMapComponent: OpenGL/software rendering for visualization
- Real-time safe audio processing (partial - needs audit)
⚠️ Known Issues
- AI preset UX flow incomplete (no UI for track analysis)
- Modulation map needs performance optimization
- Test suite needs expansion
- Factory presets not created yet
- Documentation incomplete
- DAW compatibility not validated
- Pluginval testing pending
📚 Documentation
- PRD (Product Requirements Document)
- DSP Architecture documentation
- Parameter Reference guide
- QA Test Plan
- Production Readiness Plan
ℹ️ First alpha release recovered from accidental deletion - January 2, 2026
🗺️ Path to Release Candidate
TapeSmith combines analog warmth with modern AI-assisted workflows. Here's the roadmap to v1.0.0-rc.1:
Phase 1: DSP Validation & Testing (5 days)
- Tape saturation validation (analog warmth, harmonic generation)
- Live mode vs Studio mode audio quality testing
- Expand test suite to 12+ comprehensive tests
- Edge case testing (mode switching, AI preset application)
Phase 2: AI Preset Engine & UX (4 days) 🤖
- Track Analysis UI: File chooser, progress indicator, results display
- Analysis Engine: WAV/AIFF support, reasonable analysis time (< 10s)
- Preset Quality: Musically sensible suggestions for drums, bass, vocals, mix
- Real-Time Safety: Background thread analysis, smooth parameter application
Phase 3: Performance & Optimization (3 days)
- Live Mode: < 1% CPU at 48kHz (fast, minimal latency)
- Studio Mode: < 3% CPU at 48kHz (oversampling on)
- SIMD vectorization for saturation
- Adaptive visualizer performance (reduce fps when backgrounded)
Phase 4: UI Polish & Visualization (4 days)
- Modulation Map: 60fps animation, trail history, smooth transitions
- Tape/Analog Aesthetic: Warm colors, vintage feel
- Mode Indicator: Clear Live vs Studio visual state
- AI Button: Distinctive "Analyze Track" UI
- Metering and hover states
Phase 5: Presets & Documentation (3 days)
- Factory Presets (12-15): Warmth, Drive, Texture, Live Performance, AI-Suggested
- Quick Start Guide (Live vs Studio modes)
- AI Preset Guide (how track analysis works)
- Parameter Reference
Phase 6: DAW Validation & Release (4 days)
- DAW compatibility testing (Logic, Ableton, Reaper, FL Studio, Bitwig)
- Pluginval Level 10 certification (VST3 + AU)
- State persistence (Live/Studio mode, AI presets)
- macOS notarization
🎯 Estimated Timeline
Total: 23 days (~3.5 weeks) to Release Candidate
🤖 AI-Assisted Innovation
TapeSmith's unique AI Preset Engine analyzes your audio and suggests optimal saturation settings:
📊 What It Analyzes
- • RMS levels (dynamic range)
- • Spectral centroid (brightness)
- • Transient density (punch)
- • Stereo width
💡 What It Suggests
- • Drive level (gentle to aggressive)
- • Texture amount (character enhancement)
- • Mix balance (parallel processing)
- • Mode recommendation (Live vs Studio)
Note: This is a heuristic system (no ML inference), ensuring fast, deterministic results with zero cloud dependency.
🎯 Success Criteria for RC1
- ✅ Warmth Delivered: Saturation sounds musical, not harsh
- ✅ AI Feature Works: Track analysis produces useful preset suggestions
- ✅ Live Mode Fast: < 1% CPU, 0 samples latency
- ✅ Studio Mode Quality: Oversampling reduces aliasing
- ✅ Visualization Smooth: 60fps modulation map
- ✅ Stability: No crashes, no audio glitches
- ✅ Compatibility: Works in Logic, Ableton, Reaper minimum
For support and updates, visit knobsmithaudio.com