Audio Playback & Comments

Learn how to play audio files, navigate using waveforms, and add timestamped comments for collaboration and feedback.

Audio Playback

Basic Playback Controls

Play Button (▶️)

• Click the play icon next to any audio file to start playback
• The icon changes to a pause button (⏸️) when audio is playing
• Audio continues playing as you navigate between pages

Waveform Navigation

• Click anywhere on the waveform to jump to that position
• The playhead (vertical line) shows current playback position
• Waveform provides visual feedback of audio intensity and structure

Audio Player Bar

• Appears at the bottom of the screen during playback
• Shows current track name and basic controls
• Provides global audio control across the application

Waveform Features

Visual Audio Representation

• Amplitude: Height shows audio volume/intensity
• Time: Horizontal position shows time progression
• Stereo: May show left/right channels separately
• Color coding: Different colors may indicate audio characteristics

Interactive Elements

• Click to seek: Jump to any position instantly
• Hover preview: See timestamp at mouse position
• Zoom controls: Adjust waveform detail level (if available)
• Scroll navigation: Move through long audio files

Audio Quality & Formats

Supported Playback

• MP3: Universal compatibility, smaller file size
• WAV: High quality, larger file size
• FLAC: Lossless compression
• M4A/AAC: Apple format, good compression
• OGG: Open-source format

Quality Considerations

• Streaming quality: Automatically adjusted based on connection
• Local playback: Full quality for locally stored files
• Progressive loading: Large files stream as you listen

Comments System

Understanding Comments

Comments in SongDrive are timestamped annotations that allow you to:

• Provide feedback at specific moments in audio
• Mark important sections or changes needed
• Collaborate with precise timing references
• Document creative decisions and ideas

Adding Comments

Method 1: Click on Waveform

1. Play or navigate to the section you want to comment on
2. Click on the waveform at the exact position
3. A comment form appears with the timestamp pre-filled
4. Type your comment in the text area
5. Click "Submit" to save the comment

Method 2: Using Current Playback Position

1. Play the audio and listen to the section
2. Pause at the moment you want to comment
3. Click "Add Comment" button (if available)
4. The current playback position is used as the timestamp
5. Type and submit your comment

Method 3: Manual Timestamp Entry

1. Open the comment form (varies by interface)
2. Type a timestamp manually (e.g., "1:30", "2:45")
3. Add your comment text
4. Submit the comment

Comment Formatting

Timestamp Formats

Comments automatically recognize these timestamp formats:

• Minutes:Seconds: "1:30", "2:45"
• Hours:Minutes:Seconds: "1:02:30"
• Decimal seconds: "90.5", "165.25"
• Multiple timestamps: "1:30 - 2:15" for sections

Rich Text Features

• Bold text: Use asterisks or markdown formatting
• Timestamps in text: Any "1:30" format becomes clickable
• Line breaks: Separate ideas with new lines
• @mentions: Tag collaborators (if supported)

Example Comments

**Verse 1 Feedback**
Great vocal take! The energy at 0:45 is perfect.
Maybe add some reverb from 1:15 - 1:30?

**Guitar Solo Notes**
2:30 - solo entrance could be smoother
2:45 - love this bend, keep it!
3:15 - ending feels rushed, maybe extend?

**Mix Notes**
- Bass too loud throughout
- Snare needs more punch at 1:00
- Perfect balance from 2:00 - 2:30

Comment Features

Visual Integration

• Waveform regions: Comments appear as colored regions on waveform
• Timeline markers: Visual indicators at comment positions
• Color coding: Different colors for different comment types or users
• Hover previews: See comment text when hovering over regions

Interactive Comments

• Click to navigate: Click comment or region to jump to that position
• Automatic playback: Some comments may auto-play when clicked
• Reply threading: Respond to specific comments (if supported)
• Edit/Delete: Modify your own comments after posting

Comment Management

• Sort by time: Comments ordered chronologically
• Filter by user: Show only specific collaborator's comments
• Search comments: Find specific feedback or keywords
• Export comments: Save feedback for external use

Collaboration with Comments

Feedback Workflow

For Reviewers/Collaborators

1. Listen through the audio completely first
2. Take notes of sections needing attention
3. Add specific comments with precise timestamps
4. Be constructive and specific in feedback
5. Use consistent terminology the team understands

For Content Creators

1. Review all comments before making changes
2. Ask clarifying questions if feedback is unclear
3. Mark comments as resolved after addressing them
4. Update team when new versions are uploaded
5. Thank collaborators for their input

Comment Best Practices

Be Specific

❌ Vague: "This part sounds weird" ✅ Specific: "1:45 - vocal pitch seems flat on 'love'"

Use Timestamps

❌ General: "The guitar needs work" ✅ Timestamped: "2:15 - 2:30 - guitar too loud, 3:00 - great tone"

Be Constructive

❌ Negative: "This is terrible" ✅ Constructive: "0:30 - could use more energy, maybe double the vocals?"

Include Context

❌ Unclear: "Fix the drums" ✅ Clear: "1:15 - snare hits conflict with vocal melody, consider moving"

Advanced Comment Features

Comment Types/Categories

Organize feedback by type:

• 🎵 Musical: Melody, harmony, arrangement feedback
• 🎧 Technical: Mix, recording, audio quality issues
• 📝 Lyrical: Lyrics, vocal delivery, pronunciation
• ⭐ Positive: Highlight great sections to keep
• 🔧 Fix: Issues that must be addressed

Workflow Integration

• To-do lists: Convert comments to action items
• Version tracking: Link comments to specific file versions
• Status updates: Mark comments as "addressed" or "resolved"
• Priority levels: Mark urgent vs. nice-to-have feedback

Comment Analytics

• Response rates: Track how quickly feedback is addressed
• Comment density: See which sections get most feedback
• Collaborator activity: Monitor who's providing input
• Resolution tracking: Follow up on unaddressed comments

Video Comments

Video-Specific Features

For video files, comments work similarly but with additional features:

• Video seeking: Click comments to jump to video position
• Frame-accurate timing: Precise video timestamp positioning
• Visual context: Comments relate to both audio and visual elements
• Subtitle sync: Coordinate comments with video content timing

Video Comment Examples

**Visual Notes**
0:15 - lighting too dark on vocalist
0:45 - great camera angle for guitar solo
1:30 - lip sync seems slightly off

**Audio-Visual Sync**
2:00 - audio/video sync issue
2:30 - perfect synchronization here

Keyboard Shortcuts

Playback Control

• Spacebar: Play/pause audio
• ←/→ arrows: Skip backward/forward (if supported)
• Home/End: Jump to beginning/end of track
• Numbers: Jump to percentage positions (1=10%, 2=20%, etc.)

Comment Navigation

• Tab: Navigate between comments
• Enter: Open comment form or submit comment
• Esc: Cancel comment editing
• Ctrl/Cmd + Enter: Quick submit comment

Troubleshooting Audio & Comments

Playback Issues

• No audio: Check browser audio permissions and volume
• Choppy playback: Check internet connection or file quality
• Wrong speed: Verify browser audio settings
• No waveform: File may still be processing

Comment Problems

• Comments not saving: Check internet connection and try again
• Timestamps wrong: Verify audio file hasn't changed
• Can't see comments: Check if you're viewing the correct file version
• Permission issues: Ensure you have comment access in this workspace

Performance Optimization

• Large files: May take time to load waveform data
• Many comments: Performance may slow with hundreds of comments
• Browser memory: Refresh page if audio becomes unresponsive
• Network issues: Use local files when possible for better performance

Need help? See Troubleshooting or FAQ.