Spadio3D User Guide

play_circle Transport & Timeline Navigation

The transport bar provides high-precision playback control, looping regions, and timeline zoom.

mic Microphone Recording & Takes Workflow

Spadio3D features a built-in recording engine engineered for zero-latency spatial tracking, live input monitoring, and multi-take capture.

Track Header Controls

Interactive Timeline Clips Layer & Trimming Controls

Spadio3D features a dedicated, multi-layer visual clips timeline bar positioned directly below the transport controls. This layer displays color-coded interactive clip blocks matching each audio and background video track:

• Timeline Snapping Magnet Toggle (): Located in the camera toolbar directly to the left of the 2D viewer toggle:
  • Enabled (Active Blue): Clip movements, trims, room scene transitions, and automation takes automatically snap magnetically to 00:00:00, current playhead position, loop markers, and neighboring clip boundaries.
  • Disabled: Disables magnetic attraction, allowing free-form movements and trimming with millisecond continuous precision.
  • Persistence: The snapping state is automatically remembered across application sessions.
• Middle Body Drag (Reposition Clip): Click and drag the center body of any clip block to move it across the timeline with real-time visual movement tracking.
• Left Trim Handle (Trim IN): Click and drag the left edge of a clip block to non-destructively trim the start boundary. It adjusts the clip’s startTime, duration, and sourceOffset proportionally without stretching or altering the pitch of your media.
• Right Trim Handle (Trim OUT): Click and drag the right edge to trim the termination boundary. It bounds the duration strictly within the available source audio/video duration without time-stretching.
• Background Video Clip Synchronization: Video clips on the timeline strictly obey in/out trim points: the video automatically blanks (no video rendered) before the clip start timestamp and halts cleanly when the trimmed OUT point is passed, both in the 2D Equirectangular viewer and the 3D 360 preview sphere.
• Live Real-Time Auditioning: If playback is running while dragging or trimming a clip, Spadio3D instantly reschedules the audio and video source on the fly, allowing you to audition precise edits without stopping or restarting transport playback!
• Global Settings Marker Toggles: In Global Settings → 3D Viewport & Visuals:
  • CLIP MARKERS: Enables or disables the timeline markers layer.
  • ONLY ON TRACK SELECT: Automatically hides the clip markers layer when no track is selected, keeping the timeline ultra-clean.
  • ALL MARKERS: Shows clip blocks for all unmuted audio and video tracks simultaneously.

Clip Takes IN / OUT & Looping Controls

Every recorded take or imported audio segment is listed inside the track’s CLIPS / TAKES drawer in a compact control row ([M] [↻] [⏱IN] [start] → [end] [⏱OUT] [✕]):

• Mute Button (M): Click to mute/unmute a specific clip. Muted clips are greyed out, skipped during audio playback, and omitted from the timeline overview.
• Clip Loop Button (repeat / ↻): Toggles seamless buffer repetition for that specific clip take:
  • When Enabled: The clip’s OUT point automatically extends to the end of the project timeline while keeping its start IN point intact. The audio repeats smoothly throughout playback.
  • When Disabled: The OUT point snaps back to the natural duration of the audio source file.
  • Multi-Take Independence: When multiple clips exist on the same track, each clip can be looped independently without conflicting with other takes.
• Snap IN / OUT (schedule): Instantly snaps the clip’s start or end boundary to the current playhead position.
• Start (IN) & End (OUT) Fields: Type exact timestamps in m:ss.mmm format (e.g. 1:24.500) for sample-accurate trimming.
• Linear vs. Cyclic Mode (east / sync): Toggle between linear timeline positioning and cyclic loop restarting from 00:00:00.
• Delete (✕): Removes only that specific take without affecting the rest of the track.

Visual Row Indicators

Hardware Device Selection & MacBook Mic Beamforming

timeline Automation & Motion Presets Workflow

Spadio3D features a high-precision dual-mode spatial automation suite combining Procedural Motion Clips (PRESETS) with mathematical 3D oscillators and Custom Live Automation (CUSTOM) for frame-by-frame takes.

Real-Time 3D Splines & Speed-Compensated Comet Trails

When a track is selected, Spadio3D visualizes its spatial movement in real-time inside the 3D soundstage:

• 3D Trajectory Spline: Renders the clean, stable first cycle of procedural motion clips or custom automation. Shows dynamic Red Clipping Plateaus whenever a trajectory exceeds the room’s physical Floor or Ceiling boundaries.
• Speed-Compensated Comet Tail: While playback is active, a glowing comet trail follows behind the 3D sphere. Spadio3D automatically calculates arc velocity to maintain an equal physical tail length (1.5 meters) across all speeds.

Condensed vs. Separate View Modes

Click the view toggle button in the IN → OUT header to switch between workflow perspectives:

Interactive In/Out Point Editing: Move, Stretch & Trim Modes

Between the IN and OUT timecode inputs of every take, Spadio3D features a 3-way mode switch button (↔ MOVE / ⇔ STRETCH / ✂ TRIM). Click the button to cycle between editing modes:

Automation Take Muting (M)

Each automation take includes a dedicated M (Mute) button. Muting an automation take bypasses its recorded points during that time window and immediately hides its 3D visual spline, allowing you to audition alternative movements without permanently erasing automation data.

Context-Aware Timeline Automation Bar

A parallel automation timeline bar sits directly below the main audio timeline. To keep your workspace clean, it only appears when a track’s AUTOMATION accordion menu is opened. The bar renders sleek, color-coded marker pills matching your track color and updates dynamically as you move, stretch, or trim takes.

settings_input_component Pro Multitrack Audio Engine (macOS)

Standard web browsers and WebViews cap microphone access to 2 stereo channels. Spadio3D for macOS incorporates a native Rust audio subsystem powered by cpal, unlocking direct hardware access to physical input channels on CoreAudio multi-channel audio interfaces.

Activating Pro Multitrack

1. Open Global Settings (settings) and navigate to the Audio tab.
2. Toggle the Enable Pro Multitrack (macOS) switch. The switch lights up in a warm amber glow.
3. Select your hardware audio interface from the Input Source dropdown.
4. On each track, select the specific input channel (e.g. Ch 1 (Left), Ch 3, Ch 7, etc.) or stereo pairs.
5. Click the Refresh Icon (refresh) at any time to scan for newly plugged-in USB audio interfaces without restarting the app.

speed ITU-R BS.1770-4 LUFS & True Peak Limiting

Spadio3D integrates an industrial-grade loudness analyzer compliant with EBU R128 and Dolby Atmos 5.1 delivery requirements.

Streaming & Broadcast Target Presets

drive_folder_upload Dolby Atmos ADM BWF, Reaper & Media Import

Import raw audio stems, entire multi-track Reaper sessions, or industry-standard Dolby Atmos ADM BWF files created in Logic Pro, Pro Tools, DaVinci Resolve, or the Dolby Atmos Conversion Tool.

Importing Media Files

• Multi-Track Audio: Drag & drop multiple WAV/MP3/OGG/FLAC files directly onto the soundstage window to automatically instantiate tracks.
• 360° Panoramic Video: Drag an MP4/WEBM video file into the project to set up the interactive equirectangular background canvas.

language 3D Spatial Mixing Environment

Position sound sources freely in full 360° spherical space.

map 2D Spatial HUD & Equirectangular Projection

The top HUD visualizes the 360° sound field mapped flat onto a 2:1 equirectangular canvas.

• Direct Dragging: Grab any track puck to reposition its azimuth angle and elevation simultaneously.
• Resizable Drawer: Drag the dotted border at the bottom of the 2D HUD to expand or collapse the visualizer.

tune Preferences & Project Setup

Click the Settings (Gear) icon on the top right toolbar to open the unified preferences modal:

1. Audio Tab

• Pro Multitrack Engine (CoreAudio / CPAL): Native multi-channel hardware capture for macOS desktop builds (supports devices like Zoom H8, Behringer X32, Scarlett 18i20).
• Input Source & Channel Routing: Set global recording input and mono/stereo routing modes (Mono Ch 1, Mono Ch 2, Mono Sum, or True Stereo). Per-track overrides can be set directly via the track mic icon.
• Buffer Size & Latency: Select from 256 samples (~5.3ms) for ultra-low latency recording, 512 samples (~10.7ms) default, up to 4096 samples.
• Audio Context State: Live engine status indicator (RUNNING / SUSPENDED). Click to wake the Web Audio engine if suspended by browser autoplay policies.

2. Project Tab

• Project Setup & Document (.spd): Customize your Project Name and editable Document Filename (.spd). Use the +1 button to instantly increment project versions (e.g. Mix_v1.spd → Mix_v2.spd).
• Project Directory: Assign an active working folder on disk (via Tauri folder picker or Chrome File System Access API). Track recordings and project files are automatically organized here.
• Folder Structure: Choose between structured subfolders (<project_folder>/Media/) or flat folder saving.
• Overwrite (OVR) Take Behavior: Keep previous takes safely on disk or clean up replaced audio takes automatically.
• Media Management & Live Auto-Backup:
  • Copy imported media to project folder: Automatically ensures all audio stems are localized inside the project folder upon import.
  • Auto-save recorded takes as WAV: Writes uncompressed 32-bit float broadcast WAV files straight to disk when recording stops.
  • Live Auto-Backup: Background periodic auto-saver (5, 10, or 15 minute intervals) saving versioned .spd files safely without interrupting playback.
  • Save Project Document (.spd) & Consolidate All Media: One-click buttons to package and save full project bundles.

3. 3D Viewport Tab

• Theme, Model & Background:
  • Object Visual Theme: Choose between Spatial Tester (Saturn Rings & Glow) and Classic Studio.
  • Dummy Head Model: Switch between Spatial Tester Head (Ears & Headband) and 3D Realistic Head (GLB).
  • Custom Background Color: Interactive color picker to customize the 3D canvas background color (persisted across sessions) with an instant RESET button.
• Object Visuals: Interactive drag controls to fine-tune Sphere Scale, Text Label Scale, Height Offset, Mouse Rotation Sensitivity, Spread Thickness, Camera Movement Speed, and Unselected Track Opacity.
• Height Reference: Switch between EARS (0m listener center) or FLOOR (room floor origin).
• Default Timeline Duration: Set startup timeline span (1m, 2m, 3m, 5m default, 10m, 15m).
• Timeline & Overlays: Toggle visibility for Images, Videos, Aspect Ratio lock, Spread Angle Arcs, Clip Markers, Only on Track Select, All Markers, and Auto-Fit Recordings.

4. System Tab

• Show Only Playing Tracks: Automatically hides muted or inactive objects in the 3D scene.
• Parse Position Hints on Track Rename: Automatically moves audio objects to spatial coordinates when named with position tags. Click the [ℹ️] info button to view all supported position conventions (e.g., [L], [R], [SL], [TFL], [az, el, d], or [X, Y, Z]).

architecture Room Maker & Multi-Scene Acoustic Simulation

Physically model acoustic spaces and room reverberation using Google Resonance Audio simulation. The Room Maker settings modal opens directly into dedicated segmented controls:

• Room Sub-Tab:
  • Room Dimensions: Customize physical Width (1–100m), Height (1–50m), and Depth (1–100m) with numeric drag handles.
  • Positioning Offsets: Offset room center in X, Y, and Z axes.
  • Restrict Spheres to Room: Clamps soundstage objects inside the physical boundary walls.
  • Show Room Visualizer: Renders a real-time wireframe room bounding box in the 3D viewport.
  • Preset Management: Save, delete, export, or import custom JSON room acoustic presets.
• Surface Materials Sub-Tab:
  • Assign independent acoustic absorption materials per wall (Left, Right, Front, Back, Floor, Ceiling): Marble, Wood, Brick, Glass, Acoustic Tiles, Heavy Curtains, Concrete, Plaster, Linoleum, Metal, and Transparent.
• Multi-Room Scene Environments & Muting Fallback:
  • Create multiple acoustic room takes across the timeline.
  • Mute Dimming: Muted room takes dim their 3D wireframe and acoustic reflection parameters.
  • Acoustic Fallback: If a room take is muted, the audio engine automatically falls back to the previous active room or default acoustic space seamlessly.

equalizer Studio FX & Master Limiter

Each track and the master bus features studio-grade DSP:

• 12-Band Graphic EQ: Preamp gain (-24 to +24 dB) with 12 parametric bands.
• Dynamic Compressor & Gate: Threshold, ratio, attack, release, and visual gain-reduction metering.
• True Peak Brickwall Limiter: Clamps master intersample peaks at -1.0 dBFS for streaming delivery.

keyboard Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

sim_card_download Dolby Atmos ADM BWF Export

Spadio3D exports fully compliant Dolby Atmos ADM BWF (Audio Definition Model Broadcast Wave Format) multi-channel files adhering to ITU-R BS.2076.

Export Formats Summary