Audio Block

Ever have a brilliant melody stuck in your head but struggle to remember it later? Or need a quick way to capture a vocal idea before it vanishes? Our Audio Blocks are designed to be your sonic sketchbook, letting you record and embed audio directly within your song documents. This makes it incredibly easy to build out your ideas, create rough demos, and keep all your musical thoughts organized in one place.

Think of Audio Blocks as mini recording studios and idea catchers, right inside your songwriting workspace. They're perfect for:

• Capturing Fleeting Melodies: Hum, whistle, or play that riff before you forget it!
• Vocal Ideas & Harmonies: Quickly record vocal lines and experiment with different harmonies.
• Rough Demos: Lay down a basic instrumental or vocal track to get a feel for the song's structure.
• Reference Tracks: Import snippets of songs you're inspired by for quick comparison.
• Voice Notes & Lyrics: Record yourself speaking lyrics or explaining a musical idea.

Getting Started: How to Use Audio Blocks

Adding audio to your song is super simple! Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Insert an Audio Block: Look for the "Audio" button in the floating toolbar within the editor. Click it to open the audio options.

2. Choose Your Source: You'll be presented with two options: Record Audio or Upload File. Recording a New Idea: Perfect for capturing inspiration in the moment!

   • Click the Record button (the red circle!).
   • Start playing your instrument, singing, or speaking your idea.
   • When you're finished, click the Stop button (the square!). Your audio will be automatically saved within the block.

   Uploading an Existing File: Got a pre-recorded idea or a reference track? No problem!

   • Click the Upload button.
   • A file browser will open. Select the audio file from your computer or device. (We support common formats like MP3, WAV, and M4A).
   • Wait for the upload to complete.

3. Listen & Refine: Once your audio is loaded (either recorded or uploaded), you'll see playback controls. Use these to:

   • Play/Pause: Listen to your recording.
   • Adjust Volume: Fine-tune the audio level.
   • Check the Time Display: See exactly where you are in the recording and its total length.

4. Position Your Audio: Drag and drop the Audio Block to the appropriate section of your song document. This helps you organize your ideas and see how they fit within the overall structure.

Downloading Your Audio

Need to take your recordings outside of Chordel? We've got you covered! You can easily download any audio from your Audio Blocks in multiple formats:

1. Open the Block Menu: Hover over the audio block and click the drag handle (the vertical grip icon) on the left side of the block.

2. Choose Your Format: You'll see two download options:

   • Download Original: Downloads the audio in its original format (WebM, M4A, or whatever format it was recorded/uploaded in). Best for preserving quality when you plan to do further editing.
   • Download as MP3: Converts the audio to MP3 format for maximum compatibility. Perfect for sharing with others or importing into other software.

Pro Tip: The downloaded file will automatically be named after your song title, making it easy to keep your audio organized!

Power Up Your Workflow: Audio Block Features

We've packed a lot of functionality into our Audio Blocks to make your songwriting process as smooth as possible:

• Direct Recording: Capture ideas instantly without needing external software.
• Flexible File Upload: Bring in existing audio from anywhere.
• Intuitive Playback Controls: Easily manage your audio playback.
• Precise Time Display: Know exactly where you are in your recording.
• Flexible Downloads: Export your audio in original format or as MP3 for sharing.
• Layered Ideas: Add multiple Audio Blocks to the same section to build up complex arrangements and experiment with different ideas. Think layering harmonies or adding different instrumental parts!

Ready to start capturing your musical ideas? Give Audio Blocks a try and experience a more intuitive and efficient songwriting workflow!