STUDIO SYSTEM

File: STUDIO_SYSTEM.md

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# Studio System Documentation

## Overview

The Studio system is a comprehensive audio editing platform built into CreatorContent.net that allows users to create, edit, and render podcast episodes with professional-grade audio processing capabilities.

## Features

### Core Functionality
- **Project Management**: Create and manage audio editing projects
- **Timeline Editing**: Multi-track timeline with drag-and-drop interface
- **Audio Clips**: Create clips from source media files with precise time controls
- **Effects Processing**: Apply professional audio effects including:
  - Normalization
  - Noise Gate
  - Compression
  - Equalization
  - Reverb
- **Audio Rendering**: Export projects to various formats (MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC)
- **Background Processing**: Audio rendering happens in the background using job queues

### Technical Capabilities
- **FFmpeg Integration**: Uses FFmpeg for all audio processing
- **Multi-track Mixing**: Support for multiple audio tracks
- **Real-time Preview**: Playback controls for project preview
- **Format Conversion**: Convert between various audio formats
- **Quality Control**: Multiple quality settings for output

## Database Design

### Hybrid Approach (Recommended)
The system uses a hybrid database design that combines the best aspects of project-based and session-based approaches:

#### Core Tables
1. **studio_projects**: Main project container
2. **studio_project_assets**: Source media and clips
3. **studio_project_clips**: Time segments from source media
4. **studio_project_timeline**: Track layout and arrangement
5. **studio_project_outputs**: Rendered audio files

#### Key Features
- **JSON Storage**: Project state stored as JSON for flexibility
- **Relational Links**: Proper foreign key relationships for data integrity
- **Performance Indexes**: Optimized queries for large projects
- **Soft Deletes**: Support for project archiving

## Audio Processing

### Supported Effects

#### Normalization
- **Purpose**: Standardize audio levels
- **Parameters**: Target level (-20 to 0 dB)
- **FFmpeg Filter**: `loudnorm`

#### Noise Gate
- **Purpose**: Remove background noise
- **Parameters**: Threshold, ratio, attack, release
- **FFmpeg Filter**: `agate`

#### Compression
- **Purpose**: Control dynamic range
- **Parameters**: Threshold, ratio, attack, release, knee
- **FFmpeg Filter**: `acompressor`

#### Equalization
- **Purpose**: Adjust frequency response
- **Parameters**: Multiple frequency bands with gain and Q
- **FFmpeg Filter**: `equalizer`

#### Reverb
- **Purpose**: Add spatial effects
- **Parameters**: Room size, damping, wet/dry levels
- **FFmpeg Filter**: `aecho`

### Audio Formats
- **Input**: MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG
- **Output**: MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC
- **Quality Settings**: Low (128k), Medium (192k), High (320k)

## User Interface

### Main Components
1. **Media Browser**: Import and manage source audio files
2. **Timeline**: Multi-track editing interface
3. **Effects Panel**: Configure audio effects
4. **Transport Controls**: Playback and navigation
5. **Render Panel**: Export settings and progress

### Workflow
1. **Create Project**: Set up new editing session
2. **Import Media**: Add source audio files
3. **Create Clips**: Define time segments from source media
4. **Arrange Timeline**: Drag clips to tracks
5. **Apply Effects**: Configure audio processing
6. **Preview**: Test the mix
7. **Render**: Export final audio

## Technical Implementation

### Backend Services
- **AudioProcessingService**: Core audio processing logic
- **RenderAudioJob**: Background rendering job
- **StudioController**: API endpoints for frontend

### Frontend Components
- **Timeline Interface**: Drag-and-drop track editor
- **Media Browser**: File management interface
- **Effects Panel**: Real-time effect configuration
- **Transport Controls**: Playback interface

### File Management
- **Storage**: Files stored in Laravel storage system
- **Temporary Processing**: Local temp directories for processing
- **Cleanup**: Automatic cleanup of temporary files
- **Backup**: Project state saved as JSON

## Installation Requirements

### System Dependencies
```bash
# FFmpeg (required for audio processing)
sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

# PHP extensions
sudo apt-get install php-ffmpeg

# Queue worker (for background processing)
php artisan queue:work
```

### Laravel Configuration
```bash
# Run migrations
php artisan migrate

# Set up queue driver (Redis recommended)
QUEUE_CONNECTION=redis

# Configure storage
php artisan storage:link
```

## API Endpoints

### Projects
- `GET /api/studio/projects` - List user projects
- `POST /api/studio/projects` - Create new project
- `GET /api/studio/projects/{id}` - Get project details
- `PUT /api/studio/projects/{id}` - Update project
- `DELETE /api/studio/projects/{id}` - Delete project

### Assets
- `POST /api/studio/projects/{id}/assets` - Add media asset
- `POST /api/studio/projects/{id}/clips` - Create clip

### Timeline
- `PUT /api/studio/projects/{id}/timeline` - Update timeline

### Rendering
- `POST /api/studio/projects/{id}/render` - Start rendering
- `GET /api/studio/media` - Get user media files

## Usage Examples

### Creating a Project
```javascript
const project = await apiCall('/api/studio/projects', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({
        name: 'My Podcast Episode',
        description: 'Episode 1 - Introduction',
        sample_rate: '44100',
        bit_depth: '16'
    })
});
```

### Adding Media Asset
```javascript
const asset = await apiCall(`/api/studio/projects/${projectId}/assets`, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({
        media_id: 123,
        asset_type: 'source',
        name: 'Interview Audio',
        metadata: {
            duration: 1800,
            format: 'mp3'
        }
    })
});
```

### Creating a Clip
```javascript
const clip = await apiCall(`/api/studio/projects/${projectId}/clips`, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({
        source_asset_id: assetId,
        name: 'Introduction',
        start_time: 0,
        end_time: 300
    })
});
```

### Rendering Project
```javascript
const render = await apiCall(`/api/studio/projects/${projectId}/render`, {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({
        format: 'mp3',
        quality: 'high',
        name: 'Final Episode'
    })
});
```

## Best Practices

### Performance
- Use background jobs for rendering
- Implement proper cleanup of temporary files
- Optimize database queries with indexes
- Cache frequently accessed project data

### User Experience
- Provide real-time feedback during processing
- Implement auto-save functionality
- Show progress indicators for long operations
- Offer keyboard shortcuts for common actions

### Audio Quality
- Use appropriate bitrates for different quality levels
- Implement proper error handling for failed processing
- Validate audio files before processing
- Provide audio preview capabilities

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues
1. **FFmpeg not found**: Install FFmpeg and ensure it's in PATH
2. **Queue jobs not processing**: Check queue worker is running
3. **Storage permissions**: Ensure storage directory is writable
4. **Memory limits**: Increase PHP memory limit for large files

### Debugging
- Check Laravel logs for processing errors
- Monitor queue job status
- Verify file permissions and paths
- Test FFmpeg commands manually

## Future Enhancements

### Planned Features
- **Real-time Collaboration**: Multi-user editing
- **Plugin System**: Third-party effect plugins
- **Advanced Effects**: More sophisticated audio processing
- **Video Support**: Basic video editing capabilities
- **Cloud Rendering**: Distributed processing

### Technical Improvements
- **WebAssembly**: Client-side audio processing
- **WebRTC**: Real-time audio streaming
- **Machine Learning**: AI-powered audio enhancement
- **Blockchain**: Decentralized project storage

STUDIO SYSTEM

STUDIO SYSTEM

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