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Sound ​

Manage your production's audio with soundboard, cue list, and Freesound integration.

Sound Cues — On Book Pro

Overview ​

The Sound tool provides a complete audio environment for rehearsals:

  • Soundboard — Grid-based pads for instant SFX playback
  • Library — Organize and trim your sound clips
  • Sound Cues — Theatrical cue list linked to scenes
  • Freesound Integration — Search and download Creative Commons audio
  • Offline Support — Cached audio plays without internet

Getting Started ​

Opening the Sound Tool ​

  1. Navigate to Sound in the sidebar
  2. You'll see four sub-tabs: Soundboard, Library, Sound Cues, and Mic Packs

Understanding the Interface ​

TabPurpose
SoundboardInteractive pads for playback
LibraryManage and edit sound clips
Sound CuesScene-linked cue list
Mic PacksWireless mic pack assignments and swap tracking

Soundboard ​

The Soundboard provides instant access to frequently used sounds:

Playing Sounds ​

  1. Click any sound pad to play
  2. Click again to stop (or let it finish)
  3. Use the volume slider to adjust individual clip levels

Master Controls ​

  • Master Volume: Global volume control for all sounds
  • Stop All (Panic Button): Immediately stops all playing sounds
  • Loop Toggle: Enable/disable looping per clip

Customizing Pads ​

Each pad can be customized:

  • Color: Change the pad color for visual organization
  • Name: Rename clips for quick identification
  • Volume: Set default playback level
  • Keyboard Shortcut: Assign hotkeys for hands-free triggering

Library ​

The Library is where you manage all your audio clips:

Adding Sounds ​

Option 1: Upload from Computer ​

  1. Click "Upload Sound"
  2. Select an audio file (MP3, WAV, OGG, M4A)
  3. The clip appears in your library

Option 2: Import from Freesound ​

  1. Click "Search Freesound"
  2. Enter a search term (e.g., "door slam", "thunder")
  3. Browse results with preview playback
  4. Click "Download" to add to your library

Option 3: Import from Repository ​

  1. Click "From Files"
  2. Select an audio file from your Cloud File Repository
  3. The clip links to your library

Editing Clips ​

Select a clip to access editing options:

Waveform Trimmer ​

Set custom start and end points:

  1. Click on a clip to open the editor
  2. View the waveform visualization
  3. Drag the start marker to set where playback begins
  4. Drag the end marker to set where playback ends
  5. Changes are non-destructive (original file preserved)

Clip Settings ​

  • Name: Rename the clip
  • Volume: Default playback volume (0-100%)
  • Loop: Toggle continuous looping
  • Color: Visual color for soundboard pad

Deleting Clips ​

  1. Select the clip
  2. Click Delete
  3. Confirm removal

Sound Cues ​

The Sound Cues tab provides a traditional theatrical cue list:

Understanding Cues ​

Each cue entry includes:

FieldDescription
Cue NumberYour custom numbering (Q1, SQ 10, etc.)
SceneWhich scene the cue occurs in
Cue LineThe line or action that triggers the cue
DescriptionWhat the sound is (e.g., "Doorbell rings")
Sound ClipLink to a library clip (optional)
NotesAdditional details

Adding Cues ​

  1. Click "+ Add Cue"
  2. Fill in the cue details
  3. Optionally link to a sound clip from your library
  4. Click Save

AI-Extracted Cues (On-Demand) ​

Sound cues are not auto-extracted during initial script import. Instead, you trigger extraction when ready:

  1. Ensure you've imported a script (see Script Import)
  2. Go to Sound tool → Sound Cues tab
  3. Click "Extract from Script" in the Action Toolbar
  4. AI scans stage directions in your ScriptBlocks for sound cues
  5. A preview dialog shows detected cues with scene links
  6. Select which cues to add (or add all)
  7. Click "Import Selected"
  8. Link actual sound clips to complete each cue

Why on-demand? This approach:

  • Lets you focus on show structure first
  • Provides a dedicated review step for cues
  • Avoids cluttering the initial import
  • Allows re-extraction after ScriptBlock edits

Reordering Cues ​

  • Drag and drop to reorder within a scene
  • Use the sort order field for fine control

Triggering from Cue List ​

  • Click the Play button next to any linked cue
  • The associated sound clip plays immediately

Freesound Integration ​

Freesound.org provides millions of Creative Commons sounds:

Searching Freesound ​

  1. Go to Library tab
  2. Click "Search Freesound"
  3. Enter keywords (e.g., "glass breaking", "crowd murmur")
  4. Results appear with:
    • Preview button
    • Duration
    • License type
    • Download button

Downloading ​

  1. Click Preview to listen before downloading
  2. Click Download to add to your library
  3. The clip downloads and caches locally

License Information ​

Freesound clips are typically:

  • CC0: Public domain, no attribution required
  • CC-BY: Attribution required in credits

On Book Pro tracks license info for each downloaded clip.

Offline Support ​

Sounds work without internet:

How It Works ​

  • Downloaded sounds are cached in your browser's IndexedDB
  • Once cached, clips play even when offline
  • Perfect for venues without reliable WiFi

Storage Considerations ​

  • Sound files can be large
  • Monitor your storage usage in browser settings
  • Clear unused clips to free space

Mic Pack Assignments ​

The Mic Packs sub-tab helps A2s and Stage Managers track wireless mic pack assignments, battery status, and generate swap suggestions when packs are scarce.

Opening Mic Packs ​

  1. Navigate to Sound in the sidebar
  2. Click the Mic Packs sub-tab

Setup ​

  1. Set total packs — Enter the number of wireless packs available for the production
  2. Click "Generate Assignments" — The system assigns packs to mic-eligible actors sorted by first scene appearance
  3. If packs ≥ actors: everyone gets a dedicated pack
  4. If packs < actors: the first N actors get packs, and the swap algorithm runs for the rest

Lock State (Three-Way Cycle) ​

Each assignment has a lock state that you cycle by clicking the lock icon:

StateIconMeaning
NormalStandard assignment — available for sharing via swaps
LockedDedicated pack (e.g., mic sewn into a costume) — never shared
Low Priority⬇Preferred swap candidate — algorithm tries these packs first

Tip: Mark ensemble or minor-role packs as Low Priority to keep principal actors' packs stable.

Minimum Pack Recommendation ​

A recommendation badge shows:

  • Min: X — The absolute minimum packs needed (for rental budgeting)
  • Min: X · Y w/ locks — If you have locked packs, the practical minimum may differ

Click "Use Minimum" to auto-set the pack count to the practical minimum.

Swap Algorithm ​

When packs < actors, the system suggests swaps automatically:

  • Finds actors whose scenes don't overlap with a packed actor's scenes
  • Prefers Low Priority packs first, then normal packs; skips locked packs
  • Generates swap points at scene boundaries
  • Highlights any actors with no available swap window (⚠️)

Managing Swaps ​

  • Accept a swap → Mark as confirmed (✅)
  • Reject a swap → Remove the suggestion
  • Regenerate → Re-run the algorithm (preserves locks)

Scene Matrix ​

After generating assignments, a scrollable grid shows:

  • Rows = Pack numbers
  • Columns = Scenes in show order
  • Cells = Which actor has the pack in each scene
  • Highlighted cells = Swap points (actor changes)

Assignment Table Fields ​

ColumnDescription
Pack #Sequential pack number
ActorThe person wearing the mic
CharactersCharacters played by this actor
LockCycle: Normal → Locked → Low Priority
BatteryCycle: Fresh → Good → Low → Dead
FrequencyRF frequency (editable)
NotesFree text for the A2

Printing the Mic Plot ​

  1. Click Print in the Action Toolbar
  2. Select "Mic Plot" from the report list
  3. The report includes:
    • Assignment Table — Pack #, actor, characters, frequency, notes
    • Scene Matrix — Landscape grid showing who has each pack per scene
    • Swap Summary — All swaps sorted by pack and scene order

Keyboard Shortcuts ​

ShortcutAction
SpacePlay/pause selected sound
EscapeStop all sounds (panic)
Custom keysTrigger assigned soundboard pads

Tips for Success ​

emoji_objects Build your soundboard early — Have common effects ready for day one

emoji_objects Use Freesound — Massive library of free, high-quality sounds

emoji_objects Trim to essentials — Use the waveform editor to isolate key moments

emoji_objects Test offline — Verify sounds work without network before tech

emoji_objects Assign keyboard shortcuts — Hands-free triggering during run-throughs

emoji_objects Number cues consistently — Match your lighting designer's numbering style

emoji_objects Mark ensemble packs as Low Priority — Keeps principal actors' mic assignments stable

Printing Sound Cues ​

Generate a paper cue list:

  1. Click Print in the Action Toolbar
  2. The cue list formats professionally:
    • Cue numbers
    • Scene assignments
    • Descriptions and cue lines
    • Notes

Video Tutorial ​

video_library Watch: Setting Up Your Soundboard (Coming soon)

Last updated: February 8, 2026 (Mic Pack Assignments, Lock State Tri-Cycle, Minimum Packs)