I’d like to suggest a feature that would significantly enhance the flexibility and power of SpectraLayers for advanced users: support for Python as a scripting engine.
Use Cases and Benefits:
Automate workflows: Python scripting would allow automation of complex or repetitive editing tasks, such as batch spectral edits or custom toolchains for denoising and restoration.
Develop macros: Users could build and share reusable macros that streamline their individual workflows.
Integrate external tools: Python would enable interaction with powerful external systems, including AI-based tools such as text-to-speech, transcription engines, and machine learning models.
Metadata and archiving: Scripts could automate metadata insertion, layer organization, and project archiving.
Version control: Storing scripts in Git or other version control systems would allow users to track, share, and reproduce spectral processing workflows reliably.
Why Python?
Python is one of the most widely adopted languages in both the creative and scientific communities. It’s already commonly used in audio processing (e.g., librosa, NumPy), machine learning (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and digital workflows. Adding scripting support would bring SpectraLayers closer to tools used in modern audio post-production, research, and sound design.
Suggested Implementation (flexible):
An embedded Python interpreter with access to SpectraLayers’ internal API
A scripting console or command window
Ability to load and execute user-defined .py scripts
Optional sandboxing or permission settings for security
I believe this would open up exciting new possibilities for both professional and experimental users of SpectraLayers. Thank you for your time and continued innovation.
@nf1198 ChatGPT again? If people continue to post this stuff here, I’ll be gone.
RipX already implements this as "RipScript ", although the documentation is sparse. Yes, I’d like this, but not a high priority. What problem would it solve?
The use cases for scripting generally fall into two categories: automating repetitive tasks and adding new capabilities.
As a feature request, this post focuses on the question “What could be done with SpectraLayers if scripting existed?” rather than on current applications. You’re also correct to point out that this capability is targeted at advanced users.
Use Cases for Automating Repetitive Tasks
Automating repetitive tasks allows users to build stable and repeatable workflows.
User needs to process 100s of recordings to clean, layerize, and add metadata.
User needs to unmix multiple voices, transcribe, label, and export content.
User needs to build a repeatable and documented workflow for processing audio as evidence.
User needs to clean, layer, slice, and extract content from long clips based on user-defined content detection rules.
User needs to add markers, either auto-detected or taken from an external file.
User needs to characterize qualities such as noise, reverb, ambience, EQ, etc. for multiple clips, exporting the results to a database or to files.
User needs to generate and export spectrograms for multiple clips using well-defined and repeatable visualization settings.
Adding New Capabilities
Python scripting would allow users to incorporate external libraries or even their own custom algorithms into audio processing workflows.
User needs to automate content detection and marking.
User needs to incorporate transcription or text-to-speech (e.g. by using external tools like Whisper).
User needs to incorporate processing algorithms not currently implemented in SpectraLayers.
User needs to parameterize automation based on analysis of the source and/or reference audio.
User needs to develop custom macros that can be applied to regions or selections.
User needs to incorporate custom algorithms/AI to detect, label, and layerize different types of sounds (e.g. animal, vehicle, or machine event identification).
User needs to push/pull content from a shared audio repository.
SpectraLayers does include “Batch Processing” capability but this is limited to applying a preset module chain to multiple input files. The module chain isn’t parameterized, nor does it incorporate any other capability in SpectraLayers such as layer management, project tools, time markers, or VST automation (aside from using a VST preset in a module chain).