Playback Modes

Playback modes let you control what happens when you click on a track in your project grid. Instead of manually loading every track, you can enable auto-play so your session flows naturally from one song to the next — whether you’re previewing ideas, comparing versions, or just enjoying your work.

Understanding Playback Modes

When playback modes are enabled, selecting a track in the grid automatically starts playing it. This saves you from the extra click of pressing play every time you want to hear something.

For single-track selections, the track begins playing immediately. When you select multiple tracks at once, the app builds a queue from your selection and starts playing the first track — giving you instant access to next and previous controls within that group.

This is particularly useful when you’re:

• Reviewing bounces — quickly audition multiple versions back-to-back
• Comparing stems — hear how different elements fit together
• Building playlists — create an instant listening session from your selection
• Share-prepping — scan through tracks before sending to collaborators

Enabling and Disabling

You’ll find the playback modes toggle in the toolbar above your tracks grid. The button shows a speaker or play icon that lights up when the feature is active.

To toggle playback modes:

1. Click the playback modes button in the toolbar
2. A toast notification confirms the change — “Play on Select enabled” or “Play on Select disabled”
3. The button remains highlighted while active so you always know your current setting

Your preference is saved automatically. The next time you open the app, playback modes will be in the state you left it.

How It Works with Single Selections

When you select one track with playback modes enabled:

1. The track loads into the waveform player
2. Playback begins immediately
3. If another track was already playing, it stops and the new track takes over
4. The waveform display updates to show the newly selected track

There’s a small delay (about 150 milliseconds) built in to prevent accidental playback when you’re just clicking around. This debounce means you won’t trigger rapid track changes if your cursor briefly passes over songs while navigating.

How It Works with Multiple Selections

When you shift-click or Ctrl/Cmd-click to select multiple tracks:

1. The app builds a queue from your selection in the order you selected them
2. The first track in the queue starts playing
3. Next and previous controls now cycle through your selected tracks
4. The queue persists until you select different tracks or disable playback modes

This turns any group of tracks into an instant playlist. You can select a rough mix, the radio edit, and the acapella — then skip between them effortlessly to compare how each version hits.

Playback Modes in Different Contexts

Playback modes work alongside the app’s different player contexts:

• Tracks page — the primary workspace where you’ll use this most often
• Version comparisons — select multiple stems and hear them in context
• Bucket browsing — preview songs while scrolling through project folders

The behavior adapts based on what’s available to play. If you select a track with no audio file attached, playback modes won’t interfere — you just won’t hear anything play.

Interaction with Other Controls

Playback modes work alongside existing controls in the player:

• Waveform scrubbing — you can still click anywhere on the waveform to jump to a position
• Play/pause button — manual controls remain fully functional
• Volume — unaffected by playback modes
• Loop toggle — loop settings carry over between tracks

If you manually pause playback while a track is selected, selecting a new track will still auto-play it. Playback modes override the paused state until you disable the feature.

When You Might Want to Disable It

Sometimes instant playback gets in the way:

• Heavy editing sessions — when you’re clicking tracks rapidly to edit metadata
• Organizing work — moving songs between buckets or renaming files
• Screen recording — preventing unexpected audio during demos
• Quiet environments — when you need to work without sound

Simply click the toggle to turn it off. Your selection behavior stays the same — you just won’t hear anything until you press play manually.

Tip

If you’re comparing specific moments across tracks, try selecting a single track, scrubbing to the section you want to hear, then selecting your next comparison track. Playback modes will start each new track from the beginning, so manual scrubbing before switching gives you more precise comparisons.

Troubleshooting

Tracks not playing when selected:

• Check that playback modes are enabled (button should be highlighted)
• Verify the track has an attached audio file
• Make sure your system volume is up and speakers are connected

Too many track changes:

• You may be accidentally multi-selecting when you mean to single-click
• Try clicking more deliberately, or disable playback modes during bulk operations

Preference not saving:

• Check that local storage is enabled in your browser
• Try refreshing the page — your setting should persist across sessions

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Related

• The Waveform Player — understand the visual playback display
• Playback Controls — master play, pause, skip, and loop
• Versions & Stems — work with multi-track comparisons
• Player Contexts — navigate between different playback modes