What is Playword?
Playword is an interactive ambient music generator and text sonification tool built with pure Web Audio API and Tone.js. It converts written words, PDF documents, and web articles into generative Morse code melodies embedded within procedural soundscape textures.
🔒 In-Browser Privacy & Data Flow Breakdown
Playword is designed to process and synthesize audio client-side. Here is how data is handled across each input path:
- Local Input (100% In-Browser & Private): Typing/pasting raw text and uploading local PDF files (drag & drop or file picker) are processed entirely on your device. Text extraction (via PDF.js), Morse encoding, and Web Audio synthesis run locally in your browser. No document content or audio data is ever sent to external servers.
- Remote URL Fetch Step (Public CORS Proxies): When fetching a public PDF URL or web article link, your browser must first download the remote content over the network. If the remote host restricts direct cross-origin browser downloads, the fetch request is routed through a public CORS proxy service (e.g.
corsproxy.io). Once the document is downloaded into your browser's memory, all text extraction and audio synthesis proceed 100% locally.
💡 Privacy Tip: For sensitive or private documents, always use Raw Text or Local PDF Upload so no third-party network services are involved.
Key Architecture Highlights
- Real-Time Morse Mapping: Maps dots (`•`) and dashes (`—`) to harmonic scale tones (Pentatonic, Hirojoshi, Lydian, Cosmic).
- Ethereal Soundscape Engine: Combines 5 curated mood presets with 4 environmental DSP layers (Sub-Bass, Pad, Nature Textures, Misty Reverb).
- Anti-Distortion Headroom: Features 38Hz High-Pass filtering, soft note velocity scaling (`0.25-0.35`), and an EBU `-1.5 dBFS` brickwall peak limiter.
1. Raw Text Input (100% In-Browser)
Type or paste any plain text into the Raw Text tab. The Morse character stream and live teleprompter update instantly as you type. All processing runs entirely on your device with zero network calls.
2. PDF File & Remote PDF URLs
You can process PDF documents in two distinct ways:
- Local PDF Upload (Zero Network Requests): Drag & drop a
.pdf file into the drop zone or click to select a file. Playword extracts text client-side using PDF.js entirely in-browser. - Remote PDF URLs (Network Fetch via CORS Proxy): Enter any public PDF link (e.g. open research papers or reports) and click Fetch PDF. To overcome web server CORS restrictions, Playword downloads the remote file via a public CORS proxy service (or direct fetch if allowed). Once fetched into memory, parsing and audio generation remain strictly in-browser.
- Paged Document Playback: Long documents exceeding 2,500 characters are automatically split into Part pages (
Part 1 of 51). You can step through parts using the Document Paging controls or let playback auto-advance.
3. Web Article Reader (Network Fetch via CORS Proxy)
Paste any web article URL into the Web Article URL tab and click Fetch Article Text. Playword retrieves the webpage (using CORS proxy fallback when needed), then extracts clean article body text locally using Mozilla Readability, stripping boilerplate scripts and ads.
4 Environmental Soundscape Layers
Customize your background environment by toggling and blending these 4 independent layers:
🌌 Misty Space Reverb Adjust wet mix slider (0% to 100%). Generates an 8.0-second spatial reverb tail for cathedral-like depth.
🔊 Sub-Bass Layer (~32–45 Hz) Clean sine sub-octave (`C1`) providing a deep low-frequency foundation. Includes ON/OFF toggle and level slider.
🌫️ Atmospheric Pad (Breathing LPF) Triad synth pad (`C3-G3-C4`) with slow low-pass breathing filter modulation. Includes ON/OFF toggle and level slider.
🍃 Nature Textures (Canopy Rain & Hiss) Filtered pink noise texture producing soft forest rain and tape warmth. Includes ON/OFF toggle and level slider.
Live Text Teleprompter & Reader
The teleprompter displays full written text on a smooth horizontal scrolling track:
- Precision Centered Scrolling: As the audio engine ticks through Morse symbols, the active character is highlighted in glowing emerald and centered on screen.
- Active Word Badge: Displays the current word being read (e.g.,
Word: PLAYWORD). - Morse Character Stream: Interactive token boxes sit below the teleprompter showing each letter alongside its Morse representation (`• —`).
- Real-Time Waveform Oscilloscope: Visualizes audio signal pulses and sub-bass waves on the canvas display.
In-Browser Audio Recording & Export
Playword includes a built-in master bus audio recorder that captures high-fidelity audio directly from the sound engine with zero compression loss or server transmission.
Recording Modes
- 📖 Full Article / Part (Auto-stop): Automatically starts recording from the beginning of the text, plays through the complete Morse sequence, and automatically finalizes and downloads the audio file when playback reaches the end of the text or document part.
- ⏱️ Timed Duration (Set Length): Record for a fixed time interval (30s, 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 10m, or custom seconds). A live countdown meter tracks progress and automatically saves when the duration elapses.
- ⏺ Manual Recording: Start and stop recording whenever you wish on the fly.
Export Formats & Quality
- WAV (Lossless 16-bit Stereo PCM): Uncompressed broadcast-quality audio (44.1/48kHz) compatible with all DAWs, media players, and devices.
- WebM (Opus Compressed): Compact web audio format ideal for quick sharing.
- 🔒 100% In-Memory Processing: Audio encoding happens purely inside your browser memory. No recorded sound is ever uploaded to external servers.