Fast search for local SFX libraries

Plain-word search

Search with plain words

Type what you are looking for and get relevant results from your local library without depending only on filenames.

This is useful when you know the sound you want but not the exact file name, tag, or folder location. Instead of browsing manually, you can start with a plain-language query and listen through relevant matches.

• Describe the sound in plain language
• Find relevant results without exact filenames
• Reduce manual folder browsing in large libraries

AI similarity search

Find similar sounds from an existing result

Use AI similarity search to turn a result or source file into a reference and quickly find nearby alternatives, variations, and replacements.

This is not a conventional similarity algorithm. SFX Stacks uses AI to find sounds that are close in character, so you can start from one useful result and explore better options around it without breaking your flow. Once your library is indexed, results come back immediately even in large libraries.

• Use one sound as a reference point
• Find alternatives without restarting the search
• Get immediate results even in large indexed libraries

Preview and export

Preview, select, and export clips

Preview results, select the usable section, and export only the part you need.

Once you find a suitable sound, you can inspect it in the waveform view, define the section you want, and export that clip directly. This keeps the search and export steps in one place.

• Preview sounds without opening another tool
• Select a clip instead of exporting the whole file
• Move from result to export in the same workflow

Metadata search

Use metadata when you need a narrower result set

Search by tags, categories, library fields, and file details when you already know something about the sound.

Metadata search is useful when you want a more controlled starting point. For example, you may already know the library, category, UCS term, or other identifying detail. From there, you can still use similarity search to expand into nearby options.

• Search by known tags and categories
• Narrow results with library and file details
• Use metadata matches as a starting point for similarity search

Local sources

Use your existing library folders

Add your existing folders as sources and let SFX Stacks scan them locally.

You do not need to reorganize your library before using the app. SFX Stacks works with the folders you already have on disk and builds its search data locally on your machine.

• Add existing folders as sources
• Keep your current folder structure
• Scan and index files locally

Metadata writing

Prepare metadata for your sound files

Create a batch from folders or files, compare them against your scanned library, then review keyword and UCS suggestions before writing changes back to disk.

Metadata writing is currently in beta. SFX Stacks compares each file against your existing scanned library, finds similar indexed files, and uses their metadata to suggest keywords and UCS entries. The workflow is review-first: existing metadata is read, drafts are saved, and you decide what gets written.

• Create batches from selected folders or files
• Compare files against your existing scanned library
• Use metadata from similar indexed files for keyword and UCS suggestions
• Edit and autosave drafts per file
• Write approved metadata changes back to files when ready