What's new

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v1.6.2 - August 19, 2026

This update improves multi-selection workflows, projects, file table customization, and REAPER integration.

New

  • Added support for selecting multiple files and AI hits
  • Added column presets for saving and restoring file table column layouts
  • Added support for sending multiple selected files or AI hits to REAPER
  • Added keyboard shortcuts for adding and removing selected items from projects

Improved

  • Multiple files or AI hits can now be added to or removed from a project at once
  • Each file and AI hit now has its own add/remove project control
  • Improved scrollbar appearance and consistency

Fixed

  • Fixed some keyboard shortcuts activating when modifier keys such as Shift were pressed

Notes

  • Column presets can be saved and managed from the Columns menu in the file table
  • When sending multiple files or AI hits to REAPER, each item is currently placed on its own track starting at the same edit cursor position
  • REAPER must be running for Send to REAPER to work

v1.6.1 - August 14, 2026

This update adds the first version of REAPER integration and command-line support for Metadata Writing.

New

  • Added Send to REAPER as a new Pro feature
  • Send a full sound or the currently selected waveform section directly to the REAPER timeline at the current edit cursor position
  • SFX Stacks automatically detects REAPER when possible, or you can configure it manually under Settings
  • Added command-line support for Metadata Writing
  • Generate and write metadata for individual audio files directly from the terminal, including files that are not indexed in the SFX Stacks database

Notes

  • REAPER must be running for Send to REAPER to work
  • Command-line Metadata Writing uses the same local AI models and metadata writing functionality as the desktop app
  • Before using CLI Metadata Writing, index your sound libraries in SFX Stacks so they can be used as context for metadata generation
  • On Windows, you can use the sfx-stacks command directly from the terminal after installing SFX Stacks
  • On macOS, the CLI is currently available by running the bundled backend executable directly; the sfx-stacks terminal command is not installed automatically yet
  • Read more about command-line usage

v1.6.0 - August 7, 2026

This update adds microphone-based similarity search and improves how SFX Stacks downloads its local AI models.

New

  • Added similarity search using your microphone
  • Record a sound directly in SFX Stacks and use it to find similar sounds from your indexed library

Improved

  • AI models are now downloaded through SFX Stacks' own download servers
  • This should improve model download reliability for users who had trouble accessing the previous download source

Notes

  • Microphone similarity search works like similarity search from an external audio file: the recording is analyzed locally and used to search your existing indexed library
  • Microphone recordings are stored as temporary short clips and cleaned up automatically on startup

v1.5.9 - August 5, 2026

Improved reliability and error handling for the AI search model download during startup.

v1.5.8 - August 4, 2026

This update improves folder controls, file table customization, Metadata Writing, and startup error reporting.

New

  • Added separate controls for hiding the left sidebar and right inspector panel
  • Added drag-and-drop column reordering in the main file table
  • Added optional UCS Category and UCS Subcategory columns
  • Added automatic column sizing by double-clicking a column divider
  • Added an option to exclude individual folders from AI suggestion context

Improved

  • Folder menus now show whether the folder is included in or excluded from AI suggestion context
  • Metadata Writing options now use clearer labels and descriptions
  • Improved the startup error screen with clearer recovery instructions
  • File table columns can now expand to show their longest loaded value when automatically resized

Changed

  • Creating metadata backup copies is now disabled by default and can be enabled before writing
  • New installations now show only the folder name for root folders by default
  • New installations now show files recursively when opening folders by default

Notes

  • Changing whether a folder is included in AI suggestion context does not update existing suggestions automatically. Run AI suggestion generation again to apply the new setting.
  • Automatic column sizing uses the files currently loaded in the table.

v1.5.7 - July 10, 2026

This update adds the first beta version of Metadata Writing to the new SFX Stacks UI and improves folder navigation consistency across projects and folder browsing.

Metadata Writing beta

Metadata Writing is now available in the new main UI as a beta feature.

It helps you review and clean up sound metadata from one place, with AI-assisted suggestions for:

  • track titles
  • descriptions
  • UCS
  • keywords

You can edit suggestions before saving, apply metadata changes manually, and write approved metadata back to your audio files. SFX Stacks creates backup copies before writing metadata.

During the beta, Metadata Writing is included with SFX Stacks Pro. After the beta period, it is planned to become a separate module.

Notes

  • Metadata Writing creates backup copies next to your original audio files before writing changes.
  • SFX Stacks only writes the metadata fields you add or update. It does not clear unrelated existing metadata from the file.

Improved

Project folders and folder viewer folders now use the same interaction model:

  • Single click selects the folder, shows its contents, and makes it active.
  • Double click expands or collapses the folder.
  • Clicking the folder icon expands or collapses the folder.

This makes browsing projects and library folders more predictable across the app.

v1.5.6 - July 3, 2026

This update improves the new main view, folder handling, metadata details, and background queue reliability.

Improved

  • Added a file metadata/details panel
  • Added an advanced raw metadata view for inspecting file metadata
  • Added a setting for recursive file loading in the folder viewer
  • Added a setting for showing either the full path or only the folder name for root folders

Fixed

  • Fixed a queue issue where scanning could get stuck in a paused state

Notes

  • If metadata is missing from files, you can refresh metadata by clicking "..." on the folder and selecting "Refresh metadata". This should be a fairly quick process.

v1.5.4 - June 30, 2026

This update adds the new main SFX Stacks workspace.

Folders, search, results, projects, waveform preview, and file details now live in one compact view. The goal is to make SFX Stacks feel more like a fast companion app for your local sound library instead of a set of separate pages.

New

  • Added the new main workspace
  • Added folder browsing, search results, projects, waveform preview, and file details into one screen
  • Search results, folder files, and saved project contents now use the same main file list
  • Added grouped AI matches under their source files
  • Added smaller workflow improvements around browsing, previewing, and working with selected sounds

Notes

  • The new main view is the recommended workflow going forward
  • The old layout remains available for now

v1.5.3 - June 19, 2026

Fixed a startup issue where leftover temporary files could prevent SFX Stacks from finishing launch (sweeping phase).

v1.5.2 - June 17, 2026

This update massively improves the beta metadata writing workflow.

Metadata writing can now generate local AI-assisted title and description suggestions, making it easier to prepare useful metadata for sound effect files before saving changes.

New

  • Added local AI-generated title and description suggestions for metadata writing
  • Added a simpler folder-based metadata writing workflow
  • Added clearer file-by-file review and editing before saving metadata
  • Added model download handling for the local metadata writing model

Improved

  • Improved the metadata writing UI
  • Improved metadata suggestion review flow
  • Improved local model loading and generation handling
  • Improved metadata writing error handling
  • Improved guidance around what is written to files and when

Notes

  • Metadata writing is still in beta
  • Metadata writing runs locally on your computer
  • Nothing is written to your original audio files until you review and save the changes
  • Generated titles and descriptions should still be reviewed before saving
  • During beta, metadata writing is included with Pro
  • After the beta period, metadata writing is planned to become a separate paid add-on

v1.5.0 - June 9, 2026

SFX Stacks now includes a Free version.

You can use SFX Stacks for free without a time limit, with some feature limits. Pro is still available as a one-time license, and a 14-day Pro trial can be started from inside the app when you want to test the full workflow.

See the Free vs Pro comparison for the current limits and Pro features.

New

  • Added the Free version of SFX Stacks
  • SFX Stacks can now be used for free without a time limit

Trial reset

All previous trials have been reset for this update.

If you had a trial before v1.5.0, including an expired or currently running trial, you can start a new 14-day Pro trial from the License tab. You can also keep using the Free version if you do not need Pro features yet.

Existing Pro licenses are not affected.

Improved

  • Rescans should now be much faster, especially when updating existing sources
  • When a scan is added to the queue, scanning now starts automatically

v1.4.6 - May 27, 2026

This update improves waveform playback control, waveform display, search guidance, hotkeys, and error handling.

New

  • Added keyboard shortcuts for volume, playback rate, and waveform zoom
  • Added a keyboard shortcut for selecting the whole waveform
  • Added keyboard shortcuts for panning the waveform
  • Added keyboard shortcuts for moving the waveform selection
  • Added keyboard shortcuts for adjusting the waveform selection start and end points
  • Added a setting for autoplaying selected search results
  • Added a setting for always showing the volume and playback rate sliders
  • Added a configurable mouse shortcut for resetting player control values
  • Added a search-page toggle for choosing what happens after stopping playback
    • Keep the playhead where playback stopped
    • Return the playhead to where playback started
  • Added a keyboard shortcut for toggling the stop playhead behavior

Improved

  • Improved semantic search guidance in onboarding and search tips
  • Search tips now recommend shorter, more specific queries
  • Added a scalable timeline ruler above the waveform
  • Timeline precision now increases while zooming, down to tenths of a second
  • Improved waveform rendering to show a more detailed, DAW-style waveform shape
  • Error messages now close automatically after a short delay

Fixed

  • Fixed metadata search crashing when using negative terms, such as -term
  • Fixed simple error messages not clearing correctly when dismissed
  • Starting a new waveform selection inside an existing selection

v1.4.4 - May 15, 2026

This update adds source import and export, making it easier to share scanned sources, or keep backups.

New

  • Export scanned sources as .sfxstacks files
  • Import .sfxstacks files into SFX Stacks
  • Use imported sources without running a full scan again

v1.4.3 - May 14, 2026

This update makes waveform section editing faster with customizable mouse gestures and direct drag export.

New

  • Added customizable mouse gestures for waveform actions
  • Added direct drag export for selected waveform sections

v1.4.2 - May 13, 2026

This update fixes folder tree filtering and adds optional anonymous usage statistics for trial users.

New

  • Added opt-in anonymous usage statistics to help improve trial onboarding and app reliability

Fixed

  • Fixed issue with folder tree filtering when there was no matching results

Notes

  • Usage statistics are only sent when enabled
  • No audio files, file names, folder paths, or search text are uploaded

v1.4.1 - May 12, 2026

This update adds in-app feedback and issue reporting, improves waveform playback and section editing, and includes general UI polish across the app.

New

  • Added onboarding for new users to help with first setup and scanning
  • Added in-app feedback and issue reporting
  • Added trial renewal support for eligible expired trials

Improved

  • Double-clicking the waveform now starts playback from the clicked position
  • When moving or resizing a waveform section, the playhead now moves to the start of that section
  • Volume and zoom sliders can now be edited by typing a number
  • Improved the support, feedback, trial, and license screens
  • Improved general app UI styling and form controls
  • Improved error messages

v1.3.9 - May 4, 2026

This update improves similarity search behavior, search-page navigation, and hotkey visibility.

New

  • Added documentation for additional built-in hotkeys
  • These hotkeys are shown for reference, but cannot be customized

Improved

  • On search pages, the project and search scope are visible
  • Search scope is now used when doing similarity search
  • Improved the search pages UI

Changed

  • Removed autoplay when navigating back to search, such as when returning from similarity search

v1.3.8 - April 29, 2026

This update adds customizable hotkeys, improves the settings UI, and adds a way to hide the left-side panels while searching.

New

  • Added customizable hotkeys under Settings
  • Added a new hotkey for focusing search
  • Added a Hide panels button for hiding the left-side panels when you want more room for search results

Improved

  • Improved the Settings UI

Changed

  • Removed the Esc hotkey from the waveform player

v1.3.7 - April 28, 2026

This update adds the beta version of metadata writing, so you can prepare keyword and UCS suggestions for local sound files and review them before writing changes back to disk.

New

  • Added beta metadata writing workflow
  • You can create metadata batches from selected folders
  • SFX Stacks reads existing file metadata before analysis
  • Audio files are compared against your existing scanned library to suggest keywords and UCS entries
  • Suggestions are based on similar indexed files and the metadata already found in your library
  • You can review and edit metadata drafts per file before writing changes
  • Drafts are autosaved while you work
  • Metadata batches can be resumed later
  • Approved metadata changes can be written back to the original files

Notes

  • Metadata writing is currently in beta
  • Suggestions work best when your scanned library already contains useful metadata
  • Review the generated metadata before committing changes to files

v1.3.5 - April 15, 2026

This update adds the first version of projects, so you can save files and clips for later use inside SFX Stacks.

New

  • Added the first version of projects
  • You can save clips into projects from the save icon below waveform player
  • You can save files into projects from the save icon on the search result row

Notes

  • This is the first version of projects, and it will be improved in later updates
  • Feedback is welcome on this feature

v1.3.4 - April 9, 2026

This update adds a new way to browse indexed files and folders, improves startup reliability, and makes combined and metadata search work better.

New

  • Added a new directory browser for navigating indexed files and folders inside SFX Stacks, with playback support and folder trees that are built during scanning

Improved

  • Improved app startup reliability, with a more consistent launch flow and better handling for startup failures
  • Improved combined and metadata search, with better integration between search and folder-based browsing

Changed

  • Removed search profiles, which are now largely replaced by the new browser tree workflow

v1.3.2 - April 2, 2026

This update adds combined search and improves minimize when dragging.

New

  • Added combined search, so you can narrow semantic searches with metadata filters
    • Removed the old Semantic / Metadata toggle
    • Added separate search boxes for semantic and metadata search, which can be used on their own or together
  • Added a What's new link in the app
  • Added a small indicator when a new changelog entry is available

Improved

  • Improved the Minimize when dragging behavior so the window minimizes more reliably before drag starts
  • Improved negative query handling in search

v1.3.0 - April 1, 2026

This update improves scanning, adds faster waveform selection, and introduces a new drag behavior option.

New

  • Added a redesigned scanning page with a new UI
  • Added scan queues for managing source scans
  • Added better scan history visibility
  • Added a new Minimize when dragging setting under Settings
  • Added waveform selection with Shift + Left Mouse

Improved

  • Audio files up to 10 minutes are now supported during scanning, up from the previous 2-minute limit

Fixed

  • Fixed missing file deletion during scanning
  • Fixed various bugs in the scanning workflow