What's new

Feedback is always welcome. If you run into problems, have feature ideas, or just want to comment, send your feedback through the contact form or directly from 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