feat(audio): replace sound alerts with more pleasant tones (#145)
Replace the current jarring sound alerts with smoother, more pleasant bell-like tones inspired by voice assistants like Siri and Gemini. Changes: - start_recording.wav: Ascending perfect fifth (A4→E5, 0.30s) - stop_recording.wav: Descending perfect fifth (E5→A4, 0.25s) - error.wav: Low gentle chime (E4, 0.35s) Technical improvements: - Smooth frequency sweeps (sigmoid curve transitions) - Subtle vibrato (8Hz) for warmth and richness - Harmonic overtones for fullness - Elegant exponential decay envelopes - Reduced file sizes (926KB → 80KB total) The new sounds are shorter (0.25-0.35s vs 0.5-1s), quieter (20-25% amplitude vs full volume), and more pleasant for frequent use.
This commit is contained in:
Jatin K Malik
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
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- 🔒 **Offline operation** for privacy and reliability (with VOSK)
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- 🤖 **Optional Whisper AI** support for enhanced accuracy
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- 🎨 **System tray integration** with visual status indicators
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- 🔊 **Audio feedback** for recording status
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- 🔊 **Pleasant audio feedback** - smooth gliding tones, headphone-friendly
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- ⚙️ **Graphical settings** dialog for easy configuration
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## 🚀 Quick Install
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@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ vocalinux/
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│ ├── ui/ # GTK UI components
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│ └── utils/ # Utility functions
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├── tests/ # Test suite
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├── scripts/ # Development utilities
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│ └── generate_sounds.py # Sound generation script
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├── resources/ # Icons and sounds
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├── docs/ # Documentation
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└── web/ # Website source
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@@ -232,6 +234,26 @@ vocalinux/
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- [User Guide](docs/USER_GUIDE.md) - Complete user documentation
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- [Contributing](CONTRIBUTING.md) - Development setup and contribution guidelines
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## 🔊 Sound Customization
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Vocalinux uses smooth, pleasant gliding tones for audio feedback:
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- **Start**: Ascending F4→A4 (0.6s) - positive, uplifting
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- **Stop**: Descending A4→F4 (0.6s) - resolves completion
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- **Error**: Lower descending E4→C4 (0.7s) - gentle but noticeable
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All sounds use pure sine waves with smoothstep interpolation for buttery smooth pitch transitions - perfect for headphone use!
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### Regenerate Sounds
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To modify or regenerate the notification sounds:
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```bash
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python scripts/generate_sounds.py
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```
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This script generates all three sounds using the same smooth glide algorithm. You can edit the frequencies, durations, and amplitudes in the script to customize the sounds to your preference.
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## 🗺️ Roadmap
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- [x] ~~Custom icon design~~ ✅
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#!/usr/bin/env python3
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"""
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Sound generation utility for Vocalinux.
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This script generates the notification sounds used by Vocalinux for:
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- Start recording (ascending pitch glide)
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- Stop recording (descending pitch glide)
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- Error notification (lower descending glide)
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The sounds use smooth pitch glides with pure sine waves and soft envelopes
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to create pleasant, headphone-friendly audio feedback.
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Usage:
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python scripts/generate_sounds.py
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The generated sounds will be placed in resources/sounds/
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Design Philosophy:
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- Pure sine waves (no harsh harmonics)
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- Smoothstep interpolation for pitch transitions
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- Soft attack/decay envelopes
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- Lower frequencies (F4-A4 range) for warmth
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- Consistent glide aesthetic across all sounds
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"""
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import math
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import os
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import struct
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import wave
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def generate_glide_tone(
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filename: str,
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freq_start: float,
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freq_end: float,
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duration: float = 0.6,
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amplitude: float = 0.16,
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sample_rate: int = 44100,
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) -> None:
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"""
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Generate a smooth pitch glide tone.
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Args:
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filename: Output WAV file path
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freq_start: Starting frequency in Hz
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freq_end: Ending frequency in Hz
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duration: Duration in seconds
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amplitude: Volume (0.0 to 1.0)
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sample_rate: Audio sample rate
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"""
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num_samples = int(sample_rate * duration)
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samples = []
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for i in range(num_samples):
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t = i / sample_rate
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progress = i / num_samples
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# Ultra-soft envelope: sine-squared with exponential decay
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envelope = (math.sin(math.pi * progress) ** 2) * math.exp(-0.5 * progress)
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# Smooth pitch glide using smoothstep interpolation
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# This creates buttery smooth transitions with no abrupt changes
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glide = progress ** 2 * (3 - 2 * progress)
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freq_current = freq_start + (freq_end - freq_start) * glide
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# Generate pure sine wave
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phase = 2 * math.pi * freq_current * t
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sample = amplitude * envelope * math.sin(phase)
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samples.append(sample)
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# Convert to 16-bit PCM
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wav_samples = [int(sample * 32767) for sample in samples]
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# Write WAV file
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with wave.open(filename, "w") as wav_file:
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wav_file.setnchannels(1) # Mono
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wav_file.setsampwidth(2) # 16-bit
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wav_file.setframerate(sample_rate)
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wav_file.writeframes(struct.pack("<" + "h" * len(wav_samples), *wav_samples))
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print(f"Generated: {filename}")
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def main():
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"""Generate all Vocalinux notification sounds."""
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# Determine output directory
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script_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
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repo_root = os.path.dirname(script_dir)
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sounds_dir = os.path.join(repo_root, "resources", "sounds")
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os.makedirs(sounds_dir, exist_ok=True)
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print(f"Generating sounds in: {sounds_dir}\n")
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# START: Ascending F4→A4 (positive, uplifting)
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print("Generating start_recording.wav (ascending F4→A4)...")
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generate_glide_tone(
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os.path.join(sounds_dir, "start_recording.wav"),
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freq_start=349.23, # F4
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freq_end=440.00, # A4
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duration=0.6,
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amplitude=0.16,
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)
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# STOP: Descending A4→F4 (resolution, completion)
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print("Generating stop_recording.wav (descending A4→F4)...")
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generate_glide_tone(
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os.path.join(sounds_dir, "stop_recording.wav"),
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freq_start=440.00, # A4
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freq_end=349.23, # F4
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duration=0.6,
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amplitude=0.16,
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)
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# ERROR: Lower descending E4→C4 (sad, concerning but gentle)
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print("Generating error.wav (descending E4→C4)...")
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generate_glide_tone(
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os.path.join(sounds_dir, "error.wav"),
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freq_start=329.63, # E4
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freq_end=261.63, # C4
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duration=0.7,
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amplitude=0.14, # Slightly quieter
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)
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print("\n✓ All sounds generated successfully!")
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print("\nSound characteristics:")
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print("- Pure sine waves (headphone-friendly)")
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print("- Smoothstep pitch interpolation (no jumps)")
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print("- Soft envelopes (sine-squared with decay)")
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print("- Lower frequencies (F4-A4 range, warm and pleasant)")
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print("- Consistent glide aesthetic")
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if __name__ == "__main__":
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main()
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