#707 wrote generated start/stop files for the family picker. Swap those
for the downloaded preview bytes (voca is pair 05) and skip the catalog
ids in generate_sounds.py so they stay put.
Settings → Audio can pick start/stop cues from the shared catalog
(lift, flick, ember, step, voca, soft, chirp, scale, drop, glass, off).
New installs and any missing or unknown sound_effects.tone value use
voca. A saved id, including off, is left alone.
The old start_recording/stop_recording files stay on disk. They are
no longer the implicit default. Error cues still follow the existing
enable switch.
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.