Overview
Audio is the primary content type in BeatStars Projects, and as a result, the platform includes a dedicated audio player with waveform navigation, timestamped comments, and version control. This article walks you through previewing audio files, using player controls, adding comments tied to specific moments in a track, and managing file versions.
File versioning is available on paid plans only. Free users can preview audio files and add comments, but cannot upload new versions of a file. Voice comments are coming in a future release.
Step-by-step Guide
To preview an audio file, double-click any audio file (.wav, .mp3, or .flac). The file expands to display the waveform and player interface.
Use the player controls to navigate the track:
- Play/Pause: Click the play button or press the spacebar
- Volume: Adjust from 0 to 100%, or mute/unmute. Use the up and down arrow keys as shortcuts
- Scrub: Click anywhere on the waveform or drag the playhead to jump to a specific point. The left and right arrow keys will skip between available audio files, where applicable
- Loop: Click once to loop a single audio file
- Pitch and speed: Adjust playback pitch and speed (you must be signed in)
- Lossless audio: Enable for WAV and FLAC files (you must be signed in). Once enabled, lossless playback applies by default for supported formats.
To leave a comment on an audio file, click the Comment button on the file or use the comment icon in the player.
(Optional) To leave a timestamped comment that's tied to a specific moment in the track, click the position on the waveform where you want the comment to appear. When viewing the comments on the file, timestamped comments display as markers on the waveform; clicking a marker jumps playback to that point.
Important noteTimestamped comments are only available on audio files. Text comments have a maximum length of 300 characters.
Comments support replies (one level deep), reactions with emoji, editing, deletion, and pinning. Project owners and Admins can pin up to 5 comments.
To upload a new version of a file (paid plans only), click the file's More menu and select Add version. Choose the new file from your device.
Important noteNew versions must be the same file format as the original. If you try to upload a different format, you'll see a clear error message.
Once added, versions appear as V1, V2, V3, and so on at the file level. Click between versions in the file's detail panel to preview each one. Comments are preserved per version so that you can see feedback specific to each iteration.
To delete a specific version, open that version's More menu and select Delete version. The other versions remain intact.
Important noteIf you have versions and try to delete the main version while the version tree is collapsed, all file versions will be deleted.
You can also pin a version so that the file becomes the main version visible when the branch tree is collapsed.