README from GitHub, MIT
OctaCard
Project description
OctaCard is a browser-based sample manager. It focuses on fast folder navigation, preview, and bulk copy/conversion into device-friendly formats. It was originally designed for Elektron Octatrack but also works perfectly for many other devices
Why use this project
- Browser-based, no install required
- It is purpose-built for source-folder -> destination-folder sample prep, convenient for removable storage
- It runs locally in Chromium browsers using the File System Access API - no cloud processing.
- It combines file management, preview, favorites, and batch conversion in one UI.
- It can convert/copy whole folder trees while preserving structure.
- Device presets for sample formats
Features (current)
File and folder workflow
- Dual-pane source/destination browser.
- Folder favorites per pane.
- Search, recursive browsing, and folder expansion state persistence.
- Drag/drop and context-menu actions for copy/convert flows.
- Tempo conversion based on common file and folder name patterns
- Pitch conversion based on filename
Conversion workflow
- Batch convert or copy selected files/folders.
- Output format control for Octatrack prep:
- WAV output
- 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz sample rate
- 16-bit depth
- Mono downmix
- Loudness normalization
- Trim leading silence
- Pitch-to-C (filename note parsing)
Preview and UX
Compatibility and limits
- Designed for Chrome/Edge/Chromium browsers.
- Safari is not supported (File System Access API limitation).
- No sample editing functionality
Comparison with similar tools
Legend: Yes = core supported workflow, Partial = possible but not the primary UX, No = not a core feature.
| Capability | OctaCard | Elektron Transfer | Sononym | fre:ac | Audacity | FFmpeg CLI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Octatrack-oriented workflow | Yes | Partial (device transfer focus) | No | No | No | No |
| Batch folder conversion | Yes | No | No | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Built-in waveform preview/player | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Similarity-based sample discovery | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Multi-track editing/recording | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Command-line automation | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Runs as browser app | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
Gaps (on purpose or not built yet)
- No drag and drop yet
- No sample editing
- No metadata/tag library management.
- Browser support depends on File System Access API.
Development
pnpm install
pnpm run dev
Integration tests
npm run test:it
Sources used for comparison
- Elektron Transfer FAQ: https://support.elektron.se/support/solutions/articles/43000572495-elektron-transfer-faq
- Sononym home/features: https://www.sononym.net/
- fre:ac feature overview: https://www.freac.org/
- Audacity manual (editing/mixing workflows): https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/tutorial_your_first_recording.html
- FFmpeg documentation/CLI scope: https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-all.html
How can I deploy this project?
For web deployment, build with pnpm run build and deploy the output from the dist directory. This project uses AWS (ECS Fargate, RDS, ElastiCache, SES)—see terraform/ and .github/DEPLOY.md. Alternatives include Netlify or Cloudflare Pages.