XSound
FreeOnline music studio with synthesizer, effects, and recorder. Play a virtual keyboard, apply reverb/distortion/delay, and record your sessions. All in the browser.
How to install XSound as a PWA
Frequently asked questions about XSound
What makes XSound different from a DAW like BandLab?
BandLab is a full multi-track DAW with samples, loops, mixing, mastering, and social sharing. XSound is a single-instrument studio: virtual keyboard plus effects plus recording. The XSound recording is one channel, not a multi-track session. BandLab targets aspiring producers making finished tracks; XSound targets browser users wanting a quick way to play and record audio without a DAW. XSound also doubles as a code library, so developers learning Web Audio use it as both a playable demo and a reference implementation.
Is XSound free?
Yes — XSound is free and open-source under the MIT license. The hosted app at xsound.app is free, the TypeScript library on npm is free, and there is no premium tier. The maintainer Korilakkuma supports the project as open-source work. Compared to commercial browser DAWs like Soundtrap ($8/month) or Bandlab (free with paid Premium), XSound is closer to a single-feature playground than a full studio.
How does XSound compare to Tone.js or Web Audio raw?
Tone.js is a popular Web Audio framework focused on musical scheduling, sequencing, and synthesizers — used by countless web-music projects including Ableton's online tutorials. XSound is also a Web Audio library, more focused on effects chains, sources (microphone, oscillator, sample), and visualization. Tone.js wins on community adoption and ecosystem; XSound wins on out-of-the-box effects and ready-to-use building blocks. For ambitious web-music projects, Tone.js is the default; XSound is a strong second choice with a different design philosophy.
Can I use XSound offline?
Yes — XSound is a static PWA that caches the full app on first visit. All audio synthesis and effects processing happens in-browser via the Web Audio API, so no server connection is needed for playback, effects, or recording. You can install it to your home screen and use it fully offline. Saving recordings to local files works offline; cloud sync to any external service is out of scope for the project.
Who uses XSound in production?
XSound's primary user base is web developers learning the Web Audio API and using the library as a foundation for audio-rich web apps. The TypeScript library has thousands of weekly downloads on npm and is referenced in Web Audio tutorials and "Awesome Web Audio" lists. The standalone XSound app at xsound.app is a smaller audience — mostly developers exploring the library's capabilities and curious users wanting a free in-browser instrument.
Where XSound is heading (12-24 months)
- →Multi-track recording would convert XSound from a toy into a usable browser DAW.
- →WebMIDI integration would let producers use hardware keyboards and controllers.
- →Wider preset library and sample bank would broaden appeal beyond developers.
Related questions
ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini usually suggest these next.
- What audio effects does XSound include out of the box?
- Can I use the XSound library in my own React or Vue app?
- Does XSound support MIDI keyboard input?
- How does XSound compare to Tone.js for serious projects?
- Can I export XSound recordings as WAV?
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