Blog 9: The Final Countdown

This week felt different, not because everything suddenly got easier, but because something finally clicked.

The web-based DAW I started building last week (slight pivot from the previous native software due to hardware and overheating issues) is now almost done. It’s lightweight, intuitive, and feels surprisingly good to use. It’s not Logic Pro, obviously, but it plays like something familiar. You can record MIDI, layer tracks, nudge notes in the piano roll, tweak virtual instruments, and loop ideas just like you would in any proper music-making environment. The UI is responsive, the transport bar is smooth, and you can drop into a workflow without needing a manual. That was the goal.

I leaned into the core features:

* Layering multiple virtual tracks
* Drawing and editing MIDI in a basic but functional piano roll
* Playback controls with looping and tempo changes
* Simple synth manipulation and recording directly in-browser

The more I refined it, the more I realized I was building something that people could actually, finally make music with. The kind of tool that invites you to mess around. It’s not bloated, it’s not over-engineered, it just works. That’s a rare feeling, and honestly, it’s exciting.

But now, there’s no excuse to avoid the harder part: the hardware.

I’ve been letting that side lag, partly because software has been more fun and easier to test, but also because I’ve been second-guessing design choices and dragging my feet on implementation. I can’t afford that anymore. The demo’s coming up fast, and the DAW is basically ready to go. What’s missing is the very thing this entire project is supposed to showcase — the physical interface.

If I want people to take this seriously, then I need to move fast, and smart, and now. The software has bought me some time, but not much.

I’m proud of how far the app has come. Now I need to close the loop.

See you next week.