Documentation

Master the Velum local-first DAW.

Getting Started

Welcome to Velum. This documentation will guide you through installing, configuring, and mastering the local-first DAW designed exclusively for voice actors.

Installation & The Setup Wizard

Velum is a standalone desktop application powered by a high-performance Rust backend. Upon first launch, the Setup Wizard will automatically guide you through configuring your workspace, scanning your hardware, and linking your web account.

Note: Velum requires an active internet connection to log in and sync with the Casting Board, but all audio recording, processing, and saving operates entirely offline on your local machine.

Hardware & Audio Setup

Velum's audio engine leverages Rust's cpal library to provide direct, uncolored access to your input devices, bypassing OS-level bottlenecks.

Configuring Your Microphone

Open the Mic Setup Modal via the Control Panel or Preferences to select your hardware.

  • Input Device: Select your audio interface (e.g., Focusrite Scarlett, Apollo Twin).
  • Output Device: Select your headphones or studio monitors.
  • Buffer Size: Lower buffer sizes reduce delay when monitoring your voice, but require more CPU. Increase this if you hear clicking or popping.

Project Management

Velum organizes your work safely and efficiently.

The File Browser & Dashboard

Use the Dashboard to view recent sessions or start a new one. Once inside a project, the File Browser Sidebar allows you to quickly locate assets, reference tracks, and exports without leaving the app.

Crash Recovery & Backups

Velum constantly caches your audio data and non-destructive timeline edits in the background. Manage your project history via the Project Backups Modal. If your computer loses power or the application closes unexpectedly, Velum will automatically launch the Crash Recovery Modal on your next startup, allowing you to restore your timeline exactly as you left it.

Recording & Editing

Velum strips away the bloat of music-production DAWs to focus entirely on dialogue.

The Timeline Workspace

  • Timeline Tracks: Manage your vocal layers using the TimelineTrackList and TimelineTrackHeader. Easily mute, solo, or arm tracks for recording.
  • The Canvas & Ruler: Make non-destructive clip edits, splits, and crossfades on the interactive Waveform canvas. Use the TimelineRuler to jump exactly to a specific timestamp.
  • Context Menus: Right-click any clip to open the TimelineContextMenu for quick access to fading, gaining, or deleting takes.

Timeline Hotkeys

You can view and customize your entire workflow via the Keyboard Map Sidebar.

Record R or *
Play / Pause Space
Split Clip S
Undo Cmd/Ctrl + Z

The Actor's Toolkit

Unlike standard DAWs, Velum contains specialized tools built specifically for acting performance, ADR, and script management.

  • Script Reader: Paste your copy directly next to your waveform. Eliminate the need for a second monitor or switching windows.
  • Pacing Bar: Visually track your read speed against strict time limits (e.g., hitting exactly 15 seconds for a commercial read).
  • Character References: Open the Character Refs Modal to pin artwork and character descriptions directly to your workspace.
  • Session Notes: Keep persistent notes (e.g., "Director wants a gravelly tone") visible across multi-day projects using the Session Notes Modal.
  • Video Player: Load a video file into the built-in player to record audio in time with the video—essential for ADR, dubbing, and syncing to picture.
  • Webcam Overlay: During live remote direction sessions, enable the webcam overlay to maintain face-to-face visual contact with the director or talent directly within your workspace.

Advanced Tools & Metering

Professional voiceover requires strict adherence to loudness and quality standards. Velum is equipped with broadcast-grade analysis tools.

LUFS & Peak Metering

Velum utilizes the industry-standard ebur128 specification for real-time loudness calculation. Use the Horizontal and Vertical Meters to monitor your True Peak and Integrated LUFS. Ensure your auditions never clip and always hit the casting director's target loudness.

The Inspector Sidebar

Select any clip to open the Inspector Sidebar. Here you can apply precise gain adjustments and set up track-level audio effects.

Live Remote Direction

Voice actors no longer need to route their audio through complex virtual cables or pay for expensive third-party bridging software just to have a director listen in.

The Connect Panel

Velum features a native Connect Panel powered by an integrated WebRTC engine. Simply generate a secure session link and send it to your casting director. They can listen to your raw microphone feed in real-time, completely latency-free, directly from their web browser while you record in the desktop app.

Casting Board Integration

We have eliminated the administrative overhead of setting up audition sessions.

The "Open in Native App" Protocol

When browsing open roles on the Velum website, you will see a button labeled "Open in Native App". Clicking this triggers a secure velum:// deep link to your desktop.

Velum will automatically intercept this link and build a fresh project file. It instantly configures the backend to match the Casting Director's exact specifications:

  • Required Sample Rate (e.g., 48kHz vs 44.1kHz)
  • Required Bit Depth (e.g., 24-bit vs 16-bit)
  • Channel Format (Mono vs Stereo)
  • The Script Snippet is automatically loaded into your Script Reader.

Exporting & Submitting

When you are satisfied with your takes, open the Export Panel. Velum handles high-quality WAV encoding via the hound audio engine.

Automated Naming Conventions

If you initiated the session via the Casting Board, Velum already knows the naming convention requested by the director (e.g., ProjectName_Character_YourName.wav). The Export Panel will automatically populate this filename for you, ensuring your audition is never disqualified for a typo.

Once exported, you can submit the file directly back to the active casting call on the Velum website.

Support & Bug Reports

If you need a quick refresher on Velum's layout, click the Help Modal from the bottom navigation bar for an instant interactive tour.

Reporting a Bug

Velum is currently in Alpha. If you encounter an error or crash, open the Bug Report Modal. When you submit a bug through the desktop app, Velum securely packages your anonymous system logs, OS version, and audio hardware setup and sends it directly to our engineering team, allowing us to patch the issue rapidly.