The song editor, with sections, chords and line guidance beside the lyrics.
Project overview
I designed and built a native Mac app for writing lyrics, arranging chords and keeping recordings beside a song. Projects stay in local files and work offline.
My role
Founder, designer and developer
Platform
Native macOS application
Built with
Swift, SwiftUI, Swift Package Manager, Local-first storage
The problem
Writing a song can leave you with separate lyric sheets, voice recordings and several versions to keep track of.
My approach
I built a Mac app that keeps lyrics, recordings and named versions together, with local project files.
Current result
A released Mac app where you can develop a song, compare versions, record credits and export it for the next session.
Decisions
Kordra Music uses AI to help with planning and revision. For Studio, I wanted to support writers who prefer to write their own lyrics and use software to organise the session.
I designed Studio as a separate native Mac app, with local files, offline use and tools for lyrics, recordings and versions.
Build a separate Mac app
I designed Studio around writing and organising a song on a Mac. That gave me room to build local files, recordings and version history into the app from the start.
Keep the writing with the songwriter
I included guidance that counts and compares lines. You write the lyrics and decide which revisions to keep.
Keep projects on the Mac
I used Swift and SwiftUI for the native interface. Your core project files stay on your Mac, and you can write offline.
Include credits and exports
I included credits, versions and export formats in the project structure so you can take the song into a recording or review session.
The work
Imported audio and voice sketches, with waveforms and section markers.More about the build
Export for the next session
You can export lyrics, song information and credits alongside original takes for a writing session or review in another tool.
Export options for the song, lyrics, credits and original recordings.
Keep recordings beside the song
You can import audio, keep voice sketches and add notes at points in a recording. I kept those recordings attached to the local song project.
Save named versions
You can save named versions alongside the current draft and return to an earlier idea. Original recordings remain available.
Record credits and split proposals
You can record contributors, proposed composition shares and approval status in the song project.
Current result
Native Mac app
I designed and built Studio for macOS, with local projects and tools for the writing session.
Writing and organisation tools
You can organise lyrics and recordings and use line guidance while writing your own words.
Songs, versions and credits
The app keeps song sections, saved versions, takes and credits in the same project, with exports for use elsewhere.
Mac App Store release
I took Studio through native development and App Store distribution. You can buy it on the UK and US Mac App Store under Adam Godsall.
Limitations, lessons and next steps
Limitations
Studio’s writing tools must leave the wording and creative choices to the songwriter.
I focused development on macOS and the core writing session.
Writers need to be able to read versions, credits and exports outside Studio.
Reflections and next steps
I first considered adding these writing tools to Kordra Music.
I chose a separate native app so I could focus on local files and the desktop writing session.
I’ve continued improving imports, interface behaviour and exports in the released app.
Designing a separate app let me make specific choices about local files, offline use and writing tools.
I kept generated lyrics out of Studio so writers could use the app to organise their own words.
Versions, credits and exports needed as much attention as the main song editor.
