diff --git a/app/src/components/Generation/FloatingGenerateBox.tsx b/app/src/components/Generation/FloatingGenerateBox.tsx
index 1ba4f0fe..96e8f553 100644
--- a/app/src/components/Generation/FloatingGenerateBox.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/Generation/FloatingGenerateBox.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useMatchRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import { AnimatePresence, motion } from 'framer-motion';
-import { Loader2, SlidersHorizontal, Sparkles } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Loader2, Sparkles } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
-import { EffectsChainEditor } from '@/components/Effects/EffectsChainEditor';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Form, FormControl, FormField, FormItem, FormMessage } from '@/components/ui/form';
 import {
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {
   SelectValue,
 } from '@/components/ui/select';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
-import type { EffectConfig } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
 import { getLanguageOptionsForEngine, type LanguageCode } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
 import { useGenerationForm } from '@/lib/hooks/useGenerationForm';
 import { useProfile, useProfiles } from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
@@ -39,8 +39,7 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
   const { data: selectedProfile } = useProfile(selectedProfileId || '');
   const { data: profiles } = useProfiles();
   const [isExpanded, setIsExpanded] = useState(false);
-  const [isInstructMode, setIsInstructMode] = useState(false);
-  const [effectsChain, setEffectsChain] = useState<EffectConfig[]>([]);
+  const [selectedPresetId, setSelectedPresetId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const textareaRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
   const matchRoute = useMatchRoute();
@@ -50,18 +49,28 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
   const { data: currentStory } = useStory(selectedStoryId);
   const addPendingStoryAdd = useGenerationStore((s) => s.addPendingStoryAdd);
 
+  // Fetch effect presets for the dropdown
+  const { data: effectPresets } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['effectPresets'],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.listEffectPresets(),
+  });
+
   // Calculate if track editor is visible (on stories route with items)
   const hasTrackEditor = isStoriesRoute && currentStory && currentStory.items.length > 0;
 
   const { form, handleSubmit, isPending } = useGenerationForm({
     onSuccess: async (generationId) => {
       setIsExpanded(false);
-      // Defer the story add until TTS completes — useGenerationProgress handles it
+      // Defer the story add until TTS completes -- useGenerationProgress handles it
       if (isStoriesRoute && selectedStoryId && generationId) {
         addPendingStoryAdd(generationId, selectedStoryId);
       }
     },
-    getEffectsChain: () => (effectsChain.length > 0 ? effectsChain : undefined),
+    getEffectsChain: () => {
+      if (!selectedPresetId || !effectPresets) return undefined;
+      const preset = effectPresets.find((p) => p.id === selectedPresetId);
+      return preset?.effects_chain;
+    },
   });
 
   // Click away handler to collapse the box
@@ -189,111 +198,57 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
         <Form {...form}>
           <form onSubmit={form.handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
             <div className="flex gap-2">
-              <motion.div
-                className={cn('flex-1', isExpanded && 'mr-12')}
-                transition={{ duration: 0.3, ease: 'easeOut' }}
-              >
-                {/* Text field - hidden when in instruct mode */}
-                <div style={{ display: isInstructMode ? 'none' : 'block' }}>
-                  <FormField
-                    control={form.control}
-                    name="text"
-                    render={({ field }) => (
-                      <FormItem>
-                        <FormControl>
-                          <motion.div
-                            animate={{
-                              height: isExpanded ? 'auto' : '32px',
-                            }}
-                            transition={{ duration: 0.15, ease: 'easeOut' }}
-                            style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}
-                          >
-                            {form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox_turbo' ? (
-                              <ParalinguisticInput
-                                value={field.value}
-                                onChange={field.onChange}
-                                placeholder={
-                                  isStoriesRoute && currentStory
-                                    ? `Generate speech for "${currentStory.name}"... (type / for effects)`
-                                    : selectedProfile
-                                      ? `Type / for effects like [laugh], [sigh]...`
-                                      : 'Select a voice profile above...'
-                                }
-                                className="px-3 py-2 resize-none bg-transparent border-none focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0 focus:outline-none focus:ring-0 outline-none ring-0 rounded-2xl text-sm w-full"
-                                style={{
-                                  minHeight: isExpanded ? '100px' : '32px',
-                                  maxHeight: '300px',
-                                  overflowY: 'auto',
-                                }}
-                                disabled={!selectedProfileId}
-                                onClick={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
-                                onFocus={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
-                              />
-                            ) : (
-                              <Textarea
-                                {...field}
-                                ref={(node: HTMLTextAreaElement | null) => {
-                                  // Store ref for auto-resize (only for active field)
-                                  if (!isInstructMode) {
-                                    textareaRef.current = node;
-                                  }
-                                  // Forward ref to react-hook-form
-                                  if (typeof field.ref === 'function') {
-                                    field.ref(node);
-                                  }
-                                }}
-                                placeholder={
-                                  isStoriesRoute && currentStory
-                                    ? `Generate speech for "${currentStory.name}"...`
-                                    : selectedProfile
-                                      ? `Generate speech using ${selectedProfile.name}...`
-                                      : 'Select a voice profile above...'
-                                }
-                                className="resize-none bg-transparent border-none focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0 focus:outline-none focus:ring-0 outline-none ring-0 rounded-2xl text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground/60 w-full"
-                                style={{
-                                  minHeight: isExpanded ? '100px' : '32px',
-                                  maxHeight: '300px',
-                                }}
-                                disabled={!selectedProfileId}
-                                onClick={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
-                                onFocus={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
-                              />
-                            )}
-                          </motion.div>
-                        </FormControl>
-                        <FormMessage className="text-xs" />
-                      </FormItem>
-                    )}
-                  />
-                </div>
-                {/* Instruct field - hidden when in text mode */}
-                <div style={{ display: isInstructMode ? 'block' : 'none' }}>
-                  <FormField
-                    control={form.control}
-                    name="instruct"
-                    render={({ field }) => (
-                      <FormItem>
-                        <FormControl>
-                          <motion.div
-                            animate={{
-                              height: isExpanded ? 'auto' : '32px',
-                            }}
-                            transition={{ duration: 0.15, ease: 'easeOut' }}
-                            style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}
-                          >
+              <motion.div className="flex-1" transition={{ duration: 0.3, ease: 'easeOut' }}>
+                <FormField
+                  control={form.control}
+                  name="text"
+                  render={({ field }) => (
+                    <FormItem>
+                      <FormControl>
+                        <motion.div
+                          animate={{
+                            height: isExpanded ? 'auto' : '32px',
+                          }}
+                          transition={{ duration: 0.15, ease: 'easeOut' }}
+                          style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}
+                        >
+                          {form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox_turbo' ? (
+                            <ParalinguisticInput
+                              value={field.value}
+                              onChange={field.onChange}
+                              placeholder={
+                                isStoriesRoute && currentStory
+                                  ? `Generate speech for "${currentStory.name}"... (type / for effects)`
+                                  : selectedProfile
+                                    ? `Type / for effects like [laugh], [sigh]...`
+                                    : 'Select a voice profile above...'
+                              }
+                              className="px-3 py-2 resize-none bg-transparent border-none focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0 focus:outline-none focus:ring-0 outline-none ring-0 rounded-2xl text-sm w-full"
+                              style={{
+                                minHeight: isExpanded ? '100px' : '32px',
+                                maxHeight: '300px',
+                                overflowY: 'auto',
+                              }}
+                              disabled={!selectedProfileId}
+                              onClick={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
+                              onFocus={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
+                            />
+                          ) : (
                             <Textarea
                               {...field}
                               ref={(node: HTMLTextAreaElement | null) => {
-                                // Store ref for auto-resize (only for active field)
-                                if (isInstructMode) {
-                                  textareaRef.current = node;
-                                }
-                                // Forward ref to react-hook-form
+                                textareaRef.current = node;
                                 if (typeof field.ref === 'function') {
                                   field.ref(node);
                                 }
                               }}
-                              placeholder="e.g. very happy and excited"
+                              placeholder={
+                                isStoriesRoute && currentStory
+                                  ? `Generate speech for "${currentStory.name}"...`
+                                  : selectedProfile
+                                    ? `Generate speech using ${selectedProfile.name}...`
+                                    : 'Select a voice profile above...'
+                              }
                               className="resize-none bg-transparent border-none focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0 focus:outline-none focus:ring-0 outline-none ring-0 rounded-2xl text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground/60 w-full"
                               style={{
                                 minHeight: isExpanded ? '100px' : '32px',
@@ -303,13 +258,13 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
                               onClick={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
                               onFocus={() => setIsExpanded(true)}
                             />
-                          </motion.div>
-                        </FormControl>
-                        <FormMessage className="text-xs" />
-                      </FormItem>
-                    )}
-                  />
-                </div>
+                          )}
+                        </motion.div>
+                      </FormControl>
+                      <FormMessage className="text-xs" />
+                    </FormItem>
+                  )}
+                />
               </motion.div>
 
               <div className="relative shrink-0">
@@ -341,62 +296,9 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
                         : 'Generate speech'}
                   </span>
                 </div>
-                <AnimatePresence>
-                  {isExpanded && form.watch('engine') === 'qwen' && (
-                    <motion.div
-                      initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.8 }}
-                      animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
-                      exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.8 }}
-                      transition={{ duration: 0.2 }}
-                      className="absolute top-0 right-[calc(100%+0.5rem)]"
-                    >
-                      <div className="group relative">
-                        <Button
-                          type="button"
-                          variant="ghost"
-                          size="icon"
-                          onClick={() => setIsInstructMode(!isInstructMode)}
-                          className={cn(
-                            'h-10 w-10 rounded-full transition-all duration-200',
-                            isInstructMode
-                              ? 'bg-accent text-accent-foreground border border-accent hover:bg-accent/90'
-                              : effectsChain.length > 0
-                                ? 'bg-accent/50 text-accent-foreground border border-accent/50 hover:bg-accent/70'
-                                : 'bg-card border border-border hover:bg-background/50',
-                          )}
-                          aria-label={
-                            isInstructMode ? 'Fine tune instructions, on' : 'Fine tune instructions'
-                          }
-                        >
-                          <SlidersHorizontal className="h-4 w-4" />
-                        </Button>
-                        <span className="pointer-events-none absolute bottom-full left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 mb-2 whitespace-nowrap rounded-md bg-popover px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-popover-foreground border border-border opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-100 z-[9999]">
-                          Fine tune instructions & effects
-                        </span>
-                      </div>
-                    </motion.div>
-                  )}
-                </AnimatePresence>
               </div>
             </div>
 
-            {/* Effects chain editor panel - shown alongside instruct */}
-            <AnimatePresence>
-              {isExpanded && isInstructMode && (
-                <motion.div
-                  initial={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
-                  animate={{ height: 'auto', opacity: 1 }}
-                  exit={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
-                  transition={{ duration: 0.2 }}
-                  className="overflow-hidden mt-2"
-                >
-                  <div className="border-t border-border/50 pt-2 pb-1">
-                    <EffectsChainEditor value={effectsChain} onChange={setEffectsChain} compact />
-                  </div>
-                </motion.div>
-              )}
-            </AnimatePresence>
-
             <AnimatePresence>
               <motion.div
                 initial={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
@@ -458,6 +360,29 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
                   <FormItem className="flex-1 space-y-0">
                     <EngineModelSelector form={form} compact />
                   </FormItem>
+
+                  <FormItem className="flex-1 space-y-0">
+                    <Select
+                      value={selectedPresetId || 'none'}
+                      onValueChange={(value) =>
+                        setSelectedPresetId(value === 'none' ? null : value)
+                      }
+                    >
+                      <SelectTrigger className="h-8 text-xs bg-card border-border rounded-full hover:bg-background/50 transition-all">
+                        <SelectValue placeholder="No effects" />
+                      </SelectTrigger>
+                      <SelectContent>
+                        <SelectItem value="none" className="text-xs">
+                          No effects
+                        </SelectItem>
+                        {effectPresets?.map((preset) => (
+                          <SelectItem key={preset.id} value={preset.id} className="text-xs">
+                            {preset.name}
+                          </SelectItem>
+                        ))}
+                      </SelectContent>
+                    </Select>
+                  </FormItem>
                 </div>
               </motion.div>
             </AnimatePresence>
diff --git a/app/src/components/History/HistoryTable.tsx b/app/src/components/History/HistoryTable.tsx
index 7d7f9a98..b37817df 100644
--- a/app/src/components/History/HistoryTable.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/History/HistoryTable.tsx
@@ -394,7 +394,8 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
           >
             {history.map((gen) => {
               const isCurrentlyPlaying = currentAudioId === gen.id && isPlaying;
-              const isGenerating = gen.status === 'generating';
+              const isInProgress = gen.status === 'loading_model' || gen.status === 'generating';
+              const isGenerating = isInProgress;
               const isFailed = gen.status === 'failed';
               const isPlayable = !isGenerating && !isFailed;
               const hasVersions = gen.versions && gen.versions.length > 1;
@@ -472,8 +473,10 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
                         ) : null}
                       </div>
                       <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                        {isGenerating ? (
-                          <span className="text-accent">Generating...</span>
+                        {isInProgress ? (
+                          <span className="text-accent">
+                            {gen.status === 'loading_model' ? 'Loading model...' : 'Generating...'}
+                          </span>
                         ) : (
                           formatDate(gen.created_at)
                         )}
diff --git a/app/src/components/ui/select.tsx b/app/src/components/ui/select.tsx
index 9a13e27c..7bdfe2b0 100644
--- a/app/src/components/ui/select.tsx
+++ b/app/src/components/ui/select.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const SelectTrigger = React.forwardRef<
   <SelectPrimitive.Trigger
     ref={ref}
     className={cn(
-      'flex h-10 w-full items-center justify-between rounded-md border border-input bg-background px-3 py-2 text-sm ring-offset-background placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-ring focus:ring-offset-2 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50 [&>span]:line-clamp-1',
+      'flex h-10 w-full items-center justify-between rounded-md border border-input bg-background px-3 py-2 text-sm ring-offset-background placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50 [&>span]:line-clamp-1',
       className,
     )}
     {...props}
diff --git a/app/src/lib/api/types.ts b/app/src/lib/api/types.ts
index 6d036bbd..49e90918 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/api/types.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/api/types.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export interface GenerationResponse {
   instruct?: string;
   engine?: string;
   model_size?: string;
-  status: 'generating' | 'completed' | 'failed';
+  status: 'loading_model' | 'generating' | 'completed' | 'failed';
   error?: string;
   is_favorited?: boolean;
   created_at: string;
diff --git a/app/src/lib/hooks/useGenerationProgress.ts b/app/src/lib/hooks/useGenerationProgress.ts
index fa4820e1..17d9e0cd 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/hooks/useGenerationProgress.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/hooks/useGenerationProgress.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 
 interface GenerationStatusEvent {
   id: string;
-  status: 'generating' | 'completed' | 'failed' | 'not_found';
+  status: 'loading_model' | 'generating' | 'completed' | 'failed' | 'not_found';
   duration?: number;
   error?: string;
 }
diff --git a/backend/services/generation.py b/backend/services/generation.py
index 04e07014..8ffca53e 100644
--- a/backend/services/generation.py
+++ b/backend/services/generation.py
@@ -55,12 +55,13 @@ async def run_generation(
     bg_db = next(get_db())
 
     try:
-        # --- Load model --------------------------------------------------
-        await load_engine_model(engine, model_size)
-
         tts_model = get_tts_backend_for_engine(engine)
 
-        # --- Build voice prompt ------------------------------------------
+        if not tts_model.is_loaded():
+            await history.update_generation_status(generation_id, "loading_model", bg_db)
+
+        await load_engine_model(engine, model_size)
+
         voice_prompt = await profiles.create_voice_prompt_for_profile(
             profile_id,
             bg_db,
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ async def run_generation(
             engine=engine,
         )
 
-        # --- Inference ---------------------------------------------------
+        await history.update_generation_status(generation_id, "generating", bg_db)
         trim_fn = trim_tts_output if engine_needs_trim(engine) else None
 
         gen_kwargs: dict = dict(
diff --git a/backend/utils/hf_offline_patch.py b/backend/utils/hf_offline_patch.py
index 288ed040..51a99a16 100644
--- a/backend/utils/hf_offline_patch.py
+++ b/backend/utils/hf_offline_patch.py
@@ -1,26 +1,26 @@
-"""
-Monkey patch for huggingface_hub to force offline mode with cached models.
-This prevents mlx_audio from making network requests when models are already downloaded.
+"""Monkey-patch huggingface_hub to force offline mode with cached models.
+
+Prevents mlx_audio from making network requests when models are already
+downloaded. Must be imported BEFORE mlx_audio.
 """
 
+import logging
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Optional, Union
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def patch_huggingface_hub_offline():
-    """
-    Monkey-patch huggingface_hub to force offline mode.
-    This must be called BEFORE importing mlx_audio.
-    """
+    """Monkey-patch huggingface_hub to force offline mode."""
     try:
-        import huggingface_hub
+        import huggingface_hub  # noqa: F401 -- need the package loaded
         from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
         from huggingface_hub.file_download import _try_to_load_from_cache
-        
-        # Store original function
+
         original_try_load = _try_to_load_from_cache
-        
+
         def _patched_try_to_load_from_cache(
             repo_id: str,
             filename: str,
@@ -28,11 +28,6 @@ def patch_huggingface_hub_offline():
             revision: Optional[str] = None,
             repo_type: Optional[str] = None,
         ):
-            """
-            Patched version that forces offline mode.
-            Returns None if not cached (instead of making network request).
-            """
-            # Always use the original function, but we're already in HF_HUB_OFFLINE mode
             result = original_try_load(
                 repo_id=repo_id,
                 filename=filename,
@@ -40,61 +35,54 @@ def patch_huggingface_hub_offline():
                 revision=revision,
                 repo_type=repo_type,
             )
-            
+
             if result is None:
-                # File not in cache - log this for debugging
                 cache_path = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / f"models--{repo_id.replace('/', '--')}"
-                print(f"[HF_PATCH] File not cached: {repo_id}/{filename}")
-                print(f"[HF_PATCH] Expected at: {cache_path}")
+                logger.debug("file not cached: %s/%s (expected at %s)", repo_id, filename, cache_path)
             else:
-                print(f"[HF_PATCH] Cache hit: {repo_id}/{filename}")
-            
+                logger.debug("cache hit: %s/%s", repo_id, filename)
+
             return result
-        
-        # Replace the function
+
         import huggingface_hub.file_download as fd
+
         fd._try_to_load_from_cache = _patched_try_to_load_from_cache
-        
-        print("[HF_PATCH] huggingface_hub patched for offline mode")
-        
+        logger.debug("huggingface_hub patched for offline mode")
+
     except ImportError:
-        print("[HF_PATCH] huggingface_hub not found, skipping patch")
-    except Exception as e:
-        print(f"[HF_PATCH] Error patching huggingface_hub: {e}")
+        logger.debug("huggingface_hub not available, skipping offline patch")
+    except Exception:
+        logger.exception("failed to patch huggingface_hub for offline mode")
 
 
 def ensure_original_qwen_config_cached():
+    """Symlink the original Qwen repo cache to the MLX community version.
+
+    mlx_audio may try to fetch config from the original Qwen repo. If only
+    the MLX community variant is cached, create a symlink so the cache lookup
+    succeeds without a network request.
     """
-    The MLX community model is based on the original Qwen model.
-    mlx_audio may try to fetch config from the original repo.
-    We need to ensure that config is available in the cache.
-    """
-    from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-    
-    # Original Qwen model that mlx_audio might reference
+    try:
+        from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
+    except ImportError:
+        return
+
     original_repo = "Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base"
     mlx_repo = "mlx-community/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-bf16"
-    
+
     cache_dir = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE)
-    
     original_path = cache_dir / f"models--{original_repo.replace('/', '--')}"
     mlx_path = cache_dir / f"models--{mlx_repo.replace('/', '--')}"
-    
-    # If original repo cache doesn't exist but MLX does, create a symlink or copy config
+
     if not original_path.exists() and mlx_path.exists():
-        print(f"[HF_PATCH] Original repo not cached, but MLX version is")
-        print(f"[HF_PATCH] Creating symlink from {original_repo} -> {mlx_repo}")
-        
         try:
-            # Create a symlink so the cache lookup succeeds
             original_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
             original_path.symlink_to(mlx_path, target_is_directory=True)
-            print(f"[HF_PATCH] Symlink created successfully")
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[HF_PATCH] Could not create symlink: {e}")
+            logger.info("created cache symlink: %s -> %s", original_repo, mlx_repo)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.warning("could not create cache symlink for %s", original_repo, exc_info=True)
 
 
-# Auto-apply patch when module is imported
 if os.environ.get("VOICEBOX_OFFLINE_PATCH", "1") != "0":
     patch_huggingface_hub_offline()
     ensure_original_qwen_config_cached()
diff --git a/docs/plans/ADDING_TTS_ENGINES.md b/docs/plans/ADDING_TTS_ENGINES.md
index 3efe8868..f07f941a 100644
--- a/docs/plans/ADDING_TTS_ENGINES.md
+++ b/docs/plans/ADDING_TTS_ENGINES.md
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ Guide for adding new TTS model backends. Based on the implementation of LuxTTS (
 
 ## Overview
 
-Adding an engine touches ~12 files across 4 layers (down from ~19 after the model config registry refactor). The backend protocol work is straightforward — the real time sink is dependency hell, upstream library bugs, and PyInstaller bundling.
+Adding an engine touches ~10 files across 4 layers. The backend protocol work is straightforward — the real time sink is dependency hell, upstream library bugs, and PyInstaller bundling.
+
+The backend is split into layers: `routes/` (thin HTTP handlers), `services/` (business logic), `backends/` (engine implementations), and `utils/` (shared utilities). New engines only need to touch `backends/` and `models.py` on the backend side — the route and service layers use a model config registry that handles dispatch automatically.
 
 ---
 
@@ -119,26 +121,24 @@ In `backend/models.py`:
 
 ---
 
-## Phase 2: API Integration (`main.py`)
+## Phase 2: Route and Service Integration
 
-With the model config registry, `main.py` has **zero per-engine dispatch points**. All endpoints use registry helpers like `get_model_config()`, `load_engine_model()`, `engine_needs_trim()`, `check_model_loaded()`, etc.
+With the model config registry, the route and service layers have **zero per-engine dispatch points**. All endpoints use registry helpers like `get_model_config()`, `load_engine_model()`, `engine_needs_trim()`, `check_model_loaded()`, etc.
 
-**You don't need to touch `main.py` at all** unless your engine needs custom behavior in the generate endpoint (e.g. a new post-processing step beyond `trim_tts_output`).
+**You don't need to touch any route or service files** unless your engine needs custom behavior in the generate pipeline (e.g. a new post-processing step beyond `trim_tts_output`).
 
 ### 2.1 What the registry handles automatically
 
-| Endpoint | Registry function used |
-|----------|----------------------|
-| `POST /generate` | `load_engine_model(engine, size)` + `engine_needs_trim(engine)` |
-| `POST /generate/stream` | `ensure_model_cached_or_raise(engine, size)` + `load_engine_model()` |
-| `GET /models/status` | `get_all_model_configs()` + `check_model_loaded(config)` |
-| `POST /models/download` | `get_model_config(name)` + `get_model_load_func(config)` |
-| `POST /models/{name}/unload` | `get_model_config(name)` + `unload_model_by_config(config)` |
-| `DELETE /models/{name}` | `get_model_config(name)` + `unload_model_by_config(config)` |
+| Route file | Registry function used |
+|------------|----------------------|
+| `routes/generations.py` | `load_engine_model(engine, size)` + `engine_needs_trim(engine)` |
+| `routes/models.py` | `get_all_model_configs()` + `check_model_loaded(config)` |
+| `routes/models.py` | `get_model_config(name)` + `get_model_load_func(config)` |
+| `services/generation.py` | `get_tts_backend_for_engine()` + `ensure_model_cached_or_raise()` |
 
 ### 2.2 Post-processing
 
-If your model produces trailing silence or hallucinated audio, set `needs_trim=True` on your `ModelConfig`. The generate endpoint checks `engine_needs_trim(engine)` and applies `trim_tts_output()` automatically.
+If your model produces trailing silence or hallucinated audio, set `needs_trim=True` on your `ModelConfig`. The generation service checks `engine_needs_trim(engine)` and applies `trim_tts_output()` automatically.
 
 ---
 
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ Used by both Chatterbox backends. LuxTTS works fine on MPS.
 
 To get download progress bars in the UI, wrap model loading with `HFProgressTracker`:
 ```python
-from backend.utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker
+from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker
 tracker = HFProgressTracker(model_name, progress_manager)
 with tracker.patch_download():
     model = ModelClass.from_pretrained(repo_id)
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ The tracker monkey-patches tqdm to intercept HuggingFace's internal progress bar
 - [ ] `backend/requirements.txt` — dependencies added (check for `--no-deps` needs)
 - [ ] `justfile` — `--no-deps` install step if needed
 
-### API (`backend/main.py`)
+### Routes and services
 No changes needed — the model config registry handles all dispatch automatically.
 
 ### Frontend