add --force-reinstall --no-deps to torchaudio CUDA install

Move audio validation and saving to thread pool so librosa/ffmpeg decoding
doesn't block the async event loop. Combine validate + load into a single
pass to avoid decoding the file twice. Add 50 MB upload limit and chunked
reads to prevent unbounded memory allocation.

Closes #278

.agents/skills/draft-release-notes/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+---
+name: draft-release-notes
+description: Use this skill to draft or update the [Unreleased] section of CHANGELOG.md from the actual changes since the last tag. Run this at any point during development to keep a working copy of the release narrative. Does NOT bump versions or create tags.
+---
+
+# Draft Release Notes
+
+## Goal
+
+Update the `[Unreleased]` section at the top of `CHANGELOG.md` with a narrative release story based on the real changes since the last tag. This is a **non-destructive working copy** — run it as many times as you want during development.
+
+## Workflow
+
+1. **Identify the last release tag and gather changes.**
+
+   ```bash
+   LAST_TAG=$(git tag --list "v*" --sort=-v:refname | head -n 1)
+   echo "Last tag: $LAST_TAG"
+   ```
+
+   Then collect raw material from three sources:
+
+   a. **Commit log since last tag:**
+   ```bash
+   git log --oneline "$LAST_TAG"..HEAD
+   ```
+
+   b. **GitHub-generated release notes preview** (PR titles, new contributors):
+   ```bash
+   gh api repos/:owner/:repo/releases/generate-notes \
+     -f tag_name="vNEXT" \
+     -f target_commitish="$(git rev-parse HEAD)" \
+     -f previous_tag_name="$LAST_TAG" \
+     --jq '.body'
+   ```
+
+   c. **Diff stat for theme analysis:**
+   ```bash
+   git diff --stat "$LAST_TAG"..HEAD
+   ```
+
+2. **Draft the release narrative.**
+
+   Write markdown for the `[Unreleased]` section following the format below. Do not include the `## [Unreleased]` heading itself — just the body content.
+
+3. **Update CHANGELOG.md.**
+
+   Replace everything between `## [Unreleased]` and the next `## [` heading with the new draft. Preserve the HTML comment header and all existing release sections below.
+
+   The `[Unreleased]` section must always exist and always be the first section after the header comments.
+
+4. **Do NOT commit, tag, or bump versions.** Just leave the file modified in the working tree.
+
+## Release Story Format
+
+Structure the `[Unreleased]` section like this:
+
+```markdown
+## [Unreleased]
+
+<One strong opening paragraph: what this release is about and why it matters.
+Tie it to concrete shipped changes. No vague hype.>
+
+<One paragraph on major technical shifts, if applicable.>
+
+### <Feature/Theme Group>
+- Bullet points with specifics
+- Reference PRs where available: ([#123](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/123))
+
+### <Another Group>
+- ...
+
+### Bug Fixes
+- ...
+```
+
+### Style Guidelines
+
+- **Factual and specific.** Every claim should trace to a real commit or PR.
+- **Narrative over list.** Lead with paragraphs that tell the story, then support with bullets.
+- **Group by theme, not by commit.** Cluster related changes under descriptive headings.
+- **Reference PRs** where they exist, but don't fabricate them.
+- **Skip trivial chores** (typo fixes, CI tweaks) unless they're the bulk of the release.
+- **Match the voice of existing releases** — look at the v0.2.1 and v0.2.3 entries in CHANGELOG.md for tone reference.
+
+## When There Are No Changes
+
+If `git log "$LAST_TAG"..HEAD` is empty, leave the `[Unreleased]` section empty (just the heading) and tell the user there's nothing to draft.
+
+## Notes
+
+- This skill only touches the `[Unreleased]` section. It never modifies stamped release sections.
+- The agent can be asked to run this skill at any point — mid-feature, before a PR, or right before cutting a release.
+- The `release-bump` skill depends on this draft being up to date before it finalizes.

.agents/skills/release-bump/SKILL.md

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+---
+name: release-bump
+description: Use this skill to finalize a release. It stamps the [Unreleased] changelog section with a version and date, runs bumpversion to update all version files, and creates the release commit and tag. Only run this when you're ready to ship.
+---
+
+# Release Bump
+
+## Goal
+
+Finalize the changelog draft, bump the version across all tracked files, and create a tagged release commit. After this skill runs, the repo has a clean release commit and tag ready to push.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- `gh` CLI installed and authenticated (`gh auth status`).
+- `bumpversion` installed (`pip install bumpversion` or available in the project venv).
+- The `[Unreleased]` section of `CHANGELOG.md` should already contain the release narrative. If it's empty or stale, run the `draft-release-notes` skill first.
+
+## Workflow
+
+1. **Verify the working tree is clean** (except `CHANGELOG.md` which may have the draft).
+
+   ```bash
+   git status --porcelain
+   ```
+
+   Only `CHANGELOG.md` (and optionally `.agents/` files) should be modified. If there are other uncommitted changes, stop and ask the user to commit or stash them first.
+
+2. **Determine the bump level.**
+
+   Ask the user if not specified: `patch`, `minor`, or `major`. Check the current version:
+
+   ```bash
+   grep '^current_version' .bumpversion.cfg
+   ```
+
+3. **Stamp the changelog.**
+
+   Read the current `[Unreleased]` content from `CHANGELOG.md`. Compute the new version (based on bump level and current version). Then:
+
+   a. Replace the `## [Unreleased]` section body with an empty placeholder.
+   b. Insert a new stamped section immediately after `## [Unreleased]`:
+
+   ```markdown
+   ## [Unreleased]
+
+   ## [X.Y.Z] - YYYY-MM-DD
+
+   <the content that was in [Unreleased]>
+   ```
+
+   c. Update the reference links at the bottom of the file:
+   - Change the `[Unreleased]` link to compare against the new tag
+   - Add a new link for the new version
+
+   ```markdown
+   [Unreleased]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/vX.Y.Z...HEAD
+   [X.Y.Z]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/vPREVIOUS...vX.Y.Z
+   ```
+
+4. **Stage the changelog.**
+
+   ```bash
+   git add CHANGELOG.md
+   ```
+
+5. **Run bumpversion.**
+
+   ```bash
+   bumpversion --allow-dirty <patch|minor|major>
+   ```
+
+   The `--allow-dirty` flag is needed because `CHANGELOG.md` is already staged. bumpversion will:
+   - Update version strings in all tracked files (see `.bumpversion.cfg`)
+   - Create a commit with message `Bump version: X.Y.Z -> A.B.C`
+   - Create a tag `vA.B.C`
+
+   The staged `CHANGELOG.md` will be included in this commit automatically.
+
+6. **Verify results.**
+
+   ```bash
+   git show --name-only --stat HEAD
+   git tag --list "v*" --sort=-v:refname | head -n 5
+   ```
+
+   Confirm the commit contains:
+   - `CHANGELOG.md`
+   - `.bumpversion.cfg`
+   - `tauri/src-tauri/tauri.conf.json`
+   - `tauri/src-tauri/Cargo.toml`
+   - `package.json`
+   - `app/package.json`
+   - `tauri/package.json`
+   - `landing/package.json`
+   - `web/package.json`
+   - `backend/__init__.py`
+
+   Confirm the new tag exists.
+
+7. **Do NOT push** unless the user explicitly asks. Report the tag name and suggest:
+
+   ```
+   Ready to push. When you're ready:
+     git push origin main --follow-tags
+   ```
+
+## Version Calculation Reference
+
+Given current version `X.Y.Z`:
+- `patch` -> `X.Y.(Z+1)`
+- `minor` -> `X.(Y+1).0`
+- `major` -> `(X+1).0.0`
+
+## Error Recovery
+
+- If bumpversion fails, the tag won't exist. Fix the issue and re-run — bumpversion is idempotent as long as the tag doesn't already exist.
+- If you need to undo a release commit (before pushing): `git tag -d vX.Y.Z && git reset --soft HEAD~1`
+- Never amend a release commit that has been pushed.
+
+## Notes
+
+- When the tag is pushed, the release CI (`.github/workflows/release.yml`) automatically extracts the matching version section from `CHANGELOG.md` and uses it as the GitHub Release body. No manual copy-paste needed.
+- The release commit message is controlled by `.bumpversion.cfg` (`Bump version: X.Y.Z -> A.B.C`). Do not override it.
+- If you need to manually update the GitHub Release body after the fact: `gh release edit vX.Y.Z --notes-file <(sed -n '/## \[X.Y.Z\]/,/## \[/p' CHANGELOG.md | head -n -1)`

.bumpversion.cfg

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [bumpversion]
-current_version = 0.1.13
+current_version = 0.2.3
 commit = True
 tag = True
 tag_name = v{new_version}

.github/workflows/build-cuda.yml

@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-name: Build CUDA Backend
-
-on:
-  workflow_dispatch:
-  push:
-    tags:
-      - "v*"
-
-jobs:
-  build-cuda-windows:
-    runs-on: windows-latest
-    permissions:
-      contents: write
-
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Setup Python
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
-          cache: "pip"
-
-      - name: Install Python dependencies
-        run: |
-          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          pip install pyinstaller
-          pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
-
-      - name: Install PyTorch with CUDA 12.1
-        run: |
-          pip install torch --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu121 --force-reinstall --no-deps
-          pip install torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu121
-
-      - name: Verify CUDA support in torch
-        run: |
-          python -c "import torch; print(f'CUDA available in build: {torch.cuda.is_available()}'); print(f'CUDA version: {torch.version.cuda}')"
-
-      - name: Build CUDA server binary
-        shell: bash
-        working-directory: backend
-        run: python build_binary.py --cuda
-
-      - name: Split binary for GitHub Releases
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          python scripts/split_binary.py \
-            backend/dist/voicebox-server-cuda.exe \
-            --output release-assets/
-
-      - name: Upload split parts to GitHub Release
-        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
-        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
-        with:
-          files: |
-            release-assets/voicebox-server-cuda.part*.exe
-            release-assets/voicebox-server-cuda.sha256
-            release-assets/voicebox-server-cuda.manifest
-          draft: true
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-      - name: Upload binary as workflow artifact (for testing)
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: voicebox-server-cuda-windows
-          path: backend/dist/voicebox-server-cuda.exe
-          retention-days: 7
-
-  # Linux CUDA build can be added later with:
-  # build-cuda-linux:
-  #   runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
-  #   ...

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ jobs:
             args: "--target x86_64-apple-darwin"
             python-version: "3.12"
             backend: "pytorch"
-          - platform: "ubuntu-22.04"
-            args: ""
-            python-version: "3.12"
-            backend: "pytorch"
           - platform: "windows-latest"
             args: ""
             python-version: "3.12"
@@ -37,10 +33,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install dependencies (ubuntu only)
-        if: matrix.platform == 'ubuntu-22.04'
+        if: contains(matrix.platform, 'ubuntu') || contains(matrix.platform, 'namespace')
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update
-          sudo apt-get install -y libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libappindicator3-dev librsvg2-dev patchelf llvm-dev
+          sudo apt-get install -y libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev libappindicator3-dev librsvg2-dev patchelf llvm-dev libasound2-dev
 
       - name: Install LLVM (macOS)
         if: matrix.platform == 'macos-latest' || matrix.platform == 'macos-15-intel'
@@ -55,23 +51,23 @@ jobs:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
           cache: "pip"
 
+      - name: Install CPU-only PyTorch (Linux)
+        if: contains(matrix.platform, 'ubuntu') || contains(matrix.platform, 'namespace')
+        run: |
+          pip install torch torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cpu
+
       - name: Install Python dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install pyinstaller
           pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
+          pip install --no-deps chatterbox-tts
 
       - name: Install MLX dependencies (Apple Silicon only)
         if: matrix.backend == 'mlx'
         run: |
           pip install -r backend/requirements-mlx.txt
 
-      # - name: Install PyTorch with CUDA (Windows only)
-      #   if: matrix.platform == 'windows-latest'
-      #   run: |
-      #     pip install torch --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu121 --force-reinstall --no-deps
-      #     pip install torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu121
-
       - name: Build Python server (Linux/macOS)
         if: matrix.platform != 'windows-latest'
         run: |
@@ -127,7 +123,30 @@ jobs:
           p12-file-base64: ${{ secrets.APPLE_CERTIFICATE }}
           p12-password: ${{ secrets.APPLE_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD }}
 
-      - uses: tauri-apps/tauri-action@v0
+      - name: Extract release notes from CHANGELOG.md
+        id: changelog
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          # Get the version from the tag (strip leading 'v')
+          VERSION="${GITHUB_REF_NAME#v}"
+
+          # Extract the section for this version from CHANGELOG.md
+          # Matches from "## [X.Y.Z]" until the next "## [" heading
+          NOTES=$(sed -n "/^## \[${VERSION}\]/,/^## \[/{/^## \[${VERSION}\]/d;/^## \[/d;p;}" CHANGELOG.md)
+
+          # Fall back to a placeholder if the version isn't in the changelog
+          if [ -z "$(echo "$NOTES" | tr -d '[:space:]')" ]; then
+            NOTES="See the assets below to download and install this version."
+          fi
+
+          # Use multiline output syntax
+          {
+            echo "notes<<CHANGELOG_EOF"
+            echo "$NOTES"
+            echo "CHANGELOG_EOF"
+          } >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+      - uses: tauri-apps/[email protected]
         env:
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.TAURI_SIGNING_PRIVATE_KEY }}
@@ -143,18 +162,69 @@ jobs:
           projectPath: tauri
           tagName: v__VERSION__
           releaseName: "voicebox v__VERSION__"
-          releaseBody: |
-            ## What's Changed
-            See the assets below to download and install this version.
-
-            ### Installation
-            - **macOS (Apple Silicon)**: Download the `aarch64.dmg` file - uses MLX for fast native inference
-            - **macOS (Intel)**: Download the `x64.dmg` file - uses PyTorch
-            - **Windows**: Download the `.msi` installer
-            - **Linux**: Download the `.AppImage` or `.deb` package
-
-            The app includes automatic updates - future updates will be installed automatically.
+          releaseBody: ${{ steps.changelog.outputs.notes }}
           releaseDraft: true
           prerelease: false
           args: ${{ matrix.args }}
           includeUpdaterJson: true
+
+  build-cuda-windows:
+    runs-on: windows-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: "3.12"
+          cache: "pip"
+
+      - name: Install Python dependencies
+        run: |
+          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
+          pip install pyinstaller
+          pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
+          pip install --no-deps chatterbox-tts
+
+      - name: Install PyTorch with CUDA 12.6
+        run: |
+          pip install torch --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu126 --force-reinstall --no-deps
+          pip install torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu126 --force-reinstall --no-deps
+
+      - name: Verify CUDA support in torch
+        run: |
+          python -c "import torch; print(f'CUDA available in build: {torch.cuda.is_available()}'); print(f'CUDA version: {torch.version.cuda}')"
+
+      - name: Build CUDA server binary
+        shell: bash
+        working-directory: backend
+        run: python build_binary.py --cuda
+
+      - name: Split binary for GitHub Releases
+        shell: bash
+        run: |
+          python scripts/split_binary.py \
+            backend/dist/voicebox-server-cuda.exe \
+            --output release-assets/
+
+      - name: Upload split parts to GitHub Release
+        if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/')
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          files: |
+            release-assets/voicebox-server-cuda.part*.exe
+            release-assets/voicebox-server-cuda.sha256
+            release-assets/voicebox-server-cuda.manifest
+          draft: true
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Upload binary as workflow artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: voicebox-server-cuda-windows
+          path: backend/dist/voicebox-server-cuda.exe
+          retention-days: 7

.gitignore

@@ -35,10 +35,7 @@ target/
 Thumbs.db
 
 # Data (user-generated)
-data/profiles/*
-data/generations/*
-data/projects/*
-data/voicebox.db
+data/
 !data/.gitkeep
 
 # Logs
@@ -52,6 +49,8 @@ logs/
 # Generated files
 app/openapi.json
 tauri/src-tauri/binaries/*
+tauri/src-tauri/gen/Assets.car
+tauri/src-tauri/gen/voicebox.icns
 
 # Temporary
 tmp/

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,94 +1,437 @@
+<!-- This file is compiled automatically during the release workflow. -->
+<!-- Do not edit manually — your changes will be overwritten. -->
+<!-- To update the draft: ask the agent to use the draft-release-notes skill. -->
+<!-- To finalize a release: ask the agent to use the release-bump skill. -->
+
 # Changelog
 
-All notable changes to Voicebox will be documented in this file.
-
-The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
-and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
-
 ## [Unreleased]
 
-### Fixed
-- **Profile Name Validation** - Added proper validation to prevent duplicate profile names ([#134](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/issues/134))
-  - Users now receive clear error messages when attempting to create or update profiles with duplicate names
-  - Improved error handling in create and update profile API endpoints
-  - Added comprehensive test suite for duplicate name validation
+This release rewrites the backend into a modular architecture, migrates the documentation site to Fumadocs, and ships a batch of bug fixes and UI polish across the stack.
 
-## [0.1.0] - 2026-01-25
+The backend's 3,000-line monolith `main.py` has been decomposed into domain routers, a services layer, and a proper database package. A style guide and ruff configuration now enforce consistency. On the frontend, model loading status is now visible in the UI, effects presets get a dropdown, and several race conditions and accessibility gaps are closed.
 
-### Added
+### Backend Refactor ([#285](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/285))
+- Extracted all routes from `main.py` into 13 domain routers under `backend/routes/` — `main.py` dropped from ~3,100 lines to ~10
+- Moved CRUD and service modules into `backend/services/`, platform detection into `backend/utils/`
+- Split monolithic `database.py` into a `database/` package with separate `models`, `session`, `migrations`, and `seed` modules
+- Added `backend/STYLE_GUIDE.md` and `pyproject.toml` with ruff linting config
+- Removed dead code: unused `_get_cuda_dll_excludes`, stale `studio.py`, `example_usage.py`, old `Makefile`
+- Deduplicated shared logic across TTS backends into `backends/base.py`
+- Improved startup logging with version, platform, data directory, and database stats
+- Fixed startup database session leak — sessions now rollback and close in `finally` block
+- Isolated shutdown unload calls so one backend failure doesn't block the others
+- Handled null duration in `story_items` migration
+- Reject model migration when target is a subdirectory of source cache
 
-#### Core Features
-- **Voice Cloning** - Clone voices from audio samples using Qwen3-TTS (1.7B and 0.6B models)
-- **Voice Profile Management** - Create, edit, and organize voice profiles with multiple samples
-- **Speech Generation** - Generate high-quality speech from text using cloned voices
-- **Generation History** - Track all generations with search and filtering capabilities
-- **Audio Transcription** - Automatic transcription powered by Whisper
-- **In-App Recording** - Record audio samples directly in the app with waveform visualization
+### Documentation Rewrite ([#288](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/288))
+- Migrated docs site from Mintlify to Fumadocs (Next.js-based)
+- Rewrote introduction and root page with content from README
+- Added "Edit on GitHub" links and last-updated timestamps on all pages
+- Generated OpenAPI spec and auto-generated API reference pages
+- Removed stale planning docs (`CUDA_BACKEND_SWAP`, `EXTERNAL_PROVIDERS`, `MLX_AUDIO`, `TTS_PROVIDER_ARCHITECTURE`, etc.)
+- Sidebar groups now expand by default; root redirects to `/docs`
+- Added OG image metadata and `/og` preview page
 
-#### Desktop App
-- **Tauri Desktop App** - Native desktop application for macOS, Windows, and Linux
-- **Local Server Mode** - Embedded Python server runs automatically
-- **Remote Server Mode** - Connect to a remote Voicebox server on your network
-- **Auto-Updates** - Automatic update notifications and installation
+### UI & Frontend
+- Added model loading status indicator and effects preset dropdown ([3187344](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/commit/3187344))
+- Fixed take-label race condition during regeneration
+- Added accessible focus styling to select component
+- Softened select focus indicator opacity
+- Addressed 4 critical and 12 major issues from CodeRabbit review
 
-#### API
-- **REST API** - Full REST API for voice synthesis and profile management
-- **OpenAPI Documentation** - Interactive API docs at `/docs` endpoint
-- **Type-Safe Client** - Auto-generated TypeScript client from OpenAPI schema
+### Platform Fixes
+- Replaced `netstat` with `TcpStream` + PowerShell for Windows port detection ([#277](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/277))
+- Fixed Docker frontend build and cleaned up Docker docs
+- Fixed macOS download links to use `.dmg` instead of `.app.tar.gz`
+- Added dynamic download redirect routes to landing site
 
-#### Technical
-- **Voice Prompt Caching** - Fast regeneration with cached voice prompts
-- **Multi-Sample Support** - Combine multiple audio samples for better voice quality
-- **GPU/CPU/MPS Support** - Automatic device detection and optimization
-- **Model Management** - Lazy loading and VRAM management
-- **SQLite Database** - Local data persistence
+### Release Tooling
+- Added `draft-release-notes` and `release-bump` agent skills
+- Wired CI release workflow to extract notes from `CHANGELOG.md` for GitHub Releases
+- Backfilled changelog with all historical releases
 
-### Technical Details
+## [0.2.3] - 2026-03-15
 
-- Built with Tauri v2 (Rust + React)
-- FastAPI backend with async Python
-- TypeScript frontend with React Query and Zustand
-- Qwen3-TTS for voice cloning
-- Whisper for transcription
+The "it works in dev but not in prod" release. This version fixes a series of PyInstaller bundling issues that prevented model downloading, loading, generation, and progress tracking from working in production builds.
+
+### Model Downloads Now Actually Work
+
+The v0.2.1/v0.2.2 builds could not download or load models that weren't already cached from a dev install. This release fixes the entire chain:
+
+- **Chatterbox, Chatterbox Turbo, and LuxTTS** all download, load, and generate correctly in bundled builds
+- **Real-time download progress** — byte-level progress bars now work in production. The root cause: `huggingface_hub` silently disables tqdm progress bars based on logger level, which prevented our progress tracker from receiving byte updates. We now force-enable the internal counter regardless.
+- **Fixed Python 3.12.0 `code.replace()` bug** — the macOS build was on Python 3.12.0, which has a [known CPython bug](https://github.com/pyinstaller/pyinstaller/issues/7992) that corrupts bytecode when PyInstaller rewrites code objects. This caused `NameError: name 'obj' is not defined` crashes during scipy/torch imports. Upgraded to Python 3.12.13.
+
+### PyInstaller Fixes
+
+- Collect all `inflect` files — `typeguard`'s `@typechecked` decorator calls `inspect.getsource()` at import time, which needs `.py` source files, not just bytecode. Fixes LuxTTS "could not get source code" error.
+- Collect all `perth` files — bundles the pretrained watermark model (`hparams.yaml`, `.pth.tar`) needed by Chatterbox at runtime
+- Collect all `piper_phonemize` files — bundles `espeak-ng-data/` (phoneme tables, language dicts) needed by LuxTTS for text-to-phoneme conversion
+- Set `ESPEAK_DATA_PATH` in frozen builds so the espeak-ng C library finds the bundled data instead of looking at `/usr/share/espeak-ng-data/`
+- Collect all `linacodec` files — fixes `inspect.getsource` error in Vocos codec
+- Collect all `zipvoice` files — fixes source code lookup in LuxTTS voice cloning
+- Copy metadata for `requests`, `transformers`, `huggingface-hub`, `tokenizers`, `safetensors`, `tqdm` — fixes `importlib.metadata` lookups in frozen binary
+- Add hidden imports for `chatterbox`, `chatterbox_turbo`, `luxtts`, `zipvoice` backends
+- Add `multiprocessing.freeze_support()` to fix resource_tracker subprocess crash in frozen binary
+- `--noconsole` now only applied on Windows — macOS/Linux need stdout/stderr for Tauri sidecar log capture
+- Hardened `sys.stdout`/`sys.stderr` devnull redirect to test writability, not just `None` check
+
+### Updater
+
+- Fixed updater artifact generation with `v1Compatible` for `tauri-action` signature files
+- Updated `tauri-action` to v0.6 to fix updater JSON and `.sig` generation
+
+### Other Fixes
+
+- Full traceback logging on all backend model loading errors (was just `str(e)` before)
+
+## [0.2.2] - 2026-03-15
+
+- Fix Chatterbox model support in bundled builds
+- Fix LuxTTS/ZipVoice support in bundled builds
+- Auto-update CUDA binary when app version changes
+- CUDA download progress bar
+- Fix server process staying alive on macOS (SIGHUP handling, watchdog grace period)
+- Hide console window when running CUDA binary on Windows
+
+## [0.2.1] - 2026-03-15
+
+Voicebox v0.1.x was a single-engine voice cloning app built around Qwen3-TTS. v0.2.0 is a ground-up rethink: four TTS engines, 23 languages, paralinguistic emotion controls, a post-processing effects pipeline, unlimited generation length, an async generation queue, and support for every major GPU vendor. Plus Docker.
+
+### New TTS Engines
+
+#### Multi-Engine Architecture
+
+Voicebox now runs **four independent TTS engines** behind a thread-safe per-engine backend registry. Switch engines per-generation from a single dropdown — no restart required.
+
+| Engine                      | Languages | Size    | Key Strengths                                 |
+| --------------------------- | --------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------- |
+| **Qwen3-TTS 1.7B**          | 10        | ~3.5 GB | Highest quality, delivery instructions        |
+| **Qwen3-TTS 0.6B**          | 10        | ~1.2 GB | Lighter, faster variant                       |
+| **LuxTTS**                  | English   | ~300 MB | CPU-friendly, 48 kHz output, 150x realtime    |
+| **Chatterbox Multilingual** | 23        | ~3.2 GB | Broadest language coverage, zero-shot cloning |
+| **Chatterbox Turbo**        | English   | ~1.5 GB | 350M params, low latency, paralinguistic tags |
+
+#### Chatterbox Multilingual — 23 Languages ([#257](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/257))
+
+Zero-shot voice cloning in Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, and Turkish.
+
+#### LuxTTS — Lightweight English TTS ([#254](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/254))
+
+A fast, CPU-friendly English engine. ~300 MB download, 48 kHz output, runs at 150x realtime on CPU.
+
+#### Chatterbox Turbo — Expressive English ([#258](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/258))
+
+A fast 350M-parameter English model with inline paralinguistic tags.
+
+#### Paralinguistic Tags Autocomplete ([#265](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/265))
+
+Type `/` in the text input with Chatterbox Turbo selected to open an autocomplete for **9 expressive tags**: `[laugh]` `[chuckle]` `[gasp]` `[cough]` `[sigh]` `[groan]` `[sniff]` `[shush]` `[clear throat]`
+
+### Generation
+
+#### Unlimited Generation Length — Auto-Chunking ([#266](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/266))
+
+Long text is now automatically split at sentence boundaries, generated per-chunk, and crossfaded back together. Engine-agnostic.
+
+- Auto-chunking limit slider — 100–5,000 chars (default 800)
+- Crossfade slider — 0–200ms (default 50ms)
+- Max text length raised to 50,000 characters
+- Smart splitting respects abbreviations, CJK punctuation, and `[tags]`
+
+#### Asynchronous Generation Queue ([#269](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/269))
+
+Generation is now fully non-blocking. Serial execution queue prevents GPU contention. Real-time SSE status streaming.
+
+#### Generation Versions
+
+Every generation now supports multiple versions with provenance tracking — original, effects versions, takes, source tracking, version pinning in stories, and favorites.
+
+### Post-Processing Effects ([#271](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/271))
+
+A full audio effects system powered by Spotify's `pedalboard` library: Pitch Shift, Reverb, Delay, Chorus/Flanger, Compressor, Gain, High-Pass Filter, Low-Pass Filter. 4 built-in presets, custom presets, per-profile default effects, and live preview.
 
 ### Platform Support
 
-- macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel)
-- Windows
-- Linux (AppImage)
+- **Windows Support** ([#272](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/272)) — Full Windows support with CUDA GPU detection
+- **Linux** ([#262](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/262)) — AMD ROCm, NVIDIA GBM fix, WebKitGTK mic access (build from source)
+- **NVIDIA CUDA Backend Swap** ([#252](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/252)) — Download and swap in CUDA backend from within the app
+- **Intel Arc (XPU) and DirectML** — PyTorch backend supports Intel Arc and DirectML
+- **Docker + Web Deployment** ([#161](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/161)) — 3-stage build, non-root runtime, health checks
+- **Whisper Turbo** — Added `openai/whisper-large-v3-turbo` as a transcription model option
 
----
+### Model Management ([#268](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/268))
 
-## [Unreleased]
+Per-model unload, custom models directory, model folder migration, download cancel/clear UI ([#238](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/238)), restructured settings UI.
 
-### Fixed
-- Audio export failing when Tauri save dialog returns object instead of string path
-- OpenAPI client generator script now documents the local backend port and avoids an unused loop variable warning
+### Security & Reliability
 
-### Added
-- **Makefile** - Comprehensive development workflow automation with commands for setup, development, building, testing, and code quality checks
-  - Includes Python version detection and compatibility warnings
-  - Self-documenting help system with `make help`
-  - Colored output for better readability
-  - Supports parallel development server execution
+- CORS hardening ([#88](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/88))
+- Network access toggle ([#133](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/133))
+- Offline crash fix ([#152](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/152))
+- Atomic audio saves ([#263](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/263))
+- Filesystem health endpoint
+- Chatterbox float64 dtype fix ([#264](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/264))
 
-### Changed
-- **README** - Added Makefile reference and updated Quick Start with Makefile-based setup instructions alongside manual setup
+### Accessibility ([#243](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/243))
 
----
+Screen reader support, keyboard navigation, state-aware `aria-label` attributes on all interactive controls.
 
-## [Unreleased - Planned]
+### UI Polish
 
-### Planned
-- Real-time streaming synthesis
-- Conversation mode with multiple speakers
-- Voice effects (pitch shift, reverb, M3GAN-style)
-- Timeline-based audio editor
-- Additional voice models (XTTS, Bark)
-- Voice design from text descriptions
-- Project system for saving sessions
-- Plugin architecture
+- Redesigned landing page ([#274](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/274))
+- Voices tab overhaul with inline inspector
+- Responsive layout improvements
+- Duplicate profile name validation ([#175](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/175))
 
----
+### Community Contributors
 
+[@haosenwang1018](https://github.com/haosenwang1018), [@Balneario-de-Cofrentes](https://github.com/Balneario-de-Cofrentes), [@ageofalgo](https://github.com/ageofalgo), [@mikeswann](https://github.com/mikeswann), [@rayl15](https://github.com/rayl15), [@mpecanha](https://github.com/mpecanha), [@ways2read](https://github.com/ways2read), [@ieguiguren](https://github.com/ieguiguren), [@Vaibhavee89](https://github.com/Vaibhavee89), [@pandego](https://github.com/pandego), [@luminest-llc](https://github.com/luminest-llc)
+
+## [0.1.13] - 2026-02-23
+
+### Stability and reliability
+
+- [#95](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/95) Fix: selecting 0.6B model still downloads and uses 1.7B
+- [#93](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/93) fix(mlx): bundle native libs and broaden error handling for Apple Silicon
+- [#79](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/79) fix: handle non-ASCII filenames in Content-Disposition headers
+- [#78](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/78) fix: guard getUserMedia call against undefined mediaDevices in non-secure contexts
+- [#77](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/77) fix: await for confirmation before deleting voices and channels
+- [#128](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/128) fix: resolve multiple issues (#96, #119, #111, #108, #121, #125, #127)
+- [#40](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/40) Fix: audio export path resolution
+
+### Build and packaging
+
+- [#122](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/122) fix(web): add @tailwindcss/vite plugin to web config
+- [#126](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/126) Create requirements.txt
+
+### UX and docs
+
+- [#44](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/44) Enhances floating generate box UX
+- [#57](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/57) chore: updates repo URL in README
+- [#146](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/146) Add Spacebot banner to landing page
+- [#1](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/pull/1) Improvements
+
+## [0.1.12] - 2026-01-31
+
+### Model Download UX Overhaul
+
+- Real-time download progress tracking with accurate percentage and speed info
+- No more downloading notifications during generation even when its not downloading
+- Better error handling and status reporting throughout the download process
+
+### Other Improvements
+
+- Enhanced health check endpoint with GPU type information
+- Improved model caching verification
+- More reliable SSE progress updates
+- Actual update notifications — no need to manually check in settings anymore
+
+## [0.1.11] - 2026-01-30
+
+- Fixed transcriptions on MLX
+- Fixed model download progress (finally)
+
+## [0.1.10] - 2026-01-30
+
+### Faster generation on Apple Silicon
+
+Massive speed gains, from around 20s per generation to 2-3s. Added native MLX backend support for Apple Silicon, providing significantly faster TTS and STT generation on M-series macOS machines.
+
+- **MLX Backend** — New backend implementation optimized for Apple Silicon using MLX framework
+- **Dynamic Backend Selection** — Automatically detects platform and selects between MLX (macOS) and PyTorch (other platforms)
+- Refactored TTS and STT logic into modular backend implementations
+- Updated build process to include MLX-specific dependencies for macOS builds
+
+## [0.1.9] - 2026-01-30
+
+### Improved voice profile creation flow
+
+- Voice create drafts: No longer lose work if you close the modal
+- Fixed whisper only transcribing English or Chinese, now has support for all languages
+
+### Improved Stories editor
+
+- Added spacebar for play/pause
+- Timeline now auto-scrolls to follow playhead during playback
+- Fixed misalignment of the items with mouse when picking up
+- Fixed hitbox for selecting an item
+- Fixed playhead jumping forward when pressing play
+
+### Generation box improvements
+
+- Instruct mode no longer wipes prompt text
+- Improved UI cleanliness
+
+### Misc
+
+- Fixed "Model downloading" toast during generation when model is already downloaded
+
+## [0.1.8] - 2026-01-29
+
+### Model Download Timeout Issues
+
+Fixed critical issue where model downloads would fail with "Failed to fetch" errors on Windows. Refactored download endpoints to return immediately and continue downloads in background.
+
+### Cross-Platform Cache Path Issues
+
+Fixed hardcoded `~/.cache/huggingface/hub` paths that don't work on Windows. All cache paths now use `hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE` for proper cross-platform support.
+
+### Windows Process Management
+
+- Added `/shutdown` endpoint for graceful server shutdown on Windows
+- Added `gpu_type` field to health check response
+
+## [0.1.7] - 2026-01-29
+
+- Trim and split audio clips in Story Editor
+- Auto-activation of stories in Story Editor with visible playhead
+- Conditional auto-play support in AudioPlayer for better user control
+- Refactored audio loading across HistoryTable, SampleList, and generation forms
+- Audio now only auto-plays when explicitly intended, preventing unexpected playback
+
+## [0.1.6] - 2026-01-29
+
+### Introducing Stories
+
+A full voice editor for composing podcasts and generated conversations.
+
+- **Stories Editor** — Create multi-voice narratives, podcasts, or conversations with a timeline-based editor
+- Compose tracks with different voices
+- Edit and arrange audio segments inline
+- Build generated conversations with multiple participants
+- **Improved Voice Generation UI** — Auto-resizing input, default voice selection, better layout
+- **Track Editor Integration** — Inline track editing within story items
+
+## [0.1.5] - 2026-01-28
+
+Fixed recording length limit at 0:29 to auto stop instead of passing the limit and getting an error, which would cause users to lose their recording.
+
+## [0.1.4] - 2026-01-28
+
+- Audio channel management system
+- Native audio playback handling in AudioPlayer component
+- Refactored ConnectionForm and Checkbox components
+- Improved layout consistency and responsiveness
+- Added safe area constants for better responsive design
+
+## [0.1.3] - 2026-01-27
+
+- Improved the generate textbox
+- Maybe fixed Windows autoupdate restarting entire computer
+
+## [0.1.2] - 2026-01-27
+
+### Audio Capture & Format Conversion
+
+- Added audio format conversion util
+- Enhanced system audio capture on macOS and Windows
+- Improved audio recording hooks
+- Added audio input entitlement for macOS
+- Added audio capture tests
+
+### Update System
+
+- Enhanced auto-updater functionality and update status display
+
+## [0.1.1] - 2026-01-27
+
+### Platform Support
+
+- **macOS Audio Capture** — Native audio capture support for sample creation
+- **Windows Audio Capture** — WASAPI implementation with improved thread safety
+- **Linux Support** — Temporarily removed builds due to runner disk space constraints
+
+### Audio Features
+
+- Play/pause for audio samples across all components
+- Three new sample components: Recording, System capture, Upload with drag-and-drop
+- Audio validation, error handling, and consistent cleanup
+
+### Voice Profile Management
+
+- Profile import with file size validation (100MB limit)
+- Enhanced profile form with new audio sample components
+- Drag-and-drop support for audio file uploads
+
+### Server Management
+
+- Changed default URL from `localhost:8000` to `127.0.0.1:17493`
+- Server reuse logic, "keep server running" preference, orphaned process handling
+
+### Build & Release
+
+- Added `.bumpversion.cfg` for automated version management
+- Enhanced icon generation script for multi-size Windows icons
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Fixed date formatting for timezone-less date strings
+- Fixed getLatestRelease file filtering
+- Improved audio duration metadata on Windows
+
+## [0.1.0] - 2026-01-27
+
+The first public release of Voicebox — an open-source voice synthesis studio powered by Qwen3-TTS.
+
+### Voice Cloning with Qwen3-TTS
+
+- Automatic model download from HuggingFace
+- Multiple model sizes (1.7B and 0.6B)
+- Voice prompt caching for instant regeneration
+- English and Chinese support
+
+### Voice Profile Management
+
+- Create profiles from audio files or record directly in the app
+- Multiple samples per profile for higher quality cloning
+- Import/Export profiles
+- Automatic transcription via Whisper
+
+### Speech Generation
+
+- Simple text-to-speech with profile selection
+- Seed control for reproducible generations
+- Long-form support up to 5,000 characters
+
+### Generation History
+
+- Full history with metadata
+- Search by text content
+- Inline playback and download
+
+### Flexible Deployment
+
+- Local mode with bundled backend
+- Remote mode for GPU servers on your network
+- One-click server setup
+
+### Desktop Experience
+
+- Built with Tauri v2 (Rust) — native performance, not Electron
+- Cross-platform: macOS and Windows
+- No Python installation required
+
+### Tech Stack
+
+Tauri v2, React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, FastAPI, Qwen3-TTS, Whisper, SQLite
+
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.2.3...HEAD
+[0.2.3]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.2.2...v0.2.3
+[0.2.2]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.2.1...v0.2.2
+[0.2.1]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.13...v0.2.1
+[0.1.13]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.12...v0.1.13
+[0.1.12]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.11...v0.1.12
+[0.1.11]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.10...v0.1.11
+[0.1.10]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.9...v0.1.10
+[0.1.9]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.8...v0.1.9
+[0.1.8]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.7...v0.1.8
+[0.1.7]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.6...v0.1.7
+[0.1.6]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.5...v0.1.6
+[0.1.5]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.4...v0.1.5
+[0.1.4]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.3...v0.1.4
+[0.1.3]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.2...v0.1.3
+[0.1.2]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.1...v0.1.2
+[0.1.1]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/compare/v0.1.0...v0.1.1
 [0.1.0]: https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/releases/tag/v0.1.0

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -33,101 +33,41 @@ Thank you for your interest in contributing to Voicebox! This document provides
 
 ### Development Setup
 
-**Using `just` (recommended):**
-
-Install [just](https://github.com/casey/just) (`brew install just` or `cargo install just`), then:
+Install [just](https://github.com/casey/just) (`brew install just`, `cargo install just`, or `winget install Casey.Just`), then:
 
 ```bash
+git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/voicebox.git
+cd voicebox
+
 just setup   # creates venv, installs Python + JS deps
-just dev     # starts backend + desktop app in one terminal
+just dev     # starts backend + desktop app
 ```
 
+`just setup` handles everything automatically, including:
+- Creating a Python virtual environment
+- Installing Python dependencies (with CUDA PyTorch on Windows if an NVIDIA GPU is detected)
+- Installing MLX dependencies on Apple Silicon
+- Installing JavaScript dependencies
+
+`just dev` starts the backend and desktop app together. If a backend is already running (e.g. from `just dev-backend` in another terminal), it detects it and only starts the frontend.
+
 Other useful commands:
 
 ```bash
 just dev-web       # backend + web app (no Tauri/Rust build)
 just dev-backend   # backend only
+just dev-frontend  # Tauri app only (backend must be running)
 just kill          # stop all dev processes
 just clean-all     # nuke everything and start fresh
 just --list        # see all available commands
 ```
 
-**Using the Makefile:** Run `make setup` then `make dev`. See `make help` for all commands.
+> **Note:** In dev mode, the app connects to a manually-started Python server.
+> The bundled server binary is only used in production builds.
 
-**Manual setup (required for Windows):**
+#### Windows Notes
 
-1. **Fork and clone the repository**
-   ```bash
-   git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/voicebox.git
-   cd voicebox
-   ```
-
-2. **Install JavaScript dependencies**
-   ```bash
-   bun install
-   ```
-   This installs dependencies for:
-   - `app/` - Shared React frontend
-   - `tauri/` - Tauri desktop wrapper
-   - `web/` - Web deployment wrapper
-
-3. **Set up Python backend**
-   ```bash
-   cd backend
-   
-   # Create virtual environment
-   python -m venv venv
-   
-   # Activate virtual environment
-   source venv/bin/activate  # On macOS/Linux
-   # or
-   venv\Scripts\activate  # On Windows
-   
-   # Install Python dependencies
-   pip install -r requirements.txt
-   
-   # Install MLX dependencies (Apple Silicon only - for faster inference)
-   # On Apple Silicon, this enables native Metal acceleration
-   if [[ $(uname -m) == "arm64" ]]; then
-     pip install -r requirements-mlx.txt
-   fi
-   
-   # Install Qwen3-TTS (required for voice synthesis)
-   pip install git+https://github.com/QwenLM/Qwen3-TTS.git
-   ```
-
-4. **Start development servers**
-
-   Development requires two terminals: one for the Python backend, one for the Tauri app.
-
-   **Terminal 1: Backend server** (start this first)
-   ```bash
-   cd backend
-   source venv/bin/activate  # Activate venv if not already active
-   bun run dev:server
-   # Or manually: uvicorn main:app --reload --port 17493
-   ```
-   Backend will be available at `http://localhost:17493`
-
-   **Terminal 2: Desktop app**
-   ```bash
-   bun run dev
-   ```
-   This will:
-   - Create a placeholder sidecar binary (for Tauri compilation)
-   - Start Vite dev server on port 5173
-   - Launch Tauri window pointing to localhost:5173
-   - Connect to the Python server you started in Terminal 1
-   - Enable hot reload
-
-   > **Note:** In dev mode, the app connects to your manually-started Python server.
-   > The bundled server binary is only used in production builds.
-
-   **Optional: Web app**
-   ```bash
-   bun run dev:web
-   ```
-   Web app will be available at `http://localhost:5174`
+The justfile works natively on Windows via PowerShell. No WSL or Git Bash required. On Windows with an NVIDIA GPU, `just setup` automatically installs CUDA-enabled PyTorch for GPU acceleration.
 
 ### Model Downloads
 
@@ -139,25 +79,30 @@ First-time usage will be slower due to model downloads, but subsequent runs will
 
 ### Building
 
-**Build everything (recommended):**
+**Build production app:**
+
 ```bash
-bun run build
+just build        # Build CPU server binary + Tauri installer
 ```
-This automatically:
-1. Builds the Python server binary (`./scripts/build-server.sh`)
-2. Builds the Tauri desktop app (`cd tauri && bun run tauri build`)
+
+On Windows, to build with CUDA support for local testing:
+
+```bash
+just build-local  # Build CPU + CUDA server binaries + Tauri installer
+```
+
+This builds the CPU sidecar (bundled with the app), the CUDA binary (placed in `%APPDATA%/com.voicebox.app/backends/` for runtime GPU switching), and the installable Tauri app.
 
 Creates platform-specific installers (`.dmg`, `.msi`, `.AppImage`) in `tauri/src-tauri/target/release/bundle/`.
 
-**Note:** The build process detects your platform and includes the appropriate backend (MLX for Apple Silicon, PyTorch for others).
+**Individual build targets:**
 
-**Build server binary only:**
 ```bash
-bun run build:server
-# or
-./scripts/build-server.sh
+just build-server       # CPU server binary only
+just build-server-cuda  # CUDA server binary only (Windows)
+just build-tauri        # Tauri desktop app only
+just build-web          # Web app only
 ```
-Creates platform-specific binary in `tauri/src-tauri/binaries/`
 
 **Building with local Qwen3-TTS development version:**
 
@@ -165,17 +110,10 @@ If you're actively developing or modifying the Qwen3-TTS library, set the `QWEN_
 
 ```bash
 export QWEN_TTS_PATH=~/path/to/your/Qwen3-TTS
-bun run build:server
+just build-server
 ```
 
-This makes PyInstaller use your local qwen-tts version instead of the pip-installed package. Useful when testing changes to the TTS library before they're published to PyPI or when using an editable install (`pip install -e`).
-
-**Build web app:**
-```bash
-cd web
-bun run build
-```
-Output in `web/dist/`
+This makes PyInstaller use your local qwen-tts version instead of the pip-installed package.
 
 ### Generate OpenAPI Client
 

Dockerfile

@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
     build-essential \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir --upgrade pip
+
 COPY backend/requirements.txt .
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir --prefix=/install -r requirements.txt
 RUN pip install --no-cache-dir --prefix=/install \

Makefile

@@ -1,250 +0,0 @@
-# Voicebox Makefile
-# Unix-only (macOS/Linux). Windows users should use WSL.
-
-SHELL := /bin/bash
-.DEFAULT_GOAL := help
-
-# Directories
-BACKEND_DIR := backend
-TAURI_DIR := tauri
-WEB_DIR := web
-APP_DIR := app
-
-# Python (prefer 3.12, fallback to 3.13, then python3)
-PYTHON := $(shell command -v python3.12 2>/dev/null || command -v python3.13 2>/dev/null || echo python3)
-VENV := $(CURDIR)/$(BACKEND_DIR)/venv
-VENV_BIN := $(VENV)/bin
-PIP := $(VENV_BIN)/pip
-PYTHON_VENV := $(VENV_BIN)/python
-
-# Colors for output
-BLUE := \033[0;34m
-GREEN := \033[0;32m
-YELLOW := \033[0;33m
-NC := \033[0m # No Color
-
-.PHONY: help
-help: ## Show this help message
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Voicebox$(NC) - Development Commands"
-	@echo ""
-	@grep -E '^[a-zA-Z_-]+:.*?## .*$$' $(MAKEFILE_LIST) | sort | \
-		awk 'BEGIN {FS = ":.*?## "}; {printf "  $(GREEN)%-20s$(NC) %s\n", $$1, $$2}'
-
-# =============================================================================
-# SETUP
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: setup setup-js setup-python setup-rust
-
-setup: setup-js setup-python ## Full project setup (all dependencies)
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Setup complete!$(NC)"
-	@echo -e "  Run $(YELLOW)make dev$(NC) to start development servers"
-
-setup-js: ## Install JavaScript dependencies (bun)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Installing JavaScript dependencies...$(NC)"
-	bun install
-
-setup-python: $(VENV)/bin/activate ## Set up Python virtual environment and dependencies
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Installing Python dependencies...$(NC)"
-	$(PIP) install --upgrade pip
-	$(PIP) install -r $(BACKEND_DIR)/requirements.txt
-	$(PIP) install --no-deps chatterbox-tts
-	@if [ "$$(uname -m)" = "arm64" ] && [ "$$(uname)" = "Darwin" ]; then \
-		echo -e "$(BLUE)Detected Apple Silicon - installing MLX dependencies...$(NC)"; \
-		$(PIP) install -r $(BACKEND_DIR)/requirements-mlx.txt; \
-		echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ MLX backend enabled (native Metal acceleration)$(NC)"; \
-	fi
-	$(PIP) install git+https://github.com/QwenLM/Qwen3-TTS.git
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Python environment ready$(NC)"
-
-$(VENV)/bin/activate:
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Creating Python virtual environment...$(NC)"
-	@PY_MINOR=$$($(PYTHON) -c "import sys; print(sys.version_info[1])"); \
-	if [ "$$PY_MINOR" -gt 13 ]; then \
-		echo -e "$(YELLOW)Warning: Python 3.$$PY_MINOR detected. ML packages may not be compatible.$(NC)"; \
-		echo -e "$(YELLOW)Recommended: Use Python 3.12 or 3.13 (brew install [email protected])$(NC)"; \
-	fi
-	$(PYTHON) -m venv $(VENV)
-
-setup-rust: ## Install Rust toolchain (if not present)
-	@command -v rustc >/dev/null 2>&1 || curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh
-
-# =============================================================================
-# DEVELOPMENT
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: dev dev-backend dev-frontend dev-web kill-dev
-
-dev: ## Start backend + desktop app (parallel)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Starting development servers...$(NC)"
-	@echo -e "$(YELLOW)Note: If Tauri fails, run 'make build-server' first or use separate terminals$(NC)"
-	@trap 'kill 0' EXIT; \
-		$(MAKE) dev-backend & \
-		sleep 2 && if [ "$$(uname)" = "Linux" ] && lspci 2>/dev/null | grep -qi nvidia; then \
-			WEBKIT_DISABLE_DMABUF_RENDERER=1 $(MAKE) dev-frontend; \
-		else \
-			$(MAKE) dev-frontend; \
-		fi & \
-		wait
-
-dev-backend: ## Start FastAPI backend server
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Starting backend server on http://localhost:17493$(NC)"
-	$(VENV_BIN)/uvicorn backend.main:app --reload --port 17493
-
-dev-frontend: ## Start Tauri desktop app
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Starting Tauri desktop app...$(NC)"
-	bun run dev
-
-dev-web: ## Start backend + web app (parallel)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Starting web development servers...$(NC)"
-	@trap 'kill 0' EXIT; \
-		$(MAKE) dev-backend & \
-		sleep 2 && cd $(WEB_DIR) && bun run dev & \
-		wait
-
-kill-dev: ## Kill all development processes
-	@echo -e "$(YELLOW)Killing development processes...$(NC)"
-	-pkill -f "uvicorn main:app" 2>/dev/null || true
-	-pkill -f "vite" 2>/dev/null || true
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Processes killed$(NC)"
-
-# =============================================================================
-# BUILD
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: build build-server build-tauri build-web
-
-build: build-server build-tauri ## Build everything (server binary + desktop app)
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Build complete!$(NC)"
-
-build-server: ## Build Python server binary
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Building server binary...$(NC)"
-	PATH="$(VENV_BIN):$$PATH" ./scripts/build-server.sh
-
-build-tauri: ## Build Tauri desktop app
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Building Tauri desktop app...$(NC)"
-	cd $(TAURI_DIR) && bun run tauri build
-
-build-web: ## Build web app
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Building web app...$(NC)"
-	cd $(WEB_DIR) && bun run build
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Web build output in $(WEB_DIR)/dist/$(NC)"
-
-# =============================================================================
-# DATABASE & API
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: db-init db-reset generate-api
-
-db-init: $(VENV)/bin/activate ## Initialize SQLite database
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Initializing database...$(NC)"
-	cd $(BACKEND_DIR) && $(PYTHON_VENV) -c "from database import init_db; init_db()"
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Database created at $(BACKEND_DIR)/data/voicebox.db$(NC)"
-
-db-reset: ## Reset database (delete and reinitialize)
-	@echo -e "$(YELLOW)Resetting database...$(NC)"
-	rm -f $(BACKEND_DIR)/data/voicebox.db
-	$(MAKE) db-init
-
-generate-api: ## Generate TypeScript API client from OpenAPI schema
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Generating API client...$(NC)"
-	@echo -e "$(YELLOW)Note: Backend must be running (make dev-backend)$(NC)"
-	./scripts/generate-api.sh
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ API client generated in $(APP_DIR)/src/lib/api/$(NC)"
-
-# =============================================================================
-# CODE QUALITY
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: lint format typecheck check
-
-lint: ## Run linter (Biome)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Linting...$(NC)"
-	bun run lint
-
-format: ## Format code (Biome)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Formatting...$(NC)"
-	bun run format
-
-typecheck: ## Run TypeScript type checking
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Type checking...$(NC)"
-	bun run tsc --noEmit
-
-check: ## Run all checks (Biome lint + format + type check)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Running all checks...$(NC)"
-	bun run check
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ All checks passed$(NC)"
-
-# =============================================================================
-# TESTING
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: test test-backend test-frontend
-
-test: test-backend test-frontend ## Run all tests
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ All tests passed$(NC)"
-
-test-backend: ## Run Python backend tests (requires pytest)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Running backend tests...$(NC)"
-	@if [ -f "$(VENV_BIN)/pytest" ]; then \
-		cd $(BACKEND_DIR) && $(VENV_BIN)/pytest -v; \
-	else \
-		echo -e "$(YELLOW)pytest not installed. Run: $(PIP) install pytest$(NC)"; \
-		exit 1; \
-	fi
-
-test-frontend: ## Run frontend tests (requires test script in package.json)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Running frontend tests...$(NC)"
-	@if bun run test --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
-		bun run test; \
-	else \
-		echo -e "$(YELLOW)No test script configured$(NC)"; \
-		exit 1; \
-	fi
-
-# =============================================================================
-# LOGS & DEBUGGING
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: logs docs
-
-logs: ## Tail backend logs
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Tailing logs (Ctrl+C to stop)...$(NC)"
-	tail -f $(BACKEND_DIR)/logs/*.log 2>/dev/null || echo "No log files found"
-
-docs: ## Open API documentation (backend must be running)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Opening API docs...$(NC)"
-	open http://localhost:17493/docs 2>/dev/null || xdg-open http://localhost:17493/docs
-
-# =============================================================================
-# CLEAN
-# =============================================================================
-
-.PHONY: clean clean-python clean-build clean-all
-
-clean: ## Clean build artifacts
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Cleaning build artifacts...$(NC)"
-	rm -rf $(TAURI_DIR)/src-tauri/target/release
-	rm -rf $(WEB_DIR)/dist
-	rm -rf $(APP_DIR)/dist
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Build artifacts cleaned$(NC)"
-
-clean-python: ## Clean Python cache and virtual environment
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Cleaning Python files...$(NC)"
-	rm -rf $(VENV)
-	find $(BACKEND_DIR) -type d -name "__pycache__" -exec rm -rf {} + 2>/dev/null || true
-	find $(BACKEND_DIR) -type f -name "*.pyc" -delete 2>/dev/null || true
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Python environment cleaned$(NC)"
-
-clean-build: ## Clean Rust/Tauri build cache
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Cleaning Rust build cache...$(NC)"
-	cd $(TAURI_DIR)/src-tauri && cargo clean
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Rust cache cleaned$(NC)"
-
-clean-all: clean clean-python clean-build ## Nuclear clean (everything)
-	@echo -e "$(BLUE)Cleaning node_modules...$(NC)"
-	rm -rf node_modules
-	rm -rf $(APP_DIR)/node_modules
-	rm -rf $(TAURI_DIR)/node_modules
-	rm -rf $(WEB_DIR)/node_modules
-	@echo -e "$(GREEN)✓ Full clean complete$(NC)"

PATCH_NOTES.md

@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
-# Voicebox Offline Mode Fix
-
-## Problem
-Voicebox crashes when generating speech if HuggingFace is unreachable, even when models are fully cached locally.
-
-**Root Cause:**
-- Voicebox downloads `mlx-community/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-bf16` (MLX optimized version)
-- But `mlx_audio.tts.load()` tries to fetch `config.json` from original repo `Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base`
-- This network request fails → server crashes with `RemoteDisconnected`
-
-**Related Issues:**
-- Issue #150: "Internet connection required, even though models are downloaded?"
-- Issue #151: "API Stability Issues: Model Loading Hangs and Server Crashes"
-
-## Solution
-Two-part fix:
-
-### 1. Monkey-patch huggingface_hub (`backend/utils/hf_offline_patch.py`)
-- Intercepts cache lookup functions
-- Forces offline mode early (before mlx_audio imports)
-- Adds debug logging for cache hits/misses
-
-### 2. Symlink original repo to MLX version (`ensure_original_qwen_config_cached()`)
-- When original `Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base` cache doesn't exist
-- But MLX `mlx-community/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-bf16` does exist
-- Creates a symlink so cache lookups succeed
-
-## Files Changed
-- `backend/backends/mlx_backend.py` - Added patch imports at top
-- `backend/utils/hf_offline_patch.py` - New patch module
-
-## Testing
-To test this fix:
-1. Build Voicebox from source: `make build`
-2. Disconnect from internet
-3. Try generating speech
-4. Should work without network requests
-
-## Build Instructions
-
-```bash
-# Install dependencies
-pip install -r requirements.txt
-
-# Build the app
-make build
-
-# Or build just the server
-make build-server
-```
-
-## Notes
-- The patch is applied automatically when `mlx_backend.py` is imported
-- Set `VOICEBOX_OFFLINE_PATCH=0` to disable the patch
-- The symlink approach works because the config.json is compatible between versions
-
----
-*Patch contributed by community*

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 <p align="center">
   <strong>The open-source voice synthesis studio.</strong><br/>
-  Clone voices. Generate speech. Build voice-powered apps.<br/>
+  Clone voices. Generate speech. Apply effects. Build voice-powered apps.<br/>
   All running locally on your machine.
 </p>
 
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@
 
 <p align="center">
   <a href="https://voicebox.sh">voicebox.sh</a> •
+  <a href="https://docs.voicebox.sh">Docs</a> •
   <a href="#download">Download</a> •
   <a href="#features">Features</a> •
-  <a href="#api">API</a> •
-  <a href="#roadmap">Roadmap</a>
+  <a href="#api">API</a>
 </p>
 
 <br/>
@@ -59,96 +59,147 @@
 
 ## What is Voicebox?
 
-Voicebox is a **local-first voice cloning studio** with DAW-like features for professional voice synthesis. Think of it as a **local, free and open-source alternative to ElevenLabs** — download models, clone voices, and generate speech entirely on your machine.
-
-Unlike cloud services that lock your voice data behind subscriptions, Voicebox gives you:
+Voicebox is a **local-first voice cloning studio** — a free and open-source alternative to ElevenLabs. Clone voices from a few seconds of audio, generate speech in 23 languages across 4 TTS engines, apply post-processing effects, and compose multi-voice projects with a timeline editor.
 
 - **Complete privacy** — models and voice data stay on your machine
-- **Professional tools** — multi-track timeline editor, audio trimming, conversation mixing
-- **Model flexibility** — currently powered by Qwen3-TTS, with support for XTTS, Bark, and other models coming soon
-- **API-first** — use the desktop app or integrate voice synthesis into your own projects
+- **4 TTS engines** — Qwen3-TTS, LuxTTS, Chatterbox Multilingual, and Chatterbox Turbo
+- **23 languages** — from English to Arabic, Japanese, Hindi, Swahili, and more
+- **Post-processing effects** — pitch shift, reverb, delay, chorus, compression, and filters
+- **Expressive speech** — paralinguistic tags like `[laugh]`, `[sigh]`, `[gasp]` via Chatterbox Turbo
+- **Unlimited length** — auto-chunking with crossfade for scripts, articles, and chapters
+- **Stories editor** — multi-track timeline for conversations, podcasts, and narratives
+- **API-first** — REST API for integrating voice synthesis into your own projects
 - **Native performance** — built with Tauri (Rust), not Electron
-- **Super fast on Mac** — MLX backend with native Metal acceleration for 4-5x faster inference on Apple Silicon
-
-Download a voice model, clone any voice from a few seconds of audio, and compose multi-voice projects with studio-grade editing tools. No Python install required, no cloud dependency, no limits.
+- **Runs everywhere** — macOS (MLX/Metal), Windows (CUDA), Linux, AMD ROCm, Intel Arc, Docker
 
 ---
 
 ## Download
 
-Voicebox is available now for macOS and Windows.
+| Platform              | Download                                               |
+| --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
+| macOS (Apple Silicon) | [Download DMG](https://voicebox.sh/download/mac-arm)   |
+| macOS (Intel)         | [Download DMG](https://voicebox.sh/download/mac-intel) |
+| Windows               | [Download MSI](https://voicebox.sh/download/windows)   |
+| Docker                | `docker compose up`                                    |
 
-| Platform | Download |
-|----------|----------|
-| macOS (Apple Silicon) | [Voicebox_aarch64.app.tar.gz](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/releases/latest/download/Voicebox_aarch64.app.tar.gz) |
-| macOS (Intel) | [Voicebox_x64.app.tar.gz](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/releases/latest/download/Voicebox_x64.app.tar.gz) |
-| Windows (MSI) | [Latest Windows MSI](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/releases/latest) |
-| Windows (Setup) | [Latest Windows Setup](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/releases/latest) |
+> **[View all binaries →](https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/releases/latest)**
 
-> **Linux builds coming soon** — Currently blocked by GitHub runner disk space limitations.
+> **Linux** — Pre-built binaries are not yet available. See [voicebox.sh/linux-install](https://voicebox.sh/linux-install) for build-from-source instructions.
 
 ---
 
 ## Features
 
-### Voice Cloning with Qwen3-TTS
+### Multi-Engine Voice Cloning
 
-Powered by Alibaba's **Qwen3-TTS** — a breakthrough model that achieves near-perfect voice cloning from just a few seconds of audio.
+Four TTS engines with different strengths, switchable per-generation:
 
-- **Instant cloning** — Upload a sample, get a voice profile
-- **High fidelity** — Natural prosody, emotion, and cadence
-- **Multi-language** — English, Chinese, and more coming
-- **Lightning fast on Mac** — MLX backend leverages Apple Silicon's Neural Engine for super-fast generation
+| Engine                      | Languages | Strengths                                                                                                                                |
+| --------------------------- | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| **Qwen3-TTS** (0.6B / 1.7B) | 10        | High-quality multilingual cloning, delivery instructions ("speak slowly", "whisper")                                                     |
+| **LuxTTS**                  | English   | Lightweight (~1GB VRAM), 48kHz output, 150x realtime on CPU                                                                              |
+| **Chatterbox Multilingual** | 23        | Broadest language coverage — Arabic, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Swahili, Swedish, Turkish and more |
+| **Chatterbox Turbo**        | English   | Fast 350M model with paralinguistic emotion/sound tags                                                                                   |
+
+### Emotions & Paralinguistic Tags
+
+Type `/` in the text input to insert expressive tags that the model synthesizes inline with speech (Chatterbox Turbo):
+
+`[laugh]` `[chuckle]` `[gasp]` `[cough]` `[sigh]` `[groan]` `[sniff]` `[shush]` `[clear throat]`
+
+### Post-Processing Effects
+
+8 audio effects powered by Spotify's `pedalboard` library. Apply after generation, preview in real time, build reusable presets.
+
+| Effect           | Description                                   |
+| ---------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
+| Pitch Shift      | Up or down by up to 12 semitones              |
+| Reverb           | Configurable room size, damping, wet/dry mix  |
+| Delay            | Echo with adjustable time, feedback, and mix  |
+| Chorus / Flanger | Modulated delay for metallic or lush textures |
+| Compressor       | Dynamic range compression                     |
+| Gain             | Volume adjustment (-40 to +40 dB)             |
+| High-Pass Filter | Remove low frequencies                        |
+| Low-Pass Filter  | Remove high frequencies                       |
+
+Ships with 4 built-in presets (Robotic, Radio, Echo Chamber, Deep Voice) and supports custom presets. Effects can be assigned per-profile as defaults.
+
+### Unlimited Generation Length
+
+Text is automatically split at sentence boundaries and each chunk is generated independently, then crossfaded together. Works with all engines.
+
+- Configurable auto-chunking limit (100–5,000 chars)
+- Crossfade slider (0–200ms) for smooth transitions
+- Max text length: 50,000 characters
+- Smart splitting respects abbreviations, CJK punctuation, and `[tags]`
+
+### Generation Versions
+
+Every generation supports multiple versions with provenance tracking:
+
+- **Original** — clean TTS output, always preserved
+- **Effects versions** — apply different effects chains from any source version
+- **Takes** — regenerate with a new seed for variation
+- **Source tracking** — each version records its lineage
+- **Favorites** — star generations for quick access
+
+### Async Generation Queue
+
+Generation is non-blocking. Submit and immediately start typing the next one.
+
+- Serial execution queue prevents GPU contention
+- Real-time SSE status streaming
+- Failed generations can be retried
+- Stale generations from crashes auto-recover on startup
 
 ### Voice Profile Management
 
-- **Create profiles** from audio files or record directly in-app
-- **Import/Export** profiles to share or back up
-- **Multi-sample support** — combine multiple samples for higher quality cloning
-- **Organize** with descriptions and language tags
-
-### Speech Generation
-
-- **Text-to-speech** with any cloned voice
-- **Batch generation** for long-form content
-- **Smart caching** — regenerate instantly with voice prompt caching
+- Create profiles from audio files or record directly in-app
+- Import/export profiles to share or back up
+- Multi-sample support for higher quality cloning
+- Per-profile default effects chains
+- Organize with descriptions and language tags
 
 ### Stories Editor
 
-Create multi-voice narratives, podcasts, and conversations with a timeline-based editor.
+Multi-voice timeline editor for conversations, podcasts, and narratives.
 
-- **Multi-track composition** — arrange multiple voice tracks in a single project
-- **Inline audio editing** — trim and split clips directly in the timeline
-- **Auto-playback** — preview stories with synchronized playhead
-- **Voice mixing** — build conversations with multiple participants
+- Multi-track composition with drag-and-drop
+- Inline audio trimming and splitting
+- Auto-playback with synchronized playhead
+- Version pinning per track clip
 
 ### Recording & Transcription
 
-- **In-app recording** with waveform visualization
-- **System audio capture** — record desktop audio on macOS and Windows
-- **Automatic transcription** powered by Whisper
-- **Export recordings** in multiple formats
+- In-app recording with waveform visualization
+- System audio capture (macOS and Windows)
+- Automatic transcription powered by Whisper (including Whisper Turbo)
+- Export recordings in multiple formats
 
-### Generation History
+### Model Management
 
-- **Full history** of all generated audio
-- **Search & filter** by voice, text, or date
-- **Re-generate** any past generation with one click
+- Per-model unload to free GPU memory without deleting downloads
+- Custom models directory via `VOICEBOX_MODELS_DIR`
+- Model folder migration with progress tracking
+- Download cancel/clear UI
 
-### Flexible Deployment
+### GPU Support
 
-- **Local mode** — Everything runs on your machine
-- **Remote mode** — Connect to a GPU server on your network
-- **One-click server** — Turn any machine into a Voicebox server
+| Platform                 | Backend        | Notes                                          |
+| ------------------------ | -------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
+| macOS (Apple Silicon)    | MLX (Metal)    | 4-5x faster via Neural Engine                  |
+| Windows / Linux (NVIDIA) | PyTorch (CUDA) | Auto-downloads CUDA binary from within the app |
+| Linux (AMD)              | PyTorch (ROCm) | Auto-configures HSA_OVERRIDE_GFX_VERSION       |
+| Windows (any GPU)        | DirectML       | Universal Windows GPU support                  |
+| Intel Arc                | IPEX/XPU       | Intel discrete GPU acceleration                |
+| Any                      | CPU            | Works everywhere, just slower                  |
 
 ---
 
 ## API
 
-Voicebox exposes a full REST API, so you can integrate voice synthesis into your own apps.
-
-For the current local app and development workflow, the backend is typically available at `http://localhost:17493`.
-If you launch the backend manually with a different host or port, use that address instead.
+Voicebox exposes a full REST API for integrating voice synthesis into your own apps.
 
 ```bash
 # Generate speech
@@ -165,62 +216,38 @@ curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/profiles \
   -d '{"name": "My Voice", "language": "en"}'
 ```
 
-**Use cases:**
+**Use cases:** game dialogue, podcast production, accessibility tools, voice assistants, content automation.
 
-- Game dialogue systems
-- Podcast/video production pipelines
-- Accessibility tools
-- Voice assistants
-- Content creation automation
-
-Full API documentation is available at `http://localhost:17493/docs` in the default local workflow, or at `/docs` on whatever server address you configured.
+Full API documentation available at `http://localhost:17493/docs`.
 
 ---
 
 ## Tech Stack
 
-| Layer | Technology |
-|-------|------------|
-| Desktop App | Tauri (Rust) |
-| Frontend | React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS |
-| State | Zustand, React Query |
-| Backend | FastAPI (Python) |
-| Voice Model | Qwen3-TTS (PyTorch or MLX) |
-| Transcription | Whisper (PyTorch or MLX) |
-| Inference Engine | MLX (Apple Silicon) / PyTorch (Windows/Linux/Intel) |
-| Database | SQLite |
-| Audio | WaveSurfer.js, librosa |
-
-**Why this stack?**
-
-- **Tauri over Electron** — 10x smaller bundle, native performance, lower memory
-- **FastAPI** — Async Python with automatic OpenAPI schema generation
-- **Type-safe end-to-end** — Generated TypeScript client from OpenAPI spec
+| Layer         | Technology                                        |
+| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
+| Desktop App   | Tauri (Rust)                                      |
+| Frontend      | React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS                   |
+| State         | Zustand, React Query                              |
+| Backend       | FastAPI (Python)                                  |
+| TTS Engines   | Qwen3-TTS, LuxTTS, Chatterbox, Chatterbox Turbo   |
+| Effects       | Pedalboard (Spotify)                              |
+| Transcription | Whisper / Whisper Turbo (PyTorch or MLX)          |
+| Inference     | MLX (Apple Silicon) / PyTorch (CUDA/ROCm/XPU/CPU) |
+| Database      | SQLite                                            |
+| Audio         | WaveSurfer.js, librosa                            |
 
 ---
 
 ## Roadmap
 
-Voicebox is the beginning of something bigger. Here's what's coming:
-
-### Coming Soon
-
-| Feature | Description |
-|---------|-------------|
-| **Real-time Synthesis** | Stream audio as it generates, word by word |
-| **Conversation Mode** | Multi-speaker dialogues with automatic turn-taking |
-| **Voice Effects** | Pitch shift, reverb, M3GAN-style effects |
-| **Timeline Editor** | Audio studio with word-level precision editing |
-| **More Models** | XTTS, Bark, and other open-source voice models |
-
-### Future Vision
-
-- **Voice Design** — Create new voices from text descriptions
-- **Project System** — Save and load complex multi-voice sessions
-- **Plugin Architecture** — Extend with custom models and effects
-- **Mobile Companion** — Control Voicebox from your phone
-
-Voicebox aims to be the **one-stop shop for everything voice** — cloning, synthesis, editing, effects, and beyond.
+| Feature                 | Description                                    |
+| ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
+| **Real-time Streaming** | Stream audio as it generates, word by word     |
+| **Voice Design**        | Create new voices from text descriptions       |
+| **More Models**         | XTTS, Bark, and other open-source voice models |
+| **Plugin Architecture** | Extend with custom models and effects          |
+| **Mobile Companion**    | Control Voicebox from your phone               |
 
 ---
 
@@ -240,13 +267,14 @@ just dev     # starts backend + desktop app
 
 Install [just](https://github.com/casey/just): `brew install just` or `cargo install just`. Run `just --list` to see all commands.
 
-Also available via Makefile: `make setup && make dev` (run `make help` for all commands).
+**Prerequisites:** [Bun](https://bun.sh), [Rust](https://rustup.rs), [Python 3.11+](https://python.org), [Tauri Prerequisites](https://v2.tauri.app/start/prerequisites/), and [Xcode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/) on macOS.
 
-**Prerequisites:** [Bun](https://bun.sh), [Rust](https://rustup.rs), [Python 3.11+](https://python.org), [XCode on macOS](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/), [Tauri Prerequisites](https://v2.tauri.app/start/prerequisites/).
+### Building Locally
 
-**Performance:** 
-- **Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)**: Uses MLX backend with native Metal acceleration for 4-5x faster inference
-- **Windows/Linux/Intel Mac**: Uses PyTorch backend (CUDA GPU recommended, CPU supported but slower)
+```bash
+just build          # Build CPU server binary + Tauri app
+just build-local    # (Windows) Build CPU + CUDA server binaries + Tauri app
+```
 
 ### Project Structure
 

app/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@voicebox/app",
-  "version": "0.1.13",
+  "version": "0.2.3",
   "private": true,
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {

app/plugins/changelog.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import path from 'node:path';
+import type { Plugin } from 'vite';
+
+/** Vite plugin that exposes CHANGELOG.md as `virtual:changelog`. */
+export function changelogPlugin(repoRoot: string): Plugin {
+  const virtualId = 'virtual:changelog';
+  const resolvedId = '\0' + virtualId;
+  const changelogPath = path.resolve(repoRoot, 'CHANGELOG.md');
+
+  return {
+    name: 'changelog',
+    resolveId(id) {
+      if (id === virtualId) return resolvedId;
+    },
+    load(id) {
+      if (id === resolvedId) {
+        const raw = readFileSync(changelogPath, 'utf-8');
+        return `export default ${JSON.stringify(raw)};`;
+      }
+    },
+  };
+}

app/src/App.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { TOP_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
 import { router } from '@/router';
+import { useLogStore } from '@/stores/logStore';
 import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 
 const LOADING_MESSAGES = [
@@ -63,6 +64,14 @@ function App() {
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   }, [platform.lifecycle]);
 
+  // Subscribe to server logs
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const unsubscribe = platform.lifecycle.subscribeToServerLogs((entry) => {
+      useLogStore.getState().addEntry(entry);
+    });
+    return unsubscribe;
+  }, [platform.lifecycle]);
+
   // Setup window close handler and auto-start server when running in Tauri (production only)
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!platform.metadata.isTauri) {
@@ -94,10 +103,11 @@ function App() {
 
     serverStartingRef.current = true;
     const isRemote = useServerStore.getState().mode === 'remote';
+    const customModelsDir = useServerStore.getState().customModelsDir;
     console.log(`Production mode: Starting bundled server... (remote: ${isRemote})`);
 
     platform.lifecycle
-      .startServer(isRemote)
+      .startServer(isRemote, customModelsDir)
       .then((serverUrl) => {
         console.log('Server is ready at:', serverUrl);
         // Update the server URL in the store with the dynamically assigned port

app/src/components/AudioPlayer/AudioPlayer.tsx

@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ import { Slider } from '@/components/ui/slider';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
 import { formatAudioDuration } from '@/lib/utils/audio';
 import { debug } from '@/lib/utils/debug';
-import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 
 export function AudioPlayer() {
   const platform = usePlatform();
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
     audioUrl,
     audioId,
     profileId,
-    title,
     isPlaying,
     currentTime,
     duration,
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
     );
 
     return shouldUseNative;
-  }, [profileChannels, channels, profileId]);
+  }, [profileChannels, channels, platform.metadata.isTauri]);
 
   const waveformRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const wavesurferRef = useRef<WaveSurfer | null>(null);
@@ -73,31 +72,21 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
   const isUsingNativePlaybackRef = useRef(false);
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [wsReady, setWsReady] = useState(false);
 
-  // Initialize WaveSurfer (only when audioUrl exists and container is ready)
+  // Create WaveSurfer once when the player becomes visible (audioUrl is set).
+  // This instance is reused for all subsequent audio loads - never destroyed until unmount.
   useEffect(() => {
-    // Don't initialize if no audioUrl or already initialized
-    if (!audioUrl) {
-      return;
-    }
+    if (!audioUrl) return;
+    if (wavesurferRef.current) return; // already created
 
-    if (wavesurferRef.current) {
-      debug.log('WaveSurfer already initialized, skipping');
-      return;
-    }
-
-    debug.log('Creating NEW WaveSurfer instance');
-
-    // Wait for container to be properly rendered
     const initWaveSurfer = () => {
       const container = waveformRef.current;
       if (!container) {
-        // Container not ready yet, retry
         setTimeout(initWaveSurfer, 50);
         return;
       }
 
-      // Check if container has dimensions and is visible
       const rect = container.getBoundingClientRect();
       const style = window.getComputedStyle(container);
       const isVisible =
@@ -107,488 +96,221 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
         style.visibility !== 'hidden';
 
       if (!isVisible) {
-        // Retry after a short delay
         setTimeout(initWaveSurfer, 50);
         return;
       }
 
-      debug.log('Initializing WaveSurfer...', {
-        container,
+      debug.log('Creating WaveSurfer instance', {
         width: rect.width,
         height: rect.height,
       });
 
       try {
-        // Get computed CSS variable values
         const root = document.documentElement;
         const getCSSVar = (varName: string) => {
           const value = getComputedStyle(root).getPropertyValue(varName).trim();
           return value ? `hsl(${value})` : '';
         };
 
-        const waveColor = getCSSVar('--muted');
-        const progressColor = getCSSVar('--accent');
-        const cursorColor = getCSSVar('--accent');
-
         const wavesurfer = WaveSurfer.create({
-          container: container,
-          waveColor: waveColor,
-          progressColor: progressColor,
-          cursorColor: cursorColor,
+          container,
+          waveColor: getCSSVar('--muted'),
+          progressColor: getCSSVar('--accent'),
+          cursorColor: getCSSVar('--accent'),
+          cursorWidth: 3,
           barWidth: 2,
           barRadius: 2,
           height: 80,
           normalize: true,
+          interact: true,
+          dragToSeek: { debounceTime: 0 },
+          mediaControls: false,
           backend: 'WebAudio',
-          interact: true, // Enable interaction (click to seek)
-          mediaControls: false, // Don't show native controls
+        });
+
+        // Wire up event handlers (these persist for the lifetime of the instance)
+        wavesurfer.on('timeupdate', (time) => {
+          const dur = usePlayerStore.getState().duration;
+          if (dur > 0 && time >= dur) {
+            setCurrentTime(dur);
+            const loop = usePlayerStore.getState().isLooping;
+            if (loop) {
+              wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
+              wavesurfer.play().catch((err) => debug.error('Loop play failed:', err));
+            } else {
+              wavesurfer.pause();
+              setIsPlaying(false);
+            }
+            return;
+          }
+          setCurrentTime(time);
+        });
+
+        wavesurfer.on('ready', () => {
+          const dur = wavesurfer.getDuration();
+          setDuration(dur);
+          loadingRef.current = false;
+          setIsLoading(false);
+          setError(null);
+          debug.log('Audio ready, duration:', dur);
+
+          wavesurfer.setVolume(usePlayerStore.getState().volume);
+          wavesurfer.setMuted(false);
+
+          // Auto-play if the flag is set (story mode advance or explicit play)
+          const shouldAutoPlayNow = usePlayerStore.getState().shouldAutoPlay;
+          if (shouldAutoPlayNow) {
+            usePlayerStore.getState().clearAutoPlayFlag();
+            wavesurfer.play().catch((err) => {
+              debug.error('Failed to autoplay:', err);
+            });
+          } else {
+            debug.log('Skipping auto-play - shouldAutoPlay is false');
+          }
+        });
+
+        wavesurfer.on('play', () => setIsPlaying(true));
+        wavesurfer.on('pause', () => {
+          setIsPlaying(false);
+          setCurrentTime(wavesurfer.getCurrentTime());
+        });
+
+        wavesurfer.on('seeking', (time) => setCurrentTime(time));
+
+        // Mute audio during drag-to-seek to prevent popping from the WebAudio
+        // backend's hard stop/start cycle on each seek. Unmute with a short
+        // fade-in when the drag ends.
+        const seekMedia = wavesurfer.getMediaElement() as any;
+        const seekGain: GainNode | null = seekMedia?.getGainNode?.() ?? null;
+        if (seekGain) {
+          const ctx = seekGain.context as AudioContext;
+          wavesurfer.on('dragstart', () => {
+            seekGain.gain.cancelScheduledValues(ctx.currentTime);
+            seekGain.gain.setTargetAtTime(0, ctx.currentTime, 0.002);
+          });
+          wavesurfer.on('dragend', () => {
+            seekGain.gain.cancelScheduledValues(ctx.currentTime);
+            seekGain.gain.setTargetAtTime(1, ctx.currentTime, 0.01);
+          });
+        }
+        wavesurfer.on('finish', () => {
+          const loop = usePlayerStore.getState().isLooping;
+          if (loop) {
+            wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
+            wavesurfer.play().catch((err) => debug.error('Loop play failed:', err));
+          } else {
+            setIsPlaying(false);
+            const onFinish = usePlayerStore.getState().onFinish;
+            if (onFinish) onFinish();
+          }
+        });
+
+        wavesurfer.on('error', (err) => {
+          debug.error('WaveSurfer error:', err);
+          setIsLoading(false);
+          setError(`Audio error: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}`);
+        });
+
+        wavesurfer.on('loading', (percent) => {
+          setIsLoading(true);
+          if (percent === 100) setIsLoading(false);
         });
 
         wavesurferRef.current = wavesurfer;
+        setWsReady(true);
         debug.log('WaveSurfer created successfully');
-      } catch (error) {
-        debug.error('Failed to create WaveSurfer:', error);
+      } catch (err) {
+        debug.error('Failed to create WaveSurfer:', err);
         setError(
-          `Failed to initialize waveform: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
+          `Failed to initialize waveform: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}`,
         );
-        return;
-      }
-
-      const wavesurfer = wavesurferRef.current;
-      if (!wavesurfer) return;
-
-      // Update store when time changes
-      wavesurfer.on('timeupdate', (time) => {
-        setCurrentTime(time);
-      });
-
-      // Update store when duration is loaded
-      wavesurfer.on('ready', async () => {
-        const dur = wavesurfer.getDuration();
-        setDuration(dur);
-        loadingRef.current = false;
-        setIsLoading(false);
-        setError(null);
-        debug.log('Audio ready, duration:', dur);
-        debug.log('Waveform should be visible now');
-
-        // Ensure volume is set
-        const currentVolume = usePlayerStore.getState().volume;
-        wavesurfer.setVolume(currentVolume);
-
-        // Get the underlying audio element and ensure it's not muted
-        // (unless we're using native playback, which will be set later)
-        const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-        if (mediaElement && !isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current) {
-          mediaElement.volume = currentVolume;
-          mediaElement.muted = false;
-          debug.log('Audio element volume:', mediaElement.volume, 'muted:', mediaElement.muted);
-        }
-
-        // Auto-play when ready - check if we should use native playback
-        // Get current values from the store and queries at runtime (not captured closure values)
-        const currentAudioUrl = usePlayerStore.getState().audioUrl;
-        const currentProfileId = usePlayerStore.getState().profileId;
-
-        debug.log('Auto-play check - capturing runtime values...');
-
-        // Fetch profile channels at runtime (not using captured value)
-        let runtimeProfileChannels = null;
-        let runtimeChannels = null;
-
-        if (platform.metadata.isTauri && currentProfileId) {
-          try {
-            runtimeProfileChannels = await apiClient.getProfileChannels(currentProfileId);
-            debug.log('Runtime profileChannels:', runtimeProfileChannels);
-
-            if (runtimeProfileChannels && runtimeProfileChannels.channel_ids.length > 0) {
-              runtimeChannels = await apiClient.listChannels();
-              debug.log('Runtime channels:', runtimeChannels);
-            }
-          } catch (error) {
-            debug.error('Failed to fetch runtime channel data:', error);
-          }
-        }
-
-        debug.log('Auto-play check:', {
-          isTauri: platform.metadata.isTauri,
-          currentAudioUrl,
-          currentProfileId,
-          hasProfileChannels: !!runtimeProfileChannels,
-          hasChannels: !!runtimeChannels,
-        });
-
-        if (
-          platform.metadata.isTauri &&
-          currentAudioUrl &&
-          currentProfileId &&
-          runtimeProfileChannels &&
-          runtimeChannels
-        ) {
-          debug.log('Attempting native audio playback...');
-
-          // Stop any existing native playback first
-          if (isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current) {
-            try {
-              platform.audio.stopPlayback();
-              debug.log('Stopped existing native playback before starting new one');
-            } catch (error) {
-              debug.error('Failed to stop existing playback:', error);
-            }
-          }
-
-          try {
-            // Collect all device IDs from assigned channels
-            const assignedChannels = runtimeChannels.filter((ch: any) =>
-              runtimeProfileChannels.channel_ids.includes(ch.id),
-            );
-            debug.log('Assigned channels for playback:', assignedChannels);
-
-            // Check if any assigned channel has non-default devices
-            const shouldUseNative = assignedChannels.some(
-              (ch: any) => ch.device_ids.length > 0 && !ch.is_default,
-            );
-            debug.log('Should use native playback:', shouldUseNative);
-
-            if (!shouldUseNative) {
-              debug.log('No custom devices assigned, falling back to WaveSurfer');
-              // Reset native playback flag and unmute WaveSurfer
-              isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = false;
-              const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-              if (mediaElement) {
-                const currentVolume = usePlayerStore.getState().volume;
-                mediaElement.volume = currentVolume;
-                mediaElement.muted = false;
-                debug.log(
-                  'WaveSurfer unmuted for normal playback - volume:',
-                  mediaElement.volume,
-                  'muted:',
-                  mediaElement.muted,
-                );
-              }
-            } else {
-              const deviceIds = assignedChannels.flatMap((ch: any) => ch.device_ids);
-              debug.log('Device IDs to play to:', deviceIds);
-
-              if (deviceIds.length > 0) {
-                debug.log('Fetching audio data from:', currentAudioUrl);
-                // Fetch audio data
-                const response = await fetch(currentAudioUrl);
-                const audioData = new Uint8Array(await response.arrayBuffer());
-                debug.log('Audio data size:', audioData.length);
-
-                // Play via native audio
-                debug.log('Invoking play_audio_to_devices...');
-                try {
-                  await platform.audio.playToDevices(audioData, deviceIds);
-                  debug.log('play_audio_to_devices completed successfully');
-
-                  // Mark that we're using native playback
-                  isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = true;
-
-                  // Mute WaveSurfer's audio element to prevent UI audio output
-                  // Keep WaveSurfer running for visualization
-                  const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-                  if (mediaElement) {
-                    mediaElement.volume = 0;
-                    mediaElement.muted = true;
-                    debug.log(
-                      'WaveSurfer muted for native playback - volume:',
-                      mediaElement.volume,
-                      'muted:',
-                      mediaElement.muted,
-                    );
-                  }
-
-                  // Start WaveSurfer playback for visualization (muted)
-                  wavesurfer.play().catch((error) => {
-                    debug.error('Failed to start WaveSurfer visualization:', error);
-                  });
-
-                  setIsPlaying(true);
-                  debug.log('Auto-playing via native audio routing - SUCCESS');
-                  return;
-                } catch (invokeError) {
-                  debug.error('play_audio_to_devices invoke failed:', invokeError);
-                  throw invokeError;
-                }
-              } else {
-                debug.log('No device IDs found, falling back to WaveSurfer');
-              }
-            }
-          } catch (error) {
-            debug.error(
-              'Native playback failed during auto-play, falling back to WaveSurfer:',
-              error,
-            );
-            // Reset native playback flag and unmute WaveSurfer
-            isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = false;
-            const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-            if (mediaElement) {
-              const currentVolume = usePlayerStore.getState().volume;
-              mediaElement.volume = currentVolume;
-              mediaElement.muted = false;
-              debug.log(
-                'WaveSurfer unmuted after native playback failure - volume:',
-                mediaElement.volume,
-                'muted:',
-                mediaElement.muted,
-              );
-            }
-            // Fall through to WaveSurfer playback
-          }
-        } else {
-          debug.log('Not using native playback, using WaveSurfer');
-          // Reset native playback flag and unmute WaveSurfer
-          isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = false;
-          const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-          if (mediaElement) {
-            const currentVolume = usePlayerStore.getState().volume;
-            mediaElement.volume = currentVolume;
-            mediaElement.muted = false;
-            debug.log(
-              'WaveSurfer unmuted for normal playback - volume:',
-              mediaElement.volume,
-              'muted:',
-              mediaElement.muted,
-            );
-          }
-        }
-
-        // Only auto-play if shouldAutoPlay flag is set (user explicitly clicked to play)
-        const shouldAutoPlayNow = usePlayerStore.getState().shouldAutoPlay;
-        if (shouldAutoPlayNow) {
-          // Clear the flag first
-          usePlayerStore.getState().clearAutoPlayFlag();
-          
-          // Use a small delay to ensure audio element is fully ready
-          setTimeout(() => {
-            wavesurfer.play().catch((error) => {
-              debug.error('Failed to autoplay:', error);
-              // Don't show error for autoplay failures (browser restrictions)
-            });
-          }, 100);
-        } else {
-          debug.log('Skipping auto-play - shouldAutoPlay is false');
-        }
-      });
-
-      // Handle play/pause
-      wavesurfer.on('play', () => {
-        setIsPlaying(true);
-        // Ensure audio element volume is set correctly
-        const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-        if (mediaElement) {
-          // Double-check: if using native playback, keep WaveSurfer muted
-          // Otherwise, ensure it's unmuted
-          if (isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current) {
-            mediaElement.volume = 0;
-            mediaElement.muted = true;
-            debug.log('Playing (native mode) - WaveSurfer muted for visualization only');
-          } else {
-            // Ensure WaveSurfer is unmuted for normal playback
-            const currentVolume = usePlayerStore.getState().volume;
-            mediaElement.volume = currentVolume;
-            mediaElement.muted = false;
-            debug.log(
-              'Playing (normal mode) - volume:',
-              mediaElement.volume,
-              'muted:',
-              mediaElement.muted,
-            );
-          }
-        }
-      });
-      wavesurfer.on('pause', () => setIsPlaying(false));
-      wavesurfer.on('finish', () => {
-        // Check loop state from store
-        const loop = usePlayerStore.getState().isLooping;
-        if (loop) {
-          wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
-          wavesurfer.play();
-        } else {
-          setIsPlaying(false);
-          // Trigger finish callback if set
-          const onFinish = usePlayerStore.getState().onFinish;
-          if (onFinish) {
-            onFinish();
-          }
-        }
-      });
-
-      // Handle errors
-      wavesurfer.on('error', (error) => {
-        debug.error('WaveSurfer error:', error);
-        setIsLoading(false);
-        setError(`Audio error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`);
-      });
-
-      // Handle loading
-      wavesurfer.on('loading', (percent) => {
-        setIsLoading(true);
-        if (percent === 100) {
-          setIsLoading(false);
-        }
-      });
-
-      // Load audio immediately if audioUrl is already set
-      if (audioUrl) {
-        debug.log('WaveSurfer ready, loading audio:', audioUrl);
-        loadingRef.current = true;
-        setIsLoading(true);
-        // Stop any current playback before loading new audio
-        if (wavesurfer.isPlaying()) {
-          wavesurfer.pause();
-        }
-        wavesurfer
-          .load(audioUrl)
-          .then(() => {
-            debug.log('Audio loaded into WaveSurfer');
-            loadingRef.current = false;
-          })
-          .catch((error) => {
-            debug.error('Failed to load audio into WaveSurfer:', error);
-            loadingRef.current = false;
-            setIsLoading(false);
-            setError(
-              `Failed to load audio: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`,
-            );
-          });
       }
     };
 
-    // Use double requestAnimationFrame to ensure DOM is fully rendered
-    let rafId1: number;
-    let rafId2: number;
-    let timeoutId: number | null = null;
-
-    rafId1 = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-      rafId2 = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-        // Add a small delay to ensure container is fully laid out
-        timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
-          initWaveSurfer();
-        }, 10);
-      });
+    let rafId: number;
+    rafId = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      initWaveSurfer();
     });
 
     return () => {
-      debug.log('Cleaning up WaveSurfer initialization effect');
-      if (rafId1) cancelAnimationFrame(rafId1);
-      if (rafId2) cancelAnimationFrame(rafId2);
-      if (timeoutId) clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+      cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+    };
+    // Only run on mount-like conditions. audioUrl is here so we create the instance
+    // when the player first appears, but we guard against re-creation above.
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [audioUrl, setIsPlaying, setDuration, setCurrentTime]);
+
+  // Destroy WaveSurfer only on unmount
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return () => {
       if (wavesurferRef.current) {
-        debug.log('Destroying WaveSurfer instance');
+        debug.log('Destroying WaveSurfer instance (unmount)');
         try {
-          const mediaElement = wavesurferRef.current.getMediaElement();
-          if (mediaElement) {
-            mediaElement.pause();
-            mediaElement.src = '';
-          }
           wavesurferRef.current.destroy();
-        } catch (error) {
-          debug.error('Error destroying WaveSurfer:', error);
+        } catch (err) {
+          debug.error('Error destroying WaveSurfer:', err);
         }
         wavesurferRef.current = null;
+        setWsReady(false);
       }
     };
-  }, [audioUrl, setIsPlaying, setCurrentTime, setDuration]);
+  }, []);
 
-  // Load audio when URL changes (only if WaveSurfer is already initialized)
+  // Load audio when URL changes (reuses the existing WaveSurfer instance)
   useEffect(() => {
     const wavesurfer = wavesurferRef.current;
+    if (!wavesurfer || !wsReady) return;
 
-    if (!audioUrl || !wavesurfer) {
-      // Reset state when no audio or WaveSurfer not ready
-      if (!audioUrl && wavesurfer) {
-        wavesurfer.pause();
-        wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
-        loadingRef.current = false;
-        setIsLoading(false);
-        setDuration(0);
-        setCurrentTime(0);
-        setError(null);
-        // Reset native playback flag
-        isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = false;
-      }
+    if (!audioUrl) {
+      // No audio - pause and reset
+      wavesurfer.pause();
+      wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
+      loadingRef.current = false;
+      setIsLoading(false);
+      setDuration(0);
+      setCurrentTime(0);
+      setError(null);
+      isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = false;
       return;
     }
 
-    // Stop native playback if it was active
-    if (isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current && platform.metadata.isTauri) {
-      try {
-        platform.audio.stopPlayback();
-        debug.log('Stopped native audio playback');
-      } catch (error) {
-        debug.error('Failed to stop native playback:', error);
-      }
-    }
-
-    // Reset native playback flag when loading new audio
-    // Also unmute WaveSurfer if it was muted
-    if (isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current) {
-      const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-      if (mediaElement) {
-        mediaElement.muted = false;
-        mediaElement.volume = usePlayerStore.getState().volume;
-      }
-    }
+    // Reset native playback state
     isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = false;
+    wavesurfer.setMuted(false);
+    wavesurfer.setVolume(usePlayerStore.getState().volume);
 
-    // CRITICAL: Force stop any current playback and cancel any pending loads
-    // This must happen BEFORE any early returns
-    debug.log('Audio URL changed to:', audioUrl);
-
-    // COMPLETELY stop and destroy the current audio
+    // Stop current playback and reset position before loading new audio.
+    // With the WebAudio backend, pause() accumulates playedDuration internally.
+    // seekTo(0) resets it so the new track starts from the beginning.
+    debug.log('Loading new audio URL:', audioUrl);
     try {
-      // First pause if playing
       if (wavesurfer.isPlaying()) {
-        debug.log('Pausing current playback');
         wavesurfer.pause();
       }
-
-      // Stop the media element explicitly
-      const mediaElement = wavesurfer.getMediaElement();
-      if (mediaElement) {
-        debug.log('Stopping media element');
-        mediaElement.pause();
-        mediaElement.currentTime = 0;
-        mediaElement.src = '';
-      }
-
-      // Use empty() to completely destroy the waveform and media element
-      debug.log('Calling wavesurfer.empty() to destroy audio');
-      wavesurfer.empty();
-    } catch (error) {
-      debug.error('Error stopping previous audio:', error);
-      // Continue anyway to load new audio
+      wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
+    } catch (err) {
+      debug.error('Error resetting before load:', err);
     }
 
-    // Reset loading state to allow new load (cancel any pending loads)
-    loadingRef.current = false;
-
-    // Now start the new load
     loadingRef.current = true;
     setIsLoading(true);
     setError(null);
     setCurrentTime(0);
     setDuration(0);
 
-    // Load new audio
-    debug.log('Starting new audio load for:', audioUrl);
     wavesurfer
       .load(audioUrl)
       .then(() => {
-        debug.log('Audio load promise resolved');
-        // Don't set loading to false here - wait for 'ready' event
+        debug.log('Audio loaded into WaveSurfer');
+        loadingRef.current = false;
       })
-      .catch((error) => {
-        debug.error('Failed to load audio:', error);
-        debug.error('Audio URL:', audioUrl);
+      .catch((err) => {
+        debug.error('Failed to load audio:', err);
         loadingRef.current = false;
         setIsLoading(false);
-        setError(`Failed to load audio: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`);
+        setError(`Failed to load audio: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}`);
       });
-  }, [audioUrl, setCurrentTime, setDuration]);
+  }, [audioUrl, wsReady, setCurrentTime, setDuration]);
 
   // Sync play/pause state (only when user clicks play/pause button, not auto-sync)
   // This effect is kept for external state changes but should be minimal
@@ -596,7 +318,6 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
     if (!wavesurferRef.current || duration === 0) return;
 
     if (isPlaying && wavesurferRef.current.isPlaying() === false) {
-      // Only auto-play if audio is ready
       wavesurferRef.current.play().catch((error) => {
         debug.error('Failed to play:', error);
         setIsPlaying(false);
@@ -611,20 +332,6 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (wavesurferRef.current) {
       wavesurferRef.current.setVolume(volume);
-      // Also ensure the underlying audio element volume is set
-      const mediaElement = wavesurferRef.current.getMediaElement();
-      if (mediaElement) {
-        // If using native playback, keep WaveSurfer muted regardless of volume setting
-        if (isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current) {
-          mediaElement.volume = 0;
-          mediaElement.muted = true;
-          debug.log('Volume sync: Using native playback, keeping WaveSurfer muted');
-        } else {
-          mediaElement.volume = volume;
-          mediaElement.muted = volume === 0;
-          debug.log('Volume synced:', volume, 'muted:', mediaElement.muted);
-        }
-      }
     }
   }, [volume]);
 
@@ -649,7 +356,6 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
       return;
     }
 
-    // Reset to beginning and play
     debug.log('Restarting current audio from beginning');
     wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
     wavesurfer.play().catch((error) => {
@@ -658,34 +364,35 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
       setError(`Playback error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`);
     });
 
-    // Clear the restart flag
     clearRestartFlag();
   }, [shouldRestart, duration, setIsPlaying, clearRestartFlag]);
 
-  // Handle shouldAutoPlay flag - for story mode auto-advance
-  const shouldAutoPlay = usePlayerStore((state) => state.shouldAutoPlay);
-  const clearAutoPlayFlag = usePlayerStore((state) => state.clearAutoPlayFlag);
-  
+  // Auto-play is handled exclusively in the WaveSurfer 'ready' event handler.
+  // A separate effect here would race with the ready event since the WebAudio
+  // backend needs to fully decode the audio before play() works correctly.
+
+  // Spacebar to play/pause (capture phase so it fires before focused elements)
   useEffect(() => {
-    const wavesurfer = wavesurferRef.current;
-    if (!wavesurfer || !shouldAutoPlay || duration === 0) {
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // Auto-play the newly loaded audio
-    debug.log('Auto-playing next track in story mode');
-    wavesurfer.seekTo(0);
-    wavesurfer.play().catch((error) => {
-      debug.error('Failed to auto-play:', error);
-      setIsPlaying(false);
-      setError(`Playback error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`);
-    });
-
-    // Clear the auto-play flag
-    clearAutoPlayFlag();
-  }, [shouldAutoPlay, duration, setIsPlaying, clearAutoPlayFlag]);
-
-  // Handle loop - WaveSurfer handles this via the 'finish' event
+    const onKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (e.code !== 'Space') return;
+      // Ignore if user is typing in an input/textarea
+      const tag = (e.target as HTMLElement)?.tagName;
+      if (tag === 'INPUT' || tag === 'TEXTAREA' || (e.target as HTMLElement)?.isContentEditable) {
+        return;
+      }
+      if (audioUrl && duration > 0 && wavesurferRef.current) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        e.stopPropagation();
+        if (wavesurferRef.current.isPlaying()) {
+          wavesurferRef.current.pause();
+        } else {
+          wavesurferRef.current.play().catch((err) => debug.error('Spacebar play failed:', err));
+        }
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown, true);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('keydown', onKeyDown, true);
+  }, [audioUrl, duration]);
 
   const handlePlayPause = async () => {
     // Standard WaveSurfer playback (works for both normal and native playback modes)
@@ -744,11 +451,8 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
           isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current = true;
 
           // Mute WaveSurfer and start it for visualization
-          const mediaElement = wavesurferRef.current.getMediaElement();
-          if (mediaElement) {
-            mediaElement.volume = 0;
-            mediaElement.muted = true;
-          }
+          wavesurferRef.current.setVolume(0);
+          wavesurferRef.current.setMuted(true);
 
           // Start WaveSurfer for visualization (muted)
           wavesurferRef.current.play().catch((error) => {
@@ -772,11 +476,8 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
     } else {
       // Ensure WaveSurfer is not muted if not using native playback
       if (!isUsingNativePlaybackRef.current) {
-        const mediaElement = wavesurferRef.current.getMediaElement();
-        if (mediaElement) {
-          mediaElement.muted = false;
-          mediaElement.volume = volume;
-        }
+        wavesurferRef.current.setMuted(false);
+        wavesurferRef.current.setVolume(volume);
       }
 
       wavesurferRef.current.play().catch((error) => {
@@ -830,36 +531,32 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
             size="icon"
             onClick={handlePlayPause}
             disabled={isLoading || duration === 0}
-            className="shrink-0"
+            className={`shrink-0 -mt-2 ${isPlaying ? 'bg-accent text-accent-foreground' : ''}`}
             title={duration === 0 && !isLoading ? 'Audio not loaded' : ''}
             aria-label={
-              duration === 0 && !isLoading
-                ? 'Audio not loaded'
-                : isPlaying
-                  ? 'Pause'
-                  : 'Play'
+              duration === 0 && !isLoading ? 'Audio not loaded' : isPlaying ? 'Pause' : 'Play'
             }
           >
-            {isPlaying ? <Pause className="h-5 w-5" /> : <Play className="h-5 w-5" />}
+            {isPlaying ? (
+              <Pause className="h-5 w-5 fill-current" />
+            ) : (
+              <Play className="h-5 w-5 fill-current" />
+            )}
           </Button>
 
           {/* Waveform */}
           <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 flex flex-col gap-1">
-            <div ref={waveformRef} className="w-full min-h-[80px]" />
-            {duration > 0 && (
-              <Slider
-                value={duration > 0 ? [(currentTime / duration) * 100] : [0]}
-                onValueChange={handleSeek}
-                max={100}
-                step={0.1}
-                className="w-full"
-                aria-label="Playback position"
-                aria-valuetext={`${formatAudioDuration(currentTime)} of ${formatAudioDuration(duration)}`}
-              />
-            )}
-            {isLoading && (
-              <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground text-center py-2">Loading audio...</div>
-            )}
+            <div ref={waveformRef} className="w-full min-h-[80px] select-none" />
+            <Slider
+              value={duration > 0 ? [(currentTime / duration) * 100] : [0]}
+              onValueChange={handleSeek}
+              max={100}
+              step={0.1}
+              className="w-full"
+              aria-label="Playback position"
+              aria-valuetext={`${formatAudioDuration(currentTime)} of ${formatAudioDuration(duration)}`}
+            />
+
             {error && <div className="text-xs text-destructive text-center py-2">{error}</div>}
           </div>
 
@@ -870,17 +567,12 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
             <span className="font-mono">{formatAudioDuration(duration)}</span>
           </div>
 
-          {/* Title */}
-          {title && (
-            <div className="text-sm font-medium truncate max-w-[200px] shrink-0">{title}</div>
-          )}
-
           {/* Loop Button */}
           <Button
             variant="ghost"
             size="icon"
             onClick={toggleLoop}
-            className={isLooping ? 'text-primary' : ''}
+            className={isLooping ? 'bg-accent text-accent-foreground' : ''}
             title="Toggle loop"
             aria-label={isLooping ? 'Stop looping' : 'Loop'}
           >
@@ -888,7 +580,11 @@ export function AudioPlayer() {
           </Button>
 
           {/* Volume Control */}
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 shrink-0 w-[120px]" role="group" aria-label="Volume">
+          <div
+            className="flex items-center gap-2 shrink-0 w-[120px]"
+            role="group"
+            aria-label="Volume"
+          >
             <Button
               variant="ghost"
               size="icon"

app/src/components/AudioTab/AudioTab.tsx

@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ import {
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
 import { BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
-import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 
 interface AudioDevice {
   id: string;
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ export function AudioTab() {
     if (await confirm('Delete this channel?')) {
       deleteChannel.mutate(channelId);
     }
-  }
+  };
 
   const allChannels = channels || [];
   const allDevices = devices || [];
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export function AudioTab() {
               </Button>
             </div>
           ) : (
-            <div className="space-y-3 p-2">
+            <div className="space-y-3">
               {allChannels.map((channel) => {
                 const isSelected = selectedChannelId === channel.id;
                 return (
@@ -343,7 +343,9 @@ export function AudioTab() {
             <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-12 border-2 border-dashed border-muted rounded-md">
               <CheckCircle2 className="h-12 w-12 text-muted-foreground mb-4" />
               <p className="text-muted-foreground text-center">
-                {platform.metadata.isTauri ? 'No audio devices found' : 'Audio device selection requires Tauri'}
+                {platform.metadata.isTauri
+                  ? 'No audio devices found'
+                  : 'Audio device selection requires Tauri'}
               </p>
             </div>
           )}

app/src/components/Effects/EffectsChainEditor.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,377 @@
+import {
+  closestCenter,
+  DndContext,
+  type DragEndEvent,
+  KeyboardSensor,
+  PointerSensor,
+  useSensor,
+  useSensors,
+} from '@dnd-kit/core';
+import {
+  arrayMove,
+  SortableContext,
+  sortableKeyboardCoordinates,
+  useSortable,
+  verticalListSortingStrategy,
+} from '@dnd-kit/sortable';
+import { CSS } from '@dnd-kit/utilities';
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { ChevronDown, ChevronRight, GripVertical, Plus, Power, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue,
+} from '@/components/ui/select';
+import { Slider } from '@/components/ui/slider';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { AvailableEffect, EffectConfig, EffectPresetResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+
+// Each effect in the chain gets a stable ID for dnd-kit
+interface EffectWithId extends EffectConfig {
+  _id: string;
+}
+
+let nextId = 0;
+function makeId() {
+  return `fx-${++nextId}`;
+}
+
+interface EffectsChainEditorProps {
+  value: EffectConfig[];
+  onChange: (chain: EffectConfig[]) => void;
+  compact?: boolean;
+  showPresets?: boolean;
+}
+
+export function EffectsChainEditor({
+  value,
+  onChange,
+  compact = false,
+  showPresets = true,
+}: EffectsChainEditorProps) {
+  const [expandedId, setExpandedId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  // Maintain stable IDs for each effect across renders.
+  // We use a ref to map value items to IDs, rebuilding when length changes.
+  const idsRef = useRef<string[]>([]);
+  const items: EffectWithId[] = useMemo(() => {
+    // Grow ID array if effects were added
+    while (idsRef.current.length < value.length) {
+      idsRef.current.push(makeId());
+    }
+    // Shrink if effects were removed
+    if (idsRef.current.length > value.length) {
+      idsRef.current = idsRef.current.slice(0, value.length);
+    }
+    return value.map((e, i) => ({ ...e, _id: idsRef.current[i] }));
+  }, [value]);
+
+  const sensors = useSensors(
+    useSensor(PointerSensor, { activationConstraint: { distance: 5 } }),
+    useSensor(KeyboardSensor, { coordinateGetter: sortableKeyboardCoordinates }),
+  );
+
+  const { data: availableEffects } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['available-effects'],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.getAvailableEffects(),
+    staleTime: Infinity,
+  });
+
+  const { data: presets } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['effect-presets'],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.listEffectPresets(),
+    staleTime: 30_000,
+  });
+
+  const effectsMap = useMemo(() => {
+    const m = new Map<string, AvailableEffect>();
+    if (availableEffects) {
+      for (const e of availableEffects.effects) {
+        m.set(e.type, e);
+      }
+    }
+    return m;
+  }, [availableEffects]);
+
+  function addEffect(type: string) {
+    const def = effectsMap.get(type);
+    if (!def) return;
+    const params: Record<string, number> = {};
+    for (const [key, p] of Object.entries(def.params)) {
+      params[key] = p.default;
+    }
+    const newEffect: EffectConfig = { type, enabled: true, params };
+    const newId = makeId();
+    idsRef.current = [...idsRef.current, newId];
+    onChange([...value, newEffect]);
+    setExpandedId(newId);
+  }
+
+  const removeEffect = useCallback(
+    (index: number) => {
+      const removedId = idsRef.current[index];
+      idsRef.current = idsRef.current.filter((_, i) => i !== index);
+      onChange(value.filter((_, i) => i !== index));
+      if (expandedId === removedId) setExpandedId(null);
+    },
+    [value, onChange, expandedId],
+  );
+
+  const toggleEnabled = useCallback(
+    (index: number) => {
+      onChange(value.map((e, i) => (i === index ? { ...e, enabled: !e.enabled } : e)));
+    },
+    [value, onChange],
+  );
+
+  const updateParam = useCallback(
+    (index: number, paramName: string, paramValue: number) => {
+      onChange(
+        value.map((e, i) =>
+          i === index ? { ...e, params: { ...e.params, [paramName]: paramValue } } : e,
+        ),
+      );
+    },
+    [value, onChange],
+  );
+
+  function loadPreset(preset: EffectPresetResponse) {
+    idsRef.current = preset.effects_chain.map(() => makeId());
+    onChange(preset.effects_chain);
+    setExpandedId(null);
+  }
+
+  function clearAll() {
+    idsRef.current = [];
+    onChange([]);
+    setExpandedId(null);
+  }
+
+  function handleDragEnd(event: DragEndEvent) {
+    const { active, over } = event;
+    if (!over || active.id === over.id) return;
+
+    const oldIndex = idsRef.current.indexOf(active.id as string);
+    const newIndex = idsRef.current.indexOf(over.id as string);
+    if (oldIndex === -1 || newIndex === -1) return;
+
+    idsRef.current = arrayMove(idsRef.current, oldIndex, newIndex);
+    onChange(arrayMove([...value], oldIndex, newIndex));
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className={cn('space-y-2', compact && 'text-sm')}>
+      {/* Preset selector row */}
+      {showPresets && (
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <Select
+            onValueChange={(id) => {
+              const preset = presets?.find((p) => p.id === id);
+              if (preset) loadPreset(preset);
+            }}
+          >
+            <SelectTrigger className="h-8 flex-1 text-xs focus:ring-0 focus:ring-offset-0">
+              <SelectValue placeholder="Load preset..." />
+            </SelectTrigger>
+            <SelectContent>
+              {presets?.map((p) => (
+                <SelectItem key={p.id} value={p.id}>
+                  {p.name}
+                  {p.description && (
+                    <span className="ml-1 text-muted-foreground">- {p.description}</span>
+                  )}
+                </SelectItem>
+              ))}
+            </SelectContent>
+          </Select>
+
+          {value.length > 0 && (
+            <Button
+              variant="ghost"
+              size="sm"
+              className="h-8 px-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground"
+              onClick={clearAll}
+            >
+              Clear
+            </Button>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      {/* Sortable effects chain */}
+      <DndContext sensors={sensors} collisionDetection={closestCenter} onDragEnd={handleDragEnd}>
+        <SortableContext items={items.map((i) => i._id)} strategy={verticalListSortingStrategy}>
+          {items.map((effect, index) => (
+            <SortableEffectItem
+              key={effect._id}
+              id={effect._id}
+              effect={effect}
+              index={index}
+              effectDef={effectsMap.get(effect.type)}
+              isExpanded={expandedId === effect._id}
+              onToggleExpand={() => setExpandedId(expandedId === effect._id ? null : effect._id)}
+              onRemove={() => removeEffect(index)}
+              onToggleEnabled={() => toggleEnabled(index)}
+              onUpdateParam={(paramName, paramValue) => updateParam(index, paramName, paramValue)}
+            />
+          ))}
+        </SortableContext>
+      </DndContext>
+
+      {/* Add effect */}
+      {availableEffects && (
+        <Select onValueChange={addEffect}>
+          <SelectTrigger className="h-8 border-dashed text-xs text-muted-foreground focus:ring-0 focus:ring-offset-0">
+            <Plus className="mr-1 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            <SelectValue placeholder="Add effect..." />
+          </SelectTrigger>
+          <SelectContent>
+            {availableEffects.effects.map((e) => (
+              <SelectItem key={e.type} value={e.type}>
+                {e.label}
+              </SelectItem>
+            ))}
+          </SelectContent>
+        </Select>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Sortable effect item
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+interface SortableEffectItemProps {
+  id: string;
+  effect: EffectConfig;
+  index: number;
+  effectDef?: AvailableEffect;
+  isExpanded: boolean;
+  onToggleExpand: () => void;
+  onRemove: () => void;
+  onToggleEnabled: () => void;
+  onUpdateParam: (paramName: string, paramValue: number) => void;
+}
+
+function SortableEffectItem({
+  id,
+  effect,
+  effectDef,
+  isExpanded,
+  onToggleExpand,
+  onRemove,
+  onToggleEnabled,
+  onUpdateParam,
+}: SortableEffectItemProps) {
+  const { attributes, listeners, setNodeRef, transform, transition, isDragging } = useSortable({
+    id,
+  });
+
+  const style = {
+    transform: CSS.Transform.toString(transform),
+    transition,
+    zIndex: isDragging ? 10 : undefined,
+  };
+
+  const label = effectDef?.label ?? effect.type;
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      ref={setNodeRef}
+      style={style}
+      className={cn(
+        'rounded-md border',
+        effect.enabled ? 'border-border bg-card' : 'border-border/50 bg-muted/30',
+        isDragging && 'opacity-80 shadow-lg',
+      )}
+    >
+      {/* Header */}
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1.5">
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="p-0.5 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+          onClick={onToggleExpand}
+        >
+          {isExpanded ? (
+            <ChevronDown className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          ) : (
+            <ChevronRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          )}
+        </button>
+
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="p-0.5 text-muted-foreground/50 hover:text-muted-foreground cursor-grab active:cursor-grabbing touch-none"
+          {...attributes}
+          {...listeners}
+        >
+          <GripVertical className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        </button>
+
+        <span
+          className={cn('flex-1 text-xs font-medium', !effect.enabled && 'text-muted-foreground')}
+        >
+          {label}
+        </span>
+
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className={cn(
+            'p-0.5 transition-colors',
+            effect.enabled ? 'text-primary' : 'text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground',
+          )}
+          onClick={onToggleEnabled}
+          title={effect.enabled ? 'Disable' : 'Enable'}
+        >
+          <Power className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        </button>
+
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="p-0.5 text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive"
+          onClick={onRemove}
+          title="Remove"
+        >
+          <Trash2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        </button>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Params */}
+      {isExpanded && effectDef && (
+        <div className="space-y-3 border-t px-3 py-2.5">
+          {Object.entries(effectDef.params).map(([paramName, paramDef]) => {
+            const currentValue = effect.params[paramName] ?? paramDef.default;
+            return (
+              <div key={paramName} className="space-y-1">
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+                  <Label className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
+                    {paramDef.description}
+                  </Label>
+                  <span className="text-[11px] font-mono tabular-nums text-foreground">
+                    {currentValue.toFixed(
+                      paramDef.step < 1 ? Math.max(1, -Math.floor(Math.log10(paramDef.step))) : 0,
+                    )}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+                <Slider
+                  min={paramDef.min}
+                  max={paramDef.max}
+                  step={paramDef.step}
+                  value={[currentValue]}
+                  onValueChange={([v]) => onUpdateParam(paramName, v)}
+                />
+              </div>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/Effects/GenerationPicker.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+import { ChevronDown, Search } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import { Popover, PopoverContent, PopoverTrigger } from '@/components/ui/popover';
+import type { HistoryResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { useHistory } from '@/lib/hooks/useHistory';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+
+interface GenerationPickerProps {
+  selectedId: string | null;
+  onSelect: (generation: HistoryResponse) => void;
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+export function GenerationPicker({ selectedId, onSelect, className }: GenerationPickerProps) {
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('');
+
+  const { data: historyData } = useHistory({ limit: 50 });
+
+  const completedGenerations = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!historyData?.items) return [];
+    return historyData.items.filter((gen) => gen.status === 'completed');
+  }, [historyData]);
+
+  const filtered = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!searchQuery) return completedGenerations;
+    const q = searchQuery.toLowerCase();
+    return completedGenerations.filter(
+      (gen) => gen.text.toLowerCase().includes(q) || gen.profile_name.toLowerCase().includes(q),
+    );
+  }, [completedGenerations, searchQuery]);
+
+  const selectedGeneration = completedGenerations.find((g) => g.id === selectedId);
+
+  return (
+    <Popover open={open} onOpenChange={setOpen}>
+      <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+        <Button
+          variant="outline"
+          size="sm"
+          className={cn('h-8 justify-between gap-2 text-xs font-normal', className)}
+        >
+          {selectedGeneration ? (
+            <span className="truncate">
+              <span className="font-medium">{selectedGeneration.profile_name}</span>
+              <span className="text-muted-foreground ml-1.5">
+                {selectedGeneration.text.length > 30
+                  ? `${selectedGeneration.text.substring(0, 30)}...`
+                  : selectedGeneration.text}
+              </span>
+            </span>
+          ) : (
+            <span className="text-muted-foreground">Select a generation...</span>
+          )}
+          <ChevronDown className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+        </Button>
+      </PopoverTrigger>
+      <PopoverContent className="w-80 p-0" align="start">
+        <div className="p-2 border-b">
+          <div className="relative">
+            <Search className="absolute left-2 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground" />
+            <Input
+              placeholder="Search by voice or text..."
+              value={searchQuery}
+              onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
+              className="h-8 pl-7 text-xs"
+            />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <div className="max-h-60 overflow-y-auto">
+          {filtered.length === 0 ? (
+            <div className="p-4 text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              No generations found
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            filtered.map((gen) => (
+              <button
+                key={gen.id}
+                type="button"
+                className={cn(
+                  'w-full text-left px-3 py-2 hover:bg-muted/50 transition-colors border-b border-border/30 last:border-0',
+                  gen.id === selectedId && 'bg-accent/10',
+                )}
+                onClick={() => {
+                  onSelect(gen);
+                  setOpen(false);
+                  setSearchQuery('');
+                }}
+              >
+                <div className="font-medium text-sm">{gen.profile_name}</div>
+                <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground truncate">
+                  {gen.text.length > 60 ? `${gen.text.substring(0, 60)}...` : gen.text}
+                </div>
+              </button>
+            ))
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </PopoverContent>
+    </Popover>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/EffectsTab/EffectsDetail.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,422 @@
+import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { Loader2, Play, Save, Trash2, Wand2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+
+import { EffectsChainEditor } from '@/components/Effects/EffectsChainEditor';
+import { GenerationPicker } from '@/components/Effects/GenerationPicker';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import {
+  Dialog,
+  DialogContent,
+  DialogDescription,
+  DialogFooter,
+  DialogHeader,
+  DialogTitle,
+} from '@/components/ui/dialog';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
+import { Separator } from '@/components/ui/separator';
+import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
+import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { HistoryResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { useHistory } from '@/lib/hooks/useHistory';
+import { useEffectsStore } from '@/stores/effectsStore';
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
+
+export function EffectsDetail() {
+  const selectedPresetId = useEffectsStore((s) => s.selectedPresetId);
+  const isCreatingNew = useEffectsStore((s) => s.isCreatingNew);
+  const workingChain = useEffectsStore((s) => s.workingChain);
+  const setWorkingChain = useEffectsStore((s) => s.setWorkingChain);
+  const setSelectedPresetId = useEffectsStore((s) => s.setSelectedPresetId);
+  const setIsCreatingNew = useEffectsStore((s) => s.setIsCreatingNew);
+
+  const [name, setName] = useState('');
+  const [description, setDescription] = useState('');
+  const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
+  const [deleting, setDeleting] = useState(false);
+
+  // "Save as Custom" dialog state
+  const [saveAsDialogOpen, setSaveAsDialogOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [saveAsName, setSaveAsName] = useState('');
+  const [saveAsDescription, setSaveAsDescription] = useState('');
+
+  // Preview state
+  const [previewGenId, setPreviewGenId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [previewLoading, setPreviewLoading] = useState(false);
+  const blobUrlRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
+  const setAudioWithAutoPlay = usePlayerStore((s) => s.setAudioWithAutoPlay);
+
+  const { toast } = useToast();
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+
+  // Auto-select the most recent generation as preview source
+  const { data: historyData } = useHistory({ limit: 1 });
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!previewGenId && historyData?.items?.length) {
+      const first = historyData.items.find((g) => g.status === 'completed');
+      if (first) setPreviewGenId(first.id);
+    }
+  }, [historyData, previewGenId]);
+
+  const { data: preset } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['effect-preset', selectedPresetId],
+    queryFn: () =>
+      selectedPresetId
+        ? apiClient
+            .listEffectPresets()
+            .then((all) => all.find((p) => p.id === selectedPresetId) ?? null)
+        : null,
+    enabled: !!selectedPresetId,
+    staleTime: 30_000,
+  });
+
+  // Sync name/description when selecting a preset
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (preset) {
+      setName(preset.name);
+      setDescription(preset.description ?? '');
+    } else if (isCreatingNew) {
+      setName('');
+      setDescription('');
+    }
+  }, [preset, isCreatingNew]);
+
+  // Cleanup blob URL on unmount
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return () => {
+      if (blobUrlRef.current) {
+        URL.revokeObjectURL(blobUrlRef.current);
+        blobUrlRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  const isEditing = !!selectedPresetId || isCreatingNew;
+  const isBuiltIn = preset?.is_builtin ?? false;
+
+  async function handlePreview() {
+    if (!previewGenId || workingChain.length === 0) return;
+
+    setPreviewLoading(true);
+    try {
+      const blob = await apiClient.previewEffects(previewGenId, workingChain);
+
+      // Revoke old blob URL
+      if (blobUrlRef.current) {
+        URL.revokeObjectURL(blobUrlRef.current);
+      }
+
+      const url = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
+      blobUrlRef.current = url;
+
+      // Play through the main audio player
+      setAudioWithAutoPlay(url, `preview-${Date.now()}`, null, 'Effects Preview');
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Preview failed',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setPreviewLoading(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function handleSelectGeneration(gen: HistoryResponse) {
+    setPreviewGenId(gen.id);
+  }
+
+  async function handleSaveNew() {
+    if (!name.trim()) {
+      toast({ title: 'Name required', variant: 'destructive' });
+      return;
+    }
+    setSaving(true);
+    try {
+      const created = await apiClient.createEffectPreset({
+        name: name.trim(),
+        description: description.trim() || undefined,
+        effects_chain: workingChain,
+      });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['effect-presets'] });
+      setIsCreatingNew(false);
+      setSelectedPresetId(created.id);
+      toast({ title: 'Preset saved', description: `"${created.name}" has been created.` });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to save',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setSaving(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function handleSaveExisting() {
+    if (!selectedPresetId || !name.trim()) return;
+    setSaving(true);
+    try {
+      await apiClient.updateEffectPreset(selectedPresetId, {
+        name: name.trim(),
+        description: description.trim() || undefined,
+        effects_chain: workingChain,
+      });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['effect-presets'] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['effect-preset', selectedPresetId] });
+      toast({ title: 'Preset updated' });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to save',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setSaving(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  function handleSaveAsNew() {
+    // Open the dialog with a suggested name based on the current preset
+    setSaveAsName(`${name} (Copy)`);
+    setSaveAsDescription(description);
+    setSaveAsDialogOpen(true);
+  }
+
+  async function handleSaveAsConfirm() {
+    if (!saveAsName.trim()) {
+      toast({ title: 'Name required', variant: 'destructive' });
+      return;
+    }
+    setSaving(true);
+    try {
+      const created = await apiClient.createEffectPreset({
+        name: saveAsName.trim(),
+        description: saveAsDescription.trim() || undefined,
+        effects_chain: workingChain,
+      });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['effect-presets'] });
+      setSaveAsDialogOpen(false);
+      setSelectedPresetId(created.id);
+      toast({ title: 'Preset saved', description: `"${created.name}" has been created.` });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to save',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setSaving(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function handleDelete() {
+    if (!selectedPresetId) return;
+    setDeleting(true);
+    try {
+      await apiClient.deleteEffectPreset(selectedPresetId);
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['effect-presets'] });
+      setSelectedPresetId(null);
+      setWorkingChain([]);
+      toast({ title: 'Preset deleted' });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to delete',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setDeleting(false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!isEditing) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center text-muted-foreground">
+        <div className="text-center space-y-2">
+          <Wand2 className="h-10 w-10 mx-auto opacity-30" />
+          <p className="text-sm">Select a preset or create a new one</p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-col h-full min-h-0">
+      {/* Header */}
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-4">
+        <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">
+          {isCreatingNew ? 'New Preset' : isBuiltIn ? preset?.name : 'Edit Preset'}
+        </h2>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          {!isBuiltIn && !isCreatingNew && (
+            <>
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                className="h-8 text-destructive hover:text-destructive gap-1.5"
+                onClick={handleDelete}
+                disabled={deleting}
+              >
+                <Trash2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                {deleting ? 'Deleting...' : 'Delete'}
+              </Button>
+              <Button
+                size="sm"
+                className="h-8 gap-1.5"
+                onClick={handleSaveExisting}
+                disabled={saving || workingChain.length === 0}
+              >
+                <Save className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                {saving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save'}
+              </Button>
+            </>
+          )}
+          {isCreatingNew && (
+            <Button
+              size="sm"
+              className="h-8 gap-1.5"
+              onClick={handleSaveNew}
+              disabled={saving || workingChain.length === 0}
+            >
+              <Save className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              {saving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save Preset'}
+            </Button>
+          )}
+          {isBuiltIn && (
+            <Button
+              size="sm"
+              variant="outline"
+              className="h-8 gap-1.5"
+              onClick={handleSaveAsNew}
+              disabled={saving}
+            >
+              <Save className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              {saving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save as Custom'}
+            </Button>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Scrollable content */}
+      <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto space-y-5 pr-1">
+        {/* Name & description */}
+        {(isCreatingNew || !isBuiltIn) && (
+          <div className="space-y-3">
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label className="text-xs">Name</Label>
+              <Input
+                value={name}
+                onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)}
+                placeholder="My preset..."
+                className="h-9"
+              />
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label className="text-xs">Description</Label>
+              <Textarea
+                value={description}
+                onChange={(e) => setDescription(e.target.value)}
+                placeholder="Describe what this preset does..."
+                className="min-h-[60px] resize-none"
+              />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Built-in description (read-only) */}
+        {isBuiltIn && preset?.description && (
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{preset.description}</p>
+        )}
+
+        {/* Effects chain editor */}
+        <EffectsChainEditor value={workingChain} onChange={setWorkingChain} showPresets={false} />
+
+        <Separator />
+
+        {/* Preview section */}
+        <div className="space-y-3">
+          <Label className="text-xs">Preview</Label>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <GenerationPicker
+              selectedId={previewGenId}
+              onSelect={handleSelectGeneration}
+              className="flex-1"
+            />
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              className="h-8 gap-1.5 shrink-0"
+              onClick={handlePreview}
+              disabled={!previewGenId || workingChain.length === 0 || previewLoading}
+            >
+              {previewLoading ? (
+                <>
+                  <Loader2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5 animate-spin" />
+                  Processing...
+                </>
+              ) : (
+                <>
+                  <Play className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                  Preview
+                </>
+              )}
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+          <p className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
+            Preview applies effects to the clean version without saving.
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Save as Custom dialog */}
+      <Dialog open={saveAsDialogOpen} onOpenChange={setSaveAsDialogOpen}>
+        <DialogContent className="sm:max-w-md">
+          <DialogHeader>
+            <DialogTitle>Save as Custom Preset</DialogTitle>
+            <DialogDescription>
+              Create a new custom preset based on the current effects chain.
+            </DialogDescription>
+          </DialogHeader>
+          <div className="space-y-3 py-2">
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label className="text-xs">Name</Label>
+              <Input
+                value={saveAsName}
+                onChange={(e) => setSaveAsName(e.target.value)}
+                placeholder="My preset..."
+                className="h-9"
+                autoFocus
+                onKeyDown={(e) => {
+                  if (e.key === 'Enter' && saveAsName.trim()) {
+                    handleSaveAsConfirm();
+                  }
+                }}
+              />
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label className="text-xs">Description</Label>
+              <Textarea
+                value={saveAsDescription}
+                onChange={(e) => setSaveAsDescription(e.target.value)}
+                placeholder="Describe what this preset does..."
+                className="min-h-[60px] resize-none"
+              />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+          <DialogFooter>
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => setSaveAsDialogOpen(false)} disabled={saving}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+            <Button onClick={handleSaveAsConfirm} disabled={saving || !saveAsName.trim()}>
+              <Save className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+              {saving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save'}
+            </Button>
+          </DialogFooter>
+        </DialogContent>
+      </Dialog>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/EffectsTab/EffectsList.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { Loader2, Plus, Sparkles, Wand2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { EffectPresetResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+import { useEffectsStore } from '@/stores/effectsStore';
+
+export function EffectsList() {
+  const selectedPresetId = useEffectsStore((s) => s.selectedPresetId);
+  const setSelectedPresetId = useEffectsStore((s) => s.setSelectedPresetId);
+  const setWorkingChain = useEffectsStore((s) => s.setWorkingChain);
+  const setIsCreatingNew = useEffectsStore((s) => s.setIsCreatingNew);
+  const isCreatingNew = useEffectsStore((s) => s.isCreatingNew);
+
+  const { data: presets, isLoading } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['effect-presets'],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.listEffectPresets(),
+    staleTime: 30_000,
+  });
+
+  const builtIn = presets?.filter((p) => p.is_builtin) ?? [];
+  const userPresets = presets?.filter((p) => !p.is_builtin) ?? [];
+
+  function handleSelect(preset: EffectPresetResponse) {
+    setSelectedPresetId(preset.id);
+    setWorkingChain(preset.effects_chain);
+  }
+
+  function handleCreateNew() {
+    setIsCreatingNew(true);
+    setWorkingChain([]);
+  }
+
+  if (isLoading) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-center h-full">
+        <Loader2 className="h-6 w-6 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-col h-full min-h-0">
+      {/* Header */}
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-4">
+        <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">Effects</h2>
+        <Button variant="outline" size="sm" className="h-8 gap-1.5" onClick={handleCreateNew}>
+          <Plus className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          New Preset
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Scrollable list */}
+      <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto space-y-4">
+        {/* Built-in presets */}
+        {builtIn.length > 0 && (
+          <div>
+            <div className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground font-medium uppercase tracking-wider mb-2 px-1">
+              Built-in
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              {builtIn.map((preset) => (
+                <PresetCard
+                  key={preset.id}
+                  preset={preset}
+                  isSelected={selectedPresetId === preset.id && !isCreatingNew}
+                  onSelect={() => handleSelect(preset)}
+                />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* User presets */}
+        {userPresets.length > 0 && (
+          <div>
+            <div className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground font-medium uppercase tracking-wider mb-2 px-1">
+              Custom
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              {userPresets.map((preset) => (
+                <PresetCard
+                  key={preset.id}
+                  preset={preset}
+                  isSelected={selectedPresetId === preset.id && !isCreatingNew}
+                  onSelect={() => handleSelect(preset)}
+                />
+              ))}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+
+        {/* New preset placeholder */}
+        {isCreatingNew && (
+          <div>
+            <div className="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground font-medium uppercase tracking-wider mb-2 px-1">
+              New
+            </div>
+            <div className="rounded-xl border-2 border-accent/40 bg-accent/5 p-3">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                <Sparkles className="h-4 w-4 text-accent" />
+                <span className="text-sm font-medium">Unsaved Preset</span>
+              </div>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-1">
+                Configure effects in the panel on the right.
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function PresetCard({
+  preset,
+  isSelected,
+  onSelect,
+}: {
+  preset: EffectPresetResponse;
+  isSelected: boolean;
+  onSelect: () => void;
+}) {
+  const effectCount = preset.effects_chain.length;
+
+  return (
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      className={cn(
+        'w-full text-left rounded-xl border p-3 h-[88px] transition-all duration-150',
+        isSelected
+          ? 'border-accent/50 bg-accent/10'
+          : 'border-border bg-card hover:bg-muted/50 hover:border-border',
+      )}
+      onClick={onSelect}
+    >
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+        <Wand2
+          className={cn('h-4 w-4 shrink-0', isSelected ? 'text-accent' : 'text-muted-foreground')}
+        />
+        <span className="text-sm font-medium truncate">{preset.name}</span>
+        {preset.is_builtin && (
+          <span className="text-[10px] bg-muted text-muted-foreground px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full shrink-0">
+            built-in
+          </span>
+        )}
+      </div>
+      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mt-1 line-clamp-1 pl-6">
+        {preset.description || 'No description'}
+      </p>
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mt-1.5 pl-6">
+        <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+          {effectCount} effect{effectCount !== 1 ? 's' : ''}
+        </span>
+        <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/50">
+          {preset.effects_chain
+            .filter((e) => e.enabled)
+            .map((e) => e.type)
+            .join(' → ')}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+    </button>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/EffectsTab/EffectsTab.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import {EffectsDetail} from "./EffectsDetail";
+import {EffectsList} from "./EffectsList";
+
+export function EffectsTab() {
+	return (
+		<div className="flex flex-col h-full min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
+			<div className="flex-1 min-h-0 flex gap-6 overflow-hidden">
+				{/* Left - Presets list */}
+				<div className="w-full max-w-[360px] shrink-0 flex flex-col min-h-0">
+					<EffectsList />
+				</div>
+
+				{/* Right - Detail / editor */}
+				<div className="flex-1 min-h-0 flex flex-col">
+					<EffectsDetail />
+				</div>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	);
+}

app/src/components/Generation/EngineModelSelector.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+import type { UseFormReturn } from 'react-hook-form';
+import { FormControl } from '@/components/ui/form';
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue,
+} from '@/components/ui/select';
+import { getLanguageOptionsForEngine } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
+import type { GenerationFormValues } from '@/lib/hooks/useGenerationForm';
+
+/**
+ * Engine/model options and their display metadata.
+ * Adding a new engine means adding one entry here.
+ */
+const ENGINE_OPTIONS = [
+  { value: 'qwen:1.7B', label: 'Qwen3-TTS 1.7B' },
+  { value: 'qwen:0.6B', label: 'Qwen3-TTS 0.6B' },
+  { value: 'luxtts', label: 'LuxTTS' },
+  { value: 'chatterbox', label: 'Chatterbox' },
+  { value: 'chatterbox_turbo', label: 'Chatterbox Turbo' },
+] as const;
+
+const ENGINE_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
+  qwen: 'Multi-language, two sizes',
+  luxtts: 'Fast, English-focused',
+  chatterbox: '23 languages, incl. Hebrew',
+  chatterbox_turbo: 'English, [laugh] [cough] tags',
+};
+
+/** Engines that only support English and should force language to 'en' on select. */
+const ENGLISH_ONLY_ENGINES = new Set(['luxtts', 'chatterbox_turbo']);
+
+function getSelectValue(engine: string, modelSize?: string): string {
+  if (engine === 'qwen') return `qwen:${modelSize || '1.7B'}`;
+  return engine;
+}
+
+function handleEngineChange(form: UseFormReturn<GenerationFormValues>, value: string) {
+  if (value.startsWith('qwen:')) {
+    const [, modelSize] = value.split(':');
+    form.setValue('engine', 'qwen');
+    form.setValue('modelSize', modelSize as '1.7B' | '0.6B');
+    // Validate language is supported by Qwen
+    const currentLang = form.getValues('language');
+    const available = getLanguageOptionsForEngine('qwen');
+    if (!available.some((l) => l.value === currentLang)) {
+      form.setValue('language', available[0]?.value ?? 'en');
+    }
+  } else {
+    form.setValue('engine', value as GenerationFormValues['engine']);
+    form.setValue('modelSize', undefined as unknown as '1.7B' | '0.6B');
+    if (ENGLISH_ONLY_ENGINES.has(value)) {
+      form.setValue('language', 'en');
+    } else {
+      // If current language isn't supported by the new engine, reset to first available
+      const currentLang = form.getValues('language');
+      const available = getLanguageOptionsForEngine(value);
+      if (!available.some((l) => l.value === currentLang)) {
+        form.setValue('language', available[0]?.value ?? 'en');
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+interface EngineModelSelectorProps {
+  form: UseFormReturn<GenerationFormValues>;
+  compact?: boolean;
+}
+
+export function EngineModelSelector({ form, compact }: EngineModelSelectorProps) {
+  const engine = form.watch('engine') || 'qwen';
+  const modelSize = form.watch('modelSize');
+  const selectValue = getSelectValue(engine, modelSize);
+
+  const itemClass = compact ? 'text-xs text-muted-foreground' : undefined;
+  const triggerClass = compact
+    ? 'h-8 text-xs bg-card border-border rounded-full hover:bg-background/50 transition-all'
+    : undefined;
+
+  return (
+    <Select value={selectValue} onValueChange={(v) => handleEngineChange(form, v)}>
+      <FormControl>
+        <SelectTrigger className={triggerClass}>
+          <SelectValue />
+        </SelectTrigger>
+      </FormControl>
+      <SelectContent>
+        {ENGINE_OPTIONS.map((opt) => (
+          <SelectItem key={opt.value} value={opt.value} className={itemClass}>
+            {opt.label}
+          </SelectItem>
+        ))}
+      </SelectContent>
+    </Select>
+  );
+}
+
+/** Returns a human-readable description for the currently selected engine. */
+export function getEngineDescription(engine: string): string {
+  return ENGINE_DESCRIPTIONS[engine] ?? '';
+}

app/src/components/Generation/FloatingGenerateBox.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
+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 { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Form, FormControl, FormField, FormItem, FormMessage } from '@/components/ui/form';
@@ -12,14 +13,16 @@ import {
   SelectValue,
 } from '@/components/ui/select';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
-import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
+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';
-import { useAddStoryItem, useStory } from '@/lib/hooks/useStories';
+import { useStory } from '@/lib/hooks/useStories';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
 import { useStoryStore } from '@/stores/storyStore';
 import { useUIStore } from '@/stores/uiStore';
+import { EngineModelSelector } from './EngineModelSelector';
 import { ParalinguisticInput } from './ParalinguisticInput';
 
 interface FloatingGenerateBoxProps {
@@ -36,7 +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 [selectedPresetId, setSelectedPresetId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const textareaRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
   const matchRoute = useMatchRoute();
@@ -44,8 +47,13 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
   const selectedStoryId = useStoryStore((state) => state.selectedStoryId);
   const trackEditorHeight = useStoryStore((state) => state.trackEditorHeight);
   const { data: currentStory } = useStory(selectedStoryId);
-  const addStoryItem = useAddStoryItem();
-  const { toast } = useToast();
+  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;
@@ -53,27 +61,16 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
   const { form, handleSubmit, isPending } = useGenerationForm({
     onSuccess: async (generationId) => {
       setIsExpanded(false);
-      // If on stories route and a story is selected, add generation to story
+      // Defer the story add until TTS completes -- useGenerationProgress handles it
       if (isStoriesRoute && selectedStoryId && generationId) {
-        try {
-          await addStoryItem.mutateAsync({
-            storyId: selectedStoryId,
-            data: { generation_id: generationId },
-          });
-          toast({
-            title: 'Added to story',
-            description: `Generation added to "${currentStory?.name || 'story'}"`,
-          });
-        } catch (error) {
-          toast({
-            title: 'Failed to add to story',
-            description:
-              error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Could not add generation to story',
-            variant: 'destructive',
-          });
-        }
+        addPendingStoryAdd(generationId, selectedStoryId);
       }
     },
+    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
@@ -182,7 +179,7 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
         isStoriesRoute
           ? // Position aligned with story list: after sidebar + padding, width 360px
             'left-[calc(5rem+2rem)] w-[360px]'
-          : 'left-[calc(5rem+2rem)] w-[calc((100%-5rem-4rem)/2-1rem)]',
+          : 'left-[calc(5rem+2rem)] right-8 lg:right-auto lg:w-[calc((100%-5rem-4rem)/2-1rem)]',
       )}
       style={{
         // On stories route: offset by track editor height when visible
@@ -201,111 +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',
@@ -315,13 +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">
@@ -353,40 +296,6 @@ 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'
-                              : '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
-                        </span>
-                      </div>
-                    </motion.div>
-                  )}
-                </AnimatePresence>
               </div>
             </div>
 
@@ -448,57 +357,29 @@ export function FloatingGenerateBox({
                     }}
                   />
 
+                  <FormItem className="flex-1 space-y-0">
+                    <EngineModelSelector form={form} compact />
+                  </FormItem>
+
                   <FormItem className="flex-1 space-y-0">
                     <Select
-                      value={
-                        form.watch('engine') === 'luxtts'
-                          ? 'luxtts'
-                          : form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox'
-                            ? 'chatterbox'
-                            : form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox_turbo'
-                              ? 'chatterbox_turbo'
-                              : `qwen:${form.watch('modelSize') || '1.7B'}`
+                      value={selectedPresetId || 'none'}
+                      onValueChange={(value) =>
+                        setSelectedPresetId(value === 'none' ? null : value)
                       }
-                      onValueChange={(value) => {
-                        if (value === 'luxtts') {
-                          form.setValue('engine', 'luxtts');
-                          form.setValue('language', 'en');
-                        } else if (value === 'chatterbox') {
-                          form.setValue('engine', 'chatterbox');
-                        } else if (value === 'chatterbox_turbo') {
-                          form.setValue('engine', 'chatterbox_turbo');
-                          form.setValue('language', 'en');
-                        } else {
-                          const [, modelSize] = value.split(':');
-                          form.setValue('engine', 'qwen');
-                          form.setValue('modelSize', modelSize as '1.7B' | '0.6B');
-                        }
-                      }}
                     >
-                      <FormControl>
-                        <SelectTrigger className="h-8 text-xs bg-card border-border rounded-full hover:bg-background/50 transition-all">
-                          <SelectValue />
-                        </SelectTrigger>
-                      </FormControl>
+                      <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="qwen:1.7B" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                          Qwen3-TTS 1.7B
-                        </SelectItem>
-                        <SelectItem value="qwen:0.6B" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                          Qwen3-TTS 0.6B
-                        </SelectItem>
-                        <SelectItem value="luxtts" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                          LuxTTS
-                        </SelectItem>
-                        <SelectItem value="chatterbox" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                          Chatterbox
-                        </SelectItem>
-                        <SelectItem
-                          value="chatterbox_turbo"
-                          className="text-xs text-muted-foreground"
-                        >
-                          Chatterbox Turbo
+                        <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>

app/src/components/Generation/GenerationForm.tsx

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { getLanguageOptionsForEngine } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
 import { useGenerationForm } from '@/lib/hooks/useGenerationForm';
 import { useProfile } from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
 import { useUIStore } from '@/stores/uiStore';
+import { EngineModelSelector, getEngineDescription } from './EngineModelSelector';
 import { ParalinguisticInput } from './ParalinguisticInput';
 
 export function GenerationForm() {
@@ -117,53 +118,9 @@ export function GenerationForm() {
             <div className="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-3">
               <FormItem>
                 <FormLabel>Model</FormLabel>
-                <Select
-                  value={
-                    form.watch('engine') === 'luxtts'
-                      ? 'luxtts'
-                      : form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox'
-                        ? 'chatterbox'
-                        : form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox_turbo'
-                          ? 'chatterbox_turbo'
-                          : `qwen:${form.watch('modelSize') || '1.7B'}`
-                  }
-                  onValueChange={(value) => {
-                    if (value === 'luxtts') {
-                      form.setValue('engine', 'luxtts');
-                      form.setValue('language', 'en');
-                    } else if (value === 'chatterbox') {
-                      form.setValue('engine', 'chatterbox');
-                    } else if (value === 'chatterbox_turbo') {
-                      form.setValue('engine', 'chatterbox_turbo');
-                      form.setValue('language', 'en');
-                    } else {
-                      const [, modelSize] = value.split(':');
-                      form.setValue('engine', 'qwen');
-                      form.setValue('modelSize', modelSize as '1.7B' | '0.6B');
-                    }
-                  }}
-                >
-                  <FormControl>
-                    <SelectTrigger>
-                      <SelectValue />
-                    </SelectTrigger>
-                  </FormControl>
-                  <SelectContent>
-                    <SelectItem value="qwen:1.7B">Qwen3-TTS 1.7B</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="qwen:0.6B">Qwen3-TTS 0.6B</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="luxtts">LuxTTS</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="chatterbox">Chatterbox</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="chatterbox_turbo">Chatterbox Turbo</SelectItem>
-                  </SelectContent>
-                </Select>
+                <EngineModelSelector form={form} />
                 <FormDescription>
-                  {form.watch('engine') === 'luxtts'
-                    ? 'Fast, English-focused'
-                    : form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox'
-                      ? '23 languages, incl. Hebrew'
-                      : form.watch('engine') === 'chatterbox_turbo'
-                        ? 'English, [laugh] [cough] tags'
-                        : 'Multi-language, two sizes'}
+                  {getEngineDescription(form.watch('engine') || 'qwen')}
                 </FormDescription>
               </FormItem>
 

app/src/components/History/HistoryTable.tsx

@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
+import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { AnimatePresence, motion } from 'framer-motion';
 import {
+  AlignCenter,
+  AudioLines,
   AudioWaveform,
   Download,
   FileArchive,
   Loader2,
   MoreHorizontal,
   Play,
+  RotateCcw,
+  Star,
   Trash2,
+  Wand2,
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+
+import { EffectsChainEditor } from '@/components/Effects/EffectsChainEditor';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import {
   Dialog,
@@ -23,10 +32,17 @@ import {
   DropdownMenuItem,
   DropdownMenuTrigger,
 } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue,
+} from '@/components/ui/select';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
 import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
-import type { HistoryResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import type { EffectConfig, GenerationVersionResponse, HistoryResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
 import {
   useDeleteGeneration,
@@ -36,11 +52,39 @@ import {
   useImportGeneration,
 } from '@/lib/hooks/useHistory';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
-import { formatDate, formatDuration } from '@/lib/utils/format';
+import { formatDate, formatDuration, formatEngineName } from '@/lib/utils/format';
+import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
 import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 
-// OLD TABLE-BASED COMPONENT - REMOVED (can be found in git history)
-// This is the new alternate history view with fixed height rows
+// ─── Audio Bars ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function AudioBars({ mode }: { mode: 'idle' | 'generating' | 'playing' }) {
+  const barColor = mode !== 'idle' ? 'bg-accent' : 'bg-muted-foreground/40';
+  return (
+    <div className="flex items-center gap-[2px] h-5">
+      {[0, 1, 2, 3, 4].map((i) => (
+        <motion.div
+          key={`${mode}-${i}`}
+          className={`w-[3px] rounded-full ${barColor}`}
+          animate={
+            mode === 'generating'
+              ? { height: ['6px', '16px', '6px'] }
+              : mode === 'playing'
+                ? { height: ['8px', '14px', '4px', '12px', '8px'] }
+                : { height: '8px' }
+          }
+          transition={
+            mode === 'generating'
+              ? { duration: 0.6, repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.08, ease: 'easeInOut' }
+              : mode === 'playing'
+                ? { duration: 1.2, repeat: Infinity, delay: i * 0.15, ease: 'easeInOut' }
+                : { duration: 0.4, ease: 'easeOut' }
+          }
+        />
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
 
 // NEW ALTERNATE HISTORY VIEW - FIXED HEIGHT ROWS WITH INFINITE SCROLL
 export function HistoryTable() {
@@ -54,9 +98,21 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
   const [importDialogOpen, setImportDialogOpen] = useState(false);
   const [selectedFile, setSelectedFile] = useState<File | null>(null);
   const [deleteDialogOpen, setDeleteDialogOpen] = useState(false);
-  const [generationToDelete, setGenerationToDelete] = useState<{ id: string; name: string } | null>(null);
+  const [generationToDelete, setGenerationToDelete] = useState<{ id: string; name: string } | null>(
+    null,
+  );
+  const [effectsDialogOpen, setEffectsDialogOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [effectsTargetId, setEffectsTargetId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [effectsTargetVersions, setEffectsTargetVersions] = useState<GenerationVersionResponse[]>(
+    [],
+  );
+  const [effectsSourceVersionId, setEffectsSourceVersionId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [effectsChain, setEffectsChain] = useState<EffectConfig[]>([]);
+  const [applyingEffects, setApplyingEffects] = useState(false);
+  const [expandedVersionsId, setExpandedVersionsId] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const limit = 20;
   const { toast } = useToast();
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
 
   const {
     data: historyData,
@@ -71,6 +127,7 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
   const exportGeneration = useExportGeneration();
   const exportGenerationAudio = useExportGenerationAudio();
   const importGeneration = useImportGeneration();
+  const addPendingGeneration = useGenerationStore((state) => state.addPendingGeneration);
   const setAudioWithAutoPlay = usePlayerStore((state) => state.setAudioWithAutoPlay);
   const restartCurrentAudio = usePlayerStore((state) => state.restartCurrentAudio);
   const currentAudioId = usePlayerStore((state) => state.audioId);
@@ -96,7 +153,9 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
     }
   }, [historyData, page]);
 
-  // Reset to page 0 when deletions or imports occur
+  // Reset to page 0 when deletions, imports, or generation completions occur
+  const pendingCount = useGenerationStore((state) => state.pendingGenerationIds.size);
+  const prevPendingCountRef = useRef(pendingCount);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (deleteGeneration.isSuccess || importGeneration.isSuccess) {
       setPage(0);
@@ -104,6 +163,19 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
     }
   }, [deleteGeneration.isSuccess, importGeneration.isSuccess]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    // A generation finished (pending count decreased) — scroll back to show it
+    if (
+      prevPendingCountRef.current > 0 &&
+      pendingCount < prevPendingCountRef.current &&
+      page !== 0
+    ) {
+      setPage(0);
+      setAllHistory([]);
+    }
+    prevPendingCountRef.current = pendingCount;
+  }, [pendingCount, page]);
+
   // Intersection Observer for infinite scroll
   useEffect(() => {
     const loadMoreEl = loadMoreRef.current;
@@ -194,6 +266,120 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
     }
   };
 
+  const handleRetry = async (generationId: string) => {
+    try {
+      const result = await apiClient.retryGeneration(generationId);
+      addPendingGeneration(result.id);
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Retry failed',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Could not retry generation',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleRegenerate = async (generationId: string) => {
+    try {
+      await apiClient.regenerateGeneration(generationId);
+      addPendingGeneration(generationId);
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Regenerate failed',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Could not regenerate',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleToggleFavorite = async (generationId: string) => {
+    try {
+      await apiClient.toggleFavorite(generationId);
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to update favorite',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleApplyEffects = (generationId: string) => {
+    const gen = allHistory.find((g) => g.id === generationId);
+    const versions = gen?.versions ?? [];
+    setEffectsTargetId(generationId);
+    setEffectsTargetVersions(versions);
+    // Default to clean/original version (no effects chain)
+    const cleanVersion = versions.find((v) => !v.effects_chain || v.effects_chain.length === 0);
+    setEffectsSourceVersionId(cleanVersion?.id ?? null);
+    setEffectsChain([]);
+    setEffectsDialogOpen(true);
+  };
+
+  const handleApplyEffectsConfirm = async () => {
+    if (!effectsTargetId || effectsChain.length === 0) return;
+    setApplyingEffects(true);
+    try {
+      const newVersion = await apiClient.applyEffectsToGeneration(effectsTargetId, {
+        effects_chain: effectsChain,
+        source_version_id: effectsSourceVersionId ?? undefined,
+        set_as_default: true,
+      });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+
+      // If the player is currently on this generation, reload with the new version audio
+      if (currentAudioId === effectsTargetId) {
+        const gen = allHistory.find((g) => g.id === effectsTargetId);
+        if (gen) {
+          const versionUrl = apiClient.getVersionAudioUrl(newVersion.id);
+          setAudioWithAutoPlay(
+            versionUrl,
+            effectsTargetId,
+            gen.profile_id,
+            gen.text.substring(0, 50),
+          );
+        }
+      }
+
+      setEffectsDialogOpen(false);
+      toast({ title: 'Effects applied', description: 'A new version has been created.' });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to apply effects',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    } finally {
+      setApplyingEffects(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleSwitchVersion = async (generationId: string, versionId: string) => {
+    try {
+      await apiClient.setDefaultVersion(generationId, versionId);
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Failed to switch version',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handlePlayVersion = (
+    generationId: string,
+    versionId: string,
+    text: string,
+    profileId: string,
+  ) => {
+    const audioUrl = apiClient.getVersionAudioUrl(versionId);
+    setAudioWithAutoPlay(audioUrl, generationId, profileId, text.substring(0, 50));
+  };
+
   const handleImportConfirm = () => {
     if (selectedFile) {
       importGeneration.mutate(selectedFile, {
@@ -250,117 +436,266 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
           >
             {history.map((gen) => {
               const isCurrentlyPlaying = currentAudioId === gen.id && isPlaying;
+              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;
+              const isVersionsExpanded = expandedVersionsId === gen.id;
               return (
                 <div
                   key={gen.id}
-                  role="button"
-                  tabIndex={0}
                   className={cn(
-                    'flex items-stretch gap-4 h-26 border rounded-md p-3 bg-card hover:bg-muted/70 transition-colors text-left w-full',
+                    'border rounded-md bg-card transition-colors text-left w-full',
                     isCurrentlyPlaying && 'bg-muted/70',
                   )}
-                  aria-label={
-                    isCurrentlyPlaying
-                      ? `Sample from ${gen.profile_name}, ${formatDuration(gen.duration)}, ${formatDate(gen.created_at)}. Playing. Press Enter to restart.`
-                      : `Sample from ${gen.profile_name}, ${formatDuration(gen.duration)}, ${formatDate(gen.created_at)}. Press Enter to play.`
-                  }
-                  onMouseDown={(e) => {
-                    // Don't trigger play if clicking on textarea or if text is selected
-                    const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
-                    if (target.closest('textarea') || window.getSelection()?.toString()) {
-                      return;
-                    }
-                    handlePlay(gen.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id);
-                  }}
-                  onKeyDown={(e) => {
-                    const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
-                    if (target.closest('textarea') || target.closest('button')) return;
-                    if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
-                      e.preventDefault();
-                      handlePlay(gen.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id);
-                    }
-                  }}
                 >
-                  {/* Waveform icon */}
-                  <div className="flex items-center shrink-0">
-                    <AudioWaveform className="h-5 w-5 text-muted-foreground" />
-                  </div>
-
-                  {/* Left side - Meta information */}
-                  <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5 w-48 shrink-0 justify-center">
-                    <div className="font-medium text-sm truncate" title={gen.profile_name}>
-                      {gen.profile_name}
-                    </div>
-                    <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{gen.language}</span>
-                      <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                        {formatDuration(gen.duration)}
-                      </span>
-                    </div>
-                    <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                      {formatDate(gen.created_at)}
-                    </div>
-                  </div>
-
-                  {/* Right side - Transcript textarea */}
-                  <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 flex">
-                    <Textarea
-                      value={gen.text}
-                      className="flex-1 resize-none text-sm text-muted-foreground select-text"
-                      readOnly
-                      aria-label={`Transcript for sample from ${gen.profile_name}, ${formatDuration(gen.duration)}`}
-                    />
-                  </div>
-
-                  {/* Far right - Ellipsis actions */}
+                  {/* Main row */}
                   <div
-                    className="w-10 shrink-0 flex justify-end"
-                    onMouseDown={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
-                    onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+                    role={isPlayable ? 'button' : undefined}
+                    tabIndex={isPlayable ? 0 : undefined}
+                    className={cn(
+                      'flex items-stretch gap-4 h-26 p-3 outline-none',
+                      isPlayable && 'hover:bg-muted/70 cursor-pointer rounded-md',
+                      isVersionsExpanded && 'rounded-b-none',
+                    )}
+                    aria-label={
+                      isGenerating
+                        ? `Generating speech for ${gen.profile_name}...`
+                        : isFailed
+                          ? `Generation failed for ${gen.profile_name}`
+                          : isCurrentlyPlaying
+                            ? `Sample from ${gen.profile_name}, ${formatDuration(gen.duration ?? 0)}, ${formatDate(gen.created_at)}. Playing. Press Enter to restart.`
+                            : `Sample from ${gen.profile_name}, ${formatDuration(gen.duration ?? 0)}, ${formatDate(gen.created_at)}. Press Enter to play.`
+                    }
+                    onMouseDown={(e) => {
+                      if (!isPlayable) return;
+                      const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
+                      if (target.closest('textarea') || window.getSelection()?.toString()) {
+                        return;
+                      }
+                      handlePlay(gen.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id);
+                    }}
+                    onKeyDown={(e) => {
+                      if (!isPlayable) return;
+                      const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
+                      if (target.closest('textarea') || target.closest('button')) return;
+                      if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
+                        e.preventDefault();
+                        handlePlay(gen.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id);
+                      }
+                    }}
                   >
-                    <DropdownMenu>
-                      <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+                    {/* Status icon */}
+                    <div className="flex items-center shrink-0 w-10 justify-center overflow-hidden">
+                      <AudioBars
+                        mode={isGenerating ? 'generating' : isCurrentlyPlaying ? 'playing' : 'idle'}
+                      />
+                    </div>
+
+                    {/* Left side - Meta information */}
+                    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5 w-48 shrink-0 justify-center">
+                      <div className="font-medium text-sm truncate" title={gen.profile_name}>
+                        {gen.profile_name}
+                      </div>
+                      <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{gen.language}</span>
+                        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                          {formatEngineName(gen.engine, gen.model_size)}
+                        </span>
+                        {isFailed ? (
+                          <span className="text-xs text-destructive">Failed</span>
+                        ) : !isGenerating ? (
+                          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                            {formatDuration(gen.duration ?? 0)}
+                          </span>
+                        ) : null}
+                      </div>
+                      <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                        {isInProgress ? (
+                          <span className="text-accent">
+                            {gen.status === 'loading_model' ? 'Loading model...' : 'Generating...'}
+                          </span>
+                        ) : (
+                          formatDate(gen.created_at)
+                        )}
+                      </div>
+                    </div>
+
+                    {/* Right side - Transcript textarea */}
+                    <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 flex">
+                      <Textarea
+                        value={gen.text}
+                        className="flex-1 resize-none text-sm text-muted-foreground select-text"
+                        readOnly
+                        aria-label={`Transcript for sample from ${gen.profile_name}, ${formatDuration(gen.duration ?? 0)}`}
+                      />
+                    </div>
+
+                    {/* Far right - Actions */}
+                    <div
+                      className="shrink-0 flex flex-col justify-center items-center gap-0.5"
+                      onMouseDown={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+                      onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+                    >
+                      <Button
+                        variant="ghost"
+                        size="icon"
+                        className={cn(
+                          'h-6 w-6 text-muted-foreground/50 hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 hover:text-muted-foreground',
+                          gen.is_favorited && 'text-accent hover:text-accent',
+                        )}
+                        aria-label={gen.is_favorited ? 'Unfavorite' : 'Favorite'}
+                        onClick={() => handleToggleFavorite(gen.id)}
+                      >
+                        <Star
+                          className="h-2 w-2"
+                          fill={gen.is_favorited ? 'currentColor' : 'none'}
+                        />
+                      </Button>
+                      {hasVersions && (
                         <Button
                           variant="ghost"
                           size="icon"
-                          className="h-8 w-8"
-                          aria-label="Actions"
+                          className={cn(
+                            'h-6 w-6 text-muted-foreground/50 hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 hover:text-muted-foreground',
+                            isVersionsExpanded && 'text-accent hover:text-accent',
+                          )}
+                          aria-label="Toggle versions"
+                          onClick={() => setExpandedVersionsId(isVersionsExpanded ? null : gen.id)}
                         >
-                          <MoreHorizontal className="h-4 w-4" />
+                          <AudioLines className="h-2 w-2" />
                         </Button>
-                      </DropdownMenuTrigger>
-                      <DropdownMenuContent align="end">
-                        <DropdownMenuItem
-                          onClick={() => handlePlay(gen.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id)}
+                      )}
+
+                      {isFailed ? (
+                        <Button
+                          variant="ghost"
+                          size="icon"
+                          className="h-6 w-6 text-muted-foreground/50 hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 hover:text-muted-foreground"
+                          aria-label="Retry generation"
+                          onClick={() => handleRetry(gen.id)}
                         >
-                          <Play className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                          Play
-                        </DropdownMenuItem>
-                        <DropdownMenuItem
-                          onClick={() => handleDownloadAudio(gen.id, gen.text)}
-                          disabled={exportGenerationAudio.isPending}
-                        >
-                          <Download className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                          Export Audio
-                        </DropdownMenuItem>
-                        <DropdownMenuItem
-                          onClick={() => handleExportPackage(gen.id, gen.text)}
-                          disabled={exportGeneration.isPending}
-                        >
-                          <FileArchive className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                          Export Package
-                        </DropdownMenuItem>
-                        <DropdownMenuItem
-                          onClick={() => handleDeleteClick(gen.id, gen.profile_name)}
-                          disabled={deleteGeneration.isPending}
-                          className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive"
-                        >
-                          <Trash2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                          Delete
-                        </DropdownMenuItem>
-                      </DropdownMenuContent>
-                    </DropdownMenu>
+                          <RotateCcw className="h-2 w-2" />
+                        </Button>
+                      ) : (
+                        <>
+                          <DropdownMenu>
+                            <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+                              <Button
+                                variant="ghost"
+                                size="icon"
+                                className="h-6 w-6 text-muted-foreground/50 hover:bg-muted-foreground/20 hover:text-muted-foreground"
+                                aria-label="Actions"
+                                disabled={isGenerating}
+                              >
+                                <MoreHorizontal className="h-2 w-2" />
+                              </Button>
+                            </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+                            <DropdownMenuContent align="end">
+                              <DropdownMenuItem
+                                onClick={() => handlePlay(gen.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id)}
+                              >
+                                <Play className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                                Play
+                              </DropdownMenuItem>
+                              <DropdownMenuItem
+                                onClick={() => handleDownloadAudio(gen.id, gen.text)}
+                                disabled={exportGenerationAudio.isPending}
+                              >
+                                <Download className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                                Export Audio
+                              </DropdownMenuItem>
+                              <DropdownMenuItem
+                                onClick={() => handleExportPackage(gen.id, gen.text)}
+                                disabled={exportGeneration.isPending}
+                              >
+                                <FileArchive className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                                Export Package
+                              </DropdownMenuItem>
+                              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleApplyEffects(gen.id)}>
+                                <Wand2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                                Apply Effects
+                              </DropdownMenuItem>
+                              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleRegenerate(gen.id)}>
+                                <RotateCcw className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                                Regenerate
+                              </DropdownMenuItem>
+                              <DropdownMenuItem
+                                onClick={() => handleDeleteClick(gen.id, gen.profile_name)}
+                                disabled={deleteGeneration.isPending}
+                                // className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive"
+                              >
+                                <Trash2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                                Delete
+                              </DropdownMenuItem>
+                            </DropdownMenuContent>
+                          </DropdownMenu>
+                        </>
+                      )}
+                    </div>
                   </div>
+
+                  {/* Expandable versions panel */}
+                  <AnimatePresence>
+                    {isVersionsExpanded && gen.versions && (
+                      <motion.div
+                        initial={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
+                        animate={{ height: 'auto', opacity: 1 }}
+                        exit={{ height: 0, opacity: 0 }}
+                        transition={{ duration: 0.2, ease: 'easeOut' }}
+                        className="overflow-hidden"
+                      >
+                        <div className="border-t border-border/50">
+                          <div className="divide-y divide-border/40">
+                            {gen.versions.map((v) => {
+                              // Show source provenance when effects were applied to a non-clean version
+                              const sourceVersion = v.source_version_id
+                                ? gen.versions?.find((sv) => sv.id === v.source_version_id)
+                                : null;
+                              const showSource =
+                                sourceVersion &&
+                                sourceVersion.effects_chain &&
+                                sourceVersion.effects_chain.length > 0;
+
+                              return (
+                                <button
+                                  key={v.id}
+                                  type="button"
+                                  className="flex items-center gap-2 w-full h-9 px-3 text-left hover:bg-muted/50 transition-colors"
+                                  onClick={() => {
+                                    handlePlayVersion(gen.id, v.id, gen.text, gen.profile_id);
+                                    if (!v.is_default) {
+                                      handleSwitchVersion(gen.id, v.id);
+                                    }
+                                  }}
+                                >
+                                  <AudioLines className="h-3 w-3 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+                                  <span className="truncate text-xs font-medium">{v.label}</span>
+                                  {v.effects_chain && v.effects_chain.length > 0 && (
+                                    <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground truncate">
+                                      {v.effects_chain.map((e) => e.type).join(' → ')}
+                                    </span>
+                                  )}
+                                  {showSource && (
+                                    <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/60 truncate">
+                                      from {sourceVersion.label}
+                                    </span>
+                                  )}
+                                  <span className="flex-1" />
+                                  {v.is_default && (
+                                    <span className="text-[10px] bg-accent/15 text-accent px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-full">
+                                      active
+                                    </span>
+                                  )}
+                                </button>
+                              );
+                            })}
+                          </div>
+                        </div>
+                      </motion.div>
+                    )}
+                  </AnimatePresence>
                 </div>
               );
             })}
@@ -387,7 +722,8 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
           <DialogHeader>
             <DialogTitle>Delete Generation</DialogTitle>
             <DialogDescription>
-              Are you sure you want to delete this generation from "{generationToDelete?.name}"? This action cannot be undone.
+              Are you sure you want to delete this generation from "{generationToDelete?.name}"?
+              This action cannot be undone.
             </DialogDescription>
           </DialogHeader>
           <DialogFooter>
@@ -441,6 +777,57 @@ export function HistoryTable() {
           </DialogFooter>
         </DialogContent>
       </Dialog>
+
+      <Dialog open={effectsDialogOpen} onOpenChange={setEffectsDialogOpen}>
+        <DialogContent className="max-w-md">
+          <DialogHeader>
+            <DialogTitle>Apply Effects</DialogTitle>
+            <DialogDescription>
+              Configure post-processing effects to apply to this generation. A new version will be
+              created.
+            </DialogDescription>
+          </DialogHeader>
+          {effectsTargetVersions.length > 1 && (
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <label className="text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground">Source</label>
+              <Select
+                value={effectsSourceVersionId ?? ''}
+                onValueChange={(val) => setEffectsSourceVersionId(val || null)}
+              >
+                <SelectTrigger className="h-8 text-xs">
+                  <SelectValue placeholder="Select source version" />
+                </SelectTrigger>
+                <SelectContent>
+                  {effectsTargetVersions.map((v) => (
+                    <SelectItem key={v.id} value={v.id} className="text-xs">
+                      {v.label}
+                      {v.effects_chain && v.effects_chain.length > 0 && (
+                        <span className="text-muted-foreground ml-1.5">
+                          ({v.effects_chain.map((e) => e.type).join(' + ')})
+                        </span>
+                      )}
+                    </SelectItem>
+                  ))}
+                </SelectContent>
+              </Select>
+            </div>
+          )}
+          <div className="py-2 max-h-80 overflow-y-auto">
+            <EffectsChainEditor value={effectsChain} onChange={setEffectsChain} />
+          </div>
+          <DialogFooter>
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => setEffectsDialogOpen(false)}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+            <Button
+              onClick={handleApplyEffectsConfirm}
+              disabled={applyingEffects || effectsChain.length === 0}
+            >
+              {applyingEffects ? 'Applying...' : 'Apply'}
+            </Button>
+          </DialogFooter>
+        </DialogContent>
+      </Dialog>
     </div>
   );
 }

app/src/components/MainEditor/MainEditor.tsx

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/components/ui/dialog';
 import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
 import { ProfileList } from '@/components/VoiceProfiles/ProfileList';
-import { BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
+
 import { useImportProfile } from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ export function MainEditor() {
 
   return (
     // Main view: Profiles top left, Generator bottom left, History right
-    <div className="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 gap-6 h-full min-h-0 overflow-hidden relative">
+    <div className="grid grid-cols-1 lg:grid-cols-2 lg:gap-6 h-full min-h-0 overflow-hidden relative">
       {/* Left Column */}
-      <div className="flex flex-col min-h-0 overflow-hidden relative">
+      <div className="flex flex-col min-h-0 overflow-hidden relative lg:overflow-hidden">
         {/* Scroll Mask - Always visible, behind content */}
         <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-16 bg-gradient-to-b from-background to-transparent z-0 pointer-events-none" />
 
@@ -110,10 +110,7 @@ export function MainEditor() {
         {/* Scrollable Content */}
         <div
           ref={scrollRef}
-          className={cn(
-            'flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto pt-14',
-            isPlayerVisible ? BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING : 'pb-4',
-          )}
+          className={cn('flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto pt-14 pb-4', isPlayerVisible && 'lg:pb-32')}
         >
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-6">
             <div className="shrink-0 flex flex-col">
@@ -123,6 +120,9 @@ export function MainEditor() {
         </div>
       </div>
 
+      {/* Divider - single column only */}
+      {/* <div className="border-t border-border -my-3 lg:hidden" /> */}
+
       {/* Right Column - History */}
       <div className="flex flex-col min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
         <HistoryTable />

app/src/components/ModelsTab/ModelsTab.tsx

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { ModelManagement } from '@/components/ServerSettings/ModelManagement';
 
 export function ModelsTab() {
   return (
-    <div className="h-full flex flex-col p-4">
+    <div className="h-full flex flex-col">
       <ModelManagement />
     </div>
   );

app/src/components/ServerSettings/ConnectionForm.tsx

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function ConnectionForm() {
               <Badge variant={health.gpu_available ? 'default' : 'secondary'}>
                 GPU: {health.gpu_available ? 'Available' : 'Not Available'}
               </Badge>
-              {health.vram_used_mb && (
+              {health.vram_used_mb != null && health.vram_used_mb > 0 && (
                 <Badge variant="outline">VRAM: {health.vram_used_mb.toFixed(0)} MB</Badge>
               )}
             </div>
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ export function ConnectionForm() {
           <div className="flex items-start space-x-3">
             <Checkbox
               id="keepServerRunning"
+              className="mt-[6px]"
               checked={keepServerRunningOnClose}
               onCheckedChange={(checked: boolean) => {
                 setKeepServerRunningOnClose(checked);
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ export function ConnectionForm() {
             <div className="flex items-start space-x-3">
               <Checkbox
                 id="allowNetworkAccess"
+                className="mt-[6px]"
                 checked={mode === 'remote'}
                 onCheckedChange={(checked: boolean) => {
                   setMode(checked ? 'remote' : 'local');

app/src/components/ServerSettings/GenerationSettings.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { Checkbox } from '@/components/ui/checkbox';
 import { Slider } from '@/components/ui/slider';
 import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 
@@ -7,6 +8,10 @@ export function GenerationSettings() {
   const setMaxChunkChars = useServerStore((state) => state.setMaxChunkChars);
   const crossfadeMs = useServerStore((state) => state.crossfadeMs);
   const setCrossfadeMs = useServerStore((state) => state.setCrossfadeMs);
+  const normalizeAudio = useServerStore((state) => state.normalizeAudio);
+  const setNormalizeAudio = useServerStore((state) => state.setNormalizeAudio);
+  const autoplayOnGenerate = useServerStore((state) => state.autoplayOnGenerate);
+  const setAutoplayOnGenerate = useServerStore((state) => state.setAutoplayOnGenerate);
 
   return (
     <Card role="region" aria-label="Generation Settings" tabIndex={0}>
@@ -32,7 +37,7 @@ export function GenerationSettings() {
               value={[maxChunkChars]}
               onValueChange={([value]) => setMaxChunkChars(value)}
               min={100}
-              max={2000}
+              max={5000}
               step={50}
               aria-label="Auto-chunking character limit"
             />
@@ -64,6 +69,46 @@ export function GenerationSettings() {
               Blends audio between chunks to smooth transitions. Set to 0 for a hard cut.
             </p>
           </div>
+
+          <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
+            <Checkbox
+              id="normalizeAudio"
+              checked={normalizeAudio}
+              onCheckedChange={setNormalizeAudio}
+              className="mt-[6px]"
+            />
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label
+                htmlFor="normalizeAudio"
+                className="text-sm font-medium leading-none cursor-pointer"
+              >
+                Normalize audio
+              </label>
+              <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                Adjusts output volume to a consistent level across generations.
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
+            <Checkbox
+              id="autoplayOnGenerate"
+              checked={autoplayOnGenerate}
+              onCheckedChange={setAutoplayOnGenerate}
+              className="mt-[6px]"
+            />
+            <div className="space-y-1">
+              <label
+                htmlFor="autoplayOnGenerate"
+                className="text-sm font-medium leading-none cursor-pointer"
+              >
+                Autoplay on generate
+              </label>
+              <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                Automatically play audio when a generation completes.
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </div>
         </div>
       </CardContent>
     </Card>

app/src/components/ServerSettings/GpuAcceleration.tsx

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export function GpuAcceleration() {
   // Query CUDA backend status
   const {
     data: cudaStatus,
-    isLoading: cudaStatusLoading,
+    isLoading: _cudaStatusLoading,
     refetch: refetchCudaStatus,
   } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ['cuda-status', serverUrl],
@@ -218,43 +218,46 @@ export function GpuAcceleration() {
         <CardTitle>GPU Acceleration</CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
       <CardContent className="space-y-4">
-        {/* Current status */}
+        {/* GPU status */}
         <div className="space-y-1">
-          <div className="text-sm font-medium">Backend</div>
-          <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            {isCurrentlyCuda
-              ? 'CUDA (GPU accelerated)'
-              : hasNativeGpu
-                ? `${health.backend_type === 'mlx' ? 'MLX' : 'PyTorch'} (GPU accelerated)`
-                : 'CPU'}
-          </div>
-        </div>
-
-        {/* GPU info from health */}
-        {health.gpu_type && (
-          <div className="space-y-1">
-            <div className="text-sm font-medium">GPU</div>
-            <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{health.gpu_type}</div>
-            {health.vram_used_mb != null && (
-              <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                VRAM: {health.vram_used_mb.toFixed(0)} MB used
+          {health.gpu_available && health.gpu_type ? (
+            <>
+              <div className="text-sm font-medium">
+                {health.gpu_type.replace(/^(CUDA|ROCm|MPS|Metal|XPU|DirectML)\s*\((.+)\)$/, '$2') ||
+                  health.gpu_type}
               </div>
-            )}
-          </div>
-        )}
+              <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                {health.gpu_type.replace(/\s*\(.+\)$/, '')}
+                {health.vram_used_mb != null && health.vram_used_mb > 0
+                  ? ` \u00b7 ${health.vram_used_mb.toFixed(0)} MB VRAM used`
+                  : ''}
+              </div>
+            </>
+          ) : (
+            <>
+              <div className="text-sm font-medium">CPU</div>
+              <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">No GPU acceleration available</div>
+            </>
+          )}
+        </div>
 
         {/* Native GPU detected - no CUDA download needed */}
 
-        {/* CUDA download section - only show when native GPU is NOT detected (i.e., Windows/Linux NVIDIA users) */}
-        {!hasNativeGpu && (
+        {/* CUDA download section - only show when no GPU is active (native or CUDA) */}
+        {!hasNativeGpu && !isCurrentlyCuda && (
           <>
-            {/* Download progress */}
+            {/* Download progress (manual download or auto-update) */}
             {cudaDownloading && downloadProgress && (
               <div className="space-y-2">
                 <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
                   <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
                     <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
-                    <span>{downloadProgress.filename || 'Downloading CUDA backend...'}</span>
+                    <span>
+                      {downloadProgress.filename ||
+                        (cudaAvailable
+                          ? 'Updating CUDA backend...'
+                          : 'Downloading CUDA backend...')}
+                    </span>
                   </div>
                   {downloadProgress.total > 0 && (
                     <span className="text-muted-foreground">

app/src/components/ServerSettings/ModelManagement.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   CircleX,
   Download,
   ExternalLink,
+  FolderOpen,
   HardDrive,
   Heart,
   Loader2,
@@ -41,6 +42,8 @@ import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
 import type { ActiveDownloadTask, HuggingFaceModelInfo, ModelStatus } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { useModelDownloadToast } from '@/lib/hooks/useModelDownloadToast';
+import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 
 async function fetchHuggingFaceModelInfo(repoId: string): Promise<HuggingFaceModelInfo> {
   const response = await fetch(`https://huggingface.co/api/models/${repoId}`);
@@ -48,6 +51,29 @@ async function fetchHuggingFaceModelInfo(repoId: string): Promise<HuggingFaceMod
   return response.json();
 }
 
+const MODEL_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
+  'qwen-tts-1.7B':
+    'High-quality multilingual TTS by Alibaba. Supports 10 languages with natural prosody and voice cloning from short reference audio.',
+  'qwen-tts-0.6B':
+    'Lightweight version of Qwen TTS. Same language support with faster inference, ideal for lower-end hardware.',
+  luxtts:
+    'Lightweight ZipVoice-based TTS designed for high quality voice cloning and 48kHz speech generation at speeds exceeding 150x realtime.',
+  'chatterbox-tts':
+    'Production-grade open source TTS by Resemble AI. Supports 23 languages with voice cloning and emotion exaggeration control.',
+  'chatterbox-turbo':
+    'Streamlined 350M parameter TTS by Resemble AI. High-quality English speech with less compute and VRAM than larger models.',
+  'whisper-base':
+    'Smallest Whisper model (74M parameters). Fast transcription with moderate accuracy.',
+  'whisper-small':
+    'Whisper Small (244M parameters). Good balance of speed and accuracy for transcription.',
+  'whisper-medium':
+    'Whisper Medium (769M parameters). Higher accuracy transcription at moderate speed.',
+  'whisper-large':
+    'Whisper Large (1.5B parameters). Best accuracy for speech-to-text across multiple languages.',
+  'whisper-turbo':
+    'Whisper Large v3 Turbo. Pruned for significantly faster inference while maintaining near-large accuracy.',
+};
+
 function formatDownloads(n: number): string {
   if (n >= 1_000_000) return `${(n / 1_000_000).toFixed(1)}M`;
   if (n >= 1_000) return `${(n / 1_000).toFixed(1)}k`;
@@ -85,6 +111,18 @@ function formatBytes(bytes: number): string {
 export function ModelManagement() {
   const { toast } = useToast();
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+  const customModelsDir = useServerStore((state) => state.customModelsDir);
+  const setCustomModelsDir = useServerStore((state) => state.setCustomModelsDir);
+  const [migrating, setMigrating] = useState(false);
+  const [migrationProgress, setMigrationProgress] = useState<{
+    current: number;
+    total: number;
+    progress: number;
+    filename?: string;
+    status: string;
+  } | null>(null);
+  const [pendingMigrateDir, setPendingMigrateDir] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [downloadingModel, setDownloadingModel] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [downloadingDisplayName, setDownloadingDisplayName] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [consoleOpen, setConsoleOpen] = useState(false);
@@ -104,6 +142,12 @@ export function ModelManagement() {
     refetchInterval: 5000,
   });
 
+  const { data: cacheDir } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['modelsCacheDir'],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.getModelsCacheDir(),
+    staleTime: 1000 * 60 * 5,
+  });
+
   const { data: activeTasks } = useQuery({
     queryKey: ['activeTasks'],
     queryFn: () => apiClient.getActiveTasks(),
@@ -382,6 +426,81 @@ export function ModelManagement() {
         </p>
       </div>
 
+      {/* Model storage location */}
+      {platform.metadata.isTauri && cacheDir && (
+        <div className="shrink-0 pb-4 border-b mb-4">
+          <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+            <div className="min-w-0">
+              <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Storage location</span>
+              <p
+                className="text-xs font-mono text-muted-foreground/70 truncate"
+                title={cacheDir.path}
+              >
+                {cacheDir.path}
+              </p>
+            </div>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-1 shrink-0">
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                className="text-xs text-muted-foreground h-7 px-2"
+                onClick={async () => {
+                  try {
+                    await platform.filesystem.openPath(cacheDir.path);
+                  } catch {
+                    toast({ title: 'Failed to open model folder', variant: 'destructive' });
+                  }
+                }}
+              >
+                <FolderOpen className="h-3 w-3" />
+                Open
+              </Button>
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                className="text-xs text-muted-foreground h-7 px-2"
+                onClick={async () => {
+                  try {
+                    const newDir = await platform.filesystem.pickDirectory(
+                      'Choose model storage folder',
+                    );
+                    if (!newDir) return;
+                    setPendingMigrateDir(newDir);
+                  } catch {
+                    toast({ title: 'Failed to open folder picker', variant: 'destructive' });
+                  }
+                }}
+                disabled={migrating}
+              >
+                {migrating ? (
+                  <Loader2 className="h-3 w-3 animate-spin" />
+                ) : (
+                  <FolderOpen className="h-3 w-3" />
+                )}
+                {migrating ? 'Migrating...' : 'Change'}
+              </Button>
+              {customModelsDir && (
+                <Button
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  size="sm"
+                  className="text-xs text-muted-foreground h-7 px-2"
+                  disabled={migrating}
+                  onClick={async () => {
+                    setCustomModelsDir(null);
+                    toast({ title: 'Reset to default location. Restarting server...' });
+                    await platform.lifecycle.restartServer('');
+                    queryClient.invalidateQueries();
+                  }}
+                >
+                  <RotateCcw className="h-3 w-3" />
+                  Reset
+                </Button>
+              )}
+            </div>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {/* Model list */}
       {isLoading ? (
         <div className="flex items-center justify-center py-16">
@@ -457,9 +576,7 @@ export function ModelManagement() {
                             {formatSize(model.size_mb)}
                           </span>
                         )}
-                        {!model.downloaded && !isDownloading && !hasError && (
-                          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/60">Not downloaded</span>
-                        )}
+
                         <ChevronRight className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground/40 group-hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors" />
                       </div>
                     </button>
@@ -571,13 +688,6 @@ export function ModelManagement() {
                       Error
                     </Badge>
                   )}
-                  {!freshSelectedModel.downloaded &&
-                    !selectedState?.isDownloading &&
-                    !selectedState?.hasError && (
-                      <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                        Not downloaded
-                      </Badge>
-                    )}
                 </div>
 
                 {/* HuggingFace model card info */}
@@ -588,6 +698,13 @@ export function ModelManagement() {
                   </div>
                 )}
 
+                {/* Description */}
+                {MODEL_DESCRIPTIONS[freshSelectedModel.model_name] && (
+                  <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground leading-relaxed">
+                    {MODEL_DESCRIPTIONS[freshSelectedModel.model_name]}
+                  </p>
+                )}
+
                 {hfModelInfo && (
                   <div className="space-y-3">
                     {/* Pipeline tag + author */}
@@ -810,6 +927,126 @@ export function ModelManagement() {
           </AlertDialogFooter>
         </AlertDialogContent>
       </AlertDialog>
+
+      {/* Migration confirmation dialog */}
+      <AlertDialog
+        open={!!pendingMigrateDir}
+        onOpenChange={(open) => !open && setPendingMigrateDir(null)}
+      >
+        <AlertDialogContent>
+          <AlertDialogHeader>
+            <AlertDialogTitle>Move models to new location?</AlertDialogTitle>
+            <AlertDialogDescription>
+              The server will shut down while models are being moved to the new folder. It will
+              restart automatically once the migration is complete.
+            </AlertDialogDescription>
+          </AlertDialogHeader>
+          <div
+            className="text-xs font-mono text-muted-foreground bg-muted/50 rounded px-3 py-2 truncate"
+            title={pendingMigrateDir ?? ''}
+          >
+            {pendingMigrateDir}
+          </div>
+          <AlertDialogFooter>
+            <AlertDialogCancel>Cancel</AlertDialogCancel>
+            <AlertDialogAction
+              onClick={async () => {
+                if (!pendingMigrateDir) return;
+                const newDir = pendingMigrateDir;
+                setPendingMigrateDir(null);
+                setMigrating(true);
+                setMigrationProgress({
+                  current: 0,
+                  total: 0,
+                  progress: 0,
+                  status: 'downloading',
+                  filename: 'Preparing...',
+                });
+                try {
+                  // Start the migration (background task)
+                  await apiClient.migrateModels(newDir);
+
+                  // Connect to SSE for progress
+                  await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+                    const es = new EventSource(apiClient.getMigrationProgressUrl());
+                    es.onmessage = (event) => {
+                      try {
+                        const data = JSON.parse(event.data);
+                        setMigrationProgress(data);
+                        if (data.status === 'complete') {
+                          es.close();
+                          resolve();
+                        } else if (data.status === 'error') {
+                          es.close();
+                          reject(new Error(data.error || 'Migration failed'));
+                        }
+                      } catch {
+                        /* ignore parse errors */
+                      }
+                    };
+                    es.onerror = () => {
+                      es.close();
+                      reject(new Error('Lost connection during migration'));
+                    };
+                  });
+
+                  setCustomModelsDir(newDir);
+                  setMigrationProgress({
+                    current: 1,
+                    total: 1,
+                    progress: 100,
+                    status: 'complete',
+                    filename: 'Restarting server...',
+                  });
+                  await platform.lifecycle.restartServer(newDir);
+                  queryClient.invalidateQueries();
+                  toast({ title: 'Models moved successfully' });
+                } catch (e) {
+                  toast({
+                    title: 'Migration failed',
+                    description: e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to migrate models',
+                    variant: 'destructive',
+                  });
+                } finally {
+                  setMigrating(false);
+                  setMigrationProgress(null);
+                }
+              }}
+            >
+              Move Models
+            </AlertDialogAction>
+          </AlertDialogFooter>
+        </AlertDialogContent>
+      </AlertDialog>
+
+      {/* Migration progress overlay */}
+      {migrating && migrationProgress && (
+        <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 bg-background/95 backdrop-blur-sm flex items-center justify-center">
+          <div className="w-full max-w-md px-8 space-y-6 text-center">
+            <div className="space-y-2">
+              <Loader2 className="h-8 w-8 animate-spin mx-auto text-muted-foreground" />
+              <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">Moving models</h2>
+              <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                {migrationProgress.status === 'complete'
+                  ? 'Restarting server...'
+                  : 'The server is offline while models are being moved.'}
+              </p>
+            </div>
+            {migrationProgress.total > 0 && (
+              <div className="space-y-2">
+                <Progress value={migrationProgress.progress} className="h-2" />
+                <div className="flex justify-between text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  <span className="truncate max-w-[60%]">{migrationProgress.filename}</span>
+                  <span>
+                    {formatBytes(migrationProgress.current)} /{' '}
+                    {formatBytes(migrationProgress.total)}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }

app/src/components/ServerSettings/UpdateStatus.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export function UpdateStatus() {
   const platform = usePlatform();
   const { status, checkForUpdates, downloadAndInstall, restartAndInstall } = useAutoUpdater(false);
   const [currentVersion, setCurrentVersion] = useState<string>('');
+  const isDev = !import.meta.env?.PROD;
 
   useEffect(() => {
     platform.metadata
@@ -20,11 +21,7 @@ export function UpdateStatus() {
   }, [platform]);
 
   return (
-    <Card
-      role="region"
-      aria-label="App Updates"
-      tabIndex={0}
-    >
+    <Card role="region" aria-label="App Updates" tabIndex={0}>
       <CardHeader>
         <CardTitle>App Updates</CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
@@ -32,97 +29,110 @@ export function UpdateStatus() {
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
           <div className="space-y-1">
             <div className="text-sm font-medium">Current Version</div>
-            <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">v{currentVersion}</div>
+            <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+              v{currentVersion}
+              {isDev ? ' (dev)' : ''}
+            </div>
           </div>
-          <Button
-            onClick={checkForUpdates}
-            disabled={status.checking || status.downloading || status.readyToInstall}
-            variant="outline"
-            size="sm"
-          >
-            <RefreshCw className={`h-4 w-4 mr-2 ${status.checking ? 'animate-spin' : ''}`} />
-            Check for Updates
-          </Button>
+          {!isDev && (
+            <Button
+              onClick={checkForUpdates}
+              disabled={status.checking || status.downloading || status.readyToInstall}
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+            >
+              <RefreshCw className={`h-4 w-4 mr-2 ${status.checking ? 'animate-spin' : ''}`} />
+              Check for Updates
+            </Button>
+          )}
         </div>
 
-        {status.checking && (
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
-            Checking for updates...
+        {isDev ? (
+          <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            Auto-updates are disabled in development mode.
           </div>
-        )}
-
-        {status.error && (
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-destructive">
-            <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
-            {status.error}
-          </div>
-        )}
-
-        {status.available && !status.downloading && !status.readyToInstall && (
-          <div className="space-y-3 p-4 border rounded-lg bg-primary/5">
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-              <div>
-                <div className="font-semibold">Update Available</div>
-                <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Version {status.version}</div>
+        ) : (
+          <>
+            {status.checking && (
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
+                Checking for updates...
               </div>
-              <Badge>New</Badge>
-            </div>
-            <Button onClick={downloadAndInstall} className="w-full" size="sm">
-              <Download className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Download Update
-            </Button>
-          </div>
-        )}
+            )}
 
-        {status.downloading && (
-          <div className="space-y-2">
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
-              <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                <Download className="h-4 w-4" />
-                Downloading update...
+            {status.error && (
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+                <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
+                {status.error}
               </div>
-              {status.downloadProgress !== undefined && (
-                <span className="text-muted-foreground">{status.downloadProgress}%</span>
-              )}
-            </div>
-            <Progress value={status.downloadProgress} />
-            {status.downloadedBytes !== undefined &&
-              status.totalBytes !== undefined &&
-              status.totalBytes > 0 && (
-                <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                  {(status.downloadedBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1)} MB /{' '}
-                  {(status.totalBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1)} MB
+            )}
+
+            {status.available && !status.downloading && !status.readyToInstall && (
+              <div className="space-y-3 p-4 border rounded-lg bg-primary/5">
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+                  <div>
+                    <div className="font-semibold">Update Available</div>
+                    <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Version {status.version}</div>
+                  </div>
+                  <Badge>New</Badge>
                 </div>
-              )}
-          </div>
-        )}
+                <Button onClick={downloadAndInstall} className="w-full" size="sm">
+                  <Download className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  Download Update
+                </Button>
+              </div>
+            )}
 
-        {status.readyToInstall && (
-          <div className="space-y-3 p-4 border rounded-lg bg-accent/30 border-accent/50">
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-              <div>
-                <div className="font-semibold">Update Ready to Install</div>
+            {status.downloading && (
+              <div className="space-y-2">
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                    <Download className="h-4 w-4" />
+                    Downloading update...
+                  </div>
+                  {status.downloadProgress !== undefined && (
+                    <span className="text-muted-foreground">{status.downloadProgress}%</span>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+                <Progress value={status.downloadProgress} />
+                {status.downloadedBytes !== undefined &&
+                  status.totalBytes !== undefined &&
+                  status.totalBytes > 0 && (
+                    <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                      {(status.downloadedBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1)} MB /{' '}
+                      {(status.totalBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1)} MB
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+              </div>
+            )}
+
+            {status.readyToInstall && (
+              <div className="space-y-3 p-4 border rounded-lg bg-accent/30 border-accent/50">
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                  <div>
+                    <div className="font-semibold">Update Ready to Install</div>
+                    <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                      Version {status.version} has been downloaded
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
                 <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                  Version {status.version} has been downloaded
+                  The app needs to restart to complete the installation. You can do this now or
+                  later at your convenience.
                 </div>
+                <Button onClick={restartAndInstall} className="w-full" size="sm">
+                  <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  Restart Now
+                </Button>
               </div>
-            </div>
-            <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              The app needs to restart to complete the installation. You can do this now or later at
-              your convenience.
-            </div>
-            <Button onClick={restartAndInstall} className="w-full" size="sm">
-              <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Restart Now
-            </Button>
-          </div>
-        )}
+            )}
 
-        {!status.available && !status.checking && !status.error && status.checking === false && (
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            You're up to date
-          </div>
+            {!status.available && !status.checking && !status.error && (
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                You're up to date
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </>
         )}
       </CardContent>
     </Card>

app/src/components/ServerTab/AboutPage.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+import { ArrowUpRight } from 'lucide-react';
+import type { CSSProperties, ReactNode } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import voiceboxLogo from '@/assets/voicebox-logo.png';
+import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+
+function FadeIn({ delay = 0, children }: { delay?: number; children: ReactNode }) {
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="animate-[fadeInUp_0.5s_ease_both]"
+      style={{ animationDelay: `${delay}ms` } as CSSProperties}
+    >
+      {children}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export function AboutPage() {
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+  const [version, setVersion] = useState('');
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    platform.metadata
+      .getVersion()
+      .then(setVersion)
+      .catch(() => setVersion(''));
+  }, [platform]);
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <style>{`
+        @keyframes fadeInUp {
+          from {
+            opacity: 0;
+            transform: translateY(8px);
+          }
+          to {
+            opacity: 1;
+            transform: translateY(0);
+          }
+        }
+      `}</style>
+      <div className="max-w-md mx-auto h-full flex items-center">
+        <div className="flex flex-col items-center text-center space-y-5">
+          <FadeIn delay={0}>
+            <img src={voiceboxLogo} alt="Voicebox" className="w-20 h-20 object-contain" />
+          </FadeIn>
+
+          <FadeIn delay={80}>
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <h1 className="text-lg font-semibold">Voicebox</h1>
+              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/60 h-4">
+                {version ? `v${version}` : '\u00A0'}
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          </FadeIn>
+
+          <FadeIn delay={160}>
+            <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground leading-relaxed max-w-sm">
+              The open-source voice synthesis studio. Clone voices, generate speech, apply effects,
+              and build voice-powered apps — all running locally on your machine.
+            </p>
+          </FadeIn>
+
+          <FadeIn delay={240}>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+              <span>Created by</span>
+              <a
+                href="https://github.com/jamiepine"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="text-accent hover:underline"
+              >
+                Jamie Pine
+              </a>
+            </div>
+          </FadeIn>
+
+          <FadeIn delay={320}>
+            <div className="flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-3 pt-2">
+              <a
+                href="https://buymeacoffee.com/jamiepine"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="group inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-border/60 px-4 py-2 text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-muted/50"
+              >
+                <svg
+                  className="h-4 w-4 text-[#FFDD00]"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                  fill="currentColor"
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                >
+                  <path d="m20.216 6.415-.132-.666c-.119-.598-.388-1.163-1.001-1.379-.197-.069-.42-.098-.57-.241-.152-.143-.196-.366-.231-.572-.065-.378-.125-.756-.192-1.133-.057-.325-.102-.69-.25-.987-.195-.4-.597-.634-.996-.788a5.723 5.723 0 0 0-.626-.194c-1-.263-2.05-.36-3.077-.416a25.834 25.834 0 0 0-3.7.062c-.915.083-1.88.184-2.75.5-.318.116-.646.256-.888.501-.297.302-.393.77-.177 1.146.154.267.415.456.692.58.36.162.737.284 1.123.366 1.075.238 2.189.331 3.287.37 1.218.05 2.437.01 3.65-.118.299-.033.598-.073.896-.119.352-.054.578-.513.474-.834-.124-.383-.457-.531-.834-.473-.466.074-.96.108-1.382.146-1.177.08-2.358.082-3.536.006a22.228 22.228 0 0 1-1.157-.107c-.086-.01-.18-.025-.258-.036-.243-.036-.484-.08-.724-.13-.111-.027-.111-.185 0-.212h.005c.277-.06.557-.108.838-.147h.002c.131-.009.263-.032.394-.048a25.076 25.076 0 0 1 3.426-.12c.674.019 1.347.067 2.017.144l.228.031c.267.04.533.088.798.145.392.085.895.113 1.07.542.055.137.08.288.111.431l.319 1.484a.237.237 0 0 1-.199.284h-.003c-.037.006-.075.01-.112.015a36.704 36.704 0 0 1-4.743.295 37.059 37.059 0 0 1-4.699-.304c-.14-.017-.293-.042-.417-.06-.326-.048-.649-.108-.973-.161-.393-.065-.768-.032-1.123.161-.29.16-.527.404-.675.701-.154.316-.199.66-.267 1-.069.34-.176.707-.135 1.056.087.753.613 1.365 1.37 1.502a39.69 39.69 0 0 0 11.343.376.483.483 0 0 1 .535.53l-.071.697-1.018 9.907c-.041.41-.047.832-.125 1.237-.122.637-.553 1.028-1.182 1.171-.577.131-1.165.2-1.756.205-.656.004-1.31-.025-1.966-.022-.699.004-1.556-.06-2.095-.58-.475-.458-.54-1.174-.605-1.793l-.731-7.013-.322-3.094c-.037-.351-.286-.695-.678-.678-.336.015-.718.3-.678.679l.228 2.185.949 9.112c.147 1.344 1.174 2.068 2.446 2.272.742.12 1.503.144 2.257.156.966.016 1.942.053 2.892-.122 1.408-.258 2.465-1.198 2.616-2.657.34-3.332.683-6.663 1.024-9.995l.215-2.087a.484.484 0 0 1 .39-.426c.402-.078.787-.212 1.074-.518.455-.488.546-1.124.385-1.766zm-1.478.772c-.145.137-.363.201-.578.233-2.416.359-4.866.54-7.308.46-1.748-.06-3.477-.254-5.207-.498-.17-.024-.353-.055-.47-.18-.22-.236-.111-.71-.054-.995.052-.26.152-.609.463-.646.484-.057 1.046.148 1.526.22.577.088 1.156.159 1.737.212 2.48.226 5.002.19 7.472-.14.45-.06.899-.13 1.345-.21.399-.072.84-.206 1.08.206.166.281.188.657.162.974a.544.544 0 0 1-.169.364zm-6.159 3.9c-.862.37-1.84.788-3.109.788a5.884 5.884 0 0 1-1.569-.217l.877 9.004c.065.78.717 1.38 1.5 1.38 0 0 1.243.065 1.658.065.447 0 1.786-.065 1.786-.065.783 0 1.434-.6 1.499-1.38l.94-9.95a3.996 3.996 0 0 0-1.322-.238c-.826 0-1.491.284-2.26.613z" />
+                </svg>
+                Buy me a coffee
+                <ArrowUpRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground/40 group-hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors" />
+              </a>
+              <a
+                href="https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="group inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-border/60 px-4 py-2 text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-muted/50"
+              >
+                <svg
+                  className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                  fill="currentColor"
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                >
+                  <path d="M12 2C6.477 2 2 6.484 2 12.017c0 4.425 2.865 8.18 6.839 9.504.5.092.682-.217.682-.483 0-.237-.008-.868-.013-1.703-2.782.605-3.369-1.343-3.369-1.343-.454-1.158-1.11-1.466-1.11-1.466-.908-.62.069-.608.069-.608 1.003.07 1.531 1.032 1.531 1.032.892 1.53 2.341 1.088 2.91.832.092-.647.35-1.088.636-1.338-2.22-.253-4.555-1.113-4.555-4.951 0-1.093.39-1.988 1.029-2.688-.103-.253-.446-1.272.098-2.65 0 0 .84-.27 2.75 1.026A9.564 9.564 0 0112 6.844c.85.004 1.705.115 2.504.337 1.909-1.296 2.747-1.027 2.747-1.027.546 1.379.202 2.398.1 2.651.64.7 1.028 1.595 1.028 2.688 0 3.848-2.339 4.695-4.566 4.943.359.309.678.92.678 1.855 0 1.338-.012 2.419-.012 2.747 0 .268.18.58.688.482A10.019 10.019 0 0022 12.017C22 6.484 17.522 2 12 2z" />
+                </svg>
+                GitHub
+                <ArrowUpRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground/40 group-hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors" />
+              </a>
+            </div>
+          </FadeIn>
+
+          <FadeIn delay={400}>
+            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/40 pt-4">
+              Licensed under{' '}
+              <a
+                href="https://github.com/jamiepine/voicebox/blob/main/LICENSE"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="hover:text-muted-foreground/60 transition-colors"
+              >
+                MIT
+              </a>
+            </p>
+          </FadeIn>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/ServerTab/ChangelogPage.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+import changelogRaw from 'virtual:changelog';
+import { useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
+import { type ChangelogEntry, parseChangelog } from '@/lib/utils/parseChangelog';
+
+function renderMarkdown(md: string): React.ReactNode[] {
+  const lines = md.split('\n');
+  const elements: React.ReactNode[] = [];
+  let i = 0;
+
+  while (i < lines.length) {
+    const line = lines[i];
+
+    // Skip empty lines
+    if (line.trim() === '') {
+      i++;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // Tables — collect all lines starting with |
+    if (line.trim().startsWith('|')) {
+      const tableLines: string[] = [];
+      while (i < lines.length && lines[i].trim().startsWith('|')) {
+        tableLines.push(lines[i]);
+        i++;
+      }
+      elements.push(renderTable(tableLines, elements.length));
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // Headings
+    if (line.startsWith('#### ')) {
+      elements.push(
+        <h5 key={elements.length} className="text-sm font-medium mt-5 mb-1">
+          {inlineMarkdown(line.slice(5))}
+        </h5>,
+      );
+      i++;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (line.startsWith('### ')) {
+      elements.push(
+        <h4 key={elements.length} className="text-sm font-medium mt-6 mb-2">
+          {inlineMarkdown(line.slice(4))}
+        </h4>,
+      );
+      i++;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // List items — collect consecutive
+    if (line.startsWith('- ')) {
+      const items: string[] = [];
+      while (i < lines.length && lines[i].startsWith('- ')) {
+        items.push(lines[i].slice(2));
+        i++;
+      }
+      elements.push(
+        <ul key={elements.length} className="space-y-1 my-2">
+          {items.map((item, idx) => (
+            <li key={idx} className="text-sm text-muted-foreground flex gap-2">
+              <span className="text-muted-foreground/50 select-none shrink-0">&bull;</span>
+              <span>{inlineMarkdown(item)}</span>
+            </li>
+          ))}
+        </ul>,
+      );
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    // Paragraph
+    elements.push(
+      <p key={elements.length} className="text-sm text-muted-foreground my-2">
+        {inlineMarkdown(line)}
+      </p>,
+    );
+    i++;
+  }
+
+  return elements;
+}
+
+function renderTable(tableLines: string[], keyBase: number): React.ReactNode {
+  const parseRow = (line: string) =>
+    line
+      .split('|')
+      .slice(1, -1)
+      .map((c) => c.trim());
+
+  const headers = parseRow(tableLines[0]);
+  // Skip separator line (index 1)
+  const rows = tableLines.slice(2).map(parseRow);
+
+  return (
+    <div key={keyBase} className="overflow-x-auto my-3">
+      <table className="text-sm w-full">
+        <thead>
+          <tr className="border-b">
+            {headers.map((h, hIdx) => (
+              <th
+                key={hIdx}
+                className="text-left py-1.5 pr-4 text-muted-foreground font-medium text-xs"
+              >
+                {inlineMarkdown(h)}
+              </th>
+            ))}
+          </tr>
+        </thead>
+        <tbody>
+          {rows.map((row, rowIdx) => (
+            <tr key={rowIdx} className="border-b border-border/50">
+              {row.map((cell, cellIdx) => (
+                <td key={cellIdx} className="py-1.5 pr-4 text-muted-foreground">
+                  {inlineMarkdown(cell)}
+                </td>
+              ))}
+            </tr>
+          ))}
+        </tbody>
+      </table>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function inlineMarkdown(text: string): React.ReactNode {
+  // Process inline markdown: bold, code, links
+  const parts: React.ReactNode[] = [];
+  // Regex matches: **bold**, `code`, [text](url)
+  const inlineRe = /\*\*(.+?)\*\*|`([^`]+)`|\[([^\]]+)\]\(([^)]+)\)/g;
+  let lastIndex = 0;
+  let match: RegExpExecArray | null = inlineRe.exec(text);
+
+  while (match !== null) {
+    if (match.index > lastIndex) {
+      parts.push(text.slice(lastIndex, match.index));
+    }
+
+    if (match[1] !== undefined) {
+      // Bold
+      parts.push(
+        <strong key={parts.length} className="font-medium text-foreground">
+          {match[1]}
+        </strong>,
+      );
+    } else if (match[2] !== undefined) {
+      // Code
+      parts.push(
+        <code key={parts.length} className="px-1 py-0.5 rounded bg-muted text-xs font-mono">
+          {match[2]}
+        </code>,
+      );
+    } else if (match[3] !== undefined && match[4] !== undefined) {
+      // Link
+      parts.push(
+        <a
+          key={parts.length}
+          href={match[4]}
+          target="_blank"
+          rel="noopener noreferrer"
+          className="text-accent hover:underline"
+        >
+          {match[3]}
+        </a>,
+      );
+    }
+
+    lastIndex = match.index + match[0].length;
+    match = inlineRe.exec(text);
+  }
+
+  if (lastIndex < text.length) {
+    parts.push(text.slice(lastIndex));
+  }
+
+  return parts.length === 1 ? parts[0] : parts;
+}
+
+function ChangelogEntryCard({ entry }: { entry: ChangelogEntry }) {
+  const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false);
+  const content = useMemo(() => renderMarkdown(entry.body), [entry.body]);
+  const isLong = entry.body.split('\n').length > 12;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="border-b border-border/50 pb-6">
+      <div className="flex items-baseline gap-3 mb-1">
+        <h3 className="text-sm font-medium">{entry.version}</h3>
+        {entry.date && <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{entry.date}</span>}
+        {entry.version === 'Unreleased' && <Badge variant="outline">dev</Badge>}
+      </div>
+
+      <div className={isLong && !expanded ? 'max-h-48 overflow-hidden relative' : ''}>
+        {content}
+        {isLong && !expanded && (
+          <div className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 h-16 bg-gradient-to-t from-background to-transparent" />
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {isLong && (
+        <button
+          onClick={() => setExpanded(!expanded)}
+          className="text-xs text-accent hover:underline mt-2"
+        >
+          {expanded ? 'Show less' : 'Show more'}
+        </button>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export function ChangelogPage() {
+  const entries = useMemo(() => parseChangelog(changelogRaw), []);
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-6 max-w-2xl">
+      {entries.map((entry) => (
+        <ChangelogEntryCard key={entry.version} entry={entry} />
+      ))}
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/ServerTab/GeneralPage.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,379 @@
+import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod';
+import { AlertCircle, ArrowUpRight, Book, Download, Loader2, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
+import * as z from 'zod';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Form, FormControl, FormField, FormItem, FormMessage } from '@/components/ui/form';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import { Progress } from '@/components/ui/progress';
+import { Toggle } from '@/components/ui/toggle';
+import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
+import { useAutoUpdater } from '@/hooks/useAutoUpdater';
+import { useServerHealth } from '@/lib/hooks/useServer';
+import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
+import { SettingRow, SettingSection } from './SettingRow';
+
+const connectionSchema = z.object({
+  serverUrl: z.string().url('Please enter a valid URL'),
+});
+
+type ConnectionFormValues = z.infer<typeof connectionSchema>;
+
+export function GeneralPage() {
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+  const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
+  const setServerUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.setServerUrl);
+  const keepServerRunningOnClose = useServerStore((state) => state.keepServerRunningOnClose);
+  const setKeepServerRunningOnClose = useServerStore((state) => state.setKeepServerRunningOnClose);
+  const mode = useServerStore((state) => state.mode);
+  const setMode = useServerStore((state) => state.setMode);
+  const { toast } = useToast();
+  const { data: health, isLoading, error: healthError } = useServerHealth();
+
+  const form = useForm<ConnectionFormValues>({
+    resolver: zodResolver(connectionSchema),
+    defaultValues: { serverUrl },
+  });
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    form.reset({ serverUrl });
+  }, [serverUrl, form]);
+
+  const { isDirty } = form.formState;
+
+  function onSubmit(data: ConnectionFormValues) {
+    setServerUrl(data.serverUrl);
+    form.reset(data);
+    toast({
+      title: 'Server URL updated',
+      description: `Connected to ${data.serverUrl}`,
+    });
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-8 max-w-2xl">
+      <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
+        <a
+          href="https://docs.voicebox.sh"
+          target="_blank"
+          rel="noopener noreferrer"
+          className="group flex items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border border-border/60 p-4 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/50"
+        >
+          <Book className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-accent" strokeWidth={2.5} />
+          <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <div className="text-sm font-medium">Read the Docs</div>
+            <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">docs.voicebox.sh</div>
+          </div>
+          <ArrowUpRight className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground/40 group-hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors" />
+        </a>
+        <a
+          href="https://discord.gg/StkzQasqPS"
+          target="_blank"
+          rel="noopener noreferrer"
+          className="group flex items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border border-border/60 p-4 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/50"
+        >
+          <svg
+            className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-accent"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+            fill="currentColor"
+            aria-hidden="true"
+          >
+            <path d="M20.317 4.37a19.791 19.791 0 0 0-4.885-1.515.074.074 0 0 0-.079.037c-.21.375-.444.864-.608 1.25a18.27 18.27 0 0 0-5.487 0 12.64 12.64 0 0 0-.617-1.25.077.077 0 0 0-.079-.037A19.736 19.736 0 0 0 3.677 4.37a.07.07 0 0 0-.032.027C.533 9.046-.32 13.58.099 18.057a.082.082 0 0 0 .031.057 19.9 19.9 0 0 0 5.993 3.03.078.078 0 0 0 .084-.028c.462-.63.874-1.295 1.226-1.994a.076.076 0 0 0-.041-.106 13.107 13.107 0 0 1-1.872-.892.077.077 0 0 1-.008-.128 10.2 10.2 0 0 0 .372-.292.074.074 0 0 1 .077-.01c3.928 1.793 8.18 1.793 12.062 0a.074.074 0 0 1 .078.01c.12.098.246.198.373.292a.077.077 0 0 1-.006.127 12.299 12.299 0 0 1-1.873.892.077.077 0 0 0-.041.107c.36.698.772 1.362 1.225 1.993a.076.076 0 0 0 .084.028 19.839 19.839 0 0 0 6.002-3.03.077.077 0 0 0 .032-.054c.5-5.177-.838-9.674-3.549-13.66a.061.061 0 0 0-.031-.03zM8.02 15.33c-1.183 0-2.157-1.085-2.157-2.419 0-1.333.956-2.419 2.157-2.419 1.21 0 2.176 1.095 2.157 2.42 0 1.333-.956 2.418-2.157 2.418zm7.975 0c-1.183 0-2.157-1.085-2.157-2.419 0-1.333.955-2.419 2.157-2.419 1.21 0 2.176 1.095 2.157 2.42 0 1.333-.946 2.418-2.157 2.418z" />
+          </svg>
+          <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <div className="text-sm font-medium">Join the Discord</div>
+            <div className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Get help & share voices</div>
+          </div>
+          <ArrowUpRight className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground/40 group-hover:text-muted-foreground transition-colors" />
+        </a>
+      </div>
+
+      <SettingSection>
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Server URL"
+          description="The address of your voicebox backend server."
+          action={
+            <ConnectionStatus health={health} isLoading={isLoading} healthError={healthError} />
+          }
+        >
+          <Form {...form}>
+            <form onSubmit={form.handleSubmit(onSubmit)} className="flex gap-2">
+              <FormField
+                control={form.control}
+                name="serverUrl"
+                render={({ field }) => (
+                  <FormItem className="flex-1">
+                    <FormControl>
+                      <Input placeholder="http://127.0.0.1:17493" {...field} />
+                    </FormControl>
+                    <FormMessage />
+                  </FormItem>
+                )}
+              />
+              {isDirty && (
+                <Button type="submit" size="sm">
+                  Save
+                </Button>
+              )}
+            </form>
+          </Form>
+        </SettingRow>
+
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Keep server running when app closes"
+          description="The server will continue running in the background after closing the app."
+          htmlFor="keepServerRunning"
+          action={
+            <Toggle
+              id="keepServerRunning"
+              checked={keepServerRunningOnClose}
+              onCheckedChange={(checked: boolean) => {
+                setKeepServerRunningOnClose(checked);
+                platform.lifecycle.setKeepServerRunning(checked).catch((error) => {
+                  console.error('Failed to sync setting to Rust:', error);
+                  setKeepServerRunningOnClose(!checked);
+                  toast({
+                    title: 'Failed to update setting',
+                    description: 'Could not sync setting to backend.',
+                    variant: 'destructive',
+                  });
+                  return;
+                });
+                toast({
+                  title: 'Setting updated',
+                  description: checked
+                    ? 'Server will continue running when app closes'
+                    : 'Server will stop when app closes',
+                });
+              }}
+            />
+          }
+        />
+
+        {platform.metadata.isTauri && (
+          <SettingRow
+            title="Allow network access"
+            description="Makes the server accessible from other devices on your network. Restart the app after changing."
+            htmlFor="allowNetworkAccess"
+            action={
+              <Toggle
+                id="allowNetworkAccess"
+                checked={mode === 'remote'}
+                onCheckedChange={(checked: boolean) => {
+                  setMode(checked ? 'remote' : 'local');
+                  toast({
+                    title: 'Setting updated',
+                    description: checked
+                      ? 'Network access enabled. Restart the app to apply.'
+                      : 'Network access disabled. Restart the app to apply.',
+                  });
+                }}
+              />
+            }
+          />
+        )}
+      </SettingSection>
+
+      <ApiReferenceCard serverUrl={serverUrl} />
+
+      {platform.metadata.isTauri && <UpdatesSection />}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+function ConnectionStatus({
+  health,
+  isLoading,
+  healthError,
+}: {
+  health: ReturnType<typeof useServerHealth>['data'];
+  isLoading: boolean;
+  healthError: ReturnType<typeof useServerHealth>['error'];
+}) {
+  if (isLoading) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-border/60 px-3 py-1">
+        <Loader2 className="h-3 w-3 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Connecting</span>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+  if (healthError) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-destructive/30 px-3 py-1">
+        <span className="relative flex h-2 w-2">
+          <span className="absolute inline-flex h-full w-full rounded-full bg-destructive/40" />
+          <span className="relative inline-flex h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-destructive" />
+        </span>
+        <span className="text-xs text-destructive">Offline</span>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+  if (health) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-accent/30 px-3 py-1">
+        <span className="relative flex h-2 w-2">
+          <span className="absolute inline-flex h-full w-full animate-ping rounded-full bg-accent/60" />
+          <span className="relative inline-flex h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-accent shadow-[0_0_6px_1px_hsl(var(--accent)/0.5)]" />
+        </span>
+        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Online</span>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+function UpdatesSection() {
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+  const { status, checkForUpdates, downloadAndInstall, restartAndInstall } = useAutoUpdater(false);
+  const [currentVersion, setCurrentVersion] = useState<string>('');
+  const isDev = !import.meta.env?.PROD;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    platform.metadata
+      .getVersion()
+      .then(setCurrentVersion)
+      .catch(() => setCurrentVersion('Unknown'));
+  }, [platform]);
+
+  return (
+    <SettingSection title="App Updates" description={`v${currentVersion}${isDev ? ' (dev)' : ''}`}>
+      {isDev ? (
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Development mode"
+          description="Auto-updates are disabled in development mode."
+        />
+      ) : (
+        <>
+          <SettingRow
+            title="Check for updates"
+            description={
+              status.available
+                ? `Version ${status.version} available`
+                : status.checking
+                  ? 'Checking...'
+                  : "You're up to date"
+            }
+            action={
+              <Button
+                onClick={checkForUpdates}
+                disabled={status.checking || status.downloading || status.readyToInstall}
+                variant="outline"
+                size="sm"
+              >
+                <RefreshCw
+                  className={`h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5 ${status.checking ? 'animate-spin' : ''}`}
+                />
+                Check
+              </Button>
+            }
+          />
+
+          {status.error && (
+            <SettingRow title="Update error">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+                <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
+                {status.error}
+              </div>
+            </SettingRow>
+          )}
+
+          {status.available && !status.downloading && !status.readyToInstall && (
+            <SettingRow
+              title={`Update to ${status.version}`}
+              description="Download and install the latest version."
+              action={
+                <Button onClick={downloadAndInstall} size="sm">
+                  <Download className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                  Download
+                </Button>
+              }
+            />
+          )}
+
+          {status.downloading && (
+            <SettingRow title="Downloading update...">
+              <div className="space-y-1.5">
+                <Progress value={status.downloadProgress} />
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  {status.downloadedBytes !== undefined &&
+                  status.totalBytes !== undefined &&
+                  status.totalBytes > 0 ? (
+                    <span>
+                      {(status.downloadedBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1)} MB /{' '}
+                      {(status.totalBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1)} MB
+                    </span>
+                  ) : (
+                    <span />
+                  )}
+                  {status.downloadProgress !== undefined && <span>{status.downloadProgress}%</span>}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </SettingRow>
+          )}
+
+          {status.readyToInstall && (
+            <SettingRow
+              title="Update ready to install"
+              description={`Version ${status.version} has been downloaded. Restart to complete.`}
+              action={
+                <Button onClick={restartAndInstall} size="sm">
+                  <RefreshCw className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                  Restart Now
+                </Button>
+              }
+            />
+          )}
+        </>
+      )}
+    </SettingSection>
+  );
+}
+
+const API_ENDPOINTS = [
+  { method: 'POST', path: '/generate', label: 'Generate speech' },
+  { method: 'GET', path: '/health', label: 'Server status' },
+  { method: 'GET', path: '/profiles', label: 'List voices' },
+  { method: 'GET', path: '/history', label: 'Past generations' },
+];
+
+function ApiReferenceCard({ serverUrl }: { serverUrl: string }) {
+  return (
+    <div className="rounded-lg border border-border/60 p-4 space-y-3">
+      <div>
+        <h3 className="text-sm font-medium">API Access</h3>
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          Integrate Voicebox into your workflow via the REST API at{' '}
+          <code className="text-xs bg-muted px-1 py-0.5 rounded font-mono">{serverUrl}</code>
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <div className="space-y-1">
+        {API_ENDPOINTS.map((ep) => (
+          <div key={ep.path} className="flex items-center gap-2.5 py-1">
+            <span
+              className={`text-[10px] font-mono font-semibold w-9 text-center rounded px-1 py-px ${
+                ep.method === 'POST' ? 'bg-accent/10 text-accent' : 'bg-muted text-muted-foreground'
+              }`}
+            >
+              {ep.method}
+            </span>
+            <code className="text-xs font-mono text-muted-foreground">{ep.path}</code>
+            <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/50 ml-auto">{ep.label}</span>
+          </div>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        <a
+          href={`${serverUrl}/docs`}
+          target="_blank"
+          rel="noopener noreferrer"
+          className="text-accent hover:underline"
+        >
+          View the full API reference
+        </a>
+      </p>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/ServerTab/GenerationPage.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+import { FolderOpen } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Slider } from '@/components/ui/slider';
+import { Toggle } from '@/components/ui/toggle';
+import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
+import { SettingRow, SettingSection } from './SettingRow';
+
+export function GenerationPage() {
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+  const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
+  const maxChunkChars = useServerStore((state) => state.maxChunkChars);
+  const setMaxChunkChars = useServerStore((state) => state.setMaxChunkChars);
+  const crossfadeMs = useServerStore((state) => state.crossfadeMs);
+  const setCrossfadeMs = useServerStore((state) => state.setCrossfadeMs);
+  const normalizeAudio = useServerStore((state) => state.normalizeAudio);
+  const setNormalizeAudio = useServerStore((state) => state.setNormalizeAudio);
+  const autoplayOnGenerate = useServerStore((state) => state.autoplayOnGenerate);
+  const setAutoplayOnGenerate = useServerStore((state) => state.setAutoplayOnGenerate);
+  const [opening, setOpening] = useState(false);
+  const [generationsPath, setGenerationsPath] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    fetch(`${serverUrl}/health/filesystem`)
+      .then((res) => res.json())
+      .then((data) => {
+        const genDir = data.directories?.find((d: { path: string }) =>
+          d.path.includes('generations'),
+        );
+        if (genDir?.path) setGenerationsPath(genDir.path);
+      })
+      .catch(() => {});
+  }, [serverUrl]);
+
+  const openGenerationsFolder = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!generationsPath) return;
+    setOpening(true);
+    try {
+      await platform.filesystem.openPath(generationsPath);
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error('Failed to open generations folder:', e);
+    } finally {
+      setOpening(false);
+    }
+  }, [platform, generationsPath]);
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-8 max-w-2xl">
+      <SettingSection
+        title="Generation"
+        description="Controls for long text generation. These settings apply to all engines."
+      >
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Auto-chunking limit"
+          description="Long text is split into chunks at sentence boundaries. Lower values can improve quality for long outputs."
+          action={
+            <span className="text-sm tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">
+              {maxChunkChars} chars
+            </span>
+          }
+        >
+          <Slider
+            id="maxChunkChars"
+            value={[maxChunkChars]}
+            onValueChange={([value]) => setMaxChunkChars(value)}
+            min={100}
+            max={5000}
+            step={50}
+            aria-label="Auto-chunking character limit"
+          />
+        </SettingRow>
+
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Chunk crossfade"
+          description="Blends audio between chunks to smooth transitions. Set to 0 for a hard cut."
+          action={
+            <span className="text-sm tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">
+              {crossfadeMs === 0 ? 'Cut' : `${crossfadeMs}ms`}
+            </span>
+          }
+        >
+          <Slider
+            id="crossfadeMs"
+            value={[crossfadeMs]}
+            onValueChange={([value]) => setCrossfadeMs(value)}
+            min={0}
+            max={200}
+            step={10}
+            aria-label="Chunk crossfade duration"
+          />
+        </SettingRow>
+
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Normalize audio"
+          description="Adjusts output volume to a consistent level across generations."
+          htmlFor="normalizeAudio"
+          action={
+            <Toggle
+              id="normalizeAudio"
+              checked={normalizeAudio}
+              onCheckedChange={setNormalizeAudio}
+            />
+          }
+        />
+
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Autoplay on generate"
+          description="Automatically play audio when a generation completes."
+          htmlFor="autoplayOnGenerate"
+          action={
+            <Toggle
+              id="autoplayOnGenerate"
+              checked={autoplayOnGenerate}
+              onCheckedChange={setAutoplayOnGenerate}
+            />
+          }
+        />
+
+        <SettingRow
+          title="Generations folder"
+          description={generationsPath ?? 'Where generated audio files are stored on disk.'}
+          action={
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              onClick={openGenerationsFolder}
+              disabled={opening || !generationsPath}
+            >
+              <FolderOpen className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+              Open
+            </Button>
+          }
+        />
+      </SettingSection>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/ServerTab/GpuPage.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,405 @@
+import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { AlertCircle, Cpu, Download, Loader2, RotateCw, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Progress } from '@/components/ui/progress';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { CudaDownloadProgress, HealthResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { useServerHealth } from '@/lib/hooks/useServer';
+import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
+import { SettingRow, SettingSection } from './SettingRow';
+
+type RestartPhase = 'idle' | 'stopping' | 'waiting' | 'ready';
+
+function AppleLogo({ className }: { className?: string }) {
+  return (
+    <svg className={className} viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor" aria-hidden="true">
+      <path d="M18.71 19.5c-.83 1.24-1.71 2.45-3.05 2.47-1.34.03-1.77-.79-3.29-.79-1.53 0-2 .77-3.27.82-1.31.05-2.3-1.32-3.14-2.53C4.25 17 2.94 12.45 4.7 9.39c.87-1.52 2.43-2.48 4.12-2.51 1.28-.02 2.5.87 3.29.87.78 0 2.26-1.07 3.8-.91.65.03 2.47.26 3.64 1.98-.09.06-2.17 1.28-2.15 3.81.03 3.02 2.65 4.03 2.68 4.04-.03.07-.42 1.44-1.38 2.83M13 3.5c.73-.83 1.94-1.46 2.94-1.5.13 1.17-.34 2.35-1.04 3.19-.69.85-1.83 1.51-2.95 1.42-.15-1.15.41-2.35 1.05-3.11z" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+function GpuIcon({ className }: { className?: string }) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      className={className}
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      fill="none"
+      stroke="currentColor"
+      strokeWidth="1.5"
+      strokeLinecap="round"
+      strokeLinejoin="round"
+      aria-hidden="true"
+    >
+      <rect x="4" y="6" width="16" height="12" rx="2" />
+      <path d="M2 10h2M2 14h2M20 10h2M20 14h2" />
+      <path d="M9 10h6M9 14h4" />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+function GpuInfoCard({ health }: { health: HealthResponse }) {
+  const hasGpu = health.gpu_available && health.gpu_type;
+
+  // Parse GPU name from type string like "CUDA (NVIDIA RTX 4090)" or "MPS (Apple M2 Pro)"
+  const gpuName = hasGpu
+    ? health.gpu_type!.replace(/^(CUDA|ROCm|MPS|Metal|XPU|DirectML)\s*\((.+)\)$/, '$2') ||
+      health.gpu_type!
+    : null;
+  const gpuBackend = hasGpu ? health.gpu_type!.replace(/\s*\(.+\)$/, '') : null;
+  const isApple = gpuBackend === 'MPS' || gpuBackend === 'Metal';
+  const showBackendVariant = health.backend_variant && health.backend_variant !== 'cpu';
+
+  return (
+    <div className="rounded-lg border border-border/60 p-4">
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+        {hasGpu ? (
+          isApple ? (
+            <AppleLogo className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+          ) : (
+            <GpuIcon className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-accent" />
+          )
+        ) : (
+          <Cpu className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+        )}
+        <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 space-y-0.5">
+          <div className="text-sm font-medium">{hasGpu ? gpuName : 'CPU Only'}</div>
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            {hasGpu ? (
+              <>
+                <span>{gpuBackend}</span>
+                {showBackendVariant && (
+                  <>
+                    <span className="text-border">|</span>
+                    <span className="uppercase">{health.backend_variant}</span>
+                  </>
+                )}
+                {health.vram_used_mb != null && health.vram_used_mb > 0 && (
+                  <>
+                    <span className="text-border">|</span>
+                    <span>{health.vram_used_mb.toFixed(0)} MB VRAM</span>
+                  </>
+                )}
+              </>
+            ) : (
+              <span>No GPU acceleration detected</span>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        {hasGpu && (
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-accent/30 px-2.5 py-0.5">
+            <span className="relative flex h-1.5 w-1.5">
+              <span className="absolute inline-flex h-full w-full animate-ping rounded-full bg-accent/60" />
+              <span className="relative inline-flex h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full bg-accent shadow-[0_0_4px_1px_hsl(var(--accent)/0.4)]" />
+            </span>
+            <span className="text-[10px] font-medium text-muted-foreground">Active</span>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export function GpuPage() {
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
+  const { data: health } = useServerHealth();
+
+  const [restartPhase, setRestartPhase] = useState<RestartPhase>('idle');
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [downloadProgress, setDownloadProgress] = useState<CudaDownloadProgress | null>(null);
+  const healthPollRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null>(null);
+
+  const {
+    data: cudaStatus,
+    isLoading: _cudaStatusLoading,
+    refetch: refetchCudaStatus,
+  } = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ['cuda-status', serverUrl],
+    queryFn: () => apiClient.getCudaStatus(),
+    refetchInterval: (query) => (query.state.status === 'pending' ? false : 10000),
+    retry: 1,
+    enabled: !!health,
+  });
+
+  const isCurrentlyCuda = health?.backend_variant === 'cuda';
+  const cudaAvailable = cudaStatus?.available ?? false;
+  const cudaDownloading = cudaStatus?.downloading ?? false;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    return () => {
+      if (healthPollRef.current) {
+        clearInterval(healthPollRef.current);
+        healthPollRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!cudaDownloading || !serverUrl) return;
+
+    const eventSource = new EventSource(`${serverUrl}/backend/cuda-progress`);
+
+    eventSource.onmessage = (event) => {
+      try {
+        const data = JSON.parse(event.data) as CudaDownloadProgress;
+        setDownloadProgress(data);
+
+        if (data.status === 'complete') {
+          eventSource.close();
+          setDownloadProgress(null);
+          refetchCudaStatus();
+        } else if (data.status === 'error') {
+          eventSource.close();
+          setError(data.error || 'Download failed');
+          setDownloadProgress(null);
+          refetchCudaStatus();
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.error('Error parsing CUDA progress event:', e);
+      }
+    };
+
+    eventSource.onerror = () => {
+      eventSource.close();
+    };
+
+    return () => {
+      eventSource.close();
+    };
+  }, [cudaDownloading, serverUrl, refetchCudaStatus]);
+
+  const clearHealthPolling = useCallback(() => {
+    if (healthPollRef.current) {
+      clearInterval(healthPollRef.current);
+      healthPollRef.current = null;
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  const startHealthPolling = useCallback(() => {
+    clearHealthPolling();
+
+    healthPollRef.current = setInterval(async () => {
+      try {
+        const result = await apiClient.getHealth();
+        if (result.status === 'healthy') {
+          clearHealthPolling();
+          setRestartPhase('ready');
+          queryClient.invalidateQueries();
+          setTimeout(() => setRestartPhase('idle'), 2000);
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // Server still down, keep polling
+      }
+    }, 1000);
+  }, [queryClient, clearHealthPolling]);
+
+  const restartServerWithPolling = useCallback(
+    async (errorMessage: string) => {
+      setRestartPhase('stopping');
+      try {
+        await platform.lifecycle.restartServer();
+        setRestartPhase('waiting');
+        startHealthPolling();
+      } catch (e: unknown) {
+        clearHealthPolling();
+        setRestartPhase('idle');
+        throw new Error(e instanceof Error ? e.message : errorMessage);
+      }
+    },
+    [platform, startHealthPolling, clearHealthPolling],
+  );
+
+  const handleDownload = async () => {
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      await apiClient.downloadCudaBackend();
+      refetchCudaStatus();
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      const msg = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to start download';
+      if (msg.includes('already downloaded')) {
+        refetchCudaStatus();
+      } else {
+        setError(msg);
+      }
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleRestart = async () => {
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      await restartServerWithPolling('Restart failed');
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Restart failed');
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleSwitchToCpu = async () => {
+    setError(null);
+    setRestartPhase('stopping');
+    try {
+      await apiClient.deleteCudaBackend();
+      await restartServerWithPolling('Failed to switch to CPU');
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to switch to CPU');
+      refetchCudaStatus();
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleDelete = async () => {
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      await apiClient.deleteCudaBackend();
+      refetchCudaStatus();
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to delete CUDA backend');
+    }
+  };
+
+  const formatBytes = (bytes: number): string => {
+    if (bytes === 0) return '0 B';
+    const k = 1024;
+    const sizes = ['B', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB'];
+    const i = Math.floor(Math.log(bytes) / Math.log(k));
+    return `${(bytes / k ** i).toFixed(1)} ${sizes[i]}`;
+  };
+
+  if (!health) return null;
+
+  const hasNativeGpu =
+    health.gpu_available &&
+    !isCurrentlyCuda &&
+    health.gpu_type &&
+    !health.gpu_type.includes('CUDA');
+
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-8 max-w-2xl">
+      <GpuInfoCard health={health} />
+
+      {/* CUDA section — only when no native GPU and not already on CUDA */}
+      {!hasNativeGpu && !isCurrentlyCuda && (
+        <SettingSection
+          title="CUDA Backend"
+          description="NVIDIA GPU acceleration via a downloadable CUDA backend."
+        >
+          {/* Download progress */}
+          {cudaDownloading && downloadProgress && (
+            <SettingRow title="Downloading CUDA backend...">
+              <div className="space-y-1.5">
+                <Progress value={downloadProgress.progress} className="h-2" />
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  <span>
+                    {downloadProgress.filename ||
+                      (cudaAvailable ? 'Updating...' : 'Downloading...')}
+                  </span>
+                  <span>
+                    {downloadProgress.total > 0
+                      ? `${formatBytes(downloadProgress.current)} / ${formatBytes(downloadProgress.total)}`
+                      : `${downloadProgress.progress.toFixed(1)}%`}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </SettingRow>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Restart in progress */}
+          {restartPhase !== 'idle' && (
+            <SettingRow
+              title={
+                restartPhase === 'ready'
+                  ? 'Server restarted successfully'
+                  : restartPhase === 'waiting'
+                    ? 'Restarting server...'
+                    : 'Stopping server...'
+              }
+              action={<Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />}
+            />
+          )}
+
+          {/* Error */}
+          {error && (
+            <SettingRow title="Error">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+                <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
+                <span>{error}</span>
+              </div>
+            </SettingRow>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Actions */}
+          {restartPhase === 'idle' && !cudaDownloading && (
+            <>
+              {!cudaAvailable && !isCurrentlyCuda && (
+                <SettingRow
+                  title="Download CUDA backend"
+                  description="~2.4 GB download. Requires an NVIDIA GPU with CUDA support."
+                  action={
+                    <Button onClick={handleDownload} size="sm">
+                      <Download className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                      Download
+                    </Button>
+                  }
+                />
+              )}
+
+              {cudaAvailable && !isCurrentlyCuda && platform.metadata.isTauri && (
+                <SettingRow
+                  title="Switch to CUDA backend"
+                  description="CUDA backend is downloaded and ready. Restart to enable."
+                  action={
+                    <Button onClick={handleRestart} size="sm">
+                      <RotateCw className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                      Restart
+                    </Button>
+                  }
+                />
+              )}
+
+              {isCurrentlyCuda && platform.metadata.isTauri && (
+                <SettingRow
+                  title="Switch to CPU backend"
+                  description="Disable GPU acceleration. You can re-download CUDA later."
+                  action={
+                    <Button onClick={handleSwitchToCpu} variant="outline" size="sm">
+                      <RotateCw className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                      Switch
+                    </Button>
+                  }
+                />
+              )}
+
+              {cudaAvailable && !isCurrentlyCuda && (
+                <SettingRow
+                  title="Remove CUDA backend"
+                  description="Delete the downloaded CUDA binary to free disk space."
+                  action={
+                    <Button
+                      onClick={handleDelete}
+                      variant="ghost"
+                      size="sm"
+                      className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive"
+                    >
+                      <Trash2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1.5" />
+                      Remove
+                    </Button>
+                  }
+                />
+              )}
+            </>
+          )}
+        </SettingSection>
+      )}
+
+      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground/60 leading-relaxed">
+        Voicebox automatically detects and uses the best available GPU on your system. On Apple
+        Silicon Macs, the MLX backend runs natively on the Neural Engine and GPU via Metal
+        Performance Shaders (MPS), with no additional setup required. On Windows and Linux with
+        NVIDIA GPUs, you can download an optional CUDA backend for hardware-accelerated inference.
+        AMD ROCm, Intel XPU, and DirectML are also supported where available through PyTorch. When
+        no GPU is detected, Voicebox falls back to CPU — all engines still work, just slower.
+      </p>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/ServerTab/LogsPage.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+import { type LogEntry, useLogStore } from '@/stores/logStore';
+
+function formatTime(timestamp: number): string {
+  const d = new Date(timestamp);
+  return d.toLocaleTimeString(undefined, {
+    hour: '2-digit',
+    minute: '2-digit',
+    second: '2-digit',
+    hour12: false,
+  });
+}
+
+function LogLine({ entry }: { entry: LogEntry }) {
+  return (
+    <div className="flex gap-3 font-mono text-xs leading-5 hover:bg-muted/30">
+      <span className="text-muted-foreground/50 select-none shrink-0">
+        {formatTime(entry.timestamp)}
+      </span>
+      <span
+        className={cn(
+          'whitespace-pre-wrap break-all',
+          entry.stream === 'stderr' ? 'text-orange-400/80' : 'text-muted-foreground',
+        )}
+      >
+        {entry.line}
+      </span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export function LogsPage() {
+  const entries = useLogStore((s) => s.entries);
+  const clear = useLogStore((s) => s.clear);
+  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const [autoScroll, setAutoScroll] = useState(true);
+
+  // Auto-scroll to bottom when new entries arrive
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (autoScroll && containerRef.current) {
+      containerRef.current.scrollTop = containerRef.current.scrollHeight;
+    }
+  }, [entries.length, autoScroll]);
+
+  // Detect manual scroll to disable auto-scroll
+  const handleScroll = () => {
+    const el = containerRef.current;
+    if (!el) return;
+    const atBottom = el.scrollHeight - el.scrollTop - el.clientHeight < 40;
+    setAutoScroll(atBottom);
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div className="flex flex-col h-full min-h-0">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
+        <div>
+          <h3 className="text-sm font-medium">Server Logs</h3>
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            {entries.length} {entries.length === 1 ? 'line' : 'lines'}
+          </p>
+        </div>
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          {!autoScroll && (
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              onClick={() => {
+                setAutoScroll(true);
+                containerRef.current?.scrollTo({ top: containerRef.current.scrollHeight });
+              }}
+            >
+              Scroll to bottom
+            </Button>
+          )}
+          <Button variant="outline" size="sm" onClick={clear}>
+            Clear
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
+      <div
+        ref={containerRef}
+        onScroll={handleScroll}
+        className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto rounded-md border bg-black/20 p-3"
+      >
+        {entries.length === 0 ? (
+          <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground/50 font-mono space-y-1">
+            <p>No log output yet.</p>
+            {!import.meta.env?.PROD && (
+              <p>
+                Server logs are only captured when the app manages the server process (production
+                builds).
+              </p>
+            )}
+          </div>
+        ) : (
+          entries.map((entry) => <LogLine key={entry.id} entry={entry} />)
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/ServerTab/ServerTab.tsx

@@ -1,29 +1,70 @@
-import { ConnectionForm } from '@/components/ServerSettings/ConnectionForm';
-import { GenerationSettings } from '@/components/ServerSettings/GenerationSettings';
-import { GpuAcceleration } from '@/components/ServerSettings/GpuAcceleration';
-import { UpdateStatus } from '@/components/ServerSettings/UpdateStatus';
+import { Link, Outlet, useMatchRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router';
+import { BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 
-export function ServerTab() {
+interface SettingsTab {
+  label: string;
+  path:
+    | '/settings'
+    | '/settings/generation'
+    | '/settings/gpu'
+    | '/settings/logs'
+    | '/settings/changelog'
+    | '/settings/about';
+  tauriOnly?: boolean;
+}
+
+const tabs: SettingsTab[] = [
+  { label: 'General', path: '/settings' },
+  { label: 'Generation', path: '/settings/generation' },
+  { label: 'GPU', path: '/settings/gpu', tauriOnly: true },
+  { label: 'Logs', path: '/settings/logs', tauriOnly: true },
+  { label: 'Changelog', path: '/settings/changelog' },
+  { label: 'About', path: '/settings/about' },
+];
+
+export function SettingsLayout() {
   const platform = usePlatform();
+  const isPlayerVisible = !!usePlayerStore((state) => state.audioUrl);
+  const matchRoute = useMatchRoute();
+
   return (
-    <div className="overflow-y-auto flex flex-col">
-      <div className="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-2">
-        <ConnectionForm />
-        <GenerationSettings />
-        {platform.metadata.isTauri && <GpuAcceleration />}
-        {platform.metadata.isTauri && <UpdateStatus />}
-      </div>
-      <div className="py-8 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-        Created by{' '}
-        <a
-          href="https://github.com/jamiepine"
-          target="_blank"
-          rel="noopener noreferrer"
-          className="text-accent hover:underline"
-        >
-          Jamie Pine
-        </a>
+    <div className="flex flex-col h-full min-h-0">
+      <nav className="flex gap-1 border-b shrink-0">
+        {tabs.map((tab) => {
+          if (tab.tauriOnly && !platform.metadata.isTauri) return null;
+
+          const isActive =
+            tab.path === '/settings'
+              ? matchRoute({ to: tab.path, fuzzy: false })
+              : matchRoute({ to: tab.path });
+
+          return (
+            <Link
+              key={tab.path}
+              to={tab.path}
+              className={cn(
+                'px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors border-b-2 -mb-px',
+                isActive
+                  ? 'border-accent text-foreground'
+                  : 'border-transparent text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:border-muted-foreground/30',
+              )}
+            >
+              {tab.label}
+            </Link>
+          );
+        })}
+      </nav>
+
+      <div
+        className={cn(
+          'flex-1 overflow-y-auto pt-6 pb-6 px-2 -mx-2',
+          isPlayerVisible && BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING,
+        )}
+      >
+        <Outlet />
       </div>
     </div>
   );

app/src/components/ServerTab/SettingRow.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from 'react';
+
+/**
+ * A section header with title and optional description, separated by a border.
+ */
+export function SettingSection({
+  title,
+  description,
+  children,
+}: {
+  title?: string;
+  description?: string;
+  children: ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-1">
+      {title && <h3 className="text-sm font-medium">{title}</h3>}
+      {description && <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{description}</p>}
+      <div className={`${title || description ? 'pt-3' : ''} space-y-0 divide-y divide-border/60`}>
+        {children}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * A single settings row: label+description on the left, action on the right.
+ * Use for toggles, inputs, buttons, badges — any control type.
+ */
+export function SettingRow({
+  title,
+  description,
+  htmlFor,
+  action,
+  children,
+}: {
+  title: string;
+  description?: string;
+  htmlFor?: string;
+  /** Right-aligned control (checkbox, button, badge, etc.) */
+  action?: ReactNode;
+  /** Full-width content rendered below the label row (for sliders, inputs, etc.) */
+  children?: ReactNode;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="py-3">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-8">
+        <div className="min-w-0">
+          <label
+            htmlFor={htmlFor}
+            className={`text-sm font-medium leading-none select-none ${htmlFor ? 'cursor-pointer' : ''}`}
+          >
+            {title}
+          </label>
+          {description && <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">{description}</p>}
+        </div>
+        {action && <div className="shrink-0">{action}</div>}
+      </div>
+      {children && <div className="mt-3">{children}</div>}
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/Sidebar.tsx

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 import { Link, useMatchRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router';
-import { Box, BookOpen, Loader2, Mic, Server, Speaker, Volume2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { AudioLines, Box, Mic, Settings, Speaker, Volume2, Wand2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import voiceboxLogo from '@/assets/voicebox-logo.png';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
-import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
+import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
+import type { UpdateStatus } from '@/platform/types';
 import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
+import { version } from '../../package.json';
 
 interface SidebarProps {
   isMacOS?: boolean;
@@ -11,18 +14,21 @@ interface SidebarProps {
 
 const tabs = [
   { id: 'main', path: '/', icon: Volume2, label: 'Generate' },
-  { id: 'stories', path: '/stories', icon: BookOpen, label: 'Stories' },
+  { id: 'stories', path: '/stories', icon: AudioLines, label: 'Stories' },
   { id: 'voices', path: '/voices', icon: Mic, label: 'Voices' },
+  { id: 'effects', path: '/effects', icon: Wand2, label: 'Effects' },
   { id: 'audio', path: '/audio', icon: Speaker, label: 'Audio' },
   { id: 'models', path: '/models', icon: Box, label: 'Models' },
-  { id: 'server', path: '/server', icon: Server, label: 'Server' },
+  { id: 'settings', path: '/settings', icon: Settings, label: 'Settings' },
 ];
 
 export function Sidebar({ isMacOS }: SidebarProps) {
-  const isGenerating = useGenerationStore((state) => state.isGenerating);
-  const audioUrl = usePlayerStore((state) => state.audioUrl);
-  const isPlayerVisible = !!audioUrl;
   const matchRoute = useMatchRoute();
+  const isPlayerOpen = !!usePlayerStore((s) => s.audioUrl);
+  const platform = usePlatform();
+
+  const [updateStatus, setUpdateStatus] = useState<UpdateStatus>(platform.updater.getStatus());
+  useEffect(() => platform.updater.subscribe(setUpdateStatus), [platform.updater]);
 
   return (
     <div
@@ -33,51 +39,73 @@ export function Sidebar({ isMacOS }: SidebarProps) {
     >
       {/* Logo */}
       <div className="mb-2">
-        <img src={voiceboxLogo} alt="Voicebox" className="w-12 h-12 object-contain" />
+        <img
+          src={voiceboxLogo}
+          alt="Voicebox"
+          className="w-12 h-12 object-contain"
+          style={{
+            filter:
+              'drop-shadow(0 0 6px hsl(var(--accent) / 0.5)) drop-shadow(0 0 14px hsl(var(--accent) / 0.35)) drop-shadow(0 0 28px hsl(var(--accent) / 0.2))',
+          }}
+        />
       </div>
 
       {/* Navigation Buttons */}
       <div className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-        {tabs.map((tab) => {
+        {tabs.map((tab, index) => {
           const Icon = tab.icon;
-          // For index route, use exact match; for others, use default matching
           const isActive =
             tab.path === '/'
-              ? matchRoute({ to: '/', exact: true })
-              : matchRoute({ to: tab.path });
+              ? matchRoute({ to: '/', fuzzy: false })
+              : matchRoute({ to: tab.path, fuzzy: true });
+
+          // Accent fades as buttons get further from the logo
+          const accentOpacity = Math.max(0.08, 0.5 - index * 0.07);
 
           return (
             <Link
               key={tab.id}
               to={tab.path}
               className={cn(
-                'w-12 h-12 rounded-full flex items-center justify-center transition-all duration-200',
-                'hover:bg-muted/50',
-                isActive ? 'bg-muted/50 text-foreground shadow-lg' : 'text-muted-foreground',
+                'relative w-12 h-12 rounded-full flex items-center justify-center transition-all duration-200 overflow-hidden',
+                isActive
+                  ? 'bg-white/[0.07] text-foreground shadow-lg backdrop-blur-sm border border-white/[0.08]'
+                  : 'text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted/50',
               )}
               title={tab.label}
               aria-label={tab.label}
             >
-              <Icon className="h-5 w-5" />
+              {isActive && (
+                <div
+                  className="absolute inset-0 rounded-full pointer-events-none"
+                  style={{
+                    maskImage: 'linear-gradient(to bottom, black, transparent 60%)',
+                    WebkitMaskImage: 'linear-gradient(to bottom, black, transparent 60%)',
+                    border: `1px solid hsl(var(--accent) / ${accentOpacity})`,
+                  }}
+                />
+              )}
+              <Icon className="h-5 w-5 relative z-10" />
             </Link>
           );
         })}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Spacer to push loader to bottom */}
-      <div className="flex-1" />
-
-      {/* Generation Loader */}
-      {isGenerating && (
-        <div
-          className={cn(
-            'w-full flex items-center justify-center transition-all duration-200',
-            isPlayerVisible ? 'mb-[120px]' : 'mb-0',
-          )}
-        >
-          <Loader2 className="h-6 w-6 text-accent animate-spin" />
-        </div>
-      )}
+      {/* Version */}
+      <div
+        className="mt-auto flex flex-col items-center gap-1.5 transition-all duration-300"
+        style={{ paddingBottom: isPlayerOpen ? '7rem' : undefined }}
+      >
+        <span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground/50">v{version}</span>
+        {updateStatus.available && (
+          <Link
+            to="/settings"
+            className="text-[9px] font-semibold tracking-wide uppercase px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-accent/15 text-accent hover:bg-accent/25 transition-colors"
+          >
+            Update
+          </Link>
+        )}
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 }

app/src/components/StoriesTab/StoryContent.tsx

@@ -13,8 +13,11 @@ import {
   sortableKeyboardCoordinates,
   verticalListSortingStrategy,
 } from '@dnd-kit/sortable';
+import { Link } from '@tanstack/react-router';
+import { AnimatePresence, motion } from 'framer-motion';
 import { Download, Plus } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import Loader from 'react-loaders';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { Popover, PopoverContent, PopoverTrigger } from '@/components/ui/popover';
@@ -28,6 +31,7 @@ import {
   useStory,
 } from '@/lib/hooks/useStories';
 import { useStoryPlayback } from '@/lib/hooks/useStoryPlayback';
+import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
 import { useStoryStore } from '@/stores/storyStore';
 import { SortableStoryChatItem } from './StoryChatItem';
 
@@ -40,6 +44,7 @@ export function StoryContent() {
   const addStoryItem = useAddStoryItem();
   const { toast } = useToast();
   const scrollRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const pendingCount = useGenerationStore((s) => s.pendingGenerationIds.size);
 
   // Add generation popover state
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('');
@@ -53,9 +58,9 @@ export function StoryContent() {
     const query = searchQuery.toLowerCase();
     return historyData.items.filter(
       (gen) =>
+        gen.status === 'completed' &&
         !storyGenerationIds.has(gen.id) &&
-        (gen.text.toLowerCase().includes(query) ||
-          gen.profile_name.toLowerCase().includes(query)),
+        (gen.text.toLowerCase().includes(query) || gen.profile_name.toLowerCase().includes(query)),
     );
   }, [historyData, story, searchQuery]);
 
@@ -267,7 +272,31 @@ export function StoryContent() {
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-1">{story.description}</p>
           )}
         </div>
-        <div className="flex gap-2">
+        <div className="flex gap-2 items-center">
+          <AnimatePresence>
+            {pendingCount > 0 && (
+              <motion.div
+                initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9, width: 0 }}
+                animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1, width: 'auto' }}
+                exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9, width: 0 }}
+                transition={{ duration: 0.2 }}
+              >
+                <Link
+                  to="/"
+                  className="flex items-center gap-2 h-8 pl-1.5 pr-3 rounded-full bg-card border border-border hover:bg-muted/50 transition-all duration-200 cursor-pointer"
+                >
+                  <div className="shrink-0 w-10 h-5 overflow-hidden flex items-center justify-center">
+                    <div className="scale-[0.45]">
+                      <Loader type="line-scale" active />
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                  <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground whitespace-nowrap">
+                    Generating {pendingCount} {pendingCount === 1 ? 'audio' : 'audios'}
+                  </span>
+                </Link>
+              </motion.div>
+            )}
+          </AnimatePresence>
           <Popover open={isAddOpen} onOpenChange={setIsAddOpen}>
             <PopoverTrigger asChild>
               <Button variant="outline" size="sm">
@@ -287,9 +316,7 @@ export function StoryContent() {
               <div className="max-h-60 overflow-y-auto">
                 {availableGenerations.length === 0 ? (
                   <div className="p-4 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                    {searchQuery
-                      ? 'No matching generations found'
-                      : 'No available generations'}
+                    {searchQuery ? 'No matching generations found' : 'No available generations'}
                   </div>
                 ) : (
                   availableGenerations.map((gen) => (

app/src/components/StoriesTab/StoryList.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { Plus, BookOpen, MoreHorizontal, Pencil, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { BookOpen, MoreHorizontal, Pencil, Plus, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import {
   AlertDialog,
   AlertDialogAction,
@@ -29,7 +29,13 @@ import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
 import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
-import { useStories, useCreateStory, useUpdateStory, useDeleteStory } from '@/lib/hooks/useStories';
+import {
+  useCreateStory,
+  useDeleteStory,
+  useStories,
+  useStory,
+  useUpdateStory,
+} from '@/lib/hooks/useStories';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 import { formatDate } from '@/lib/utils/format';
 import { useStoryStore } from '@/stores/storyStore';
@@ -38,6 +44,8 @@ export function StoryList() {
   const { data: stories, isLoading } = useStories();
   const selectedStoryId = useStoryStore((state) => state.selectedStoryId);
   const setSelectedStoryId = useStoryStore((state) => state.setSelectedStoryId);
+  const trackEditorHeight = useStoryStore((state) => state.trackEditorHeight);
+  const { data: selectedStory } = useStory(selectedStoryId);
   const createStory = useCreateStory();
   const updateStory = useUpdateStory();
   const deleteStory = useDeleteStory();
@@ -54,6 +62,13 @@ export function StoryList() {
   const [newStoryDescription, setNewStoryDescription] = useState('');
   const { toast } = useToast();
 
+  // Auto-select the first story when the list loads with no selection
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!selectedStoryId && stories && stories.length > 0) {
+      setSelectedStoryId(stories[0].id);
+    }
+  }, [selectedStoryId, stories, setSelectedStoryId]);
+
   const handleCreateStory = () => {
     if (!newStoryName.trim()) {
       toast({
@@ -170,20 +185,29 @@ export function StoryList() {
   }
 
   const storyList = stories || [];
+  const hasTrackEditor = selectedStoryId && selectedStory && selectedStory.items.length > 0;
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col h-full min-h-0">
-      {/* Header */}
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-4 px-1">
-        <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold">Stories</h2>
-        <Button onClick={() => setCreateDialogOpen(true)} size="sm">
-          <Plus className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-          New Story
-        </Button>
+    <div className="h-full flex flex-col relative overflow-hidden">
+      {/* Scroll Mask */}
+      <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-16 bg-gradient-to-b from-background to-transparent z-10 pointer-events-none" />
+
+      {/* Fixed Header */}
+      <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 z-20">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-4 px-1">
+          <h2 className="text-2xl font-bold">Stories</h2>
+          <Button onClick={() => setCreateDialogOpen(true)} size="sm">
+            <Plus className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+            New Story
+          </Button>
+        </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Story List */}
-      <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto space-y-2">
+      {/* Scrollable Story List */}
+      <div
+        className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto pt-14 relative z-0"
+        style={{ paddingBottom: hasTrackEditor ? `${trackEditorHeight + 140}px` : '170px' }}
+      >
         {storyList.length === 0 ? (
           <div className="text-center py-12 px-5 border-2 border-dashed border-muted rounded-2xl text-muted-foreground">
             <BookOpen className="h-12 w-12 mx-auto mb-4 opacity-50" />
@@ -191,75 +215,68 @@ export function StoryList() {
             <p className="text-xs mt-2">Create your first story to get started</p>
           </div>
         ) : (
-          storyList.map((story) => (
-            <div
-              key={story.id}
-              role="button"
-              tabIndex={0}
-              className={cn(
-                'h-24 p-4 border rounded-2xl transition-colors group flex items-center cursor-pointer',
-                selectedStoryId === story.id && 'bg-muted border-primary',
-              )}
-              aria-label={
-                selectedStoryId === story.id
-                  ? `Story ${story.name}, ${story.item_count} ${story.item_count === 1 ? 'item' : 'items'}, ${formatDate(story.updated_at)}. Selected. Press Enter to select.`
-                  : `Story ${story.name}, ${story.item_count} ${story.item_count === 1 ? 'item' : 'items'}, ${formatDate(story.updated_at)}. Press Enter to select.`
-              }
-              aria-pressed={selectedStoryId === story.id}
-              onClick={() => setSelectedStoryId(story.id)}
-              onKeyDown={(e) => {
-                if (e.target !== e.currentTarget) return;
-                if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
-                  e.preventDefault();
-                  setSelectedStoryId(story.id);
-                }
-              }}
-            >
-              <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2 w-full min-w-0">
-                <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 text-left overflow-hidden">
-                  <h3 className="font-medium truncate">{story.name}</h3>
-                  {story.description && (
-                    <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-1 truncate">
-                      {story.description}
-                    </p>
-                  )}
-                  <div className="flex items-center gap-3 mt-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                    <span>
-                      {story.item_count} {story.item_count === 1 ? 'item' : 'items'}
-                    </span>
-                    <span>•</span>
-                    <span>{formatDate(story.updated_at)}</span>
+          <div className="space-y-0.5">
+            {storyList.map((story) => (
+              <div
+                key={story.id}
+                role="button"
+                tabIndex={0}
+                className={cn(
+                  'px-5 py-3 rounded-lg transition-colors group flex items-center cursor-pointer',
+                  selectedStoryId === story.id ? 'bg-muted' : 'hover:bg-muted/50',
+                )}
+                aria-label={`Story ${story.name}, ${story.item_count} ${story.item_count === 1 ? 'item' : 'items'}, ${formatDate(story.updated_at)}`}
+                aria-pressed={selectedStoryId === story.id}
+                onClick={() => setSelectedStoryId(story.id)}
+                onKeyDown={(e) => {
+                  if (e.target !== e.currentTarget) return;
+                  if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
+                    e.preventDefault();
+                    setSelectedStoryId(story.id);
+                  }
+                }}
+              >
+                <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2 w-full min-w-0">
+                  <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 text-left overflow-hidden">
+                    <h3 className="text-sm font-medium truncate">{story.name}</h3>
+                    <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mt-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                      <span>
+                        {story.item_count} {story.item_count === 1 ? 'item' : 'items'}
+                      </span>
+                      <span>·</span>
+                      <span>{formatDate(story.updated_at)}</span>
+                    </div>
                   </div>
+                  <DropdownMenu>
+                    <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+                      <Button
+                        variant="ghost"
+                        size="icon"
+                        className="h-7 w-7 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
+                        onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+                        aria-label={`Actions for ${story.name}`}
+                      >
+                        <MoreHorizontal className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                      </Button>
+                    </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+                    <DropdownMenuContent align="end">
+                      <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleEditClick(story)}>
+                        <Pencil className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                        Edit
+                      </DropdownMenuItem>
+                      <DropdownMenuItem
+                        onClick={() => handleDeleteClick(story.id)}
+                        className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive"
+                      >
+                        <Trash2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
+                        Delete
+                      </DropdownMenuItem>
+                    </DropdownMenuContent>
+                  </DropdownMenu>
                 </div>
-                <DropdownMenu>
-                  <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-                    <Button
-                      variant="ghost"
-                      size="icon"
-                      className="h-8 w-8 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
-                      onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
-                      aria-label={`Actions for ${story.name}`}
-                    >
-                      <MoreHorizontal className="h-4 w-4" />
-                    </Button>
-                  </DropdownMenuTrigger>
-                  <DropdownMenuContent align="end">
-                    <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleEditClick(story)}>
-                      <Pencil className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                      Edit
-                    </DropdownMenuItem>
-                    <DropdownMenuItem
-                      onClick={() => handleDeleteClick(story.id)}
-                      className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive"
-                    >
-                      <Trash2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-                      Delete
-                    </DropdownMenuItem>
-                  </DropdownMenuContent>
-                </DropdownMenu>
               </div>
-            </div>
-          ))
+            ))}
+          </div>
         )}
       </div>
 

app/src/components/StoriesTab/StoryTrackEditor.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import {
+  Check,
   Copy,
+  GalleryVerticalEnd,
   GripHorizontal,
   Minus,
   Pause,
@@ -12,6 +14,12 @@ import {
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import WaveSurfer from 'wavesurfer.js';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import {
+  DropdownMenu,
+  DropdownMenuContent,
+  DropdownMenuItem,
+  DropdownMenuTrigger,
+} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
 import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
 import type { StoryItemDetail } from '@/lib/api/types';
@@ -19,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   useDuplicateStoryItem,
   useMoveStoryItem,
   useRemoveStoryItem,
+  useSetStoryItemVersion,
   useSplitStoryItem,
   useTrimStoryItem,
 } from '@/lib/hooks/useStories';
@@ -28,12 +37,14 @@ import { useStoryStore } from '@/stores/storyStore';
 // Clip waveform component with trim support
 function ClipWaveform({
   generationId,
+  versionId,
   width,
   trimStartMs,
   trimEndMs,
   duration,
 }: {
   generationId: string;
+  versionId?: string;
   width: number;
   trimStartMs: number;
   trimEndMs: number;
@@ -79,7 +90,9 @@ function ClipWaveform({
 
     wavesurferRef.current = wavesurfer;
 
-    const audioUrl = apiClient.getAudioUrl(generationId);
+    const audioUrl = versionId
+      ? apiClient.getVersionAudioUrl(versionId)
+      : apiClient.getAudioUrl(generationId);
     wavesurfer.load(audioUrl).catch(() => {
       // Ignore load errors
     });
@@ -88,7 +101,7 @@ function ClipWaveform({
       wavesurfer.destroy();
       wavesurferRef.current = null;
     };
-  }, [generationId, fullWaveformWidth]);
+  }, [generationId, versionId, fullWaveformWidth]);
 
   return (
     <div className="w-full h-full opacity-60 overflow-hidden">
@@ -135,12 +148,57 @@ export function StoryTrackEditor({ storyId, items }: StoryTrackEditorProps) {
   const splitItem = useSplitStoryItem();
   const duplicateItem = useDuplicateStoryItem();
   const removeItem = useRemoveStoryItem();
+  const setItemVersion = useSetStoryItemVersion();
   const { toast } = useToast();
 
   // Selection state
   const selectedClipId = useStoryStore((state) => state.selectedClipId);
   const setSelectedClipId = useStoryStore((state) => state.setSelectedClipId);
 
+  // Selected clip item (for version picker)
+  const selectedItem = useMemo(
+    () => (selectedClipId ? items.find((i) => i.id === selectedClipId) : undefined),
+    [selectedClipId, items],
+  );
+  const selectedItemVersions = selectedItem?.versions;
+  const hasMultipleVersions = selectedItemVersions && selectedItemVersions.length > 1;
+
+  // Determine which version label is active for the selected clip
+  const activeVersionLabel = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!selectedItem || !selectedItemVersions) return null;
+    // If the item has a pinned version_id, find its label
+    if (selectedItem.version_id) {
+      const pinned = selectedItemVersions.find((v) => v.id === selectedItem.version_id);
+      return pinned?.label ?? null;
+    }
+    // Otherwise use the generation's default version
+    const defaultVersion = selectedItemVersions.find((v) => v.is_default);
+    return defaultVersion?.label ?? null;
+  }, [selectedItem, selectedItemVersions]);
+
+  const handleSetVersion = useCallback(
+    (versionId: string | null) => {
+      if (!selectedClipId) return;
+      setItemVersion.mutate(
+        {
+          storyId,
+          itemId: selectedClipId,
+          data: { version_id: versionId },
+        },
+        {
+          onError: (error) => {
+            toast({
+              title: 'Failed to set version',
+              description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error),
+              variant: 'destructive',
+            });
+          },
+        },
+      );
+    },
+    [selectedClipId, storyId, setItemVersion, toast],
+  );
+
   // Trim state
   const [trimmingItem, setTrimmingItem] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [trimSide, setTrimSide] = useState<'start' | 'end' | null>(null);
@@ -788,6 +846,49 @@ export function StoryTrackEditor({ storyId, items }: StoryTrackEditorProps) {
               >
                 <Trash2 className="h-4 w-4" />
               </Button>
+              {hasMultipleVersions && (
+                <>
+                  <div className="w-px h-4 bg-border mx-1" />
+                  <DropdownMenu>
+                    <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+                      <Button
+                        variant="ghost"
+                        className="h-7 gap-1.5 px-2 text-xs"
+                        title="Change version/take"
+                      >
+                        <GalleryVerticalEnd className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                        <span className="max-w-[80px] truncate">
+                          {activeVersionLabel ?? 'default'}
+                        </span>
+                      </Button>
+                    </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+                    <DropdownMenuContent align="center" className="min-w-[160px]">
+                      {selectedItemVersions.map((version) => {
+                        const isActive = selectedItem?.version_id
+                          ? version.id === selectedItem.version_id
+                          : version.is_default;
+                        return (
+                          <DropdownMenuItem
+                            key={version.id}
+                            onClick={() => handleSetVersion(version.id)}
+                            className="gap-2 text-xs"
+                          >
+                            <Check
+                              className={cn('h-3 w-3', isActive ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0')}
+                            />
+                            <span className="truncate">{version.label}</span>
+                            {version.effects_chain && version.effects_chain.length > 0 && (
+                              <span className="text-muted-foreground ml-auto text-[10px]">
+                                {version.effects_chain.length} fx
+                              </span>
+                            )}
+                          </DropdownMenuItem>
+                        );
+                      })}
+                    </DropdownMenuContent>
+                  </DropdownMenu>
+                </>
+              )}
             </div>
           )}
 
@@ -958,6 +1059,7 @@ export function StoryTrackEditor({ storyId, items }: StoryTrackEditorProps) {
                       <div className="absolute inset-0 top-3">
                         <ClipWaveform
                           generationId={item.generation_id}
+                          versionId={item.version_id}
                           width={clipWidth}
                           trimStartMs={displayTrimStart}
                           trimEndMs={displayTrimEnd}

app/src/components/TitleBarDragRegion.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
+const isWindows = navigator.userAgent.includes('Windows');
+
 export function TitleBarDragRegion() {
-  return (
-    <div
-      data-tauri-drag-region
-      className="fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 h-12 z-[9999]"
-    />
-  );
+  if (isWindows) return null;
+
+  return <div data-tauri-drag-region className="fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 h-12 z-[9999]" />;
 }

app/src/components/VoiceProfiles/ProfileCard.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Download, Edit, Mic, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Download, Edit, Sparkles, Trash2 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useState } from 'react';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {
 import type { VoiceProfileResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { useDeleteProfile, useExportProfile } from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
-import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 import { useUIStore } from '@/stores/uiStore';
 
 interface ProfileCardProps {
@@ -24,19 +23,16 @@ interface ProfileCardProps {
 
 export function ProfileCard({ profile }: ProfileCardProps) {
   const [deleteDialogOpen, setDeleteDialogOpen] = useState(false);
-  const [avatarError, setAvatarError] = useState(false);
+
   const deleteProfile = useDeleteProfile();
   const exportProfile = useExportProfile();
   const setEditingProfileId = useUIStore((state) => state.setEditingProfileId);
   const setProfileDialogOpen = useUIStore((state) => state.setProfileDialogOpen);
   const selectedProfileId = useUIStore((state) => state.selectedProfileId);
   const setSelectedProfileId = useUIStore((state) => state.setSelectedProfileId);
-  const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
 
   const isSelected = selectedProfileId === profile.id;
 
-  const avatarUrl = profile.avatar_path ? `${serverUrl}/profiles/${profile.id}/avatar` : null;
-
   const handleSelect = () => {
     setSelectedProfileId(isSelected ? null : profile.id);
   };
@@ -78,8 +74,8 @@ export function ProfileCard({ profile }: ProfileCardProps) {
     <>
       <Card
         className={cn(
-          'cursor-pointer hover:shadow-md transition-all flex flex-col',
-          isSelected && 'ring-2 ring-primary shadow-md',
+          'cursor-pointer hover:shadow-md transition-all flex flex-col h-[162px]',
+          isSelected && 'ring-2 ring-accent shadow-md',
         )}
         onClick={handleSelect}
         tabIndex={0}
@@ -89,22 +85,7 @@ export function ProfileCard({ profile }: ProfileCardProps) {
         onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
       >
         <CardHeader className="p-3 pb-2">
-          <CardTitle className="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-base font-medium">
-            <div className="h-6 w-6 rounded-full bg-muted flex items-center justify-center shrink-0 overflow-hidden">
-              {avatarUrl && !avatarError ? (
-                <img
-                  src={avatarUrl}
-                  alt={`${profile.name} avatar`}
-                  className={cn(
-                    'h-full w-full object-cover transition-all duration-200',
-                    !isSelected && 'grayscale',
-                  )}
-                  onError={() => setAvatarError(true)}
-                />
-              ) : (
-                <Mic className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground" />
-              )}
-            </div>
+          <CardTitle className="text-base font-medium">
             <span className="break-words">{profile.name}</span>
           </CardTitle>
         </CardHeader>
@@ -112,10 +93,13 @@ export function ProfileCard({ profile }: ProfileCardProps) {
           <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mb-1.5 line-clamp-2 leading-relaxed">
             {profile.description || 'No description'}
           </p>
-          <div className="mb-2">
+          <div className="mb-2 flex items-center gap-1.5">
             <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs h-5 px-1.5 text-muted-foreground">
               {profile.language}
             </Badge>
+            {profile.effects_chain && profile.effects_chain.length > 0 && (
+              <Sparkles className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-accent fill-accent" />
+            )}
           </div>
           <div className="flex gap-0.5 justify-end items-end mt-auto">
             <CircleButton

app/src/components/VoiceProfiles/ProfileForm.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Edit2, Mic, Monitor, Upload, X } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
 import * as z from 'zod';
+import { EffectsChainEditor } from '@/components/Effects/EffectsChainEditor';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import {
   Dialog,
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ import {
 import { Tabs, TabsContent, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tabs';
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
 import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { EffectConfig } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { LANGUAGE_CODES, LANGUAGE_OPTIONS, type LanguageCode } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
 import { useAudioPlayer } from '@/lib/hooks/useAudioPlayer';
 import { useAudioRecording } from '@/lib/hooks/useAudioRecording';
@@ -125,6 +128,8 @@ export function ProfileForm() {
   const { isPlaying, playPause, cleanup: cleanupAudio } = useAudioPlayer();
   const isCreating = !editingProfileId;
   const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
+  const [profileEffectsChain, setProfileEffectsChain] = useState<EffectConfig[]>([]);
+  const [effectsDirty, setEffectsDirty] = useState(false);
 
   const form = useForm<ProfileFormValues>({
     resolver: zodResolver(profileSchema),
@@ -280,6 +285,8 @@ export function ProfileForm() {
         referenceText: undefined,
         avatarFile: undefined,
       });
+      setProfileEffectsChain(editingProfile.effects_chain ?? []);
+      setEffectsDirty(false);
     } else if (profileFormDraft && open) {
       // Restore from draft when opening in create mode
       form.reset({
@@ -435,6 +442,24 @@ export function ProfileForm() {
           }
         }
 
+        // Save effects chain if changed
+        if (effectsDirty) {
+          try {
+            await apiClient.updateProfileEffects(
+              editingProfileId,
+              profileEffectsChain.length > 0 ? profileEffectsChain : null,
+            );
+          } catch (fxError) {
+            toast({
+              title: 'Effects update failed',
+              description:
+                fxError instanceof Error ? fxError.message : 'Failed to save effects chain',
+              variant: 'destructive',
+            });
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+
         toast({
           title: 'Voice updated',
           description: `"${data.name}" has been updated successfully.`,
@@ -898,6 +923,23 @@ export function ProfileForm() {
                       </FormItem>
                     )}
                   />
+
+                  {editingProfileId && (
+                    <div className="space-y-2">
+                      <FormLabel>Default Effects</FormLabel>
+                      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                        Effects applied automatically to all new generations with this voice.
+                      </p>
+                      <EffectsChainEditor
+                        value={profileEffectsChain}
+                        onChange={(chain) => {
+                          setProfileEffectsChain(chain);
+                          setEffectsDirty(true);
+                        }}
+                        compact
+                      />
+                    </div>
+                  )}
                 </div>
               </div>
 

app/src/components/VoiceProfiles/ProfileList.tsx

@@ -41,9 +41,11 @@ export function ProfileList() {
             </CardContent>
           </Card>
         ) : (
-          <div className="grid gap-4 grid-cols-3 auto-rows-auto p-1 pb-[150px]">
+          <div className="flex gap-4 overflow-x-auto p-1 pb-1 lg:grid lg:grid-cols-3 lg:auto-rows-auto lg:overflow-x-visible lg:pb-[150px]">
             {allProfiles.map((profile) => (
-              <ProfileCard key={profile.id} profile={profile} />
+              <div key={profile.id} className="shrink-0 w-[200px] lg:w-auto lg:shrink">
+                <ProfileCard profile={profile} />
+              </div>
             ))}
           </div>
         )}

app/src/components/VoicesTab/VoiceInspector.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,340 @@
+import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod';
+import { Edit2, Mic, X } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
+import * as z from 'zod';
+import { EffectsChainEditor } from '@/components/Effects/EffectsChainEditor';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import {
+  Form,
+  FormControl,
+  FormField,
+  FormItem,
+  FormLabel,
+  FormMessage,
+} from '@/components/ui/form';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import {
+  Select,
+  SelectContent,
+  SelectItem,
+  SelectTrigger,
+  SelectValue,
+} from '@/components/ui/select';
+import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea';
+import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
+import { SampleList } from '@/components/VoiceProfiles/SampleList';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { EffectConfig } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { LANGUAGE_CODES, LANGUAGE_OPTIONS, type LanguageCode } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
+import { BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
+import {
+  useDeleteAvatar,
+  useProfile,
+  useUpdateProfile,
+  useUploadAvatar,
+} from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
+
+const profileSchema = z.object({
+  name: z.string().min(1, 'Name is required').max(100),
+  description: z.string().max(500).optional(),
+  language: z.enum(LANGUAGE_CODES as [LanguageCode, ...LanguageCode[]]),
+});
+
+type ProfileFormValues = z.infer<typeof profileSchema>;
+
+interface VoiceInspectorProps {
+  profileId: string;
+}
+
+export function VoiceInspector({ profileId }: VoiceInspectorProps) {
+  const { data: profile } = useProfile(profileId);
+  const audioUrl = usePlayerStore((state) => state.audioUrl);
+  const isPlayerVisible = !!audioUrl;
+  const updateProfile = useUpdateProfile();
+  const uploadAvatar = useUploadAvatar();
+  const deleteAvatar = useDeleteAvatar();
+  const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
+  const { toast } = useToast();
+
+  const [avatarPreview, setAvatarPreview] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [avatarError, setAvatarError] = useState(false);
+  const avatarInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
+  const [effectsChain, setEffectsChain] = useState<EffectConfig[]>([]);
+  const [effectsDirty, setEffectsDirty] = useState(false);
+
+  const form = useForm<ProfileFormValues>({
+    resolver: zodResolver(profileSchema),
+    defaultValues: {
+      name: '',
+      description: '',
+      language: 'en',
+    },
+  });
+
+  // Populate form when profile loads
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (profile) {
+      form.reset({
+        name: profile.name,
+        description: profile.description || '',
+        language: profile.language as LanguageCode,
+      });
+      setEffectsChain(profile.effects_chain ?? []);
+      setEffectsDirty(false);
+    }
+  }, [profile, form]);
+
+  // Avatar preview
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (profile?.avatar_path) {
+      setAvatarPreview(`${serverUrl}/profiles/${profile.id}/avatar`);
+    } else {
+      setAvatarPreview(null);
+    }
+    setAvatarError(false);
+  }, [profile, serverUrl]);
+
+  function handleAvatarFileChange(e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
+    const file = e.target.files?.[0];
+    if (!file) return;
+    if (!file.type.startsWith('image/')) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Invalid file type',
+        description: 'Please select PNG, JPG, or WebP',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    if (file.size > 5 * 1024 * 1024) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'File too large',
+        description: 'Image must be less than 5MB',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    // Upload immediately
+    uploadAvatar.mutate(
+      { profileId, file },
+      {
+        onSuccess: () => {
+          setAvatarPreview(URL.createObjectURL(file));
+          toast({ title: 'Avatar updated' });
+        },
+        onError: (err) => {
+          toast({
+            title: 'Avatar upload failed',
+            description: err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Unknown error',
+            variant: 'destructive',
+          });
+        },
+      },
+    );
+  }
+
+  async function handleRemoveAvatar() {
+    if (profile?.avatar_path) {
+      try {
+        await deleteAvatar.mutateAsync(profileId);
+        toast({ title: 'Avatar removed' });
+      } catch (err) {
+        toast({
+          title: 'Failed to remove avatar',
+          description: err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Unknown error',
+          variant: 'destructive',
+        });
+      }
+    }
+    setAvatarPreview(null);
+    if (avatarInputRef.current) avatarInputRef.current.value = '';
+  }
+
+  async function onSubmit(data: ProfileFormValues) {
+    try {
+      await updateProfile.mutateAsync({
+        profileId,
+        data: {
+          name: data.name,
+          description: data.description,
+          language: data.language,
+        },
+      });
+
+      if (effectsDirty) {
+        try {
+          await apiClient.updateProfileEffects(
+            profileId,
+            effectsChain.length > 0 ? effectsChain : null,
+          );
+          setEffectsDirty(false);
+        } catch (fxError) {
+          toast({
+            title: 'Effects update failed',
+            description: fxError instanceof Error ? fxError.message : 'Failed to save effects',
+            variant: 'destructive',
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+      }
+
+      toast({ title: 'Voice updated', description: `"${data.name}" saved.` });
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast({
+        title: 'Error',
+        description: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Failed to save profile',
+        variant: 'destructive',
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!profile) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-center h-full text-muted-foreground text-sm">
+        Loading...
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  const isDirty = form.formState.isDirty || effectsDirty;
+
+  return (
+    <div className="h-full flex flex-col overflow-hidden">
+      <div className={cn('flex-1 overflow-y-auto', isPlayerVisible && BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING)}>
+        <Form {...form}>
+          <form onSubmit={form.handleSubmit(onSubmit)} className="space-y-0">
+            {/* Avatar */}
+            <div className="flex justify-center pt-5 pb-3">
+              <div className="relative group">
+                <div className="h-20 w-20 rounded-full bg-muted flex items-center justify-center shrink-0 overflow-hidden border-2 border-border">
+                  {avatarPreview && !avatarError ? (
+                    <img
+                      src={avatarPreview}
+                      alt={profile.name}
+                      className="h-full w-full object-cover"
+                      onError={() => setAvatarError(true)}
+                    />
+                  ) : (
+                    <Mic className="h-8 w-8 text-muted-foreground" />
+                  )}
+                </div>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  onClick={() => avatarInputRef.current?.click()}
+                  className="absolute inset-0 rounded-full bg-accent/60 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity flex items-center justify-center cursor-pointer"
+                >
+                  <Edit2 className="h-5 w-5 text-accent-foreground" />
+                </button>
+                {avatarPreview && (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    onClick={handleRemoveAvatar}
+                    disabled={deleteAvatar.isPending}
+                    className="absolute bottom-0 right-0 h-5 w-5 rounded-full bg-background/60 backdrop-blur-sm text-muted-foreground flex items-center justify-center hover:bg-background/80 hover:text-foreground transition-colors shadow-sm border border-border/50"
+                  >
+                    <X className="h-3 w-3" />
+                  </button>
+                )}
+              </div>
+              <input
+                ref={avatarInputRef}
+                type="file"
+                accept="image/png,image/jpeg,image/webp"
+                onChange={handleAvatarFileChange}
+                className="hidden"
+              />
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Fields */}
+            <div className="space-y-3 px-5">
+              <FormField
+                control={form.control}
+                name="name"
+                render={({ field }) => (
+                  <FormItem>
+                    <FormLabel>Name</FormLabel>
+                    <FormControl>
+                      <Input placeholder="My Voice" {...field} />
+                    </FormControl>
+                    <FormMessage />
+                  </FormItem>
+                )}
+              />
+
+              <FormField
+                control={form.control}
+                name="description"
+                render={({ field }) => (
+                  <FormItem>
+                    <FormLabel>Description</FormLabel>
+                    <FormControl>
+                      <Textarea placeholder="Describe this voice..." rows={2} {...field} />
+                    </FormControl>
+                    <FormMessage />
+                  </FormItem>
+                )}
+              />
+
+              <FormField
+                control={form.control}
+                name="language"
+                render={({ field }) => (
+                  <FormItem>
+                    <FormLabel>Language</FormLabel>
+                    <Select onValueChange={field.onChange} value={field.value}>
+                      <FormControl>
+                        <SelectTrigger>
+                          <SelectValue />
+                        </SelectTrigger>
+                      </FormControl>
+                      <SelectContent>
+                        {LANGUAGE_OPTIONS.map((lang) => (
+                          <SelectItem key={lang.value} value={lang.value}>
+                            {lang.label}
+                          </SelectItem>
+                        ))}
+                      </SelectContent>
+                    </Select>
+                    <FormMessage />
+                  </FormItem>
+                )}
+              />
+
+              {/* Effects */}
+              <div className="space-y-2">
+                <FormLabel>Default Effects</FormLabel>
+                <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  Applied automatically to new generations with this voice.
+                </p>
+                <EffectsChainEditor
+                  value={effectsChain}
+                  onChange={(chain) => {
+                    setEffectsChain(chain);
+                    setEffectsDirty(true);
+                  }}
+                  compact
+                />
+              </div>
+
+              {/* Save */}
+              {isDirty && (
+                <Button type="submit" className="w-full" disabled={updateProfile.isPending}>
+                  {updateProfile.isPending ? 'Saving...' : 'Save Changes'}
+                </Button>
+              )}
+            </div>
+
+            {/* Samples */}
+            <div className="px-5 pb-5">
+              <SampleList profileId={profileId} />
+            </div>
+          </form>
+        </Form>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}

app/src/components/VoicesTab/VoicesTab.tsx

@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
-import { Edit, MoreHorizontal, Plus, Trash2, Mic } from 'lucide-react';
-import { useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
+import { Mic, Plus, Search, Sparkles } from 'lucide-react';
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
-import {
-  DropdownMenu,
-  DropdownMenuContent,
-  DropdownMenuItem,
-  DropdownMenuTrigger,
-} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+
 import { MultiSelect } from '@/components/ui/multi-select';
 import {
   Table,
@@ -21,33 +17,46 @@ import { ProfileForm } from '@/components/VoiceProfiles/ProfileForm';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
 import type { VoiceProfileResponse } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING } from '@/lib/constants/ui';
-import { useHistory } from '@/lib/hooks/useHistory';
-import { useDeleteProfile, useProfileSamples, useProfiles } from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
+import { useProfiles } from '@/lib/hooks/useProfiles';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 import { useUIStore } from '@/stores/uiStore';
+import { VoiceInspector } from './VoiceInspector';
 
 export function VoicesTab() {
   const { data: profiles, isLoading } = useProfiles();
-  const { data: historyData } = useHistory({ limit: 1000 });
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const setDialogOpen = useUIStore((state) => state.setProfileDialogOpen);
-  const setEditingProfileId = useUIStore((state) => state.setEditingProfileId);
-  const deleteProfile = useDeleteProfile();
+  const selectedVoiceId = useUIStore((state) => state.selectedVoiceId);
+  const setSelectedVoiceId = useUIStore((state) => state.setSelectedVoiceId);
   const scrollRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const audioUrl = usePlayerStore((state) => state.audioUrl);
   const isPlayerVisible = !!audioUrl;
+  const [search, setSearch] = useState('');
 
-  // Get generation counts per profile
-  const generationCounts = useMemo(() => {
-    const counts: Record<string, number> = {};
-    if (historyData?.items) {
-      historyData.items.forEach((item) => {
-        counts[item.profile_id] = (counts[item.profile_id] || 0) + 1;
-      });
+  const filteredProfiles = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!profiles) return [];
+    if (!search.trim()) return profiles;
+    const q = search.toLowerCase();
+    return profiles.filter(
+      (p) =>
+        p.name.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
+        p.description?.toLowerCase().includes(q) ||
+        p.language.toLowerCase().includes(q),
+    );
+  }, [profiles, search]);
+
+  // Auto-select first profile if none selected
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!selectedVoiceId && profiles && profiles.length > 0) {
+      setSelectedVoiceId(profiles[0].id);
     }
-    return counts;
-  }, [historyData]);
+    // Clear selection if selected profile was deleted
+    if (selectedVoiceId && profiles && !profiles.find((p) => p.id === selectedVoiceId)) {
+      setSelectedVoiceId(profiles.length > 0 ? profiles[0].id : null);
+    }
+  }, [profiles, selectedVoiceId, setSelectedVoiceId]);
 
   // Get channel assignments for each profile
   const { data: channelAssignments } = useQuery({
@@ -74,17 +83,6 @@ export function VoicesTab() {
     queryFn: () => apiClient.listChannels(),
   });
 
-  const handleEdit = (profileId: string) => {
-    setEditingProfileId(profileId);
-    setDialogOpen(true);
-  };
-
-  const handleProfileDelete = async (profileId: string) => {
-    if (await confirm('Are you sure you want to delete this profile?')) {
-      deleteProfile.mutate(profileId);
-    }
-  };
-
   const handleChannelChange = async (profileId: string, channelIds: string[]) => {
     try {
       await apiClient.setProfileChannels(profileId, channelIds);
@@ -103,56 +101,76 @@ export function VoicesTab() {
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="h-full flex flex-col relative overflow-hidden">
-      {/* Scroll Mask - Always visible, behind content */}
-      <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-16 bg-gradient-to-b from-background to-transparent z-10 pointer-events-none" />
+    <div className="h-full flex gap-0 overflow-hidden -mx-8">
+      {/* Left: Table */}
+      <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 flex flex-col relative overflow-hidden">
+        {/* Scroll Mask */}
+        <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 h-16 bg-gradient-to-b from-background to-transparent z-10 pointer-events-none" />
 
-      {/* Fixed Header */}
-      <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 z-20">
-        <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-6">
-          <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold">Voices</h1>
-          <Button onClick={() => setDialogOpen(true)}>
-            <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-            New Voice
-          </Button>
+        {/* Fixed Header */}
+        <div className="absolute top-0 left-0 right-0 z-20 pl-8 pr-8">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3 mb-6">
+            <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold">Voices</h1>
+            <div className="flex-1" />
+            <div className="relative w-[240px]">
+              <Search className="absolute left-2.5 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <Input
+                placeholder="Search voices..."
+                value={search}
+                onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
+                className="h-10 pl-8 text-sm rounded-full focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0"
+              />
+            </div>
+            <Button onClick={() => setDialogOpen(true)}>
+              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+              New Voice
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Scrollable Content */}
+        <div
+          ref={scrollRef}
+          className={cn(
+            'flex-1 overflow-y-auto overflow-x-hidden pt-16 relative z-0',
+            isPlayerVisible && BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING,
+          )}
+        >
+          <Table className="table-fixed [&_td:first-child]:pl-8 [&_th:first-child]:pl-8">
+            <TableHeader>
+              <TableRow>
+                <TableHead className="w-[30%]">Name</TableHead>
+                <TableHead className="w-[10%]">Language</TableHead>
+                <TableHead className="w-[10%]">Generations</TableHead>
+                <TableHead className="w-[8%]">Samples</TableHead>
+                <TableHead className="w-[8%]">Effects</TableHead>
+                <TableHead className="w-[24%]">Channels</TableHead>
+                <TableHead className="w-6"></TableHead>
+              </TableRow>
+            </TableHeader>
+            <TableBody>
+              {filteredProfiles.map((profile) => (
+                <VoiceRow
+                  key={profile.id}
+                  profile={profile}
+                  isSelected={selectedVoiceId === profile.id}
+                  onSelect={() => setSelectedVoiceId(profile.id)}
+                  channelIds={channelAssignments?.[profile.id] || []}
+                  channels={channels || []}
+                  onChannelChange={(channelIds) => handleChannelChange(profile.id, channelIds)}
+                />
+              ))}
+            </TableBody>
+          </Table>
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Scrollable Content */}
-      <div
-        ref={scrollRef}
-        className={cn(
-          'flex-1 overflow-y-auto pt-16 relative z-0',
-          isPlayerVisible && BOTTOM_SAFE_AREA_PADDING,
-        )}
-      >
-        <Table>
-          <TableHeader>
-            <TableRow>
-              <TableHead>Name</TableHead>
-              <TableHead>Language</TableHead>
-              <TableHead>Generations</TableHead>
-              <TableHead>Samples</TableHead>
-              <TableHead>Channels</TableHead>
-              <TableHead className="w-[50px]"></TableHead>
-            </TableRow>
-          </TableHeader>
-          <TableBody>
-            {profiles?.map((profile) => (
-              <VoiceRow
-                key={profile.id}
-                profile={profile}
-                generationCount={generationCounts[profile.id] || 0}
-                channelIds={channelAssignments?.[profile.id] || []}
-                channels={channels || []}
-                onChannelChange={(channelIds) => handleChannelChange(profile.id, channelIds)}
-                onEdit={() => handleEdit(profile.id)}
-                onDelete={() => handleProfileDelete(profile.id)}
-              />
-            ))}
-          </TableBody>
-        </Table>
-      </div>
+      {/* Right: Inspector */}
+      {selectedVoiceId && (
+        <div className="w-[340px] shrink-0 border-l border-t rounded-tl-xl bg-muted/30">
+          <VoiceInspector key={selectedVoiceId} profileId={selectedVoiceId} />
+        </div>
+      )}
 
       <ProfileForm />
     </div>
@@ -161,42 +179,46 @@ export function VoicesTab() {
 
 interface VoiceRowProps {
   profile: VoiceProfileResponse;
-  generationCount: number;
+  isSelected: boolean;
+  onSelect: () => void;
   channelIds: string[];
   channels: Array<{ id: string; name: string; is_default: boolean }>;
   onChannelChange: (channelIds: string[]) => void;
-  onEdit: () => void;
-  onDelete: () => void;
 }
 
 function VoiceRow({
   profile,
-  generationCount,
+  isSelected,
+  onSelect,
   channelIds,
   channels,
   onChannelChange,
-  onEdit,
-  onDelete,
 }: VoiceRowProps) {
-  const { data: samples } = useProfileSamples(profile.id);
-  const sampleCount = samples?.length || 0;
+  const serverUrl = useServerStore((state) => state.serverUrl);
+  const [avatarError, setAvatarError] = useState(false);
+  const avatarUrl = profile.avatar_path ? `${serverUrl}/profiles/${profile.id}/avatar` : null;
 
-  const rowLabel = `${profile.name}, ${profile.language}, ${generationCount} generations, ${sampleCount} samples. Press Enter to edit.`;
+  const enabledEffects = profile.effects_chain?.filter((e) => e.enabled) ?? [];
+  const effectsSummary = enabledEffects.map((e) => e.type).join(' → ');
 
   return (
-    <TableRow className="cursor-pointer" onClick={onEdit}>
+    <TableRow
+      className={cn('cursor-pointer', isSelected ? 'bg-muted/50' : 'hover:bg-muted/50')}
+      onClick={onSelect}
+    >
       <TableCell>
-        <button
-          type="button"
-          className="flex w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2 text-left focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 rounded"
-          aria-label={rowLabel}
-          onClick={(e) => {
-            e.stopPropagation();
-            onEdit();
-          }}
-        >
-          <div className="h-8 w-8 rounded-lg bg-muted flex items-center justify-center shrink-0">
-            <Mic className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+        <div className="flex w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
+          <div className="h-8 w-8 rounded-full bg-muted flex items-center justify-center shrink-0 overflow-hidden">
+            {avatarUrl && !avatarError ? (
+              <img
+                src={avatarUrl}
+                alt={`${profile.name} avatar`}
+                className="h-full w-full object-cover"
+                onError={() => setAvatarError(true)}
+              />
+            ) : (
+              <Mic className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+            )}
           </div>
           <div className="min-w-0">
             <div className="font-medium truncate">{profile.name}</div>
@@ -204,11 +226,24 @@ function VoiceRow({
               <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground truncate">{profile.description}</div>
             )}
           </div>
-        </button>
+        </div>
+      </TableCell>
+      <TableCell>{profile.language}</TableCell>
+      <TableCell>{profile.generation_count}</TableCell>
+      <TableCell>{profile.sample_count}</TableCell>
+      <TableCell>
+        {enabledEffects.length > 0 ? (
+          <span
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-accent"
+            title={effectsSummary}
+          >
+            <Sparkles className="h-3 w-3 fill-accent" />
+            {enabledEffects.length}
+          </span>
+        ) : (
+          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">—</span>
+        )}
       </TableCell>
-      <TableCell onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>{profile.language}</TableCell>
-      <TableCell onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>{generationCount}</TableCell>
-      <TableCell onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>{sampleCount}</TableCell>
       <TableCell onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
         <MultiSelect
           options={channels.map((ch) => ({
@@ -218,28 +253,10 @@ function VoiceRow({
           value={channelIds}
           onChange={onChannelChange}
           placeholder="Select channels..."
-          className="min-w-[200px]"
+          className="w-full"
         />
       </TableCell>
-      <TableCell onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
-        <DropdownMenu>
-          <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-            <Button variant="ghost" size="icon" aria-label={`Actions for ${profile.name}`}>
-              <MoreHorizontal className="h-4 w-4" />
-            </Button>
-          </DropdownMenuTrigger>
-          <DropdownMenuContent>
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={onEdit}>
-              <Edit className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Edit
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={onDelete} className="text-destructive">
-              <Trash2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Delete
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
-          </DropdownMenuContent>
-        </DropdownMenu>
-      </TableCell>
+      <TableCell />
     </TableRow>
   );
 }

app/src/components/ui/checkbox.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import * as React from 'react';
 import { Check } from 'lucide-react';
+import * as React from 'react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 
 export interface CheckboxProps {

app/src/components/ui/dropdown-menu.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import * as React from 'react';
 import * as DropdownMenuPrimitive from '@radix-ui/react-dropdown-menu';
 import { MoreHorizontal } from 'lucide-react';
+import * as React from 'react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 
 const DropdownMenu = DropdownMenuPrimitive.Root;
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ const DropdownMenuItem = React.forwardRef<
   <DropdownMenuPrimitive.Item
     ref={ref}
     className={cn(
-      'relative flex cursor-default select-none items-center rounded-sm px-2 py-1.5 text-sm outline-none transition-colors focus:bg-accent focus:text-accent-foreground data-[disabled]:pointer-events-none data-[disabled]:opacity-50',
+      'relative flex cursor-default select-none items-center rounded-sm px-2 py-1.5 text-sm outline-none focus:bg-accent focus:text-accent-foreground data-[disabled]:pointer-events-none data-[disabled]:opacity-50',
       inset && 'pl-8',
       className,
     )}
@@ -154,7 +154,9 @@ const DropdownMenuSeparator = React.forwardRef<
 DropdownMenuSeparator.displayName = DropdownMenuPrimitive.Separator.displayName;
 
 const DropdownMenuShortcut = ({ className, ...props }: React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLSpanElement>) => {
-  return <span className={cn('ml-auto text-xs tracking-widest opacity-60', className)} {...props} />;
+  return (
+    <span className={cn('ml-auto text-xs tracking-widest opacity-60', className)} {...props} />
+  );
 };
 DropdownMenuShortcut.displayName = 'DropdownMenuShortcut';
 

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 focus:bg-muted/50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50 [&>span]:line-clamp-1',
       className,
     )}
     {...props}
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ const SelectItem = React.forwardRef<
   <SelectPrimitive.Item
     ref={ref}
     className={cn(
-      'relative flex w-full cursor-default select-none items-center rounded-sm py-1.5 pl-8 pr-2 text-sm outline-none focus:bg-accent focus:text-accent-foreground data-[disabled]:pointer-events-none data-[disabled]:opacity-50',
+      'relative flex w-full cursor-default select-none items-center rounded-sm py-1.5 pl-8 pr-2 text-sm outline-none focus:bg-accent focus:text-accent-foreground focus:[&_*]:text-accent-foreground data-[disabled]:pointer-events-none data-[disabled]:opacity-50',
       className,
     )}
     {...props}

app/src/components/ui/slider.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import * as React from 'react';
 import * as SliderPrimitive from '@radix-ui/react-slider';
+import * as React from 'react';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
 
 const Slider = React.forwardRef<
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const Slider = React.forwardRef<
     <SliderPrimitive.Track className="relative h-2 w-full grow overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-secondary">
       <SliderPrimitive.Range className="absolute h-full bg-primary" />
     </SliderPrimitive.Track>
-    <SliderPrimitive.Thumb className="block h-5 w-5 rounded-full border-2 border-primary bg-background ring-offset-background transition-colors focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50 translate-x-0.5" />
+    <SliderPrimitive.Thumb className="block h-0 w-0 outline-none disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50 after:block after:h-5 after:w-5 after:rounded-full after:border-2 after:border-primary after:bg-background after:ring-offset-background after:transition-colors after:absolute after:top-1/2 after:left-1/2 after:-translate-x-1/2 after:-translate-y-1/2 focus-visible:after:ring-2 focus-visible:after:ring-ring focus-visible:after:ring-offset-2" />
   </SliderPrimitive.Root>
 ));
 Slider.displayName = SliderPrimitive.Root.displayName;

app/src/components/ui/table.tsx

@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ const TableHeader = React.forwardRef<
   HTMLTableSectionElement,
   React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLTableSectionElement>
 >(({ className, ...props }, ref) => (
-  <thead ref={ref} className={cn('[&_tr]:border-b', className)} {...props} />
+  <thead
+    ref={ref}
+    className={cn('[&_tr]:border-b [&_tr]:hover:bg-transparent', className)}
+    {...props}
+  />
 ));
 TableHeader.displayName = 'TableHeader';
 
@@ -42,10 +46,7 @@ const TableRow = React.forwardRef<HTMLTableRowElement, React.HTMLAttributes<HTML
   ({ className, ...props }, ref) => (
     <tr
       ref={ref}
-      className={cn(
-        'border-b transition-colors hover:bg-muted/50 data-[state=selected]:bg-muted',
-        className,
-      )}
+      className={cn('border-b hover:bg-muted/50 data-[state=selected]:bg-muted', className)}
       {...props}
     />
   ),

app/src/components/ui/toaster.tsx

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 import {
   Toast,
   ToastClose,
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ import { useToast } from './use-toast';
 
 export function Toaster() {
   const { toasts } = useToast();
+  const isPlayerOpen = !!usePlayerStore((s) => s.audioUrl);
 
   return (
     <ToastProvider>
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ export function Toaster() {
           <ToastClose />
         </Toast>
       ))}
-      <ToastViewport />
+      <ToastViewport className={isPlayerOpen ? 'sm:bottom-44' : ''} />
     </ToastProvider>
   );
 }

app/src/components/ui/toggle.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import * as React from 'react';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils/cn';
+
+export interface ToggleProps {
+  checked?: boolean;
+  onCheckedChange?: (checked: boolean) => void;
+  disabled?: boolean;
+  className?: string;
+  id?: string;
+}
+
+const Toggle = React.forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, ToggleProps>(
+  ({ checked = false, onCheckedChange, disabled = false, className, id, ...props }, ref) => {
+    return (
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        ref={ref}
+        id={id}
+        role="switch"
+        aria-checked={checked}
+        disabled={disabled}
+        onClick={() => {
+          if (!disabled && onCheckedChange) {
+            onCheckedChange(!checked);
+          }
+        }}
+        className={cn(
+          'relative inline-flex h-5 w-9 shrink-0 items-center rounded-full transition-colors',
+          'focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2',
+          checked ? 'bg-accent' : 'bg-muted-foreground/25',
+          disabled ? 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed' : 'cursor-pointer',
+          className,
+        )}
+        {...props}
+      >
+        <span
+          className={cn(
+            'pointer-events-none block h-4 w-4 rounded-full bg-white shadow-sm transition-transform',
+            checked ? 'translate-x-[18px]' : 'translate-x-[2px]',
+          )}
+        />
+      </button>
+    );
+  },
+);
+Toggle.displayName = 'Toggle';
+
+export { Toggle };

app/src/global.d.ts

@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
 interface Window {
   __voiceboxServerStartedByApp?: boolean;
 }
+
+declare module 'virtual:changelog' {
+  const raw: string;
+  export default raw;
+}

app/src/index.css

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 @import "tailwindcss" source(".");
+@import "loaders.css/loaders.min.css";
 
 @theme {
   --radius-sm: calc(var(--radius) - 4px);
@@ -155,3 +156,18 @@
   animation: fadeIn 0.5s ease-out 0.15s forwards;
   opacity: 0;
 }
+
+/* react-loaders */
+.line-scale-pulse-out-rapid > div,
+.line-scale > div {
+  background-color: hsl(var(--accent)) !important;
+}
+
+.loader-hidden {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.loader-hidden > div > div {
+  animation-play-state: paused !important;
+  background-color: hsl(var(--muted-foreground)) !important;
+}

app/src/lib/api/client.ts

@@ -2,9 +2,15 @@ import type { LanguageCode } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
 import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 import type {
   ActiveTasksResponse,
+  ApplyEffectsRequest,
+  AvailableEffectsResponse,
   CudaStatus,
+  EffectConfig,
+  EffectPresetCreate,
+  EffectPresetResponse,
   GenerationRequest,
   GenerationResponse,
+  GenerationVersionResponse,
   HealthResponse,
   HistoryListResponse,
   HistoryQuery,
@@ -21,12 +27,29 @@ import type {
   StoryItemReorder,
   StoryItemSplit,
   StoryItemTrim,
+  StoryItemVersionUpdate,
   StoryResponse,
   TranscriptionResponse,
   VoiceProfileCreate,
   VoiceProfileResponse,
+  WhisperModelSize,
 } from './types';
 
+function formatErrorDetail(detail: unknown, fallback: string): string {
+  if (typeof detail === 'string') return detail;
+  if (Array.isArray(detail)) {
+    return detail
+      .map((e: Record<string, unknown>) => e.msg || e.message || JSON.stringify(e))
+      .join('; ');
+  }
+  if (detail && typeof detail === 'object') {
+    const obj = detail as Record<string, unknown>;
+    if (typeof obj.message === 'string') return obj.message;
+    return JSON.stringify(detail);
+  }
+  return fallback;
+}
+
 class ApiClient {
   private getBaseUrl(): string {
     const serverUrl = useServerStore.getState().serverUrl;
@@ -47,7 +70,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.json();
@@ -106,7 +129,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.json();
@@ -140,7 +163,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.blob();
@@ -160,7 +183,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.json();
@@ -180,7 +203,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.json();
@@ -200,6 +223,24 @@ class ApiClient {
     });
   }
 
+  async retryGeneration(generationId: string): Promise<GenerationResponse> {
+    return this.request<GenerationResponse>(`/generate/${generationId}/retry`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+    });
+  }
+
+  async regenerateGeneration(generationId: string): Promise<GenerationResponse> {
+    return this.request<GenerationResponse>(`/generate/${generationId}/regenerate`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+    });
+  }
+
+  async toggleFavorite(generationId: string): Promise<{ is_favorited: boolean }> {
+    return this.request<{ is_favorited: boolean }>(`/history/${generationId}/favorite`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+    });
+  }
+
   // History
   async listHistory(query?: HistoryQuery): Promise<HistoryListResponse> {
     const params = new URLSearchParams();
@@ -232,7 +273,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.blob();
@@ -246,7 +287,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.blob();
@@ -272,12 +313,17 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.json();
   }
 
+  // Generation status SSE
+  getGenerationStatusUrl(generationId: string): string {
+    return `${this.getBaseUrl()}/generate/${generationId}/status`;
+  }
+
   // Audio
   getAudioUrl(audioId: string): string {
     return `${this.getBaseUrl()}/audio/${audioId}`;
@@ -288,12 +334,19 @@ class ApiClient {
   }
 
   // Transcription
-  async transcribeAudio(file: File, language?: LanguageCode): Promise<TranscriptionResponse> {
+  async transcribeAudio(
+    file: File,
+    language?: LanguageCode,
+    model?: WhisperModelSize,
+  ): Promise<TranscriptionResponse> {
     const formData = new FormData();
     formData.append('file', file);
     if (language) {
       formData.append('language', language);
     }
+    if (model) {
+      formData.append('model', model);
+    }
 
     const url = `${this.getBaseUrl()}/transcribe`;
     const response = await fetch(url, {
@@ -305,7 +358,7 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.json();
@@ -316,6 +369,21 @@ class ApiClient {
     return this.request<ModelStatusListResponse>('/models/status');
   }
 
+  async getModelsCacheDir(): Promise<{ path: string }> {
+    return this.request<{ path: string }>('/models/cache-dir');
+  }
+
+  async migrateModels(destination: string): Promise<{ source: string; destination: string }> {
+    return this.request('/models/migrate', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify({ destination }),
+    });
+  }
+
+  getMigrationProgressUrl(): string {
+    return `${this.getBaseUrl()}/models/migrate/progress`;
+  }
+
   async triggerModelDownload(modelName: string): Promise<{ message: string }> {
     console.log(
       '[API] triggerModelDownload called for:',
@@ -544,6 +612,17 @@ class ApiClient {
     });
   }
 
+  async setStoryItemVersion(
+    storyId: string,
+    itemId: string,
+    data: StoryItemVersionUpdate,
+  ): Promise<StoryItemDetail> {
+    return this.request<StoryItemDetail>(`/stories/${storyId}/items/${itemId}/version`, {
+      method: 'PUT',
+      body: JSON.stringify(data),
+    });
+  }
+
   async exportStoryAudio(storyId: string): Promise<Blob> {
     const url = `${this.getBaseUrl()}/stories/${storyId}/export-audio`;
     const response = await fetch(url);
@@ -552,7 +631,104 @@ class ApiClient {
       const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
         detail: response.statusText,
       }));
-      throw new Error(error.detail || `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
+    }
+
+    return response.blob();
+  }
+
+  // Effects & Versions
+  async getAvailableEffects(): Promise<AvailableEffectsResponse> {
+    return this.request<AvailableEffectsResponse>('/effects/available');
+  }
+
+  async listEffectPresets(): Promise<EffectPresetResponse[]> {
+    return this.request<EffectPresetResponse[]>('/effects/presets');
+  }
+
+  async createEffectPreset(data: EffectPresetCreate): Promise<EffectPresetResponse> {
+    return this.request<EffectPresetResponse>('/effects/presets', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      body: JSON.stringify(data),
+    });
+  }
+
+  async updateEffectPreset(
+    presetId: string,
+    data: { name?: string; description?: string; effects_chain?: EffectConfig[] },
+  ): Promise<EffectPresetResponse> {
+    return this.request<EffectPresetResponse>(`/effects/presets/${presetId}`, {
+      method: 'PUT',
+      body: JSON.stringify(data),
+    });
+  }
+
+  async deleteEffectPreset(presetId: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.request<void>(`/effects/presets/${presetId}`, {
+      method: 'DELETE',
+    });
+  }
+
+  async listGenerationVersions(generationId: string): Promise<GenerationVersionResponse[]> {
+    return this.request<GenerationVersionResponse[]>(`/generations/${generationId}/versions`);
+  }
+
+  async applyEffectsToGeneration(
+    generationId: string,
+    data: ApplyEffectsRequest,
+  ): Promise<GenerationVersionResponse> {
+    return this.request<GenerationVersionResponse>(
+      `/generations/${generationId}/versions/apply-effects`,
+      {
+        method: 'POST',
+        body: JSON.stringify(data),
+      },
+    );
+  }
+
+  async setDefaultVersion(
+    generationId: string,
+    versionId: string,
+  ): Promise<GenerationVersionResponse> {
+    return this.request<GenerationVersionResponse>(
+      `/generations/${generationId}/versions/${versionId}/set-default`,
+      { method: 'PUT' },
+    );
+  }
+
+  async deleteGenerationVersion(generationId: string, versionId: string): Promise<void> {
+    await this.request<void>(`/generations/${generationId}/versions/${versionId}`, {
+      method: 'DELETE',
+    });
+  }
+
+  getVersionAudioUrl(versionId: string): string {
+    return `${this.getBaseUrl()}/audio/version/${versionId}`;
+  }
+
+  async updateProfileEffects(
+    profileId: string,
+    effectsChain: EffectConfig[] | null,
+  ): Promise<VoiceProfileResponse> {
+    return this.request<VoiceProfileResponse>(`/profiles/${profileId}/effects`, {
+      method: 'PUT',
+      body: JSON.stringify({ effects_chain: effectsChain }),
+    });
+  }
+
+  async previewEffects(generationId: string, effectsChain: EffectConfig[]): Promise<Blob> {
+    const url = `${this.getBaseUrl()}/effects/preview/${generationId}`;
+    const response = await fetch(url, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ effects_chain: effectsChain }),
+    });
+
+    if (!response.ok) {
+      const error = await response.json().catch(() => ({
+        detail: response.statusText,
+      }));
+      throw new Error(formatErrorDetail(error.detail, `HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`));
     }
 
     return response.blob();

app/src/lib/api/types.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ export interface VoiceProfileResponse {
   description?: string;
   language: string;
   avatar_path?: string;
+  effects_chain?: EffectConfig[];
+  generation_count: number;
+  sample_count: number;
   created_at: string;
   updated_at: string;
 }
@@ -28,6 +31,12 @@ export interface ProfileSampleResponse {
   reference_text: string;
 }
 
+export interface EffectConfig {
+  type: string;
+  enabled: boolean;
+  params: Record<string, number>;
+}
+
 export interface GenerationRequest {
   profile_id: string;
   text: string;
@@ -38,6 +47,19 @@ export interface GenerationRequest {
   instruct?: string;
   max_chunk_chars?: number;
   crossfade_ms?: number;
+  normalize?: boolean;
+  effects_chain?: EffectConfig[];
+}
+
+export interface GenerationVersionResponse {
+  id: string;
+  generation_id: string;
+  label: string;
+  audio_path: string;
+  effects_chain?: EffectConfig[];
+  source_version_id?: string;
+  is_default: boolean;
+  created_at: string;
 }
 
 export interface GenerationResponse {
@@ -45,10 +67,18 @@ export interface GenerationResponse {
   profile_id: string;
   text: string;
   language: string;
-  audio_path: string;
-  duration: number;
+  audio_path?: string;
+  duration?: number;
   seed?: number;
+  instruct?: string;
+  engine?: string;
+  model_size?: string;
+  status: 'loading_model' | 'generating' | 'completed' | 'failed';
+  error?: string;
+  is_favorited?: boolean;
   created_at: string;
+  versions?: GenerationVersionResponse[];
+  active_version_id?: string;
 }
 
 export interface HistoryQuery {
@@ -60,6 +90,8 @@ export interface HistoryQuery {
 
 export interface HistoryResponse extends GenerationResponse {
   profile_name: string;
+  versions?: GenerationVersionResponse[];
+  active_version_id?: string;
 }
 
 export interface HistoryListResponse {
@@ -67,8 +99,11 @@ export interface HistoryListResponse {
   total: number;
 }
 
+export type WhisperModelSize = 'base' | 'small' | 'medium' | 'large' | 'turbo';
+
 export interface TranscriptionRequest {
   language?: LanguageCode;
+  model?: WhisperModelSize;
 }
 
 export interface TranscriptionResponse {
@@ -193,6 +228,7 @@ export interface StoryItemDetail {
   id: string;
   story_id: string;
   generation_id: string;
+  version_id?: string;
   start_time_ms: number;
   track: number;
   trim_start_ms: number;
@@ -207,6 +243,12 @@ export interface StoryItemDetail {
   seed?: number;
   instruct?: string;
   generation_created_at: string;
+  versions?: GenerationVersionResponse[];
+  active_version_id?: string;
+}
+
+export interface StoryItemVersionUpdate {
+  version_id: string | null;
 }
 
 export interface StoryDetailResponse {
@@ -250,3 +292,52 @@ export interface StoryItemTrim {
 export interface StoryItemSplit {
   split_time_ms: number;
 }
+
+// Effects
+
+export interface EffectPresetResponse {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  description?: string;
+  effects_chain: EffectConfig[];
+  is_builtin: boolean;
+  created_at: string;
+}
+
+export interface EffectPresetCreate {
+  name: string;
+  description?: string;
+  effects_chain: EffectConfig[];
+}
+
+export interface EffectPresetUpdate {
+  name?: string;
+  description?: string;
+  effects_chain?: EffectConfig[];
+}
+
+export interface AvailableEffectParam {
+  default: number;
+  min: number;
+  max: number;
+  step: number;
+  description: string;
+}
+
+export interface AvailableEffect {
+  type: string;
+  label: string;
+  description: string;
+  params: Record<string, AvailableEffectParam>;
+}
+
+export interface AvailableEffectsResponse {
+  effects: AvailableEffect[];
+}
+
+export interface ApplyEffectsRequest {
+  effects_chain: EffectConfig[];
+  source_version_id?: string;
+  label?: string;
+  set_as_default?: boolean;
+}

app/src/lib/constants/ui.ts

@@ -2,11 +2,14 @@
  * UI layout constants for safe area padding
  */
 
+const isWindows = typeof navigator !== 'undefined' && navigator.userAgent.includes('Windows');
+
 /**
  * Top safe area padding - height of the drag region bar
- * Corresponds to Tailwind's pt-12 (3rem / 48px)
+ * On macOS this accounts for the overlay titlebar (48px).
+ * On Windows the native title bar is outside the webview, so no padding is needed.
  */
-export const TOP_SAFE_AREA_PADDING = 'pt-12';
+export const TOP_SAFE_AREA_PADDING = isWindows ? 'pt-8' : 'pt-12';
 
 /**
  * Bottom safe area padding - height of the audio player

app/src/lib/hooks/useGenerationForm.ts

@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@ import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
 import * as z from 'zod';
 import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { EffectConfig } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { LANGUAGE_CODES, type LanguageCode } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
 import { useGeneration } from '@/lib/hooks/useGeneration';
 import { useModelDownloadToast } from '@/lib/hooks/useModelDownloadToast';
 import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
-import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
 import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
 
 const generationSchema = z.object({
-  text: z.string().min(1, 'Text is required').max(50000),
+  text: z.string().min(1, '').max(50000),
   language: z.enum(LANGUAGE_CODES as [LanguageCode, ...LanguageCode[]]),
   seed: z.number().int().optional(),
   modelSize: z.enum(['1.7B', '0.6B']).optional(),
@@ -25,15 +25,16 @@ export type GenerationFormValues = z.infer<typeof generationSchema>;
 interface UseGenerationFormOptions {
   onSuccess?: (generationId: string) => void;
   defaultValues?: Partial<GenerationFormValues>;
+  getEffectsChain?: () => EffectConfig[] | undefined;
 }
 
 export function useGenerationForm(options: UseGenerationFormOptions = {}) {
   const { toast } = useToast();
   const generation = useGeneration();
-  const setAudioWithAutoPlay = usePlayerStore((state) => state.setAudioWithAutoPlay);
-  const setIsGenerating = useGenerationStore((state) => state.setIsGenerating);
+  const addPendingGeneration = useGenerationStore((state) => state.addPendingGeneration);
   const maxChunkChars = useServerStore((state) => state.maxChunkChars);
   const crossfadeMs = useServerStore((state) => state.crossfadeMs);
+  const normalizeAudio = useServerStore((state) => state.normalizeAudio);
   const [downloadingModelName, setDownloadingModelName] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [downloadingDisplayName, setDownloadingDisplayName] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
@@ -70,8 +71,6 @@ export function useGenerationForm(options: UseGenerationFormOptions = {}) {
     }
 
     try {
-      setIsGenerating(true);
-
       const engine = data.engine || 'qwen';
       const modelName =
         engine === 'luxtts'
@@ -92,6 +91,7 @@ export function useGenerationForm(options: UseGenerationFormOptions = {}) {
                 ? 'Qwen TTS 1.7B'
                 : 'Qwen TTS 0.6B';
 
+      // Check if model needs downloading
       try {
         const modelStatus = await apiClient.getModelStatus();
         const model = modelStatus.models.find((m) => m.model_name === modelName);
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ export function useGenerationForm(options: UseGenerationFormOptions = {}) {
       }
 
       const isQwen = engine === 'qwen';
+      const effectsChain = options.getEffectsChain?.();
+      // This now returns immediately with status="generating"
       const result = await generation.mutateAsync({
         profile_id: selectedProfileId,
         text: data.text,
@@ -115,16 +117,14 @@ export function useGenerationForm(options: UseGenerationFormOptions = {}) {
         instruct: isQwen ? data.instruct || undefined : undefined,
         max_chunk_chars: maxChunkChars,
         crossfade_ms: crossfadeMs,
+        normalize: normalizeAudio,
+        effects_chain: effectsChain?.length ? effectsChain : undefined,
       });
 
-      toast({
-        title: 'Generation complete!',
-        description: `Audio generated (${result.duration.toFixed(2)}s)`,
-      });
-
-      const audioUrl = apiClient.getAudioUrl(result.id);
-      setAudioWithAutoPlay(audioUrl, result.id, selectedProfileId, data.text.substring(0, 50));
+      // Track this generation for SSE status updates
+      addPendingGeneration(result.id);
 
+      // Reset form immediately — user can start typing again
       form.reset({
         text: '',
         language: data.language,
@@ -141,7 +141,6 @@ export function useGenerationForm(options: UseGenerationFormOptions = {}) {
         variant: 'destructive',
       });
     } finally {
-      setIsGenerating(false);
       setDownloadingModelName(null);
       setDownloadingDisplayName(null);
     }

app/src/lib/hooks/useGenerationProgress.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
+import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
+import { usePlayerStore } from '@/stores/playerStore';
+import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/serverStore';
+
+interface GenerationStatusEvent {
+  id: string;
+  status: 'loading_model' | 'generating' | 'completed' | 'failed' | 'not_found';
+  duration?: number;
+  error?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Subscribes to SSE for all pending generations. When a generation completes,
+ * invalidates the history query, removes it from pending, and auto-plays
+ * if the player is idle.
+ */
+export function useGenerationProgress() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const { toast } = useToast();
+  const pendingIds = useGenerationStore((s) => s.pendingGenerationIds);
+  const removePendingGeneration = useGenerationStore((s) => s.removePendingGeneration);
+  const removePendingStoryAdd = useGenerationStore((s) => s.removePendingStoryAdd);
+  const isPlaying = usePlayerStore((s) => s.isPlaying);
+  const setAudioWithAutoPlay = usePlayerStore((s) => s.setAudioWithAutoPlay);
+  const autoplayOnGenerate = useServerStore((s) => s.autoplayOnGenerate);
+
+  // Keep refs to avoid stale closures in EventSource handlers
+  const isPlayingRef = useRef(isPlaying);
+  const autoplayRef = useRef(autoplayOnGenerate);
+  isPlayingRef.current = isPlaying;
+  autoplayRef.current = autoplayOnGenerate;
+
+  // Track active EventSource instances
+  const eventSourcesRef = useRef<Map<string, EventSource>>(new Map());
+
+  // Unmount-only cleanup — close all SSE connections when the hook is torn down
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const sources = eventSourcesRef.current;
+    return () => {
+      for (const source of sources.values()) {
+        source.close();
+      }
+      sources.clear();
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const currentSources = eventSourcesRef.current;
+
+    // Close SSE connections for IDs no longer pending
+    for (const [id, source] of currentSources.entries()) {
+      if (!pendingIds.has(id)) {
+        source.close();
+        currentSources.delete(id);
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Open SSE connections for new pending IDs
+    for (const id of pendingIds) {
+      if (currentSources.has(id)) continue;
+
+      const url = apiClient.getGenerationStatusUrl(id);
+      const source = new EventSource(url);
+
+      source.onmessage = (event) => {
+        try {
+          const data: GenerationStatusEvent = JSON.parse(event.data);
+
+          if (data.status === 'completed') {
+            source.close();
+            currentSources.delete(id);
+            removePendingGeneration(id);
+
+            // Refetch history to pick up the completed generation
+            queryClient.refetchQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+
+            // If this generation was queued for a story, add it now
+            const storyId = removePendingStoryAdd(id);
+            if (storyId) {
+              apiClient
+                .addStoryItem(storyId, { generation_id: id })
+                .then(() => {
+                  queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories'] });
+                  queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories', storyId] });
+                  toast({
+                    title: 'Added to story',
+                    description: data.duration
+                      ? `Audio generated (${data.duration.toFixed(2)}s) and added to story`
+                      : 'Audio generated and added to story',
+                  });
+                })
+                .catch(() => {
+                  toast({
+                    title: 'Generation complete',
+                    description: 'Audio generated but failed to add to story',
+                    variant: 'destructive',
+                  });
+                });
+            } else {
+              // toast({
+              //   title: 'Generation complete!',
+              //   description: data.duration
+              //     ? `Audio generated (${data.duration.toFixed(2)}s)`
+              //     : 'Audio generated',
+              // });
+            }
+
+            // Auto-play if enabled and nothing is currently playing
+            if (autoplayRef.current && !isPlayingRef.current) {
+              const genAudioUrl = apiClient.getAudioUrl(id);
+              setAudioWithAutoPlay(genAudioUrl, id, '', '');
+            }
+          } else if (data.status === 'failed' || data.status === 'not_found') {
+            source.close();
+            currentSources.delete(id);
+            removePendingGeneration(id);
+            removePendingStoryAdd(id);
+
+            queryClient.refetchQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+
+            toast({
+              title: data.status === 'not_found' ? 'Generation not found' : 'Generation failed',
+              description: data.error || 'An error occurred during generation',
+              variant: 'destructive',
+            });
+          }
+        } catch {
+          // Ignore parse errors from heartbeats etc
+        }
+      };
+
+      source.onerror = () => {
+        // SSE connection dropped — clean up and refresh history so any
+        // completed/failed generation still appears in the list
+        source.close();
+        currentSources.delete(id);
+        removePendingGeneration(id);
+        queryClient.refetchQueries({ queryKey: ['history'] });
+      };
+
+      currentSources.set(id, source);
+    }
+  }, [
+    pendingIds,
+    removePendingGeneration,
+    removePendingStoryAdd,
+    queryClient,
+    toast,
+    setAudioWithAutoPlay,
+  ]);
+}

app/src/lib/hooks/useRestoreActiveTasks.tsx

@@ -1,23 +1,23 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
-import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
 import type { ActiveDownloadTask } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import { useGenerationStore } from '@/stores/generationStore';
 
 // Polling interval in milliseconds
-const POLL_INTERVAL = 2000;
+const POLL_INTERVAL = 30000;
 
 /**
  * Hook to monitor active tasks (downloads and generations).
  * Polls the server periodically to catch downloads triggered from anywhere
  * (transcription, generation, explicit download, etc.).
- * 
+ *
  * Returns the active downloads so components can render download toasts.
  */
 export function useRestoreActiveTasks() {
   const [activeDownloads, setActiveDownloads] = useState<ActiveDownloadTask[]>([]);
-  const setIsGenerating = useGenerationStore((state) => state.setIsGenerating);
   const setActiveGenerationId = useGenerationStore((state) => state.setActiveGenerationId);
-  
+  const addPendingGeneration = useGenerationStore((state) => state.addPendingGeneration);
+
   // Track which downloads we've seen to detect new ones
   const seenDownloadsRef = useRef<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ export function useRestoreActiveTasks() {
     try {
       const tasks = await apiClient.getActiveTasks();
 
-      // Update generation state
+      // Restore pending generations (e.g., after page refresh)
       if (tasks.generations.length > 0) {
-        setIsGenerating(true);
         setActiveGenerationId(tasks.generations[0].task_id);
+        for (const gen of tasks.generations) {
+          addPendingGeneration(gen.task_id);
+        }
       } else {
-        // Only clear if we were tracking a generation
         const currentId = useGenerationStore.getState().activeGenerationId;
         if (currentId) {
-          setIsGenerating(false);
           setActiveGenerationId(null);
         }
       }
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ export function useRestoreActiveTasks() {
       // Update active downloads
       // Keep track of all active downloads (including new ones)
       const currentDownloadNames = new Set(tasks.downloads.map((d) => d.model_name));
-      
+
       // Remove completed downloads from our seen set
       for (const name of seenDownloadsRef.current) {
         if (!currentDownloadNames.has(name)) {
           seenDownloadsRef.current.delete(name);
         }
       }
-      
+
       // Add new downloads to seen set
       for (const download of tasks.downloads) {
         seenDownloadsRef.current.add(download.model_name);
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export function useRestoreActiveTasks() {
       // Silently fail - server might be temporarily unavailable
       console.debug('Failed to fetch active tasks:', error);
     }
-  }, [setIsGenerating, setActiveGenerationId]);
+  }, [setActiveGenerationId, addPendingGeneration]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     // Fetch immediately on mount

app/src/lib/hooks/useStories.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
-import type { StoryCreate, StoryItemCreate, StoryItemBatchUpdate, StoryItemReorder, StoryItemMove, StoryItemTrim, StoryItemSplit } from '@/lib/api/types';
+import type {
+  StoryCreate,
+  StoryItemBatchUpdate,
+  StoryItemCreate,
+  StoryItemMove,
+  StoryItemReorder,
+  StoryItemSplit,
+  StoryItemTrim,
+  StoryItemVersionUpdate,
+} from '@/lib/api/types';
 import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
 
 export function useStories() {
@@ -109,8 +118,15 @@ export function useMoveStoryItem() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
 
   return useMutation({
-    mutationFn: ({ storyId, itemId, data }: { storyId: string; itemId: string; data: StoryItemMove }) =>
-      apiClient.moveStoryItem(storyId, itemId, data),
+    mutationFn: ({
+      storyId,
+      itemId,
+      data,
+    }: {
+      storyId: string;
+      itemId: string;
+      data: StoryItemMove;
+    }) => apiClient.moveStoryItem(storyId, itemId, data),
     onSuccess: (_, variables) => {
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories'] });
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories', variables.storyId] });
@@ -122,8 +138,15 @@ export function useTrimStoryItem() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
 
   return useMutation({
-    mutationFn: ({ storyId, itemId, data }: { storyId: string; itemId: string; data: StoryItemTrim }) =>
-      apiClient.trimStoryItem(storyId, itemId, data),
+    mutationFn: ({
+      storyId,
+      itemId,
+      data,
+    }: {
+      storyId: string;
+      itemId: string;
+      data: StoryItemTrim;
+    }) => apiClient.trimStoryItem(storyId, itemId, data),
     onSuccess: (_, variables) => {
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories'] });
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories', variables.storyId] });
@@ -135,8 +158,15 @@ export function useSplitStoryItem() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
 
   return useMutation({
-    mutationFn: ({ storyId, itemId, data }: { storyId: string; itemId: string; data: StoryItemSplit }) =>
-      apiClient.splitStoryItem(storyId, itemId, data),
+    mutationFn: ({
+      storyId,
+      itemId,
+      data,
+    }: {
+      storyId: string;
+      itemId: string;
+      data: StoryItemSplit;
+    }) => apiClient.splitStoryItem(storyId, itemId, data),
     onSuccess: (_, variables) => {
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories'] });
       queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories', variables.storyId] });
@@ -157,6 +187,26 @@ export function useDuplicateStoryItem() {
   });
 }
 
+export function useSetStoryItemVersion() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: ({
+      storyId,
+      itemId,
+      data,
+    }: {
+      storyId: string;
+      itemId: string;
+      data: StoryItemVersionUpdate;
+    }) => apiClient.setStoryItemVersion(storyId, itemId, data),
+    onSuccess: (_, variables) => {
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories'] });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['stories', variables.storyId] });
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 export function useExportStoryAudio() {
   const platform = usePlatform();
 
@@ -165,7 +215,10 @@ export function useExportStoryAudio() {
       const blob = await apiClient.exportStoryAudio(storyId);
 
       // Create safe filename
-      const safeName = storyName.substring(0, 50).replace(/[^a-z0-9]/gi, '-').toLowerCase();
+      const safeName = storyName
+        .substring(0, 50)
+        .replace(/[^a-z0-9]/gi, '-')
+        .toLowerCase();
       const filename = `${safeName || 'story'}.wav`;
 
       await platform.filesystem.saveFile(filename, blob, [

app/src/lib/hooks/useStoryPlayback.ts

@@ -70,6 +70,16 @@ export function useStoryPlayback(items: StoryItemDetail[] | undefined) {
     }
   }, []);
 
+  // Resolve the audio buffer key and URL for an item.
+  // When a version_id is pinned, use that version's audio; otherwise use the generation default.
+  const getAudioKey = (item: StoryItemDetail) =>
+    item.version_id ? `v:${item.version_id}` : item.generation_id;
+
+  const getAudioUrlForItem = (item: StoryItemDetail) =>
+    item.version_id
+      ? apiClient.getVersionAudioUrl(item.version_id)
+      : apiClient.getAudioUrl(item.generation_id);
+
   // Preload audio files as AudioBuffers
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!items || items.length === 0) {
@@ -78,12 +88,12 @@ export function useStoryPlayback(items: StoryItemDetail[] | undefined) {
       return;
     }
 
-    const currentIds = new Set(items.map((item) => item.generation_id));
+    const currentKeys = new Set(items.map(getAudioKey));
     const audioContext = getAudioContext();
 
     // Remove buffers for items that no longer exist
     for (const [id] of audioBuffersRef.current) {
-      if (!currentIds.has(id)) {
+      if (!currentKeys.has(id)) {
         audioBuffersRef.current.delete(id);
       }
     }
@@ -91,24 +101,25 @@ export function useStoryPlayback(items: StoryItemDetail[] | undefined) {
     // Preload audio for new items
     const preloadPromises: Promise<void>[] = [];
     for (const item of items) {
-      if (!audioBuffersRef.current.has(item.generation_id)) {
-        const audioUrl = apiClient.getAudioUrl(item.generation_id);
-        console.log('[StoryPlayback] Preloading audio buffer:', item.generation_id);
+      const key = getAudioKey(item);
+      if (!audioBuffersRef.current.has(key)) {
+        const audioUrl = getAudioUrlForItem(item);
+        console.log('[StoryPlayback] Preloading audio buffer:', key);
 
         const preloadPromise = fetch(audioUrl)
           .then((response) => response.arrayBuffer())
           .then((arrayBuffer) => audioContext.decodeAudioData(arrayBuffer))
           .then((audioBuffer) => {
-            audioBuffersRef.current.set(item.generation_id, audioBuffer);
+            audioBuffersRef.current.set(key, audioBuffer);
             console.log(
               '[StoryPlayback] Preloaded buffer:',
-              item.generation_id,
+              key,
               'duration:',
               audioBuffer.duration,
             );
           })
           .catch((err) => {
-            console.error('[StoryPlayback] Failed to preload audio:', item.generation_id, err);
+            console.error('[StoryPlayback] Failed to preload audio:', key, err);
           });
 
         preloadPromises.push(preloadPromise);
@@ -216,15 +227,16 @@ export function useStoryPlayback(items: StoryItemDetail[] | undefined) {
       // Schedule new sources for items that should be playing
       for (const item of shouldBePlaying) {
         if (!activeSourcesRef.current.has(item.id)) {
-          const buffer = audioBuffersRef.current.get(item.generation_id);
+          const bufferKey = getAudioKey(item);
+          const buffer = audioBuffersRef.current.get(bufferKey);
           if (!buffer) {
-            console.warn('[StoryPlayback] Buffer not loaded for:', item.generation_id);
+            console.warn('[StoryPlayback] Buffer not loaded for:', bufferKey);
             continue;
           }
 
           // Calculate when this item should start in AudioContext time
           const itemStartContextTime = storyTimeToContextTime(item.start_time_ms);
-          
+
           // Calculate effective duration and trim offsets
           const trimStartSec = (item.trim_start_ms || 0) / 1000;
           const trimEndSec = (item.trim_end_ms || 0) / 1000;

app/src/lib/hooks/useSystemAudioCapture.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState, useRef, useCallback, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { usePlatform } from '@/platform/PlatformContext';
 
 interface UseSystemAudioCaptureOptions {
@@ -94,15 +94,13 @@ export function useSystemAudioCapture({
       const blob = await platform.audio.stopSystemAudioCapture();
 
       // Pass the actual recorded duration
-      const recordedDuration = startTimeRef.current 
-        ? (Date.now() - startTimeRef.current) / 1000 
+      const recordedDuration = startTimeRef.current
+        ? (Date.now() - startTimeRef.current) / 1000
         : undefined;
       onRecordingComplete?.(blob, recordedDuration);
     } catch (err) {
       const errorMessage =
-        err instanceof Error
-          ? err.message
-          : 'Failed to stop system audio capture.';
+        err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to stop system audio capture.';
       setError(errorMessage);
     }
   }, [isRecording, onRecordingComplete, platform]);

app/src/lib/hooks/useTranscription.ts

@@ -1,10 +1,18 @@
 import { useMutation } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { apiClient } from '@/lib/api/client';
+import type { WhisperModelSize } from '@/lib/api/types';
 import type { LanguageCode } from '@/lib/constants/languages';
 
 export function useTranscription() {
   return useMutation({
-    mutationFn: ({ file, language }: { file: File; language?: LanguageCode }) =>
-      apiClient.transcribeAudio(file, language),
+    mutationFn: ({
+      file,
+      language,
+      model,
+    }: {
+      file: File;
+      language?: LanguageCode;
+      model?: WhisperModelSize;
+    }) => apiClient.transcribeAudio(file, language, model),
   });
 }

app/src/lib/utils/format.ts

@@ -21,10 +21,25 @@ export function formatDate(date: string | Date): string {
   } else {
     dateObj = date;
   }
-  
+
   return formatDistance(dateObj, new Date(), { addSuffix: true }).replace(/^about /i, '');
 }
 
+const ENGINE_DISPLAY_NAMES: Record<string, string> = {
+  qwen: 'Qwen',
+  luxtts: 'LuxTTS',
+  chatterbox: 'Chatterbox',
+  chatterbox_turbo: 'Chatterbox Turbo',
+};
+
+export function formatEngineName(engine?: string, modelSize?: string): string {
+  const name = ENGINE_DISPLAY_NAMES[engine ?? 'qwen'] ?? engine ?? 'Qwen';
+  if (engine === 'qwen' && modelSize) {
+    return `${name} ${modelSize}`;
+  }
+  return name;
+}
+
 export function formatFileSize(bytes: number): string {
   if (bytes === 0) return '0 Bytes';
   const k = 1024;

app/src/lib/utils/parseChangelog.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+export interface ChangelogEntry {
+  version: string;
+  date: string | null;
+  body: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parses a Keep-a-Changelog style markdown string into structured entries.
+ *
+ * Splits on `## [version]` headings and extracts the version + date from each.
+ * The body is the raw markdown between headings (trimmed), with the leading
+ * `# Changelog` title and trailing link references stripped.
+ */
+export function parseChangelog(raw: string): ChangelogEntry[] {
+  const entries: ChangelogEntry[] = [];
+
+  // Strip trailing link reference definitions (e.g. [0.1.0]: https://...)
+  const cleaned = raw.replace(/^\[[\w.]+\]:.*$/gm, '').trimEnd();
+
+  // Match `## [version]` or `## [version] - date`
+  const headingRe = /^## \[(.+?)\](?:\s*-\s*(.+))?$/gm;
+  const matches = [...cleaned.matchAll(headingRe)];
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < matches.length; i++) {
+    const match = matches[i];
+    const version = match[1];
+    const date = match[2]?.trim() || null;
+
+    const start = match.index! + match[0].length;
+    const end = i + 1 < matches.length ? matches[i + 1].index! : cleaned.length;
+    const body = cleaned.slice(start, end).trim();
+
+    entries.push({ version, date, body });
+  }
+
+  return entries;
+}

app/src/platform/types.ts

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ export interface FileFilter {
 
 export interface PlatformFilesystem {
   saveFile(filename: string, blob: Blob, filters?: FileFilter[]): Promise<void>;
+  openPath(path: string): Promise<void>;
+  pickDirectory(title: string): Promise<string | null>;
 }
 
 export interface UpdateStatus {
@@ -48,12 +50,18 @@ export interface PlatformAudio {
   stopPlayback(): void;
 }
 
+export interface ServerLogEntry {
+  stream: 'stdout' | 'stderr';
+  line: string;
+}
+
 export interface PlatformLifecycle {
-  startServer(remote?: boolean): Promise<string>;
+  startServer(remote?: boolean, modelsDir?: string | null): Promise<string>;
   stopServer(): Promise<void>;
-  restartServer(): Promise<string>;
+  restartServer(modelsDir?: string | null): Promise<string>;
   setKeepServerRunning(keep: boolean): Promise<void>;
   setupWindowCloseHandler(): Promise<void>;
+  subscribeToServerLogs(callback: (entry: ServerLogEntry) => void): () => void;
   onServerReady?: () => void;
 }
 

app/src/router.tsx

@@ -1,15 +1,30 @@
-import { createRootRoute, createRoute, createRouter, Outlet } from '@tanstack/react-router';
+import {
+  createRootRoute,
+  createRoute,
+  createRouter,
+  Outlet,
+  redirect,
+} from '@tanstack/react-router';
 import { AppFrame } from '@/components/AppFrame/AppFrame';
 import { AudioTab } from '@/components/AudioTab/AudioTab';
+import { EffectsTab } from '@/components/EffectsTab/EffectsTab';
 import { MainEditor } from '@/components/MainEditor/MainEditor';
 import { ModelsTab } from '@/components/ModelsTab/ModelsTab';
-import { ServerTab } from '@/components/ServerTab/ServerTab';
+import { AboutPage } from '@/components/ServerTab/AboutPage';
+import { ChangelogPage } from '@/components/ServerTab/ChangelogPage';
+import { GeneralPage } from '@/components/ServerTab/GeneralPage';
+import { GenerationPage } from '@/components/ServerTab/GenerationPage';
+import { GpuPage } from '@/components/ServerTab/GpuPage';
+import { LogsPage } from '@/components/ServerTab/LogsPage';
+import { SettingsLayout } from '@/components/ServerTab/ServerTab';
 import { Sidebar } from '@/components/Sidebar';
 import { StoriesTab } from '@/components/StoriesTab/StoriesTab';
 import { Toaster } from '@/components/ui/toaster';
 import { VoicesTab } from '@/components/VoicesTab/VoicesTab';
+import { useGenerationProgress } from '@/lib/hooks/useGenerationProgress';
 import { useModelDownloadToast } from '@/lib/hooks/useModelDownloadToast';
 import { MODEL_DISPLAY_NAMES, useRestoreActiveTasks } from '@/lib/hooks/useRestoreActiveTasks';
+
 // Simple platform check that works in both web and Tauri
 const isMacOS = () => navigator.platform.toLowerCase().includes('mac');
 
@@ -18,6 +33,9 @@ function RootLayout() {
   // Monitor active downloads/generations and show toasts for them
   const activeDownloads = useRestoreActiveTasks();
 
+  // Subscribe to SSE for pending generations — handles completion, auto-play, and history refresh
+  useGenerationProgress();
+
   return (
     <AppFrame>
       <div className="flex flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
@@ -100,6 +118,13 @@ const audioRoute = createRoute({
   component: AudioTab,
 });
 
+// Effects route
+const effectsRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => rootRoute,
+  path: '/effects',
+  component: EffectsTab,
+});
+
 // Models route
 const modelsRoute = createRoute({
   getParentRoute: () => rootRoute,
@@ -107,11 +132,57 @@ const modelsRoute = createRoute({
   component: ModelsTab,
 });
 
-// Server route
-const serverRoute = createRoute({
+// Settings layout route (parent for sub-tabs)
+const settingsRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => rootRoute,
+  path: '/settings',
+  component: SettingsLayout,
+});
+
+// Settings sub-routes
+const settingsGeneralRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => settingsRoute,
+  path: '/',
+  component: GeneralPage,
+});
+
+const settingsGenerationRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => settingsRoute,
+  path: '/generation',
+  component: GenerationPage,
+});
+
+const settingsGpuRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => settingsRoute,
+  path: '/gpu',
+  component: GpuPage,
+});
+
+const settingsChangelogRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => settingsRoute,
+  path: '/changelog',
+  component: ChangelogPage,
+});
+
+const settingsLogsRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => settingsRoute,
+  path: '/logs',
+  component: LogsPage,
+});
+
+const settingsAboutRoute = createRoute({
+  getParentRoute: () => settingsRoute,
+  path: '/about',
+  component: AboutPage,
+});
+
+// Redirect old /server path to /settings
+const serverRedirectRoute = createRoute({
   getParentRoute: () => rootRoute,
   path: '/server',
-  component: ServerTab,
+  beforeLoad: () => {
+    throw redirect({ to: '/settings' });
+  },
 });
 
 // Route tree
@@ -120,8 +191,17 @@ const routeTree = rootRoute.addChildren([
   storiesRoute,
   voicesRoute,
   audioRoute,
+  effectsRoute,
   modelsRoute,
-  serverRoute,
+  settingsRoute.addChildren([
+    settingsGeneralRoute,
+    settingsGenerationRoute,
+    settingsGpuRoute,
+    settingsLogsRoute,
+    settingsChangelogRoute,
+    settingsAboutRoute,
+  ]),
+  serverRedirectRoute,
 ]);
 
 // Create router

app/src/stores/effectsStore.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { create } from 'zustand';
+import type { EffectConfig } from '@/lib/api/types';
+
+interface EffectsStore {
+  selectedPresetId: string | null;
+  setSelectedPresetId: (id: string | null) => void;
+
+  // Working chain for the detail panel (editing a preset or building a new one)
+  workingChain: EffectConfig[];
+  setWorkingChain: (chain: EffectConfig[]) => void;
+
+  // Track if editing an existing preset vs creating new
+  isCreatingNew: boolean;
+  setIsCreatingNew: (v: boolean) => void;
+}
+
+export const useEffectsStore = create<EffectsStore>((set) => ({
+  selectedPresetId: null,
+  setSelectedPresetId: (id) => set({ selectedPresetId: id, isCreatingNew: false }),
+
+  workingChain: [],
+  setWorkingChain: (chain) => set({ workingChain: chain }),
+
+  isCreatingNew: false,
+  setIsCreatingNew: (v) => set({ isCreatingNew: v, ...(v && { selectedPresetId: null }) }),
+}));

app/src/stores/generationStore.ts

@@ -1,15 +1,58 @@
 import { create } from 'zustand';
 
 interface GenerationState {
+  /** IDs of generations currently in progress */
+  pendingGenerationIds: Set<string>;
+  /** Whether any generation is in progress (derived from pendingGenerationIds) */
   isGenerating: boolean;
-  activeGenerationId: string | null;
-  setIsGenerating: (generating: boolean) => void;
+  /** Map of generationId → storyId for deferred story additions */
+  pendingStoryAdds: Map<string, string>;
+  addPendingGeneration: (id: string) => void;
+  removePendingGeneration: (id: string) => void;
+  addPendingStoryAdd: (generationId: string, storyId: string) => void;
+  removePendingStoryAdd: (generationId: string) => string | undefined;
   setActiveGenerationId: (id: string | null) => void;
+  activeGenerationId: string | null;
 }
 
-export const useGenerationStore = create<GenerationState>((set) => ({
+export const useGenerationStore = create<GenerationState>((set, get) => ({
+  pendingGenerationIds: new Set(),
   isGenerating: false,
   activeGenerationId: null,
-  setIsGenerating: (generating) => set({ isGenerating: generating }),
+  pendingStoryAdds: new Map(),
+
+  addPendingGeneration: (id) =>
+    set((state) => {
+      const next = new Set(state.pendingGenerationIds);
+      next.add(id);
+      return { pendingGenerationIds: next, isGenerating: true };
+    }),
+
+  removePendingGeneration: (id) =>
+    set((state) => {
+      const next = new Set(state.pendingGenerationIds);
+      next.delete(id);
+      return { pendingGenerationIds: next, isGenerating: next.size > 0 };
+    }),
+
+  addPendingStoryAdd: (generationId, storyId) =>
+    set((state) => {
+      const next = new Map(state.pendingStoryAdds);
+      next.set(generationId, storyId);
+      return { pendingStoryAdds: next };
+    }),
+
+  removePendingStoryAdd: (generationId) => {
+    const storyId = get().pendingStoryAdds.get(generationId);
+    if (storyId) {
+      set((state) => {
+        const next = new Map(state.pendingStoryAdds);
+        next.delete(generationId);
+        return { pendingStoryAdds: next };
+      });
+    }
+    return storyId;
+  },
+
   setActiveGenerationId: (id) => set({ activeGenerationId: id }),
 }));

app/src/stores/logStore.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { create } from 'zustand';
+import type { ServerLogEntry } from '@/platform/types';
+
+const MAX_LOG_ENTRIES = 2000;
+
+let nextLogEntryId = 0;
+
+export interface LogEntry extends ServerLogEntry {
+  id: number;
+  timestamp: number;
+}
+
+interface LogStore {
+  entries: LogEntry[];
+  addEntry: (entry: ServerLogEntry) => void;
+  clear: () => void;
+}
+
+export const useLogStore = create<LogStore>((set) => ({
+  entries: [],
+  addEntry: (entry) =>
+    set((state) => {
+      const newEntry: LogEntry = { ...entry, id: nextLogEntryId++, timestamp: Date.now() };
+      const entries = [...state.entries, newEntry];
+      if (entries.length > MAX_LOG_ENTRIES) {
+        return { entries: entries.slice(entries.length - MAX_LOG_ENTRIES) };
+      }
+      return { entries };
+    }),
+  clear: () => set({ entries: [] }),
+}));

app/src/stores/serverStore.ts

@@ -19,6 +19,15 @@ interface ServerStore {
 
   crossfadeMs: number;
   setCrossfadeMs: (value: number) => void;
+
+  normalizeAudio: boolean;
+  setNormalizeAudio: (value: boolean) => void;
+
+  autoplayOnGenerate: boolean;
+  setAutoplayOnGenerate: (value: boolean) => void;
+
+  customModelsDir: string | null;
+  setCustomModelsDir: (dir: string | null) => void;
 }
 
 export const useServerStore = create<ServerStore>()(
@@ -41,6 +50,15 @@ export const useServerStore = create<ServerStore>()(
 
       crossfadeMs: 50,
       setCrossfadeMs: (value) => set({ crossfadeMs: value }),
+
+      normalizeAudio: true,
+      setNormalizeAudio: (value) => set({ normalizeAudio: value }),
+
+      autoplayOnGenerate: true,
+      setAutoplayOnGenerate: (value) => set({ autoplayOnGenerate: value }),
+
+      customModelsDir: null,
+      setCustomModelsDir: (dir) => set({ customModelsDir: dir }),
     }),
     {
       name: 'voicebox-server',

app/src/stores/uiStore.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ interface UIStore {
   selectedProfileId: string | null;
   setSelectedProfileId: (id: string | null) => void;
 
+  // Selected voice in Voices tab inspector
+  selectedVoiceId: string | null;
+  setSelectedVoiceId: (id: string | null) => void;
+
   // Profile form draft (for persisting create voice modal state)
   profileFormDraft: ProfileFormDraft | null;
   setProfileFormDraft: (draft: ProfileFormDraft | null) => void;
@@ -55,6 +59,9 @@ export const useUIStore = create<UIStore>((set) => ({
   selectedProfileId: null,
   setSelectedProfileId: (id) => set({ selectedProfileId: id }),
 
+  selectedVoiceId: null,
+  setSelectedVoiceId: (id) => set({ selectedVoiceId: id }),
+
   profileFormDraft: null,
   setProfileFormDraft: (draft) => set({ profileFormDraft: draft }),
 

app/tsconfig.node.json

@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@
     "moduleResolution": "bundler",
     "allowSyntheticDefaultImports": true
   },
-  "include": ["vite.config.ts"]
+  "include": ["vite.config.ts", "plugins/**/*.ts"]
 }

app/vite.config.ts

@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite';
 import react from '@vitejs/plugin-react';
 import { defineConfig } from 'vite';
+import { changelogPlugin } from './plugins/changelog';
 
 export default defineConfig({
-  plugins: [tailwindcss(), react()],
+  plugins: [tailwindcss(), react(), changelogPlugin(path.resolve(__dirname, '..'))],
   resolve: {
     alias: {
       '@': path.resolve(__dirname, './src'),

backend/README.md

@@ -1,462 +1,135 @@
-# voicebox Backend
+# Voicebox Backend
 
-Production-quality FastAPI backend for Qwen3-TTS voice cloning.
+FastAPI server powering voice cloning, speech generation, and audio processing. Runs locally as a Tauri sidecar or standalone via `python -m backend.main`.
 
-## Features
+## Running
 
-- ✅ **Voice Profile Management** - Create, update, delete voice profiles with multi-sample support
-- ✅ **Voice Cloning** - Generate speech using voice profiles with caching
-- ✅ **Generation History** - Full history tracking with search and filtering
-- ✅ **Transcription** - Whisper-based audio transcription
-- ✅ **Multi-Sample Profiles** - Combine multiple reference samples for better quality
-- ✅ **Voice Prompt Caching** - Dual memory + disk caching for fast generation
-- ✅ **Audio Validation** - Automatic validation of reference audio quality
-- ✅ **Model Management** - Lazy loading and VRAM management
+```bash
+# Via justfile (recommended)
+just dev:server
+
+# Standalone
+python -m backend.main --host 127.0.0.1 --port 17493
+
+# With custom data directory
+python -m backend.main --data-dir /path/to/data
+```
+
+The server auto-initializes the SQLite database on first startup. Models are downloaded from HuggingFace on first use.
 
 ## Architecture
 
 ```
 backend/
-├── main.py              # FastAPI app with all routes
-├── models.py            # Pydantic request/response models
-├── platform_detect.py   # Platform detection for backend selection
-├── tts.py              # TTS backend abstraction (delegates to MLX or PyTorch)
-├── transcribe.py       # STT backend abstraction (delegates to MLX or PyTorch)
-├── backends/           # Backend implementations
-│   ├── __init__.py     # Backend factory and protocols
-│   ├── mlx_backend.py  # MLX backend (Apple Silicon)
-│   └── pytorch_backend.py  # PyTorch backend (Windows/Linux/Intel)
-├── profiles.py         # Voice profile CRUD
-├── history.py          # Generation history
-├── studio.py           # Audio editing (TODO)
-├── database.py         # SQLite ORM
-└── utils/
-    ├── audio.py        # Audio processing utilities
-    ├── cache.py        # Voice prompt caching
-    └── validation.py   # Input validation
+  app.py                  # FastAPI app factory, CORS, lifecycle events
+  main.py                 # Entry point (imports app, runs uvicorn)
+  config.py               # Data directory paths and configuration
+  models.py               # Pydantic request/response schemas
+  server.py               # Tauri sidecar launcher, parent-pid watchdog
+
+  routes/                 # Thin HTTP handlers — validation, delegation, response formatting
+  services/               # Business logic, CRUD, orchestration
+  backends/               # TTS/STT engine implementations (MLX, PyTorch, etc.)
+  database/               # ORM models, session management, migrations, seed data
+  utils/                  # Shared utilities (audio, effects, caching, progress tracking)
 ```
 
-### Backend Selection
-
-Voicebox automatically selects the best backend based on platform:
-
-- **Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)**: Uses MLX backend with native Metal acceleration (4-5x faster)
-- **Windows/Linux/Intel Mac**: Uses PyTorch backend (CUDA GPU if available, CPU fallback)
-
-The backend is detected at runtime via `platform_detect.py`. Both backends implement the same interface, so the API remains consistent across platforms.
-
-## API Endpoints
-
-### Health & Info
-
-#### `GET /`
-Root endpoint with version info.
-
-#### `GET /health`
-Health check with model status.
-
-**Response:**
-```json
-{
-  "status": "healthy",
-  "model_loaded": true,
-  "gpu_available": true,
-  "gpu_type": "Metal (Apple Silicon via MLX)",
-  "backend_type": "mlx",
-  "vram_used_mb": null
-}
-```
-
-**Backend Types:**
-- `"mlx"` - MLX backend (Apple Silicon with Metal acceleration)
-- `"pytorch"` - PyTorch backend (Windows/Linux/Intel Mac)
-
-### Voice Profiles
-
-**Note:** The database is automatically initialized when the server starts. No manual setup required.
-
-#### `POST /profiles`
-Create a new voice profile.
-
-**Request:**
-```json
-{
-  "name": "My Voice",
-  "description": "Optional description",
-  "language": "en"
-}
-```
-
-**Response:**
-```json
-{
-  "id": "uuid",
-  "name": "My Voice",
-  "description": "Optional description",
-  "language": "en",
-  "created_at": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z",
-  "updated_at": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
-}
-```
-
-#### `GET /profiles`
-List all voice profiles.
-
-#### `GET /profiles/{profile_id}`
-Get a specific profile.
-
-#### `PUT /profiles/{profile_id}`
-Update a profile.
-
-#### `DELETE /profiles/{profile_id}`
-Delete a profile and all associated samples.
-
-#### `POST /profiles/{profile_id}/samples`
-Add a sample to a profile.
-
-**Form Data:**
-- `file`: Audio file (WAV, MP3, etc.)
-- `reference_text`: Transcript of the audio
-
-**Response:**
-```json
-{
-  "id": "sample-uuid",
-  "profile_id": "profile-uuid",
-  "audio_path": "/path/to/sample.wav",
-  "reference_text": "This is my voice"
-}
-```
-
-#### `GET /profiles/{profile_id}/samples`
-List all samples for a profile.
-
-#### `DELETE /profiles/samples/{sample_id}`
-Delete a specific sample.
-
-### Generation
-
-#### `POST /generate`
-Generate speech from text using a voice profile.
-
-**Request:**
-```json
-{
-  "profile_id": "uuid",
-  "text": "Hello, this is a test.",
-  "language": "en",
-  "seed": 42
-}
-```
-
-**Response:**
-```json
-{
-  "id": "generation-uuid",
-  "profile_id": "profile-uuid",
-  "text": "Hello, this is a test.",
-  "language": "en",
-  "audio_path": "/path/to/audio.wav",
-  "duration": 2.5,
-  "seed": 42,
-  "created_at": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
-}
-```
-
-### History
-
-#### `GET /history`
-List generation history with optional filters.
-
-**Query Parameters:**
-- `profile_id` (optional): Filter by profile
-- `search` (optional): Search in text content
-- `limit` (default: 50): Results per page
-- `offset` (default: 0): Pagination offset
-
-#### `GET /history/{generation_id}`
-Get a specific generation.
-
-#### `DELETE /history/{generation_id}`
-Delete a generation.
-
-#### `GET /history/stats`
-Get generation statistics.
-
-**Response:**
-```json
-{
-  "total_generations": 100,
-  "total_duration_seconds": 250.5,
-  "generations_by_profile": {
-    "profile-uuid-1": 50,
-    "profile-uuid-2": 50
-  }
-}
-```
-
-### Audio Files
-
-#### `GET /audio/{generation_id}`
-Download generated audio file.
-
-Returns WAV file with appropriate headers.
-
-### Transcription
-
-#### `POST /transcribe`
-Transcribe audio file to text.
-
-**Form Data:**
-- `file`: Audio file
-- `language` (optional): Language hint (en or zh)
-
-**Response:**
-```json
-{
-  "text": "Transcribed text here",
-  "duration": 5.5
-}
-```
-
-### Model Management
-
-#### `POST /models/load`
-Manually load TTS model.
-
-**Query Parameters:**
-- `model_size`: Model size (1.7B or 0.6B)
-
-#### `POST /models/unload`
-Unload TTS model to free memory.
-
-## Database Schema
-
-### profiles
-- `id`: UUID primary key
-- `name`: Profile name (unique)
-- `description`: Optional description
-- `language`: Language code (en/zh)
-- `created_at`: Creation timestamp
-- `updated_at`: Last update timestamp
-
-### profile_samples
-- `id`: UUID primary key
-- `profile_id`: Foreign key to profiles
-- `audio_path`: Path to audio file
-- `reference_text`: Transcript
-
-### generations
-- `id`: UUID primary key
-- `profile_id`: Foreign key to profiles
-- `text`: Generated text
-- `language`: Language code
-- `audio_path`: Path to audio file
-- `duration`: Duration in seconds
-- `seed`: Random seed (optional)
-- `created_at`: Creation timestamp
-
-### projects
-- `id`: UUID primary key
-- `name`: Project name
-- `data`: JSON data
-- `created_at`: Creation timestamp
-- `updated_at`: Last update timestamp
-
-## File Structure
+### Request flow
 
 ```
-data/
-├── profiles/
-│   └── {profile_id}/
-│       ├── {sample_id}.wav
-│       └── ...
-├── generations/
-│   └── {generation_id}.wav
-├── cache/
-│   └── {hash}.prompt
-├── projects/
-│   └── {project_id}.json
-└── voicebox.db
+HTTP request
+  -> routes/        (validate input, parse params)
+  -> services/      (business logic, database queries, orchestration)
+  -> backends/      (TTS/STT inference)
+  -> utils/         (audio processing, effects, caching)
 ```
 
-## Setup
+Route handlers are intentionally thin. They validate input, delegate to a service function, and format the response. All business logic lives in `services/`.
 
-### 1. Install Dependencies
-
-```bash
-pip install -r requirements.txt
-```
-
-**Note:** On Apple Silicon, also install MLX dependencies for faster inference:
-```bash
-pip install -r requirements-mlx.txt
-```
-
-### 2. Download Models (Automatic)
-
-The Qwen3-TTS models are automatically downloaded from HuggingFace Hub on first use, similar to how Whisper models work.
-
-**No manual download required!** The models will be cached locally after the first download.
-
-Available models:
-- **1.7B** (recommended): `Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base` (~4GB)
-- **0.6B** (faster): `Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-0.6B-Base` (~2GB)
-
-**Note:** The first generation will take longer as the model downloads. Subsequent generations will use the cached model.
-
-#### Manual Download (Optional)
-
-If you prefer to download models manually or have limited internet during runtime:
-
-```bash
-# Install huggingface-cli
-pip install huggingface_hub
-
-# Download 1.7B model
-huggingface-cli download Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base
-
-# Or use Python
-python -c "from huggingface_hub import snapshot_download; snapshot_download('Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base')"
-```
-
-Models are cached in `~/.cache/huggingface/hub/` by default.
-
-### 4. Run Server
-
-```bash
-# Development (local only)
-python -m backend.main
-
-# Production (allow remote access)
-python -m backend.main --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
-```
-
-## Usage Examples
-
-The desktop app, web client, and current development workflow use `http://localhost:17493` by default.
-If you launch the backend manually with a different host or port, substitute that address in the examples below.
-
-### Creating a Voice Profile
-
-```bash
-# 1. Create profile
-curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/profiles \
-  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-  -d '{"name": "My Voice", "language": "en"}'
-
-# Response: {"id": "abc-123", ...}
-
-# 2. Add sample
-curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/profiles/abc-123/samples \
-  -F "[email protected]" \
-  -F "reference_text=This is my voice sample"
-```
-
-### Generating Speech
+### Key modules
+
+**services/generation.py** -- Single `run_generation()` function that handles all three generation modes (generate, retry, regenerate). Manages model loading, voice prompt creation, chunked inference, normalization, effects, and version persistence.
+
+**services/task_queue.py** -- Serial generation queue. Ensures only one GPU inference runs at a time. Background tasks are tracked to prevent garbage collection.
+
+**backends/__init__.py** -- Protocol definitions (`TTSBackend`, `STTBackend`), model config registry, and factory functions. Adding a new engine means implementing the protocol and registering a config entry.
+
+**backends/base.py** -- Shared utilities used across all engine implementations: HuggingFace cache checks, device detection, voice prompt combination, progress tracking.
+
+**database/** -- SQLAlchemy ORM models with a re-exporting `__init__.py` for backward compatibility. Migrations run automatically on startup.
+
+### Backend selection
+
+The server detects the best inference backend at startup:
+
+| Platform | Backend | Acceleration |
+|----------|---------|-------------|
+| macOS (Apple Silicon) | MLX | Metal / Neural Engine |
+| Windows / Linux (NVIDIA) | PyTorch | CUDA |
+| Linux (AMD) | PyTorch | ROCm |
+| Intel Arc | PyTorch | IPEX / XPU |
+| Windows (any GPU) | PyTorch | DirectML |
+| Any | PyTorch | CPU fallback |
+
+Detection is handled by `utils/platform_detect.py`. Both backends implement the same `TTSBackend` protocol, so the API layer is engine-agnostic.
+
+## API
+
+90 endpoints organized by domain. Full interactive documentation available at `http://localhost:17493/docs` when the server is running.
+
+| Domain | Prefix | Description |
+|--------|--------|-------------|
+| Health | `/`, `/health` | Server status, GPU info, filesystem checks |
+| Profiles | `/profiles` | Voice profile CRUD, samples, avatars, import/export |
+| Channels | `/channels` | Audio channel management and voice assignment |
+| Generation | `/generate` | TTS generation, retry, regenerate, status SSE |
+| History | `/history` | Generation history, search, favorites, export |
+| Transcription | `/transcribe` | Whisper-based audio-to-text |
+| Stories | `/stories` | Multi-track timeline editor, audio export |
+| Effects | `/effects` | Effect presets, preview, version management |
+| Audio | `/audio`, `/samples` | Audio file serving |
+| Models | `/models` | Load, unload, download, migrate, status |
+| Tasks | `/tasks`, `/cache` | Active task tracking, cache management |
+| CUDA | `/backend/cuda-*` | CUDA binary download and management |
+
+### Quick examples
 
 ```bash
+# Generate speech
 curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/generate \
   -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-  -d '{
-    "profile_id": "abc-123",
-    "text": "Hello, this is a test.",
-    "language": "en",
-    "seed": 42
-  }'
+  -d '{"text": "Hello world", "profile_id": "...", "language": "en"}'
 
-# Response: {"id": "gen-456", "audio_path": "/path/to/audio.wav", ...}
+# List profiles
+curl http://localhost:17493/profiles
 
-# Download audio
-curl http://localhost:17493/audio/gen-456 -o output.wav
+# Stream generation status (SSE)
+curl http://localhost:17493/generate/{id}/status
 ```
 
-### Transcribing Audio
+## Data directory
+
+```
+{data_dir}/
+  voicebox.db             # SQLite database
+  profiles/{id}/          # Voice samples per profile
+  generations/            # Generated audio files
+  cache/                  # Voice prompt cache (memory + disk)
+  backends/               # Downloaded CUDA binary (if applicable)
+```
+
+Default location is the OS-specific app data directory. Override with `--data-dir` or the `VOICEBOX_DATA_DIR` environment variable.
+
+## Code quality
+
+Linting and formatting are enforced by [ruff](https://docs.astral.sh/ruff/), configured in `pyproject.toml`. See `STYLE_GUIDE.md` for conventions.
 
 ```bash
-curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/transcribe \
-  -F "[email protected]" \
-  -F "language=en"
-
-# Response: {"text": "Transcribed text", "duration": 5.5}
+just check-python       # lint + format check
+just fix-python         # auto-fix lint issues + reformat
+just test               # run pytest
 ```
 
-## Advanced Features
+## Dependencies
 
-### Multi-Sample Profiles
-
-Add multiple samples to a profile for better quality:
-
-```bash
-# Add first sample
-curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/profiles/abc-123/samples \
-  -F "[email protected]" \
-  -F "reference_text=First sample"
-
-# Add second sample
-curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/profiles/abc-123/samples \
-  -F "[email protected]" \
-  -F "reference_text=Second sample"
-
-# Generation will automatically combine all samples
-```
-
-### Voice Prompt Caching
-
-Voice prompts are automatically cached for faster generation:
-- First generation: ~5-10 seconds (creates prompt)
-- Subsequent generations: ~1-2 seconds (uses cached prompt)
-
-Cache is stored in `data/cache/` and persists across server restarts.
-
-### VRAM Management
-
-Models are lazy-loaded and can be manually unloaded:
-
-```bash
-# Unload TTS model
-curl -X POST http://localhost:17493/models/unload
-
-# Load specific model size
-curl -X POST "http://localhost:17493/models/load?model_size=0.6B"
-```
-
-## Error Handling
-
-All endpoints return proper HTTP status codes:
-
-- `200 OK`: Success
-- `400 Bad Request`: Invalid input
-- `404 Not Found`: Resource not found
-- `500 Internal Server Error`: Server error
-
-Error responses include details:
-
-```json
-{
-  "detail": "Profile not found"
-}
-```
-
-## Performance Tips
-
-1. **Use multi-sample profiles** - Better quality than single sample
-2. **Let caching work** - Voice prompts are cached automatically
-3. **Use 0.6B model on CPU** - Faster than 1.7B with acceptable quality
-4. **Use 1.7B model on GPU** - Best quality, still fast
-5. **Unload Whisper after transcription** - Frees VRAM for TTS
-
-## TODO
-
-- [ ] WebSocket support for generation progress
-- [ ] Batch generation endpoint
-- [ ] Audio effects (M3GAN, etc.)
-- [ ] Voice design (text-to-voice)
-- [ ] Audio studio timeline features
-- [ ] Project management
-- [ ] Authentication & rate limiting
-- [ ] Export/import profiles
-
-## License
-
-See main project LICENSE.
+Runtime dependencies are in `requirements.txt`. macOS-only MLX dependencies are in `requirements-mlx.txt`. Dev tools (ruff, pytest) are installed automatically by `just setup-python`.

backend/STYLE_GUIDE.md

@@ -0,0 +1,404 @@
+# Python Style Guide
+
+Target: **Python 3.12+** | Formatter/Linter: **Ruff** | Config: `backend/pyproject.toml`
+
+This guide codifies the conventions used across the backend, and prescribes the target style for code written during the refactor (Phases 3-6). Existing code should be migrated incrementally -- don't reformat entire files in unrelated PRs.
+
+---
+
+## Formatting
+
+Enforced by `ruff format` (Black-compatible).
+
+- **Line length**: 120 characters.
+- **Indent**: 4 spaces. No tabs.
+- **Trailing commas**: Required on multi-line function signatures, arguments, collections.
+- **Quotes**: Double quotes (`"`) for strings. Single quotes are acceptable in f-string expressions and dict keys inside f-strings where avoiding escapes improves readability.
+
+Run: `ruff format backend/`
+
+---
+
+## Imports
+
+Enforced by ruff's `isort` rules (rule set `I`).
+
+**Grouping** -- three blocks separated by a blank line:
+
+```python
+import asyncio                          # 1. stdlib
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import numpy as np                      # 2. third-party
+from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+
+from backend.config import get_data_dir  # 3. local (absolute)
+from .database import get_db            #    or relative
+```
+
+**Rules:**
+- Within the `backend` package, use **relative imports** for sibling/child modules: `from .database import get_db`, `from ..utils.audio import load_audio`.
+- Absolute imports are fine for top-level references from entry points (`main.py`, `server.py`).
+- Never use wildcard imports (`from module import *`).
+- One import per line for `from X import Y` when there are 4+ names; below that, comma-separated is fine.
+- **Lazy imports** are acceptable for heavy dependencies (torch, transformers, mlx) inside functions to reduce startup time. Add a comment: `# lazy: heavy import`.
+
+---
+
+## Type Annotations
+
+Python 3.12 means we use **built-in generics and union syntax natively**. No `from __future__ import annotations`, no `typing.List`/`typing.Dict`.
+
+```python
+# Yes
+def process(items: list[str], config: dict[str, int] | None = None) -> tuple[int, str]: ...
+
+# No
+from typing import List, Dict, Optional, Tuple
+def process(items: List[str], config: Optional[Dict[str, int]] = None) -> Tuple[int, str]: ...
+```
+
+**What to annotate:**
+- All public function signatures (parameters + return type).
+- Private functions: parameters at minimum; return type encouraged.
+- Module-level variables: only when the type isn't obvious from the assignment.
+- Route handlers: parameters are annotated via FastAPI's dependency injection. Add explicit `-> SomeResponse` return types when the route doesn't use `response_model`.
+
+**Imports from `typing` that are still needed** (no built-in equivalent):
+`Literal`, `TypeAlias`, `Protocol`, `runtime_checkable`, `Callable`, `Any`, `ClassVar`, `TypeVar`, `overload`, `TYPE_CHECKING`.
+
+Use `collections.abc` for abstract types: `Sequence`, `Mapping`, `Iterable`, `Iterator`, `Generator`.
+
+---
+
+## Naming
+
+| Thing | Convention | Example |
+|-------|-----------|---------|
+| Module | `snake_case` | `task_queue.py` |
+| Class | `PascalCase` | `ProgressManager` |
+| Function / method | `snake_case` | `create_profile` |
+| Variable | `snake_case` | `sample_rate` |
+| Constant | `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE` | `DEFAULT_SAMPLE_RATE` |
+| Private | `_leading_underscore` | `_generation_queue` |
+| Type alias | `PascalCase` | `EffectChain = list[dict[str, Any]]` |
+
+**Specific conventions:**
+- Database ORM models imported with `DB` prefix alias: `from .database import VoiceProfile as DBVoiceProfile`.
+- Pydantic models use descriptive suffixes: `VoiceProfileCreate`, `VoiceProfileResponse`, `GenerationRequest`.
+- Backend classes use engine-name prefix: `MLXTTSBackend`, `PyTorchSTTBackend`.
+
+---
+
+## Docstrings
+
+**Google style**. Required on all public functions, classes, and modules.
+
+```python
+def combine_voice_prompts(
+    profile_dir: Path,
+    *,
+    target_sr: int = 24000,
+) -> tuple[np.ndarray, int]:
+    """Load and concatenate all voice prompt files for a profile.
+
+    Reads .wav/.mp3/.flac files from the profile directory, resamples to
+    the target sample rate, normalizes, and concatenates into a single array.
+
+    Args:
+        profile_dir: Path to the voice profile directory containing audio files.
+        target_sr: Target sample rate for the output. Defaults to 24000.
+
+    Returns:
+        Tuple of (concatenated audio array, sample rate).
+
+    Raises:
+        FileNotFoundError: If profile_dir does not exist.
+        ValueError: If no valid audio files are found.
+    """
+```
+
+**Short form** is fine for simple functions:
+
+```python
+def get_db_path() -> Path:
+    """Get the path to the SQLite database file."""
+```
+
+**When to skip**: Private helpers under ~5 lines where the name and signature make intent obvious.
+
+**Module docstrings**: A single sentence at the top of every file describing its purpose.
+
+```python
+"""Voice profile CRUD operations."""
+```
+
+---
+
+## Comments
+
+Comments explain **why**, not **what**. If the code needs a comment to explain what it does, the code should be rewritten to be clearer. The exceptions are non-obvious performance choices, external constraints, and concurrency/race-condition reasoning -- those always deserve a comment.
+
+### No section dividers
+
+Do not use ASCII dividers to create visual sections in files:
+
+```python
+# No -- any of these:
+# ============================================
+# GENERATION ENDPOINTS
+# ============================================
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Device detection
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# --- Load model --------------------------------------------------
+```
+
+If a file needs section dividers to be navigable, the file is too long. Split it into modules. Within a function, if you need labeled sections to follow the logic, extract those sections into named functions.
+
+### Inline comments
+
+Inline comments (end-of-line) are fine when they add information the code can't express:
+
+```python
+# Yes -- explains a non-obvious constraint or gives context:
+audio, sr = load_audio(path, sr=24000)  # Qwen expects 24kHz mono
+_generation_queue: asyncio.Queue = None  # type: ignore  # initialized at startup
+"tauri://localhost",         # Tauri webview (macOS)
+
+# No -- restates the code:
+# Check if profile name already exists
+existing = db.query(DBVoiceProfile).filter_by(name=data.name).first()
+
+# Delete from database
+db.delete(sample)
+
+# Update fields
+profile.name = data.name
+```
+
+Delete comments that narrate what the next line of code obviously does. If the function name, variable name, or method call already communicates intent, the comment is noise.
+
+### Block comments
+
+Use block comments for **why** explanations -- constraints, workarounds, non-obvious decisions:
+
+```python
+# PyInstaller + multiprocessing: child processes re-execute the frozen binary
+# with internal arguments. freeze_support() handles this and exits early.
+multiprocessing.freeze_support()
+
+# Mark any stale "generating" records as failed -- these are leftovers
+# from a previous process that was killed mid-generation.
+db.query(Generation).filter_by(status="generating").update({"status": "failed"})
+```
+
+Keep block comments tight. Two to three lines is normal. If you need a paragraph, it probably belongs in the docstring or a design doc.
+
+### Linter/type-checker suppression
+
+Always add a reason after `noqa` and `type: ignore`:
+
+```python
+import intel_extension_for_pytorch  # noqa: F401 -- side-effect import enables XPU
+_queue: asyncio.Queue = None  # type: ignore[assignment]  # initialized at startup
+```
+
+Bare `# noqa` or `# type: ignore` with no explanation are not allowed.
+
+### TODO / FIXME
+
+Use sparingly. Every `TODO` must include a brief description of what needs doing. Don't use them as a substitute for tracking work properly:
+
+```python
+# TODO: replace with async SQLAlchemy once CRUD modules are migrated (Phase 5)
+result = await asyncio.to_thread(profiles.get_profile, profile_id, db)
+```
+
+Never commit `HACK`, `XXX`, or `FIXME` -- fix the problem or file an issue.
+
+### Commented-out code
+
+Delete it. That's what git is for. If you need to document that something was intentionally removed, a short tombstone comment is acceptable:
+
+```python
+# Removed config.json-only check -- too lenient, doesn't confirm weights exist.
+```
+
+---
+
+## Error Handling
+
+The refactor is standardizing on a **two-layer pattern**:
+
+### 1. Domain layer -- raise plain exceptions
+
+CRUD modules and services raise `ValueError`, `FileNotFoundError`, or (post-refactor) custom exceptions defined in `backend/errors.py`:
+
+```python
+# backend/errors.py  (to be created in Phase 4)
+class NotFoundError(Exception):
+    """Raised when a requested resource does not exist."""
+
+class ConflictError(Exception):
+    """Raised on uniqueness constraint violations."""
+```
+
+```python
+# In a service or CRUD module:
+raise NotFoundError(f"Profile {profile_id} not found")
+```
+
+### 2. Route layer -- translate to HTTPException
+
+Route handlers catch domain exceptions and convert:
+
+```python
+@router.post("/profiles")
+async def create_profile(data: VoiceProfileCreate, db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    try:
+        return await profiles.create_profile(data, db)
+    except ConflictError as e:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=409, detail=str(e))
+```
+
+**Background tasks** catch `Exception` broadly, log with `logger.exception()`, and update the task status to `"failed"`.
+
+**Never**: silently swallow exceptions, use bare `except:`, or catch `BaseException`.
+
+---
+
+## Async
+
+### Rules for the refactor
+
+1. **Don't declare `async def` unless the function awaits something.** Several service modules still declare `async def` without awaiting -- these should be migrated to sync functions with `asyncio.to_thread()` at the route layer, or to real async SQLAlchemy.
+2. **CPU-bound work** (audio processing, numpy operations) goes through `asyncio.to_thread()`:
+   ```python
+   audio, sr = await asyncio.to_thread(load_audio, source_path)
+   ```
+3. **GPU-bound TTS inference** is serialized through the generation queue (`services/task_queue.py`). Never call a backend's `generate()` directly from a route handler.
+4. **Fire-and-forget tasks**: use `asyncio.create_task()` and track the task reference to prevent garbage collection:
+   ```python
+   task = asyncio.create_task(some_coro())
+   _background_tasks.add(task)
+   task.add_done_callback(_background_tasks.discard)
+   ```
+
+---
+
+## Logging
+
+Use the `logging` module. Not `print()`.
+
+```python
+import logging
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+logger.info("Loading model %s on %s", model_name, device)
+logger.warning("Cache miss for %s, downloading", repo_id)
+logger.exception("Generation %s failed")  # logs traceback automatically
+```
+
+**Rules:**
+- Use `%s`-style placeholders in log calls (not f-strings). This avoids formatting the string if the log level is filtered out.
+- Use `logger.exception()` inside `except` blocks -- it captures the traceback.
+- Logger name should be `__name__` (yields `backend.utils.audio`, etc.).
+- Existing `print()` calls should be migrated to logging as files are touched during the refactor.
+
+---
+
+## Constants
+
+- Define at **module level** in the file where they're primarily used.
+- Use `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`.
+- Shared/cross-cutting constants (sample rates, file size limits, CORS origins) go in `backend/config.py` after Phase 6 consolidation.
+- Magic numbers in function bodies should be extracted to named constants:
+  ```python
+  # No
+  if len(audio) > 24000 * 60 * 10:
+
+  # Yes
+  MAX_AUDIO_DURATION_SAMPLES = SAMPLE_RATE * 60 * 10
+  if len(audio) > MAX_AUDIO_DURATION_SAMPLES:
+  ```
+
+---
+
+## Function Signatures
+
+- **Keyword-only arguments** (after `*`) for functions with 3+ parameters, especially when several share the same type:
+  ```python
+  def is_model_cached(
+      hf_repo: str,
+      *,
+      weight_extensions: tuple[str, ...] = (".safetensors", ".bin"),
+      required_files: list[str] | None = None,
+  ) -> bool:
+  ```
+- Parameters on **separate lines** when the signature exceeds ~100 characters or has 3+ params.
+- **Trailing comma** after the last parameter in multi-line signatures.
+- Default values inline with the parameter.
+
+---
+
+## String Formatting
+
+- **f-strings** for runtime string construction.
+- **`%s`-style** for `logging` calls (lazy evaluation).
+- **`.format()`**: avoid; f-strings are preferred.
+
+---
+
+## Testing
+
+Framework: **pytest** with `pytest-asyncio`.
+
+- Test files: `test_<module>.py` in `backend/tests/`.
+- Use `conftest.py` for shared fixtures (db sessions, test client, mock backends).
+- Group related tests in classes: `class TestProfileCRUD:`.
+- Use `@pytest.mark.asyncio` for async tests.
+- Use `@pytest.mark.parametrize` to reduce repetition.
+- Manual integration scripts stay in `tests/` but are clearly marked (filename prefix `manual_` or documented in `tests/README.md`).
+
+---
+
+## Project Layout
+
+```
+backend/
+  app.py              # FastAPI app factory, CORS, lifecycle events
+  main.py             # Entry point (imports app, runs uvicorn)
+  config.py           # Data directory paths
+  models.py           # Pydantic request/response schemas
+  server.py           # Tauri sidecar launcher, parent-pid watchdog
+  routes/             # Thin HTTP handlers (validation, delegation, response formatting)
+  services/           # Business logic, CRUD, orchestration
+  backends/           # TTS/STT engine implementations
+  database/           # ORM models, session management, migrations, seeds
+  utils/              # Shared utilities (audio, effects, caching, progress)
+  tests/              # pytest suite
+```
+
+---
+
+## Ruff Adoption
+
+`pyproject.toml` configures ruff for linting and formatting. Run:
+
+```bash
+# Lint (check)
+ruff check backend/
+
+# Lint (auto-fix)
+ruff check backend/ --fix
+
+# Format
+ruff format backend/
+```
+
+Introduce ruff fixes file-by-file as you touch them. Don't run `--fix` across the entire codebase in one shot -- that creates unreviewable diffs.

backend/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # Backend package
 
-__version__ = "0.1.13"
+__version__ = "0.2.3"

backend/app.py

@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+"""FastAPI application factory, middleware, and lifecycle events."""
+
+import asyncio
+import logging
+import os
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+class ColoredFormatter(logging.Formatter):
+    """Custom formatter to add colors matching uvicorn's style."""
+
+    COLORS = {
+        "DEBUG": "\033[36m",  # Cyan
+        "INFO": "\033[32m",  # Green
+        "WARNING": "\033[33m",  # Yellow
+        "ERROR": "\033[31m",  # Red
+        "CRITICAL": "\033[35m",  # Magenta
+    }
+    RESET = "\033[0m"
+
+    def format(self, record):
+        log_color = self.COLORS.get(record.levelname, self.RESET)
+        record.levelname = f"{log_color}{record.levelname}{self.RESET}"
+        return super().format(record)
+
+
+# Configure logging to match uvicorn's format with colors
+handler = logging.StreamHandler(sys.stderr)
+handler.setFormatter(ColoredFormatter("%(levelname)s:     %(message)s"))
+logging.basicConfig(
+    level=logging.INFO,
+    handlers=[handler],
+)
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# AMD GPU environment variables must be set before torch import
+if not os.environ.get("HSA_OVERRIDE_GFX_VERSION"):
+    os.environ["HSA_OVERRIDE_GFX_VERSION"] = "10.3.0"
+if not os.environ.get("MIOPEN_LOG_LEVEL"):
+    os.environ["MIOPEN_LOG_LEVEL"] = "4"
+
+import torch
+from fastapi import FastAPI
+from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
+from urllib.parse import quote
+
+from . import __version__, config, database
+from .services import tts, transcribe
+from .database import get_db
+from .utils.platform_detect import get_backend_type
+from .utils.progress import get_progress_manager
+from .services.task_queue import create_background_task, init_queue
+from .routes import register_routers
+
+
+def safe_content_disposition(disposition_type: str, filename: str) -> str:
+    """Build a Content-Disposition header safe for non-ASCII filenames.
+
+    Uses RFC 5987 ``filename*`` parameter so browsers can decode UTF-8
+    filenames while the ``filename`` fallback stays ASCII-only.
+    """
+    ascii_name = "".join(c for c in filename if c.isascii() and (c.isalnum() or c in " -_.")).strip() or "download"
+    utf8_name = quote(filename, safe="")
+    return f"{disposition_type}; filename=\"{ascii_name}\"; filename*=UTF-8''{utf8_name}"
+
+
+def create_app() -> FastAPI:
+    """Create and configure the FastAPI application."""
+    application = FastAPI(
+        title="voicebox API",
+        description="Production-quality Qwen3-TTS voice cloning API",
+        version=__version__,
+    )
+
+    _configure_cors(application)
+    register_routers(application)
+    _register_lifecycle(application)
+    _mount_frontend(application)
+
+    return application
+
+
+def _configure_cors(application: FastAPI) -> None:
+    """Set up CORS middleware with local-first defaults."""
+    default_origins = [
+        "http://localhost:5173",  # Vite dev server
+        "http://127.0.0.1:5173",
+        "http://localhost:17493",
+        "http://127.0.0.1:17493",
+        "tauri://localhost",  # Tauri webview (macOS)
+        "https://tauri.localhost",  # Tauri webview (Windows/Linux)
+        "http://tauri.localhost",  # Tauri webview (Windows, some builds)
+    ]
+    env_origins = os.environ.get("VOICEBOX_CORS_ORIGINS", "")
+    all_origins = default_origins + [o.strip() for o in env_origins.split(",") if o.strip()]
+
+    application.add_middleware(
+        CORSMiddleware,
+        allow_origins=all_origins,
+        allow_credentials=True,
+        allow_methods=["*"],
+        allow_headers=["*"],
+    )
+
+
+def _mount_frontend(application: FastAPI) -> None:
+    """Serve the built web frontend when present (Docker / web deployment).
+
+    The Dockerfile copies the Vite build output to ``/app/frontend/``.  When
+    that directory exists we mount static assets and add a catch-all route so
+    the React SPA handles client-side routing.  In dev or API-only mode the
+    directory is absent and this function is a no-op.
+    """
+    frontend_dir = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "frontend"
+    if not frontend_dir.is_dir():
+        return
+
+    from fastapi.staticfiles import StaticFiles
+    from fastapi.responses import FileResponse
+
+    # Mount hashed assets (JS, CSS, images) that Vite places under /assets
+    assets_dir = frontend_dir / "assets"
+    if assets_dir.is_dir():
+        application.mount(
+            "/assets",
+            StaticFiles(directory=str(assets_dir)),
+            name="frontend-assets",
+        )
+
+    # SPA catch-all: serve files if they exist, otherwise index.html for
+    # client-side routes like /voices, /stories, /models, etc.
+    @application.get("/{full_path:path}")
+    async def serve_spa(full_path: str):
+        file_path = (frontend_dir / full_path).resolve()
+        # Guard against path traversal — only serve files inside frontend_dir
+        if full_path and file_path.is_file() and str(file_path).startswith(str(frontend_dir)):
+            return FileResponse(file_path)
+        return FileResponse(frontend_dir / "index.html", media_type="text/html")
+
+    logger.info("Frontend: serving SPA from %s", frontend_dir)
+
+
+def _get_gpu_status() -> str:
+    """Return a human-readable string describing GPU availability."""
+    backend_type = get_backend_type()
+    if torch.cuda.is_available():
+        device_name = torch.cuda.get_device_name(0)
+        is_rocm = hasattr(torch.version, "hip") and torch.version.hip is not None
+        if is_rocm:
+            return f"ROCm ({device_name})"
+        return f"CUDA ({device_name})"
+    elif hasattr(torch.backends, "mps") and torch.backends.mps.is_available():
+        return "MPS (Apple Silicon)"
+    elif backend_type == "mlx":
+        return "Metal (Apple Silicon via MLX)"
+    return "None (CPU only)"
+
+
+def _register_lifecycle(application: FastAPI) -> None:
+    """Attach startup and shutdown event handlers."""
+
+    @application.on_event("startup")
+    async def startup_event():
+        import platform
+        import sys
+
+        logger.info("Voicebox v%s starting up", __version__)
+        logger.info(
+            "Python %s on %s %s (%s)",
+            sys.version.split()[0],
+            platform.system(),
+            platform.release(),
+            platform.machine(),
+        )
+
+        database.init_db()
+
+        from .database.session import _db_path
+
+        logger.info("Database: %s", _db_path)
+        logger.info("Data directory: %s", config.get_data_dir())
+
+        init_queue()
+
+        # Mark stale "generating" records as failed -- leftovers from a killed process
+        from sqlalchemy import text as sa_text
+
+        db = next(get_db())
+        try:
+            result = db.execute(
+                sa_text(
+                    "UPDATE generations SET status = 'failed', "
+                    "error = 'Server was shut down during generation' "
+                    "WHERE status IN ('generating', 'loading_model')"
+                )
+            )
+            if result.rowcount > 0:
+                logger.info("Marked %d stale generation(s) as failed", result.rowcount)
+
+            from .database import VoiceProfile as DBVoiceProfile, Generation as DBGeneration
+
+            profile_count = db.query(DBVoiceProfile).count()
+            generation_count = db.query(DBGeneration).count()
+            logger.info("Profiles: %d, Generations: %d", profile_count, generation_count)
+
+            db.commit()
+        except Exception as e:
+            db.rollback()
+            logger.warning("Could not clean up stale generations: %s", e)
+        finally:
+            db.close()
+
+        backend_type = get_backend_type()
+        logger.info("Backend: %s", backend_type.upper())
+        logger.info("GPU: %s", _get_gpu_status())
+
+        from .services.cuda import check_and_update_cuda_binary
+
+        create_background_task(check_and_update_cuda_binary())
+
+        try:
+            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
+            progress_manager._set_main_loop(asyncio.get_running_loop())
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("Could not initialize progress manager event loop: %s", e)
+
+        try:
+            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
+
+            cache_dir = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE)
+            cache_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            logger.info("Model cache: %s", cache_dir)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("Could not create HuggingFace cache directory: %s", e)
+
+        logger.info("Ready")
+
+    @application.on_event("shutdown")
+    async def shutdown_event():
+        logger.info("Voicebox server shutting down...")
+        try:
+            tts.unload_tts_model()
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception("Failed to unload TTS model")
+        try:
+            transcribe.unload_whisper_model()
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception("Failed to unload Whisper model")
+
+
+app = create_app()

backend/backends/__init__.py

@@ -1,25 +1,66 @@
 """
 Backend abstraction layer for TTS and STT.
 
-Provides a unified interface for MLX and PyTorch backends.
+Provides a unified interface for MLX and PyTorch backends,
+and a model config registry that eliminates per-engine dispatch maps.
 """
 
 import threading
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Protocol, Optional, Tuple, List
 from typing_extensions import runtime_checkable
 import numpy as np
 
-from ..platform_detect import get_backend_type
+from ..utils.platform_detect import get_backend_type
+
+LANGUAGE_CODE_TO_NAME = {
+    "zh": "chinese",
+    "en": "english",
+    "ja": "japanese",
+    "ko": "korean",
+    "de": "german",
+    "fr": "french",
+    "ru": "russian",
+    "pt": "portuguese",
+    "es": "spanish",
+    "it": "italian",
+}
+
+WHISPER_HF_REPOS = {
+    "base": "openai/whisper-base",
+    "small": "openai/whisper-small",
+    "medium": "openai/whisper-medium",
+    "large": "openai/whisper-large-v3",
+    "turbo": "openai/whisper-large-v3-turbo",
+}
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ModelConfig:
+    """Declarative config for a downloadable model variant."""
+
+    model_name: str  # e.g. "luxtts", "chatterbox-tts"
+    display_name: str  # e.g. "LuxTTS (Fast, CPU-friendly)"
+    engine: str  # e.g. "luxtts", "chatterbox"
+    hf_repo_id: str  # e.g. "YatharthS/LuxTTS"
+    model_size: str = "default"
+    size_mb: int = 0
+    needs_trim: bool = False
+    supports_instruct: bool = False
+    languages: list[str] = field(default_factory=lambda: ["en"])
 
 
 @runtime_checkable
 class TTSBackend(Protocol):
     """Protocol for TTS backend implementations."""
-    
+
+    # Each backend class should define MODEL_CONFIGS as a class variable:
+    # MODEL_CONFIGS: list[ModelConfig]
+
     async def load_model(self, model_size: str) -> None:
         """Load TTS model."""
         ...
-    
+
     async def create_voice_prompt(
         self,
         audio_path: str,
@@ -28,12 +69,12 @@ class TTSBackend(Protocol):
     ) -> Tuple[dict, bool]:
         """
         Create voice prompt from reference audio.
-        
+
         Returns:
             Tuple of (voice_prompt_dict, was_cached)
         """
         ...
-    
+
     async def combine_voice_prompts(
         self,
         audio_paths: List[str],
@@ -41,12 +82,12 @@ class TTSBackend(Protocol):
     ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
         """
         Combine multiple voice prompts.
-        
+
         Returns:
             Tuple of (combined_audio_array, combined_text)
         """
         ...
-    
+
     async def generate(
         self,
         text: str,
@@ -57,24 +98,24 @@ class TTSBackend(Protocol):
     ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, int]:
         """
         Generate audio from text.
-        
+
         Returns:
             Tuple of (audio_array, sample_rate)
         """
         ...
-    
+
     def unload_model(self) -> None:
         """Unload model to free memory."""
         ...
-    
+
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         """Check if model is loaded."""
         ...
-    
+
     def _get_model_path(self, model_size: str) -> str:
         """
         Get model path for a given size.
-        
+
         Returns:
             Model path or HuggingFace Hub ID
         """
@@ -84,28 +125,29 @@ class TTSBackend(Protocol):
 @runtime_checkable
 class STTBackend(Protocol):
     """Protocol for STT (Speech-to-Text) backend implementations."""
-    
+
     async def load_model(self, model_size: str) -> None:
         """Load STT model."""
         ...
-    
+
     async def transcribe(
         self,
         audio_path: str,
         language: Optional[str] = None,
+        model_size: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> str:
         """
         Transcribe audio to text.
-        
+
         Returns:
             Transcribed text
         """
         ...
-    
+
     def unload_model(self) -> None:
         """Unload model to free memory."""
         ...
-    
+
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         """Check if model is loaded."""
         ...
@@ -117,7 +159,8 @@ _tts_backends: dict[str, TTSBackend] = {}
 _tts_backends_lock = threading.Lock()
 _stt_backend: Optional[STTBackend] = None
 
-# Supported TTS engines
+# Supported TTS engines — keyed by engine name, value is the backend class import path.
+# The factory function uses this for the if/elif chain; the model configs live on the backend classes.
 TTS_ENGINES = {
     "qwen": "Qwen TTS",
     "luxtts": "LuxTTS",
@@ -126,10 +169,277 @@ TTS_ENGINES = {
 }
 
 
+def _get_qwen_model_configs() -> list[ModelConfig]:
+    """Return Qwen model configs with backend-aware HF repo IDs."""
+    backend_type = get_backend_type()
+    if backend_type == "mlx":
+        repo_1_7b = "mlx-community/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-bf16"
+        repo_0_6b = "mlx-community/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-bf16"  # 0.6B not available in MLX, falls back
+    else:
+        repo_1_7b = "Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base"
+        repo_0_6b = "Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-0.6B-Base"
+
+    return [
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="qwen-tts-1.7B",
+            display_name="Qwen TTS 1.7B",
+            engine="qwen",
+            hf_repo_id=repo_1_7b,
+            model_size="1.7B",
+            size_mb=3500,
+            supports_instruct=False,  # Base model drops instruct silently
+            languages=["zh", "en", "ja", "ko", "de", "fr", "ru", "pt", "es", "it"],
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="qwen-tts-0.6B",
+            display_name="Qwen TTS 0.6B",
+            engine="qwen",
+            hf_repo_id=repo_0_6b,
+            model_size="0.6B",
+            size_mb=1200,
+            supports_instruct=False,
+            languages=["zh", "en", "ja", "ko", "de", "fr", "ru", "pt", "es", "it"],
+        ),
+    ]
+
+
+def _get_non_qwen_tts_configs() -> list[ModelConfig]:
+    """Return model configs for non-Qwen TTS engines.
+
+    These are static — no backend-type branching needed.
+    """
+    return [
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="luxtts",
+            display_name="LuxTTS (Fast, CPU-friendly)",
+            engine="luxtts",
+            hf_repo_id="YatharthS/LuxTTS",
+            size_mb=300,
+            languages=["en"],
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="chatterbox-tts",
+            display_name="Chatterbox TTS (Multilingual)",
+            engine="chatterbox",
+            hf_repo_id="ResembleAI/chatterbox",
+            size_mb=3200,
+            needs_trim=True,
+            languages=[
+                "zh",
+                "en",
+                "ja",
+                "ko",
+                "de",
+                "fr",
+                "ru",
+                "pt",
+                "es",
+                "it",
+                "he",
+                "ar",
+                "da",
+                "el",
+                "fi",
+                "hi",
+                "ms",
+                "nl",
+                "no",
+                "pl",
+                "sv",
+                "sw",
+                "tr",
+            ],
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="chatterbox-turbo",
+            display_name="Chatterbox Turbo (English, Tags)",
+            engine="chatterbox_turbo",
+            hf_repo_id="ResembleAI/chatterbox-turbo",
+            size_mb=1500,
+            needs_trim=True,
+            languages=["en"],
+        ),
+    ]
+
+
+def _get_whisper_configs() -> list[ModelConfig]:
+    """Return Whisper STT model configs."""
+    return [
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="whisper-base",
+            display_name="Whisper Base",
+            engine="whisper",
+            hf_repo_id="openai/whisper-base",
+            model_size="base",
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="whisper-small",
+            display_name="Whisper Small",
+            engine="whisper",
+            hf_repo_id="openai/whisper-small",
+            model_size="small",
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="whisper-medium",
+            display_name="Whisper Medium",
+            engine="whisper",
+            hf_repo_id="openai/whisper-medium",
+            model_size="medium",
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="whisper-large",
+            display_name="Whisper Large",
+            engine="whisper",
+            hf_repo_id="openai/whisper-large-v3",
+            model_size="large",
+        ),
+        ModelConfig(
+            model_name="whisper-turbo",
+            display_name="Whisper Turbo",
+            engine="whisper",
+            hf_repo_id="openai/whisper-large-v3-turbo",
+            model_size="turbo",
+        ),
+    ]
+
+
+def get_all_model_configs() -> list[ModelConfig]:
+    """Return the full list of model configs (TTS + STT)."""
+    return _get_qwen_model_configs() + _get_non_qwen_tts_configs() + _get_whisper_configs()
+
+
+def get_tts_model_configs() -> list[ModelConfig]:
+    """Return only TTS model configs."""
+    return _get_qwen_model_configs() + _get_non_qwen_tts_configs()
+
+
+# Lookup helpers — these replace the if/elif chains in main.py
+
+
+def get_model_config(model_name: str) -> Optional[ModelConfig]:
+    """Look up a model config by model_name."""
+    for cfg in get_all_model_configs():
+        if cfg.model_name == model_name:
+            return cfg
+    return None
+
+
+def engine_needs_trim(engine: str) -> bool:
+    """Whether this engine's output should be run through trim_tts_output."""
+    for cfg in get_tts_model_configs():
+        if cfg.engine == engine:
+            return cfg.needs_trim
+    return False
+
+
+def engine_has_model_sizes(engine: str) -> bool:
+    """Whether this engine supports multiple model sizes (only Qwen currently)."""
+    configs = [c for c in get_tts_model_configs() if c.engine == engine]
+    return len(configs) > 1
+
+
+async def load_engine_model(engine: str, model_size: str = "default") -> None:
+    """Load a model for the given engine, handling the Qwen model_size special case."""
+    backend = get_tts_backend_for_engine(engine)
+    if engine == "qwen":
+        await backend.load_model_async(model_size)
+    else:
+        await backend.load_model()
+
+
+async def ensure_model_cached_or_raise(engine: str, model_size: str = "default") -> None:
+    """Check if a model is cached, raise HTTPException if not. Used by streaming endpoint."""
+    from fastapi import HTTPException
+
+    backend = get_tts_backend_for_engine(engine)
+    cfg = None
+    for c in get_tts_model_configs():
+        if c.engine == engine and c.model_size == model_size:
+            cfg = c
+            break
+
+    if engine == "qwen":
+        if not backend._is_model_cached(model_size):
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=400,
+                detail=f"Model {model_size} is not downloaded yet. Use /generate to trigger a download.",
+            )
+    else:
+        if not backend._is_model_cached():
+            display = cfg.display_name if cfg else engine
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=400,
+                detail=f"{display} model is not downloaded yet. Use /generate to trigger a download.",
+            )
+
+
+def unload_model_by_config(config: ModelConfig) -> bool:
+    """Unload a model given its config. Returns True if it was loaded, False otherwise."""
+    from . import get_tts_backend_for_engine
+    from ..services import tts, transcribe
+
+    if config.engine == "whisper":
+        whisper_model = transcribe.get_whisper_model()
+        if whisper_model.is_loaded() and whisper_model.model_size == config.model_size:
+            transcribe.unload_whisper_model()
+            return True
+        return False
+
+    if config.engine == "qwen":
+        tts_model = tts.get_tts_model()
+        loaded_size = getattr(tts_model, "_current_model_size", None) or getattr(tts_model, "model_size", None)
+        if tts_model.is_loaded() and loaded_size == config.model_size:
+            tts.unload_tts_model()
+            return True
+        return False
+
+    # All other TTS engines
+    backend = get_tts_backend_for_engine(config.engine)
+    if backend.is_loaded():
+        backend.unload_model()
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def check_model_loaded(config: ModelConfig) -> bool:
+    """Check if a model is currently loaded."""
+    from . import get_tts_backend_for_engine
+    from ..services import tts, transcribe
+
+    try:
+        if config.engine == "whisper":
+            whisper_model = transcribe.get_whisper_model()
+            return whisper_model.is_loaded() and getattr(whisper_model, "model_size", None) == config.model_size
+
+        if config.engine == "qwen":
+            tts_model = tts.get_tts_model()
+            loaded_size = getattr(tts_model, "_current_model_size", None) or getattr(tts_model, "model_size", None)
+            return tts_model.is_loaded() and loaded_size == config.model_size
+
+        backend = get_tts_backend_for_engine(config.engine)
+        return backend.is_loaded()
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+
+
+def get_model_load_func(config: ModelConfig):
+    """Return a callable that loads/downloads the model."""
+    from . import get_tts_backend_for_engine
+    from ..services import tts, transcribe
+
+    if config.engine == "whisper":
+        return lambda: transcribe.get_whisper_model().load_model(config.model_size)
+
+    if config.engine == "qwen":
+        return lambda: tts.get_tts_model().load_model(config.model_size)
+
+    return lambda: get_tts_backend_for_engine(config.engine).load_model()
+
+
 def get_tts_backend() -> TTSBackend:
     """
     Get or create the default (Qwen) TTS backend instance based on platform.
-    
+
     Returns:
         TTS backend instance (MLX or PyTorch)
     """
@@ -139,45 +449,50 @@ def get_tts_backend() -> TTSBackend:
 def get_tts_backend_for_engine(engine: str) -> TTSBackend:
     """
     Get or create a TTS backend for the given engine.
-    
+
     Args:
-        engine: Engine name ("qwen" or "luxtts")
-    
+        engine: Engine name (e.g. "qwen", "luxtts", "chatterbox", "chatterbox_turbo")
+
     Returns:
         TTS backend instance
     """
     global _tts_backends
-    
+
     # Fast path: check without lock
     if engine in _tts_backends:
         return _tts_backends[engine]
-    
+
     # Slow path: create with lock to avoid duplicate instantiation
     with _tts_backends_lock:
         # Double-check after acquiring lock
         if engine in _tts_backends:
             return _tts_backends[engine]
-        
+
         if engine == "qwen":
             backend_type = get_backend_type()
             if backend_type == "mlx":
                 from .mlx_backend import MLXTTSBackend
+
                 backend = MLXTTSBackend()
             else:
                 from .pytorch_backend import PyTorchTTSBackend
+
                 backend = PyTorchTTSBackend()
         elif engine == "luxtts":
             from .luxtts_backend import LuxTTSBackend
+
             backend = LuxTTSBackend()
         elif engine == "chatterbox":
             from .chatterbox_backend import ChatterboxTTSBackend
+
             backend = ChatterboxTTSBackend()
         elif engine == "chatterbox_turbo":
             from .chatterbox_turbo_backend import ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend
+
             backend = ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend()
         else:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown TTS engine: {engine}. Supported: {list(TTS_ENGINES.keys())}")
-        
+
         _tts_backends[engine] = backend
         return backend
 
@@ -185,22 +500,24 @@ def get_tts_backend_for_engine(engine: str) -> TTSBackend:
 def get_stt_backend() -> STTBackend:
     """
     Get or create STT backend instance based on platform.
-    
+
     Returns:
         STT backend instance (MLX or PyTorch)
     """
     global _stt_backend
-    
+
     if _stt_backend is None:
         backend_type = get_backend_type()
-        
+
         if backend_type == "mlx":
             from .mlx_backend import MLXSTTBackend
+
             _stt_backend = MLXSTTBackend()
         else:
             from .pytorch_backend import PyTorchSTTBackend
+
             _stt_backend = PyTorchSTTBackend()
-    
+
     return _stt_backend
 
 

backend/backends/base.py

@@ -0,0 +1,258 @@
+"""
+Shared utilities for TTS/STT backend implementations.
+
+Eliminates duplication of cache checking, device detection,
+voice prompt combination, and model loading progress tracking.
+"""
+
+import logging
+import platform
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Tuple
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from ..utils.audio import normalize_audio, load_audio
+from ..utils.progress import get_progress_manager
+from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker, create_hf_progress_callback
+from ..utils.tasks import get_task_manager
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def is_model_cached(
+    hf_repo: str,
+    *,
+    weight_extensions: tuple[str, ...] = (".safetensors", ".bin"),
+    required_files: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check if a HuggingFace model is fully cached locally.
+
+    Args:
+        hf_repo: HuggingFace repo ID (e.g. "Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base")
+        weight_extensions: File extensions that count as model weights.
+        required_files: If set, check that these specific filenames exist
+                        in snapshots instead of checking by extension.
+
+    Returns:
+        True if model is fully cached, False if missing or incomplete.
+    """
+    try:
+        from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
+
+        repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / ("models--" + hf_repo.replace("/", "--"))
+
+        if not repo_cache.exists():
+            return False
+
+        # Incomplete blobs mean a download is still in progress
+        blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
+        if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
+            logger.debug(f"Found .incomplete files for {hf_repo}")
+            return False
+
+        snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
+        if not snapshots_dir.exists():
+            return False
+
+        if required_files:
+            # Check that every required filename exists somewhere in snapshots
+            for fname in required_files:
+                if not any(snapshots_dir.rglob(fname)):
+                    return False
+            return True
+
+        # Check that at least one weight file exists
+        for ext in weight_extensions:
+            if any(snapshots_dir.rglob(f"*{ext}")):
+                return True
+
+        logger.debug(f"No model weights found for {hf_repo}")
+        return False
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"Error checking cache for {hf_repo}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+
+def get_torch_device(
+    *,
+    allow_xpu: bool = False,
+    allow_directml: bool = False,
+    allow_mps: bool = False,
+    force_cpu_on_mac: bool = False,
+) -> str:
+    """
+    Detect the best available torch device.
+
+    Args:
+        allow_xpu: Check for Intel XPU (IPEX) support.
+        allow_directml: Check for DirectML (Windows) support.
+        allow_mps: Allow MPS (Apple Silicon). If False, MPS falls back to CPU.
+        force_cpu_on_mac: Force CPU on macOS regardless of GPU availability.
+    """
+    if force_cpu_on_mac and platform.system() == "Darwin":
+        return "cpu"
+
+    import torch
+
+    if torch.cuda.is_available():
+        return "cuda"
+
+    if allow_xpu:
+        try:
+            import intel_extension_for_pytorch  # noqa: F401
+
+            if hasattr(torch, "xpu") and torch.xpu.is_available():
+                return "xpu"
+        except ImportError:
+            pass
+
+    if allow_directml:
+        try:
+            import torch_directml
+
+            if torch_directml.device_count() > 0:
+                return torch_directml.device(0)
+        except ImportError:
+            pass
+
+    if allow_mps:
+        if hasattr(torch.backends, "mps") and torch.backends.mps.is_available():
+            return "mps"
+
+    return "cpu"
+
+
+async def combine_voice_prompts(
+    audio_paths: List[str],
+    reference_texts: List[str],
+    *,
+    sample_rate: Optional[int] = None,
+) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
+    """
+    Combine multiple reference audio samples into one.
+
+    Loads each audio file, normalizes, concatenates, and joins texts.
+
+    Args:
+        audio_paths: Paths to reference audio files.
+        reference_texts: Corresponding transcripts.
+        sample_rate: If set, resample audio to this rate during loading.
+    """
+    combined_audio = []
+
+    for path in audio_paths:
+        kwargs = {"sample_rate": sample_rate} if sample_rate else {}
+        audio, _sr = load_audio(path, **kwargs)
+        audio = normalize_audio(audio)
+        combined_audio.append(audio)
+
+    mixed = np.concatenate(combined_audio)
+    mixed = normalize_audio(mixed)
+    combined_text = " ".join(reference_texts)
+
+    return mixed, combined_text
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def model_load_progress(
+    model_name: str,
+    is_cached: bool,
+    filter_non_downloads: Optional[bool] = None,
+):
+    """
+    Context manager for model loading with HF download progress tracking.
+
+    Handles the tqdm patching, progress_manager/task_manager lifecycle,
+    and error reporting that every backend duplicates.
+
+    Args:
+        model_name: Progress tracking key (e.g. "qwen-tts-1.7B", "whisper-base").
+        is_cached: Whether the model is already downloaded.
+        filter_non_downloads: Whether to filter non-download tqdm bars.
+                              Defaults to `is_cached`.
+
+    Yields:
+        The tracker context (already entered). The caller loads the model
+        inside the `with` block. The tqdm patch is torn down on exit.
+
+    Usage:
+        with model_load_progress("qwen-tts-1.7B", is_cached) as ctx:
+            self.model = SomeModel.from_pretrained(...)
+    """
+    if filter_non_downloads is None:
+        filter_non_downloads = is_cached
+
+    progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
+    task_manager = get_task_manager()
+
+    progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(model_name, progress_manager)
+    tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=filter_non_downloads)
+
+    tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
+    tracker_context.__enter__()
+
+    if not is_cached:
+        task_manager.start_download(model_name)
+        progress_manager.update_progress(
+            model_name=model_name,
+            current=0,
+            total=0,
+            filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
+            status="downloading",
+        )
+
+    try:
+        yield tracker_context
+    except Exception as e:
+        # Report error to both managers
+        progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
+        task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
+        raise
+    else:
+        # Only mark complete if we were tracking a download
+        if not is_cached:
+            progress_manager.mark_complete(model_name)
+            task_manager.complete_download(model_name)
+    finally:
+        tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
+
+
+def patch_chatterbox_f32(model) -> None:
+    """
+    Patch float64 -> float32 dtype mismatches in upstream chatterbox.
+
+    librosa.load returns float64 numpy arrays. Multiple upstream code paths
+    convert these to torch tensors via torch.from_numpy() without casting,
+    then matmul against float32 model weights. This patches the two known
+    entry points:
+
+    1. S3Tokenizer.log_mel_spectrogram — audio tensor hits _mel_filters (f32)
+    2. VoiceEncoder.forward — float64 mel spectrograms hit LSTM weights (f32)
+    """
+    import types
+
+    # Patch S3Tokenizer
+    _tokzr = model.s3gen.tokenizer
+    _orig_log_mel = _tokzr.log_mel_spectrogram.__func__
+
+    def _f32_log_mel(self_tokzr, audio, padding=0):
+        import torch as _torch
+
+        if _torch.is_tensor(audio):
+            audio = audio.float()
+        return _orig_log_mel(self_tokzr, audio, padding)
+
+    _tokzr.log_mel_spectrogram = types.MethodType(_f32_log_mel, _tokzr)
+
+    # Patch VoiceEncoder
+    _ve = model.ve
+    _orig_ve_forward = _ve.forward.__func__
+
+    def _f32_ve_forward(self_ve, mels):
+        return _orig_ve_forward(self_ve, mels.float())
+
+    _ve.forward = types.MethodType(_f32_ve_forward, _ve)

backend/backends/chatterbox_backend.py

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ on macOS due to known MPS tensor issues.
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
-import platform
 import threading
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import ClassVar, List, Optional, Tuple
@@ -16,9 +15,13 @@ from typing import ClassVar, List, Optional, Tuple
 import numpy as np
 
 from . import TTSBackend
-from ..utils.audio import normalize_audio, load_audio
-from ..utils.progress import get_progress_manager
-from ..utils.tasks import get_task_manager
+from .base import (
+    is_model_cached,
+    get_torch_device,
+    combine_voice_prompts as _combine_voice_prompts,
+    model_load_progress,
+    patch_chatterbox_f32,
+)
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -45,17 +48,7 @@ class ChatterboxTTSBackend:
         self._model_load_lock = asyncio.Lock()
 
     def _get_device(self) -> str:
-        """Get the best available device. Forces CPU on macOS (MPS issue)."""
-        if platform.system() == "Darwin":
-            return "cpu"
-        try:
-            import torch
-
-            if torch.cuda.is_available():
-                return "cuda"
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        return "cpu"
+        return get_torch_device(force_cpu_on_mac=True)
 
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         return self.model is not None
@@ -64,33 +57,7 @@ class ChatterboxTTSBackend:
         return CHATTERBOX_HF_REPO
 
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str = "default") -> bool:
-        """Check if the Chatterbox multilingual model is cached locally."""
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-
-            repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / (
-                "models--" + CHATTERBOX_HF_REPO.replace("/", "--")
-            )
-
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                return False
-
-            # Check for multilingual weight files
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                for fname in _MTL_WEIGHT_FILES:
-                    if not any(snapshots_dir.rglob(fname)):
-                        return False
-                return True
-
-            return False
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Error checking Chatterbox cache: {e}")
-            return False
+        return is_model_cached(CHATTERBOX_HF_REPO, required_files=_MTL_WEIGHT_FILES)
 
     async def load_model(self, model_size: str = "default") -> None:
         """Load the Chatterbox multilingual model."""
@@ -103,132 +70,45 @@ class ChatterboxTTSBackend:
 
     def _load_model_sync(self):
         """Synchronous model loading."""
-        from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker, create_hf_progress_callback
-
-        progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-        task_manager = get_task_manager()
         model_name = "chatterbox-tts"
-
         is_cached = self._is_model_cached()
 
-        # Set up HF progress tracking (intercepts tqdm for file-level progress)
-        progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(model_name, progress_manager)
-        tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-        tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-        tracker_context.__enter__()
-
-        if not is_cached:
-            task_manager.start_download(model_name)
-            progress_manager.update_progress(
-                model_name=model_name,
-                current=0,
-                total=0,
-                filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                status="downloading",
-            )
-
-        try:
+        with model_load_progress(model_name, is_cached):
             device = self._get_device()
             self._device = device
-
             logger.info(f"Loading Chatterbox Multilingual TTS on {device}...")
 
             import torch
             from chatterbox.mtl_tts import ChatterboxMultilingualTTS
 
-            # Load into a local variable first, apply all patches, then
-            # assign to self.model.  This avoids leaving a half-initialised
-            # model on self.model if any patch step raises an exception.
-            #
-            # Monkey-patch torch.load for CPU loading. The model's .pt files
-            # were saved on CUDA; from_pretrained() doesn't pass map_location
-            # so loading on CPU fails without this.
-            try:
-                if device == "cpu":
-                    _orig_torch_load = torch.load
+            if device == "cpu":
+                _orig_torch_load = torch.load
 
-                    def _patched_load(*args, **kwargs):
-                        kwargs.setdefault("map_location", "cpu")
-                        return _orig_torch_load(*args, **kwargs)
+                def _patched_load(*args, **kwargs):
+                    kwargs.setdefault("map_location", "cpu")
+                    return _orig_torch_load(*args, **kwargs)
 
-                    with ChatterboxTTSBackend._load_lock:
-                        torch.load = _patched_load
-                        try:
-                            model = ChatterboxMultilingualTTS.from_pretrained(
-                                device=device,
-                            )
-                        finally:
-                            torch.load = _orig_torch_load
-                else:
-                    model = ChatterboxMultilingualTTS.from_pretrained(
-                        device=device,
-                    )
-            finally:
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
+                with ChatterboxTTSBackend._load_lock:
+                    torch.load = _patched_load
+                    try:
+                        model = ChatterboxMultilingualTTS.from_pretrained(device=device)
+                    finally:
+                        torch.load = _orig_torch_load
+            else:
+                model = ChatterboxMultilingualTTS.from_pretrained(device=device)
 
-            # Fix: transformers >= 4.36 defaults LlamaModel to sdpa attention
-            # which doesn't support output_attentions=True (needed by
-            # Chatterbox's AlignmentStreamAnalyzer). Force eager attention.
+            # Fix sdpa attention for output_attentions support
             t3_tfmr = model.t3.tfmr
-            if hasattr(t3_tfmr, "config") and hasattr(
-                t3_tfmr.config, "_attn_implementation"
-            ):
+            if hasattr(t3_tfmr, "config") and hasattr(t3_tfmr.config, "_attn_implementation"):
                 t3_tfmr.config._attn_implementation = "eager"
                 for layer in getattr(t3_tfmr, "layers", []):
                     if hasattr(layer, "self_attn"):
                         layer.self_attn._attn_implementation = "eager"
 
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(model_name)
-
-            # Patch float64 → float32 dtype mismatches in upstream chatterbox.
-            # librosa.load returns float64 numpy; multiple upstream code paths
-            # convert it to a torch tensor via torch.from_numpy() without
-            # casting, then matmul it against float32 model weights.
-            import types
-
-            # Patch S3Tokenizer (used by s3gen.tokenizer)
-            _tokzr = model.s3gen.tokenizer
-            _orig_log_mel = _tokzr.log_mel_spectrogram.__func__
-
-            def _f32_log_mel(self_tokzr, audio, padding=0):
-                import torch as _torch
-                if _torch.is_tensor(audio):
-                    audio = audio.float()
-                return _orig_log_mel(self_tokzr, audio, padding)
-
-            _tokzr.log_mel_spectrogram = types.MethodType(_f32_log_mel, _tokzr)
-
-            # Patch VoiceEncoder
-            _ve = model.ve
-            _orig_ve_forward = _ve.forward.__func__
-
-            def _f32_ve_forward(self_ve, mels):
-                return _orig_ve_forward(self_ve, mels.float())
-
-            _ve.forward = types.MethodType(_f32_ve_forward, _ve)
-
-            # All patches applied successfully — publish the model
+            patch_chatterbox_f32(model)
             self.model = model
 
-            logger.info("Chatterbox Multilingual TTS loaded successfully")
-
-        except ImportError as e:
-            logger.error(
-                "chatterbox-tts package not found. "
-                "Install with: pip install chatterbox-tts"
-            )
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-                task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Failed to load Chatterbox: {e}")
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-                task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
+        logger.info("Chatterbox Multilingual TTS loaded successfully")
 
     def unload_model(self) -> None:
         """Unload model to free memory."""
@@ -267,17 +147,7 @@ class ChatterboxTTSBackend:
         audio_paths: List[str],
         reference_texts: List[str],
     ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
-        """Combine multiple reference samples."""
-        combined_audio = []
-        for path in audio_paths:
-            audio, _sr = load_audio(path)
-            audio = normalize_audio(audio)
-            combined_audio.append(audio)
-
-        mixed = np.concatenate(combined_audio)
-        mixed = normalize_audio(mixed)
-        combined_text = " ".join(reference_texts)
-        return mixed, combined_text
+        return await _combine_voice_prompts(audio_paths, reference_texts)
 
     # Per-language generation defaults. Lower temp + higher cfg = clearer speech.
     _LANG_DEFAULTS: ClassVar[dict] = {

backend/backends/chatterbox_turbo_backend.py

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ Forces CPU on macOS due to known MPS tensor issues.
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
-import platform
 import threading
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import ClassVar, List, Optional, Tuple
@@ -16,9 +15,13 @@ from typing import ClassVar, List, Optional, Tuple
 import numpy as np
 
 from . import TTSBackend
-from ..utils.audio import normalize_audio, load_audio
-from ..utils.progress import get_progress_manager
-from ..utils.tasks import get_task_manager
+from .base import (
+    is_model_cached,
+    get_torch_device,
+    combine_voice_prompts as _combine_voice_prompts,
+    model_load_progress,
+    patch_chatterbox_f32,
+)
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -45,17 +48,7 @@ class ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend:
         self._model_load_lock = asyncio.Lock()
 
     def _get_device(self) -> str:
-        """Get the best available device. Forces CPU on macOS (MPS issue)."""
-        if platform.system() == "Darwin":
-            return "cpu"
-        try:
-            import torch
-
-            if torch.cuda.is_available():
-                return "cuda"
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        return "cpu"
+        return get_torch_device(force_cpu_on_mac=True)
 
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         return self.model is not None
@@ -64,33 +57,7 @@ class ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend:
         return CHATTERBOX_TURBO_HF_REPO
 
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str = "default") -> bool:
-        """Check if the Chatterbox Turbo model is cached locally."""
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-
-            repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / (
-                "models--" + CHATTERBOX_TURBO_HF_REPO.replace("/", "--")
-            )
-
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                return False
-
-            # Check for turbo weight files
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                for fname in _TURBO_WEIGHT_FILES:
-                    if not any(snapshots_dir.rglob(fname)):
-                        return False
-                return True
-
-            return False
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Error checking Chatterbox Turbo cache: {e}")
-            return False
+        return is_model_cached(CHATTERBOX_TURBO_HF_REPO, required_files=_TURBO_WEIGHT_FILES)
 
     async def load_model(self, model_size: str = "default") -> None:
         """Load the Chatterbox Turbo model."""
@@ -103,59 +70,24 @@ class ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend:
 
     def _load_model_sync(self):
         """Synchronous model loading."""
-        from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker, create_hf_progress_callback
-
-        progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-        task_manager = get_task_manager()
         model_name = "chatterbox-turbo"
-
         is_cached = self._is_model_cached()
 
-        # Set up HF progress tracking (intercepts tqdm for file-level progress)
-        progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(model_name, progress_manager)
-        tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-        tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-        tracker_context.__enter__()
-
-        if not is_cached:
-            task_manager.start_download(model_name)
-            progress_manager.update_progress(
-                model_name=model_name,
-                current=0,
-                total=0,
-                filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                status="downloading",
-            )
-
-        try:
+        with model_load_progress(model_name, is_cached):
             device = self._get_device()
             self._device = device
-
             logger.info(f"Loading Chatterbox Turbo TTS on {device}...")
 
             import torch
             from huggingface_hub import snapshot_download
             from chatterbox.tts_turbo import ChatterboxTurboTTS
 
-            # Download model files ourselves so we can pass token=None
-            # (upstream from_pretrained passes token=True which requires
-            # a stored HF token even though the repo is public).
-            try:
-                local_path = snapshot_download(
-                    repo_id=CHATTERBOX_TURBO_HF_REPO,
-                    token=None,
-                    allow_patterns=[
-                        "*.safetensors", "*.json", "*.txt", "*.pt", "*.model",
-                    ],
-                )
-            finally:
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
+            local_path = snapshot_download(
+                repo_id=CHATTERBOX_TURBO_HF_REPO,
+                token=None,
+                allow_patterns=["*.safetensors", "*.json", "*.txt", "*.pt", "*.model"],
+            )
 
-            # Monkey-patch torch.load for CPU loading. The model's .pt files
-            # were saved on CUDA; from_local() doesn't pass map_location
-            # so loading on CPU fails without this.
-            # Load into a local var, apply patches, then publish to
-            # self.model so a failed patch doesn't leave us half-initialised.
             if device == "cpu":
                 _orig_torch_load = torch.load
 
@@ -166,73 +98,16 @@ class ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend:
                 with ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend._load_lock:
                     torch.load = _patched_load
                     try:
-                        model = ChatterboxTurboTTS.from_local(
-                            local_path, device,
-                        )
+                        model = ChatterboxTurboTTS.from_local(local_path, device)
                     finally:
                         torch.load = _orig_torch_load
             else:
-                model = ChatterboxTurboTTS.from_local(
-                    local_path, device,
-                )
+                model = ChatterboxTurboTTS.from_local(local_path, device)
 
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(model_name)
-
-            # Patch float64 → float32 dtype mismatches in upstream chatterbox.
-            # librosa.load returns float64 numpy; multiple upstream code paths
-            # convert it to a torch tensor via torch.from_numpy() without
-            # casting, then matmul it against float32 model weights.
-            # We patch the two known entry points:
-            #
-            # 1. S3Tokenizer.log_mel_spectrogram — the audio tensor from
-            #    librosa hits _mel_filters (float32) in a matmul.
-            # 2. VoiceEncoder.forward — float64 mel spectrograms hit the
-            #    float32 LSTM weights.
-            import types
-
-            # Patch S3Tokenizer (used by s3gen.tokenizer)
-            _tokzr = model.s3gen.tokenizer
-            _orig_log_mel = _tokzr.log_mel_spectrogram.__func__
-
-            def _f32_log_mel(self_tokzr, audio, padding=0):
-                import torch as _torch
-                if _torch.is_tensor(audio):
-                    audio = audio.float()
-                return _orig_log_mel(self_tokzr, audio, padding)
-
-            _tokzr.log_mel_spectrogram = types.MethodType(_f32_log_mel, _tokzr)
-
-            # Patch VoiceEncoder
-            _ve = model.ve
-            _orig_ve_forward = _ve.forward.__func__
-
-            def _f32_ve_forward(self_ve, mels):
-                return _orig_ve_forward(self_ve, mels.float())
-
-            _ve.forward = types.MethodType(_f32_ve_forward, _ve)
-
-            # Only publish after all patches succeed
+            patch_chatterbox_f32(model)
             self.model = model
 
-            logger.info("Chatterbox Turbo TTS loaded successfully")
-
-        except ImportError as e:
-            logger.error(
-                "chatterbox-tts package not found. "
-                "Install with: pip install chatterbox-tts"
-            )
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-                task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Failed to load Chatterbox Turbo: {e}")
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-                task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
+        logger.info("Chatterbox Turbo TTS loaded successfully")
 
     def unload_model(self) -> None:
         """Unload model to free memory."""
@@ -270,17 +145,7 @@ class ChatterboxTurboTTSBackend:
         audio_paths: List[str],
         reference_texts: List[str],
     ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
-        """Combine multiple reference samples."""
-        combined_audio = []
-        for path in audio_paths:
-            audio, _sr = load_audio(path)
-            audio = normalize_audio(audio)
-            combined_audio.append(audio)
-
-        mixed = np.concatenate(combined_audio)
-        mixed = normalize_audio(mixed)
-        combined_text = " ".join(reference_texts)
-        return mixed, combined_text
+        return await _combine_voice_prompts(audio_paths, reference_texts)
 
     async def generate(
         self,

backend/backends/luxtts_backend.py

@@ -7,16 +7,13 @@ Wraps the LuxTTS (ZipVoice) model for zero-shot voice cloning.
 
 import asyncio
 import logging
-from pathlib import Path
-from typing import List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import Optional, Tuple
 
 import numpy as np
 
 from . import TTSBackend
-from ..utils.audio import normalize_audio, load_audio
+from .base import is_model_cached, get_torch_device, combine_voice_prompts as _combine_voice_prompts, model_load_progress
 from ..utils.cache import get_cache_key, get_cached_voice_prompt, cache_voice_prompt
-from ..utils.progress import get_progress_manager
-from ..utils.tasks import get_task_manager
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -33,14 +30,7 @@ class LuxTTSBackend:
         self._device = None
 
     def _get_device(self) -> str:
-        """Get the best available device."""
-        import torch
-
-        if torch.cuda.is_available():
-            return "cuda"
-        if hasattr(torch.backends, "mps") and torch.backends.mps.is_available():
-            return "mps"
-        return "cpu"
+        return get_torch_device(allow_mps=True)
 
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         return self.model is not None
@@ -55,35 +45,10 @@ class LuxTTSBackend:
         return LUXTTS_HF_REPO
 
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str = "default") -> bool:
-        """Check if LuxTTS model weights are cached locally."""
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-
-            repo_cache = (
-                Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE)
-                / ("models--" + LUXTTS_HF_REPO.replace("/", "--"))
-            )
-
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                return False
-
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                has_weights = any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.pt")) or any(
-                    snapshots_dir.rglob("*.safetensors")
-                ) or any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.onnx")) or any(
-                    snapshots_dir.rglob("*.bin")
-                )
-                return has_weights
-
-            return False
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Error checking LuxTTS cache: {e}")
-            return False
+        return is_model_cached(
+            LUXTTS_HF_REPO,
+            weight_extensions=(".pt", ".safetensors", ".onnx", ".bin"),
+        )
 
     async def load_model(self, model_size: str = "default") -> None:
         """Load the LuxTTS model."""
@@ -93,67 +58,25 @@ class LuxTTSBackend:
         await asyncio.to_thread(self._load_model_sync)
 
     def _load_model_sync(self):
-        """Synchronous model loading."""
-        from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker, create_hf_progress_callback
-
-        progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-        task_manager = get_task_manager()
         model_name = "luxtts"
-
         is_cached = self._is_model_cached()
 
-        # Set up HF progress tracking (intercepts tqdm for file-level progress)
-        progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(model_name, progress_manager)
-        tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-        tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-        tracker_context.__enter__()
-
-        if not is_cached:
-            task_manager.start_download(model_name)
-            progress_manager.update_progress(
-                model_name=model_name,
-                current=0,
-                total=0,
-                filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                status="downloading",
-            )
-
-        try:
+        with model_load_progress(model_name, is_cached):
             from zipvoice.luxvoice import LuxTTS
 
             device = self.device
             logger.info(f"Loading LuxTTS on {device}...")
 
-            # LuxTTS constructor downloads model and loads everything
-            try:
-                if device == "cpu":
-                    import os
-                    threads = os.cpu_count() or 4
-                    self.model = LuxTTS(
-                        model_path=LUXTTS_HF_REPO,
-                        device="cpu",
-                        threads=min(threads, 8),
-                    )
-                else:
-                    self.model = LuxTTS(
-                        model_path=LUXTTS_HF_REPO,
-                        device=device,
-                    )
-            finally:
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
+            if device == "cpu":
+                import os
+                threads = os.cpu_count() or 4
+                self.model = LuxTTS(
+                    model_path=LUXTTS_HF_REPO, device="cpu", threads=min(threads, 8),
+                )
+            else:
+                self.model = LuxTTS(model_path=LUXTTS_HF_REPO, device=device)
 
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(model_name)
-
-            logger.info("LuxTTS loaded successfully")
-
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Failed to load LuxTTS: {e}")
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-                task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
+        logger.info("LuxTTS loaded successfully")
 
     def unload_model(self) -> None:
         """Unload model to free memory."""
@@ -204,28 +127,8 @@ class LuxTTSBackend:
 
         return encoded, False
 
-    async def combine_voice_prompts(
-        self,
-        audio_paths: List[str],
-        reference_texts: List[str],
-    ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
-        """
-        Combine multiple reference samples.
-
-        LuxTTS doesn't have native multi-prompt support, so we concatenate
-        the audio and let encode_prompt handle the combined clip.
-        """
-        combined_audio = []
-        for path in audio_paths:
-            audio, _sr = load_audio(path, sample_rate=24000)
-            audio = normalize_audio(audio)
-            combined_audio.append(audio)
-
-        mixed = np.concatenate(combined_audio)
-        mixed = normalize_audio(mixed)
-        combined_text = " ".join(reference_texts)
-
-        return mixed, combined_text
+    async def combine_voice_prompts(self, audio_paths, reference_texts):
+        return await _combine_voice_prompts(audio_paths, reference_texts, sample_rate=24000)
 
     async def generate(
         self,

backend/backends/mlx_backend.py

@@ -4,49 +4,44 @@ MLX backend implementation for TTS and STT using mlx-audio.
 
 from typing import Optional, List, Tuple
 import asyncio
+import logging
 import numpy as np
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 # PATCH: Import and apply offline patch BEFORE any huggingface_hub usage
 # This prevents mlx_audio from making network requests when models are cached
 from ..utils.hf_offline_patch import patch_huggingface_hub_offline, ensure_original_qwen_config_cached
+
 patch_huggingface_hub_offline()
 ensure_original_qwen_config_cached()
 
-from . import TTSBackend, STTBackend
+from . import TTSBackend, STTBackend, LANGUAGE_CODE_TO_NAME, WHISPER_HF_REPOS
+from .base import is_model_cached, combine_voice_prompts as _combine_voice_prompts, model_load_progress
 from ..utils.cache import get_cache_key, get_cached_voice_prompt, cache_voice_prompt
-from ..utils.audio import normalize_audio, load_audio
-from ..utils.progress import get_progress_manager
-from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker, create_hf_progress_callback
-from ..utils.tasks import get_task_manager
-
-LANGUAGE_CODE_TO_NAME = {
-    "zh": "chinese", "en": "english", "ja": "japanese", "ko": "korean",
-    "de": "german", "fr": "french", "ru": "russian", "pt": "portuguese",
-    "es": "spanish", "it": "italian",
-}
 
 
 class MLXTTSBackend:
     """MLX-based TTS backend using mlx-audio."""
-    
+
     def __init__(self, model_size: str = "1.7B"):
         self.model = None
         self.model_size = model_size
         self._current_model_size = None
-    
+
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         """Check if model is loaded."""
         return self.model is not None
-    
+
     def _get_model_path(self, model_size: str) -> str:
         """
         Get the MLX model path.
-        
+
         Args:
             model_size: Model size (1.7B or 0.6B)
-            
+
         Returns:
             HuggingFace Hub model ID for MLX
         """
@@ -56,187 +51,90 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
             # 0.6B not yet converted to MLX format
             "0.6B": "mlx-community/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base-bf16",  # Fallback to 1.7B
         }
-        
+
         if model_size not in mlx_model_map:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown model size: {model_size}")
-        
+
         hf_model_id = mlx_model_map[model_size]
-        print(f"Will download MLX model from HuggingFace Hub: {hf_model_id}")
-        
+        logger.info("Will download MLX model from HuggingFace Hub: %s", hf_model_id)
+
         return hf_model_id
-    
+
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str) -> bool:
-        """
-        Check if the model is already cached locally AND fully downloaded.
-        
-        Args:
-            model_size: Model size to check
-            
-        Returns:
-            True if model is fully cached, False if missing or incomplete
-        """
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-            model_path = self._get_model_path(model_size)
-            repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / ("models--" + model_path.replace("/", "--"))
-            
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-            
-            # Check for .incomplete files - if any exist, download is still in progress
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                print(f"[_is_model_cached] Found .incomplete files for {model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                return False
-            
-            # Check that actual model weight files exist in snapshots
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                has_weights = (
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.safetensors")) or
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.bin")) or
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.npz"))
-                )
-                if not has_weights:
-                    print(f"[_is_model_cached] No model weights found for {model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                    return False
-            
-            return True
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[_is_model_cached] Error checking cache for {model_size}: {e}")
-            return False
-    
+        return is_model_cached(
+            self._get_model_path(model_size),
+            weight_extensions=(".safetensors", ".bin", ".npz"),
+        )
+
     async def load_model_async(self, model_size: Optional[str] = None):
         """
         Lazy load the MLX TTS model.
-        
+
         Args:
             model_size: Model size to load (1.7B or 0.6B)
         """
         if model_size is None:
             model_size = self.model_size
-            
+
         # If already loaded with correct size, return
         if self.model is not None and self._current_model_size == model_size:
             return
-        
+
         # Unload existing model if different size requested
         if self.model is not None and self._current_model_size != model_size:
             self.unload_model()
-        
+
         # Run blocking load in thread pool
         await asyncio.to_thread(self._load_model_sync, model_size)
-    
+
     # Alias for compatibility
     load_model = load_model_async
-    
+
     def _load_model_sync(self, model_size: str):
         """Synchronous model loading."""
+        model_path = self._get_model_path(model_size)
+        model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
+        is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
+
+        # Force offline mode when cached to avoid network requests
+        original_hf_hub_offline = os.environ.get("HF_HUB_OFFLINE")
+        if is_cached:
+            os.environ["HF_HUB_OFFLINE"] = "1"
+            logger.info("[PATCH] Model %s is cached, forcing HF_HUB_OFFLINE=1 to avoid network requests", model_size)
+
         try:
-            # Get model path BEFORE importing mlx_audio
-            model_path = self._get_model_path(model_size)
-            
-            # Set up progress tracking
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
-            
-            # Check if model is already cached
-            is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
-            
-            # Set up progress callback
-            # If cached: filter out non-download progress
-            # If not cached: report all progress (we're actually downloading)
-            progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(model_name, progress_manager)
-            tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-            
-            print(f"Loading MLX TTS model {model_size}...")
-            
-            # Only track download progress if model is NOT cached
-            if not is_cached:
-                # Start tracking download task
-                task_manager.start_download(model_name)
-                
-                # Initialize progress state so SSE endpoint has initial data to send
-                # This provides immediate feedback while HuggingFace fetches metadata
-                progress_manager.update_progress(
-                    model_name=model_name,
-                    current=0,
-                    total=0,  # Will be updated once actual total is known
-                    filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                    status="downloading",
-                )
-            
-            # IMPORTANT: Patch tqdm BEFORE importing mlx_audio
-            # Otherwise mlx_audio caches reference to original tqdm
-            tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-            tracker_context.__enter__()
-            
-            # PATCH: Force offline mode when model is already cached
-            # This prevents crashes when HuggingFace is unreachable
-            original_hf_hub_offline = os.environ.get("HF_HUB_OFFLINE")
-            if is_cached:
-                os.environ["HF_HUB_OFFLINE"] = "1"
-                print(f"[PATCH] Model {model_size} is cached, forcing HF_HUB_OFFLINE=1 to avoid network requests")
-            
-            # Import mlx_audio AFTER patching tqdm
-            from mlx_audio.tts import load
-            
-            # Load MLX model (downloads automatically)
-            try:
-                self.model = load(model_path)
-            except Exception as load_error:
-                # If offline mode failed, try with network enabled as fallback
-                if is_cached and "offline" in str(load_error).lower():
-                    print(f"[PATCH] Offline load failed, trying with network: {load_error}")
-                    os.environ.pop("HF_HUB_OFFLINE", None)
+            with model_load_progress(model_name, is_cached):
+                from mlx_audio.tts import load
+
+                logger.info("Loading MLX TTS model %s...", model_size)
+
+                try:
                     self.model = load(model_path)
-                else:
-                    raise
-            finally:
-                # Exit the patch context
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
-                # Restore original HF_HUB_OFFLINE setting
-                if original_hf_hub_offline is not None:
-                    os.environ["HF_HUB_OFFLINE"] = original_hf_hub_offline
-                else:
-                    os.environ.pop("HF_HUB_OFFLINE", None)
-            
-            # Only mark download as complete if we were tracking it
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(model_name)
-            
-            self._current_model_size = model_size
-            self.model_size = model_size
-            
-            print(f"MLX TTS model {model_size} loaded successfully")
-            
-        except ImportError as e:
-            print(f"Error: mlx_audio package not found. Install with: pip install mlx-audio")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Error loading MLX TTS model: {e}")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-    
+                except Exception as load_error:
+                    if is_cached and "offline" in str(load_error).lower():
+                        logger.warning("[PATCH] Offline load failed, trying with network: %s", load_error)
+                        os.environ.pop("HF_HUB_OFFLINE", None)
+                        self.model = load(model_path)
+                    else:
+                        raise
+        finally:
+            if original_hf_hub_offline is not None:
+                os.environ["HF_HUB_OFFLINE"] = original_hf_hub_offline
+            else:
+                os.environ.pop("HF_HUB_OFFLINE", None)
+
+        self._current_model_size = model_size
+        self.model_size = model_size
+        logger.info("MLX TTS model %s loaded successfully", model_size)
+
     def unload_model(self):
         """Unload the model to free memory."""
         if self.model is not None:
             del self.model
             self.model = None
             self._current_model_size = None
-            print("MLX TTS model unloaded")
-    
+            logger.info("MLX TTS model unloaded")
+
     async def create_voice_prompt(
         self,
         audio_path: str,
@@ -245,20 +143,20 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
     ) -> Tuple[dict, bool]:
         """
         Create voice prompt from reference audio.
-        
+
         MLX backend stores voice prompt as a dict with audio path and text.
         The actual voice prompt processing happens during generation.
-        
+
         Args:
             audio_path: Path to reference audio file
             reference_text: Transcript of reference audio
             use_cache: Whether to use cached prompt if available
-            
+
         Returns:
             Tuple of (voice_prompt_dict, was_cached)
         """
         await self.load_model_async(None)
-        
+
         # Check cache if enabled
         if use_cache:
             cache_key = get_cache_key(audio_path, reference_text)
@@ -272,53 +170,25 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
                         return cached_prompt, True
                     else:
                         # Cached file no longer exists, invalidate cache
-                        print(f"Cached audio file not found: {cached_audio_path}, regenerating prompt")
-        
+                        logger.warning("Cached audio file not found: %s, regenerating prompt", cached_audio_path)
+
         # MLX voice prompt format - store audio path and text
         # The model will process this during generation
         voice_prompt_items = {
             "ref_audio": str(audio_path),
             "ref_text": reference_text,
         }
-        
+
         # Cache if enabled
         if use_cache:
             cache_key = get_cache_key(audio_path, reference_text)
             cache_voice_prompt(cache_key, voice_prompt_items)
-        
+
         return voice_prompt_items, False
-    
-    async def combine_voice_prompts(
-        self,
-        audio_paths: List[str],
-        reference_texts: List[str],
-    ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
-        """
-        Combine multiple reference samples for better quality.
-        
-        Args:
-            audio_paths: List of audio file paths
-            reference_texts: List of reference texts
-            
-        Returns:
-            Tuple of (combined_audio, combined_text)
-        """
-        combined_audio = []
-        
-        for audio_path in audio_paths:
-            audio, sr = load_audio(audio_path)
-            audio = normalize_audio(audio)
-            combined_audio.append(audio)
-        
-        # Concatenate audio
-        mixed = np.concatenate(combined_audio)
-        mixed = normalize_audio(mixed)
-        
-        # Combine texts
-        combined_text = " ".join(reference_texts)
-        
-        return mixed, combined_text
-    
+
+    async def combine_voice_prompts(self, audio_paths, reference_texts):
+        return await _combine_voice_prompts(audio_paths, reference_texts)
+
     async def generate(
         self,
         text: str,
@@ -342,7 +212,7 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
         """
         await self.load_model_async(None)
 
-        print(f"Generating audio for text: {text}")
+        logger.info("Generating audio for text: %s", text)
 
         def _generate_sync():
             """Run synchronous generation in thread pool."""
@@ -354,20 +224,21 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
             # Set seed if provided (MLX uses numpy random)
             if seed is not None:
                 import mlx.core as mx
+
                 np.random.seed(seed)
                 mx.random.seed(seed)
-            
+
             # Extract voice prompt info
             ref_audio = voice_prompt.get("ref_audio") or voice_prompt.get("ref_audio_path")
             ref_text = voice_prompt.get("ref_text", "")
-            
+
             # Validate that the audio file exists
             if ref_audio and not Path(ref_audio).exists():
-                print(f"Warning: Audio file not found: {ref_audio}")
-                print("This may be due to a cached voice prompt referencing a deleted temp file.")
-                print("Regenerating without voice prompt.")
+                logger.warning("Audio file not found: %s", ref_audio)
+                logger.warning("This may be due to a cached voice prompt referencing a deleted temp file.")
+                logger.warning("Regenerating without voice prompt.")
                 ref_audio = None
-            
+
             # Check if model supports voice cloning via generate method
             # MLX API may support ref_audio parameter directly
             try:
@@ -375,6 +246,7 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
                 if ref_audio:
                     # Check if generate accepts ref_audio parameter
                     import inspect
+
                     sig = inspect.signature(self.model.generate)
                     if "ref_audio" in sig.parameters:
                         # Generate with voice cloning
@@ -393,18 +265,18 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
                         sample_rate = result.sample_rate
             except Exception as e:
                 # If voice cloning fails, try without it
-                print(f"Warning: Voice cloning failed, generating without voice prompt: {e}")
+                logger.warning("Voice cloning failed, generating without voice prompt: %s", e)
                 for result in self.model.generate(text, lang_code=lang):
                     audio_chunks.append(np.array(result.audio))
                     sample_rate = result.sample_rate
-            
+
             # Concatenate all chunks
             if audio_chunks:
                 audio = np.concatenate([np.asarray(chunk, dtype=np.float32) for chunk in audio_chunks])
             else:
                 # Fallback: empty audio
                 audio = np.array([], dtype=np.float32)
-            
+
             return audio, sample_rate
 
         # Run blocking inference in thread pool
@@ -413,183 +285,80 @@ class MLXTTSBackend:
         return audio, sample_rate
 
 
-WHISPER_HF_REPOS = {
-    "base": "openai/whisper-base",
-    "small": "openai/whisper-small",
-    "medium": "openai/whisper-medium",
-    "large": "openai/whisper-large-v3",
-}
-
-
 class MLXSTTBackend:
     """MLX-based STT backend using mlx-audio Whisper."""
 
     def __init__(self, model_size: str = "base"):
         self.model = None
         self.model_size = model_size
-    
+
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         """Check if model is loaded."""
         return self.model is not None
-    
+
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str) -> bool:
-        """
-        Check if the Whisper model is already cached locally AND fully downloaded.
-        
-        Args:
-            model_size: Model size to check
-            
-        Returns:
-            True if model is fully cached, False if missing or incomplete
-        """
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-            hf_repo = WHISPER_HF_REPOS.get(model_size, f"openai/whisper-{model_size}")
-            repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / ("models--" + hf_repo.replace("/", "--"))
-            
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-            
-            # Check for .incomplete files - if any exist, download is still in progress
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                print(f"[_is_model_cached] Found .incomplete files for whisper-{model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                return False
-            
-            # Check that actual model weight files exist in snapshots
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                has_weights = (
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.safetensors")) or
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.bin")) or
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.npz"))
-                )
-                if not has_weights:
-                    print(f"[_is_model_cached] No model weights found for whisper-{model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                    return False
-            
-            return True
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[_is_model_cached] Error checking cache for whisper-{model_size}: {e}")
-            return False
-    
+        hf_repo = WHISPER_HF_REPOS.get(model_size, f"openai/whisper-{model_size}")
+        return is_model_cached(hf_repo, weight_extensions=(".safetensors", ".bin", ".npz"))
+
     async def load_model_async(self, model_size: Optional[str] = None):
         """
         Lazy load the MLX Whisper model.
-        
+
         Args:
             model_size: Model size (tiny, base, small, medium, large)
         """
         if model_size is None:
             model_size = self.model_size
-        
+
         if self.model is not None and self.model_size == model_size:
             return
-        
+
         # Run blocking load in thread pool
         await asyncio.to_thread(self._load_model_sync, model_size)
-    
+
     # Alias for compatibility
     load_model = load_model_async
-    
+
     def _load_model_sync(self, model_size: str):
         """Synchronous model loading."""
-        try:
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
+        progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
+        is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
 
-            # Check if model is already cached
-            is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
-
-            # Set up progress callback and tracker
-            # If cached: filter out non-download progress
-            # If not cached: report all progress (we're actually downloading)
-            progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(progress_model_name, progress_manager)
-            tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-
-            # Patch tqdm BEFORE importing mlx_audio
-            tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-            tracker_context.__enter__()
-
-            # Import mlx_audio
+        with model_load_progress(progress_model_name, is_cached):
             from mlx_audio.stt import load
 
-            # MLX Whisper uses the standard OpenAI models
             model_name = WHISPER_HF_REPOS.get(model_size, f"openai/whisper-{model_size}")
+            logger.info("Loading MLX Whisper model %s...", model_size)
+            self.model = load(model_name)
 
-            print(f"Loading MLX Whisper model {model_size}...")
+        self.model_size = model_size
+        logger.info("MLX Whisper model %s loaded successfully", model_size)
 
-            # Only track download progress if model is NOT cached
-            if not is_cached:
-                # Start tracking download task
-                task_manager.start_download(progress_model_name)
-                
-                # Initialize progress state so SSE endpoint has initial data to send
-                progress_manager.update_progress(
-                    model_name=progress_model_name,
-                    current=0,
-                    total=0,
-                    filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                    status="downloading",
-                )
-
-            # Load the model (tqdm is patched, but filters out non-download progress)
-            try:
-                self.model = load(model_name)
-            finally:
-                # Exit the patch context
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
-            
-            # Only mark download as complete if we were tracking it
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(progress_model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(progress_model_name)
-            
-            self.model_size = model_size
-            
-            print(f"MLX Whisper model {model_size} loaded successfully")
-            
-        except ImportError as e:
-            print(f"Error: mlx_audio package not found. Install with: pip install mlx-audio")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(progress_model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(progress_model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Error loading MLX Whisper model: {e}")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(progress_model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(progress_model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-    
     def unload_model(self):
         """Unload the model to free memory."""
         if self.model is not None:
             del self.model
             self.model = None
-            print("MLX Whisper model unloaded")
-    
+            logger.info("MLX Whisper model unloaded")
+
     async def transcribe(
         self,
         audio_path: str,
         language: Optional[str] = None,
+        model_size: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> str:
         """
         Transcribe audio to text.
 
         Args:
             audio_path: Path to audio file
-            language: Optional language hint (en or zh)
+            language: Optional language hint
+            model_size: Optional model size override
 
         Returns:
             Transcribed text
         """
-        await self.load_model_async(None)
+        await self.load_model_async(model_size)
 
         def _transcribe_sync():
             """Run synchronous transcription in thread pool."""

backend/backends/pytorch_backend.py

@@ -4,67 +4,47 @@ PyTorch backend implementation for TTS and STT.
 
 from typing import Optional, List, Tuple
 import asyncio
+import logging
 import torch
 import numpy as np
-from pathlib import Path
 
-from . import TTSBackend, STTBackend
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+from . import TTSBackend, STTBackend, LANGUAGE_CODE_TO_NAME, WHISPER_HF_REPOS
+from .base import (
+    is_model_cached,
+    get_torch_device,
+    combine_voice_prompts as _combine_voice_prompts,
+    model_load_progress,
+)
 from ..utils.cache import get_cache_key, get_cached_voice_prompt, cache_voice_prompt
-from ..utils.audio import normalize_audio, load_audio
-from ..utils.progress import get_progress_manager
-from ..utils.hf_progress import HFProgressTracker, create_hf_progress_callback
-from ..utils.tasks import get_task_manager
-
-LANGUAGE_CODE_TO_NAME = {
-    "zh": "chinese", "en": "english", "ja": "japanese", "ko": "korean",
-    "de": "german", "fr": "french", "ru": "russian", "pt": "portuguese",
-    "es": "spanish", "it": "italian",
-}
+from ..utils.audio import load_audio
 
 
 class PyTorchTTSBackend:
     """PyTorch-based TTS backend using Qwen3-TTS."""
-    
+
     def __init__(self, model_size: str = "1.7B"):
         self.model = None
         self.model_size = model_size
         self.device = self._get_device()
         self._current_model_size = None
-    
+
     def _get_device(self) -> str:
         """Get the best available device."""
-        if torch.cuda.is_available():
-            return "cuda"
-        # Intel Arc / Intel Xe GPU via intel-extension-for-pytorch (IPEX)
-        try:
-            import intel_extension_for_pytorch  # noqa: F401
-            if hasattr(torch, 'xpu') and torch.xpu.is_available():
-                return "xpu"
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        # Any GPU on Windows via DirectML (torch-directml)
-        try:
-            import torch_directml
-            if torch_directml.device_count() > 0:
-                return torch_directml.device(0)
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        # MPS (Apple Silicon) — kept for completeness but MLX backend is preferred
-        if hasattr(torch.backends, 'mps') and torch.backends.mps.is_available():
-            return "cpu"  # MPS disabled for stability; MLX backend handles Apple Silicon
-        return "cpu"
-    
+        return get_torch_device(allow_xpu=True, allow_directml=True)
+
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         """Check if model is loaded."""
         return self.model is not None
-    
+
     def _get_model_path(self, model_size: str) -> str:
         """
         Get the HuggingFace Hub model ID.
-        
+
         Args:
             model_size: Model size (1.7B or 0.6B)
-            
+
         Returns:
             HuggingFace Hub model ID
         """
@@ -72,179 +52,79 @@ class PyTorchTTSBackend:
             "1.7B": "Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-1.7B-Base",
             "0.6B": "Qwen/Qwen3-TTS-12Hz-0.6B-Base",
         }
-        
+
         if model_size not in hf_model_map:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown model size: {model_size}")
-        
+
         return hf_model_map[model_size]
-    
+
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str) -> bool:
-        """
-        Check if the model is already cached locally AND fully downloaded.
-        
-        Args:
-            model_size: Model size to check
-            
-        Returns:
-            True if model is fully cached, False if missing or incomplete
-        """
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-            model_path = self._get_model_path(model_size)
-            repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / ("models--" + model_path.replace("/", "--"))
-            
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-            
-            # Check for .incomplete files - if any exist, download is still in progress
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                print(f"[_is_model_cached] Found .incomplete files for {model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                return False
-            
-            # Check that actual model weight files exist in snapshots
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                has_weights = (
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.safetensors")) or
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.bin"))
-                )
-                if not has_weights:
-                    print(f"[_is_model_cached] No model weights found for {model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                    return False
-            
-            return True
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[_is_model_cached] Error checking cache for {model_size}: {e}")
-            return False
-    
+        return is_model_cached(self._get_model_path(model_size))
+
     async def load_model_async(self, model_size: Optional[str] = None):
         """
         Lazy load the TTS model with automatic downloading from HuggingFace Hub.
-        
+
         Args:
             model_size: Model size to load (1.7B or 0.6B)
         """
         if model_size is None:
             model_size = self.model_size
-            
+
         # If already loaded with correct size, return
         if self.model is not None and self._current_model_size == model_size:
             return
-        
+
         # Unload existing model if different size requested
         if self.model is not None and self._current_model_size != model_size:
             self.unload_model()
-        
+
         # Run blocking load in thread pool
         await asyncio.to_thread(self._load_model_sync, model_size)
-    
+
     # Alias for compatibility
     load_model = load_model_async
-    
+
     def _load_model_sync(self, model_size: str):
         """Synchronous model loading."""
-        try:
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
+        model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
+        is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
 
-            # Check if model is already cached
-            is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
-
-            # Set up progress callback and tracker
-            # If cached: filter out non-download progress (like "Segment 1/1" during generation)
-            # If not cached: report all progress (we're actually downloading)
-            progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(model_name, progress_manager)
-            tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-
-            # Patch tqdm BEFORE importing qwen_tts
-            tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-            tracker_context.__enter__()
-
-            # Import qwen_tts
+        with model_load_progress(model_name, is_cached):
             from qwen_tts import Qwen3TTSModel
 
-            # Get model path (local or HuggingFace Hub ID)
             model_path = self._get_model_path(model_size)
+            logger.info("Loading TTS model %s on %s...", model_size, self.device)
 
-            print(f"Loading TTS model {model_size} on {self.device}...")
-
-            # Only track download progress if model is NOT cached
-            if not is_cached:
-                # Start tracking download task
-                task_manager.start_download(model_name)
-
-                # Initialize progress state so SSE endpoint has initial data to send
-                progress_manager.update_progress(
-                    model_name=model_name,
-                    current=0,
-                    total=0,  # Will be updated once actual total is known
-                    filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                    status="downloading",
+            if self.device == "cpu":
+                self.model = Qwen3TTSModel.from_pretrained(
+                    model_path,
+                    torch_dtype=torch.float32,
+                    low_cpu_mem_usage=False,
+                )
+            else:
+                self.model = Qwen3TTSModel.from_pretrained(
+                    model_path,
+                    device_map=self.device,
+                    torch_dtype=torch.bfloat16,
                 )
 
-            # Load the model (tqdm is patched, but filters out non-download progress)
-            try:
-                # Don't pass device_map on CPU: accelerate's meta-tensor mechanism
-                # causes "Cannot copy out of meta tensor" when moving to CPU.
-                # Instead load directly then call .to(device) if needed.
-                if self.device == "cpu":
-                    self.model = Qwen3TTSModel.from_pretrained(
-                        model_path,
-                        torch_dtype=torch.float32,
-                        low_cpu_mem_usage=False,
-                    )
-                else:
-                    self.model = Qwen3TTSModel.from_pretrained(
-                        model_path,
-                        device_map=self.device,
-                        torch_dtype=torch.bfloat16,
-                    )
-            finally:
-                # Exit the patch context
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
-            
-            # Only mark download as complete if we were tracking it
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(model_name)
-            
-            self._current_model_size = model_size
-            self.model_size = model_size
-            
-            print(f"TTS model {model_size} loaded successfully")
-            
-        except ImportError as e:
-            print(f"Error: qwen_tts package not found. Install with: pip install git+https://github.com/QwenLM/Qwen3-TTS.git")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Error loading TTS model: {e}")
-            print(f"Tip: The model will be automatically downloaded from HuggingFace Hub on first use.")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            model_name = f"qwen-tts-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-    
+        self._current_model_size = model_size
+        self.model_size = model_size
+        logger.info("TTS model %s loaded successfully", model_size)
+
     def unload_model(self):
         """Unload the model to free memory."""
         if self.model is not None:
             del self.model
             self.model = None
             self._current_model_size = None
-            
+
             if torch.cuda.is_available():
                 torch.cuda.empty_cache()
-            
-            print("TTS model unloaded")
-    
+
+            logger.info("TTS model unloaded")
+
     async def create_voice_prompt(
         self,
         audio_path: str,
@@ -253,17 +133,17 @@ class PyTorchTTSBackend:
     ) -> Tuple[dict, bool]:
         """
         Create voice prompt from reference audio.
-        
+
         Args:
             audio_path: Path to reference audio file
             reference_text: Transcript of reference audio
             use_cache: Whether to use cached prompt if available
-            
+
         Returns:
             Tuple of (voice_prompt_dict, was_cached)
         """
         await self.load_model_async(None)
-        
+
         # Check cache if enabled
         if use_cache:
             cache_key = get_cache_key(audio_path, reference_text)
@@ -279,7 +159,7 @@ class PyTorchTTSBackend:
                     # Legacy cache format - convert to dict
                     # This shouldn't happen in practice, but handle it
                     return {"prompt": cached_prompt}, True
-        
+
         def _create_prompt_sync():
             """Run synchronous voice prompt creation in thread pool."""
             return self.model.create_voice_clone_prompt(
@@ -287,48 +167,24 @@ class PyTorchTTSBackend:
                 ref_text=reference_text,
                 x_vector_only_mode=False,
             )
-        
+
         # Run blocking operation in thread pool
         voice_prompt_items = await asyncio.to_thread(_create_prompt_sync)
-        
+
         # Cache if enabled
         if use_cache:
             cache_key = get_cache_key(audio_path, reference_text)
             cache_voice_prompt(cache_key, voice_prompt_items)
-        
+
         return voice_prompt_items, False
-    
+
     async def combine_voice_prompts(
         self,
         audio_paths: List[str],
         reference_texts: List[str],
     ) -> Tuple[np.ndarray, str]:
-        """
-        Combine multiple reference samples for better quality.
-        
-        Args:
-            audio_paths: List of audio file paths
-            reference_texts: List of reference texts
-            
-        Returns:
-            Tuple of (combined_audio, combined_text)
-        """
-        combined_audio = []
-        
-        for audio_path in audio_paths:
-            audio, sr = load_audio(audio_path)
-            audio = normalize_audio(audio)
-            combined_audio.append(audio)
-        
-        # Concatenate audio
-        mixed = np.concatenate(combined_audio)
-        mixed = normalize_audio(mixed)
-        
-        # Combine texts
-        combined_text = " ".join(reference_texts)
-        
-        return mixed, combined_text
-    
+        return await _combine_voice_prompts(audio_paths, reference_texts)
+
     async def generate(
         self,
         text: str,
@@ -376,15 +232,6 @@ class PyTorchTTSBackend:
         return audio, sample_rate
 
 
-WHISPER_HF_REPOS = {
-    "base": "openai/whisper-base",
-    "small": "openai/whisper-small",
-    "medium": "openai/whisper-medium",
-    "large": "openai/whisper-large-v3",
-    "turbo": "openai/whisper-large-v3-turbo",
-}
-
-
 class PyTorchSTTBackend:
     """PyTorch-based STT backend using Whisper."""
 
@@ -393,72 +240,18 @@ class PyTorchSTTBackend:
         self.processor = None
         self.model_size = model_size
         self.device = self._get_device()
-    
+
     def _get_device(self) -> str:
         """Get the best available device."""
-        if torch.cuda.is_available():
-            return "cuda"
-        # Intel Arc / Intel Xe GPU via intel-extension-for-pytorch (IPEX)
-        try:
-            import intel_extension_for_pytorch  # noqa: F401
-            if hasattr(torch, 'xpu') and torch.xpu.is_available():
-                return "xpu"
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        # Any GPU on Windows via DirectML (torch-directml)
-        try:
-            import torch_directml
-            if torch_directml.device_count() > 0:
-                return torch_directml.device(0)
-        except ImportError:
-            pass
-        if hasattr(torch.backends, 'mps') and torch.backends.mps.is_available():
-            return "cpu"  # MPS disabled for stability
-        return "cpu"
-    
+        return get_torch_device(allow_xpu=True, allow_directml=True)
+
     def is_loaded(self) -> bool:
         """Check if model is loaded."""
         return self.model is not None
-    
+
     def _is_model_cached(self, model_size: str) -> bool:
-        """
-        Check if the Whisper model is already cached locally AND fully downloaded.
-        
-        Args:
-            model_size: Model size to check
-            
-        Returns:
-            True if model is fully cached, False if missing or incomplete
-        """
-        try:
-            from huggingface_hub import constants as hf_constants
-            hf_repo = WHISPER_HF_REPOS.get(model_size, f"openai/whisper-{model_size}")
-            repo_cache = Path(hf_constants.HF_HUB_CACHE) / ("models--" + hf_repo.replace("/", "--"))
-
-            if not repo_cache.exists():
-                return False
-
-            # Check for .incomplete files - if any exist, download is still in progress
-            blobs_dir = repo_cache / "blobs"
-            if blobs_dir.exists() and any(blobs_dir.glob("*.incomplete")):
-                print(f"[_is_model_cached] Found .incomplete files for whisper-{model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                return False
-
-            # Check that actual model weight files exist in snapshots
-            snapshots_dir = repo_cache / "snapshots"
-            if snapshots_dir.exists():
-                has_weights = (
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.safetensors")) or
-                    any(snapshots_dir.rglob("*.bin"))
-                )
-                if not has_weights:
-                    print(f"[_is_model_cached] No model weights found for whisper-{model_size}, treating as not cached")
-                    return False
-
-            return True
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[_is_model_cached] Error checking cache for whisper-{model_size}: {e}")
-            return False
+        hf_repo = WHISPER_HF_REPOS.get(model_size, f"openai/whisper-{model_size}")
+        return is_model_cached(hf_repo)
 
     async def load_model_async(self, model_size: Optional[str] = None):
         """
@@ -467,95 +260,35 @@ class PyTorchSTTBackend:
         Args:
             model_size: Model size (tiny, base, small, medium, large)
         """
-        print(f"[DEBUG] load_model_async called with size: {model_size}")
         if model_size is None:
             model_size = self.model_size
 
-        print(f"[DEBUG] Model already loaded? {self.model is not None}, current size: {self.model_size}, requested: {model_size}")
         if self.model is not None and self.model_size == model_size:
-            print(f"[DEBUG] Early return - model already loaded")
             return
 
-        print(f"[DEBUG] Calling asyncio.to_thread for _load_model_sync")
-        # Run blocking load in thread pool
         await asyncio.to_thread(self._load_model_sync, model_size)
-        print(f"[DEBUG] asyncio.to_thread completed")
-    
+
     # Alias for compatibility
     load_model = load_model_async
-    
+
     def _load_model_sync(self, model_size: str):
         """Synchronous model loading."""
-        print(f"[DEBUG] _load_model_sync called for Whisper {model_size}")
-        try:
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
+        progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
+        is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
 
-            # Check if model is already cached
-            is_cached = self._is_model_cached(model_size)
-
-            # Set up progress callback and tracker
-            # If cached: filter out non-download progress
-            # If not cached: report all progress (we're actually downloading)
-            progress_callback = create_hf_progress_callback(progress_model_name, progress_manager)
-            tracker = HFProgressTracker(progress_callback, filter_non_downloads=is_cached)
-
-            # Patch tqdm BEFORE importing transformers
-            print("[DEBUG] Starting tqdm patch BEFORE transformers import")
-            tracker_context = tracker.patch_download()
-            tracker_context.__enter__()
-            print("[DEBUG] tqdm patched, now importing transformers")
-
-            # Import transformers
+        with model_load_progress(progress_model_name, is_cached):
             from transformers import WhisperProcessor, WhisperForConditionalGeneration
 
             model_name = WHISPER_HF_REPOS.get(model_size, f"openai/whisper-{model_size}")
-            print(f"[DEBUG] Model name: {model_name}")
+            logger.info("Loading Whisper model %s on %s...", model_size, self.device)
 
-            print(f"Loading Whisper model {model_size} on {self.device}...")
+            self.processor = WhisperProcessor.from_pretrained(model_name)
+            self.model = WhisperForConditionalGeneration.from_pretrained(model_name)
 
-            # Only track download progress if model is NOT cached
-            if not is_cached:
-                # Start tracking download task
-                task_manager.start_download(progress_model_name)
+        self.model.to(self.device)
+        self.model_size = model_size
+        logger.info("Whisper model %s loaded successfully", model_size)
 
-                # Initialize progress state so SSE endpoint has initial data to send
-                progress_manager.update_progress(
-                    model_name=progress_model_name,
-                    current=0,
-                    total=0,  # Will be updated once actual total is known
-                    filename="Connecting to HuggingFace...",
-                    status="downloading",
-                )
-
-            # Load models (tqdm is patched, but filters out non-download progress)
-            try:
-                self.processor = WhisperProcessor.from_pretrained(model_name)
-                self.model = WhisperForConditionalGeneration.from_pretrained(model_name)
-            finally:
-                # Exit the patch context
-                tracker_context.__exit__(None, None, None)
-            
-            # Only mark download as complete if we were tracking it
-            if not is_cached:
-                progress_manager.mark_complete(progress_model_name)
-                task_manager.complete_download(progress_model_name)
-            
-            self.model.to(self.device)
-            self.model_size = model_size
-            
-            print(f"Whisper model {model_size} loaded successfully")
-            
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"Error loading Whisper model: {e}")
-            progress_manager = get_progress_manager()
-            task_manager = get_task_manager()
-            progress_model_name = f"whisper-{model_size}"
-            progress_manager.mark_error(progress_model_name, str(e))
-            task_manager.error_download(progress_model_name, str(e))
-            raise
-    
     def unload_model(self):
         """Unload the model to free memory."""
         if self.model is not None:
@@ -563,34 +296,36 @@ class PyTorchSTTBackend:
             del self.processor
             self.model = None
             self.processor = None
-            
+
             if torch.cuda.is_available():
                 torch.cuda.empty_cache()
-            
-            print("Whisper model unloaded")
-    
+
+            logger.info("Whisper model unloaded")
+
     async def transcribe(
         self,
         audio_path: str,
         language: Optional[str] = None,
+        model_size: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> str:
         """
         Transcribe audio to text.
-        
+
         Args:
             audio_path: Path to audio file
-            language: Optional language hint (en or zh)
-            
+            language: Optional language hint
+            model_size: Optional model size override
+
         Returns:
             Transcribed text
         """
-        await self.load_model_async(None)
-        
+        await self.load_model_async(model_size)
+
         def _transcribe_sync():
             """Run synchronous transcription in thread pool."""
             # Load audio
             audio, sr = load_audio(audio_path, sample_rate=16000)
-            
+
             # Process audio
             inputs = self.processor(
                 audio,
@@ -598,7 +333,7 @@ class PyTorchSTTBackend:
                 return_tensors="pt",
             )
             inputs = inputs.to(self.device)
-            
+
             # Generate transcription
             # If language is provided, force it; otherwise let Whisper auto-detect
             generate_kwargs = {}
@@ -608,20 +343,20 @@ class PyTorchSTTBackend:
                     task="transcribe",
                 )
                 generate_kwargs["forced_decoder_ids"] = forced_decoder_ids
-            
+
             with torch.no_grad():
                 predicted_ids = self.model.generate(
                     inputs["input_features"],
                     **generate_kwargs,
                 )
-            
+
             # Decode
             transcription = self.processor.batch_decode(
                 predicted_ids,
                 skip_special_tokens=True,
             )[0]
-            
+
             return transcription.strip()
-        
+
         # Run blocking transcription in thread pool
         return await asyncio.to_thread(_transcribe_sync)

backend/build_binary.py

@@ -8,10 +8,14 @@ Usage:
 
 import PyInstaller.__main__
 import argparse
+import logging
 import os
 import platform
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 def is_apple_silicon():
     """Check if running on Apple Silicon."""
@@ -27,113 +31,318 @@ def build_server(cuda=False):
     """
     backend_dir = Path(__file__).parent
 
-    binary_name = 'voicebox-server-cuda' if cuda else 'voicebox-server'
+    binary_name = "voicebox-server-cuda" if cuda else "voicebox-server"
 
     # PyInstaller arguments
     args = [
-        'server.py',  # Use server.py as entry point instead of main.py
-        '--onefile',
-        '--name', binary_name,
+        "server.py",  # Use server.py as entry point instead of main.py
+        "--onefile",
+        "--name",
+        binary_name,
     ]
 
+    # Hide console window on Windows only. On macOS/Linux the sidecar needs
+    # stdout/stderr for Tauri to capture logs.
+    if platform.system() == "Windows":
+        args.append("--noconsole")
+
     # Add local qwen_tts path if specified (for editable installs)
-    qwen_tts_path = os.getenv('QWEN_TTS_PATH')
+    qwen_tts_path = os.getenv("QWEN_TTS_PATH")
     if qwen_tts_path and Path(qwen_tts_path).exists():
-        args.extend(['--paths', str(qwen_tts_path)])
-        print(f"Using local qwen_tts source from: {qwen_tts_path}")
+        args.extend(["--paths", str(qwen_tts_path)])
+        logger.info("Using local qwen_tts source from: %s", qwen_tts_path)
 
     # Add common hidden imports
-    args.extend([
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.main',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.config',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.database',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.models',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.profiles',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.history',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.tts',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.transcribe',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.platform_detect',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.backends',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.backends.pytorch_backend',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.utils.audio',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.utils.cache',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.utils.progress',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.utils.hf_progress',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.utils.validation',
-        '--hidden-import', 'backend.cuda_download',
-        '--hidden-import', 'torch',
-        '--hidden-import', 'transformers',
-        '--hidden-import', 'fastapi',
-        '--hidden-import', 'uvicorn',
-        '--hidden-import', 'sqlalchemy',
-        '--hidden-import', 'librosa',
-        '--hidden-import', 'soundfile',
-        '--hidden-import', 'qwen_tts',
-        '--hidden-import', 'qwen_tts.inference',
-        '--hidden-import', 'qwen_tts.inference.qwen3_tts_model',
-        '--hidden-import', 'qwen_tts.inference.qwen3_tts_tokenizer',
-        '--hidden-import', 'qwen_tts.core',
-        '--hidden-import', 'qwen_tts.cli',
-        '--copy-metadata', 'qwen-tts',
-        '--collect-submodules', 'qwen_tts',
-        '--collect-data', 'qwen_tts',
-        # Fix for pkg_resources and jaraco namespace packages
-        '--hidden-import', 'pkg_resources.extern',
-        '--collect-submodules', 'jaraco',
-    ])
+    args.extend(
+        [
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.main",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.config",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.database",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.models",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.profiles",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.history",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.tts",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.transcribe",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.utils.platform_detect",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.backends",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.backends.pytorch_backend",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.utils.audio",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.utils.cache",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.utils.progress",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.utils.hf_progress",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.cuda",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.effects",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.utils.effects",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.services.versions",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "pedalboard",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "chatterbox",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "chatterbox.tts_turbo",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "chatterbox.mtl_tts",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.backends.chatterbox_backend",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.backends.chatterbox_turbo_backend",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "backend.backends.luxtts_backend",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "zipvoice",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "zipvoice.luxvoice",
+            "--collect-all",
+            "zipvoice",
+            "--collect-all",
+            "linacodec",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "torch",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "transformers",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "fastapi",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "uvicorn",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "sqlalchemy",
+            # librosa uses lazy_loader which generates .pyi stub files at
+            # install time and reads them at runtime to discover submodules.
+            # --hidden-import alone doesn't bundle the stubs, causing
+            # "Cannot load imports from non-existent stub" at runtime.
+            "--collect-all",
+            "lazy_loader",
+            "--collect-all",
+            "librosa",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "soundfile",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "qwen_tts",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "qwen_tts.inference",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "qwen_tts.inference.qwen3_tts_model",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "qwen_tts.inference.qwen3_tts_tokenizer",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "qwen_tts.core",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "qwen_tts.cli",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "qwen-tts",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "requests",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "transformers",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "huggingface-hub",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "tokenizers",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "safetensors",
+            "--copy-metadata",
+            "tqdm",
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "requests",
+            "--collect-submodules",
+            "qwen_tts",
+            "--collect-data",
+            "qwen_tts",
+            # Fix for pkg_resources and jaraco namespace packages
+            "--hidden-import",
+            "pkg_resources.extern",
+            "--collect-submodules",
+            "jaraco",
+            # inflect uses typeguard @typechecked which calls inspect.getsource()
+            # at import time — needs .py source files, not just .pyc bytecode
+            "--collect-all",
+            "inflect",
+            # perth ships pretrained watermark model files (hparams.yaml, .pth.tar)
+            # in perth/perth_net/pretrained/ — needed by chatterbox at runtime
+            "--collect-all",
+            "perth",
+            # piper_phonemize ships espeak-ng-data/ (phoneme tables, language dicts)
+            # needed by LuxTTS for text-to-phoneme conversion
+            "--collect-all",
+            "piper_phonemize",
+        ]
+    )
 
     # Add CUDA-specific hidden imports
     if cuda:
-        print("Building with CUDA support")
-        args.extend([
-            '--hidden-import', 'torch.cuda',
-            '--hidden-import', 'torch.backends.cudnn',
-        ])
+        logger.info("Building with CUDA support")
+        args.extend(
+            [
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "torch.cuda",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "torch.backends.cudnn",
+            ]
+        )
+    else:
+        # Exclude NVIDIA CUDA packages from CPU-only builds to keep binary small.
+        # When building from a venv with CUDA torch installed, PyInstaller would
+        # bundle ~3GB of NVIDIA shared libraries. We exclude both the Python
+        # modules and the binary DLLs.
+        nvidia_packages = [
+            "nvidia",
+            "nvidia.cublas",
+            "nvidia.cuda_cupti",
+            "nvidia.cuda_nvrtc",
+            "nvidia.cuda_runtime",
+            "nvidia.cudnn",
+            "nvidia.cufft",
+            "nvidia.curand",
+            "nvidia.cusolver",
+            "nvidia.cusparse",
+            "nvidia.nccl",
+            "nvidia.nvjitlink",
+            "nvidia.nvtx",
+        ]
+        for pkg in nvidia_packages:
+            args.extend(["--exclude-module", pkg])
 
     # Add MLX-specific imports if building on Apple Silicon (never for CUDA builds)
     if is_apple_silicon() and not cuda:
-        print("Building for Apple Silicon - including MLX dependencies")
-        args.extend([
-            '--hidden-import', 'backend.backends.mlx_backend',
-            '--hidden-import', 'mlx',
-            '--hidden-import', 'mlx.core',
-            '--hidden-import', 'mlx.nn',
-            '--hidden-import', 'mlx_audio',
-            '--hidden-import', 'mlx_audio.tts',
-            '--hidden-import', 'mlx_audio.stt',
-            '--collect-submodules', 'mlx',
-            '--collect-submodules', 'mlx_audio',
-            # Use --collect-all so PyInstaller bundles both data files AND
-            # native shared libraries (.dylib, .metallib) for MLX.
-            # Previously only --collect-data was used, which caused MLX to
-            # raise OSError at runtime inside the bundled binary because
-            # the Metal shader libraries were missing.
-            '--collect-all', 'mlx',
-            '--collect-all', 'mlx_audio',
-        ])
+        logger.info("Building for Apple Silicon - including MLX dependencies")
+        args.extend(
+            [
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "backend.backends.mlx_backend",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "mlx",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "mlx.core",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "mlx.nn",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "mlx_audio",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "mlx_audio.tts",
+                "--hidden-import",
+                "mlx_audio.stt",
+                "--collect-submodules",
+                "mlx",
+                "--collect-submodules",
+                "mlx_audio",
+                # Use --collect-all so PyInstaller bundles both data files AND
+                # native shared libraries (.dylib, .metallib) for MLX.
+                # Previously only --collect-data was used, which caused MLX to
+                # raise OSError at runtime inside the bundled binary because
+                # the Metal shader libraries were missing.
+                "--collect-all",
+                "mlx",
+                "--collect-all",
+                "mlx_audio",
+            ]
+        )
     elif not cuda:
-        print("Building for non-Apple Silicon platform - PyTorch only")
+        logger.info("Building for non-Apple Silicon platform - PyTorch only")
 
-    args.extend([
-        '--noconfirm',
-        '--clean',
-    ])
+    dist_dir = str(backend_dir / "dist")
+    build_dir = str(backend_dir / "build")
+
+    args.extend(
+        [
+            "--distpath",
+            dist_dir,
+            "--workpath",
+            build_dir,
+            "--noconfirm",
+            "--clean",
+        ]
+    )
 
     # Change to backend directory
     os.chdir(backend_dir)
-    
+
+    # For CPU builds on Windows, ensure we're using CPU-only torch.
+    # If CUDA torch is installed (local dev), swap to CPU torch before building,
+    # then restore CUDA torch after. This prevents PyInstaller from bundling
+    # ~3GB of CUDA DLLs into the CPU binary.
+    restore_cuda = False
+    if not cuda and platform.system() == "Windows":
+        import subprocess
+
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            [sys.executable, "-c", "import torch; print(torch.version.cuda or '')"], capture_output=True, text=True
+        )
+        has_cuda_torch = bool(result.stdout.strip())
+        if has_cuda_torch:
+            logger.info("CUDA torch detected — installing CPU torch for CPU build...")
+            subprocess.run(
+                [
+                    sys.executable,
+                    "-m",
+                    "pip",
+                    "install",
+                    "torch",
+                    "torchvision",
+                    "torchaudio",
+                    "--index-url",
+                    "https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cpu",
+                    "--force-reinstall",
+                    "-q",
+                ],
+                check=True,
+            )
+            restore_cuda = True
+
     # Run PyInstaller
-    PyInstaller.__main__.run(args)
-    
-    print(f"Binary built in {backend_dir / 'dist' / binary_name}")
+    try:
+        PyInstaller.__main__.run(args)
+    finally:
+        # Restore CUDA torch if we swapped it out (even on build failure)
+        if restore_cuda:
+            logger.info("Restoring CUDA torch...")
+            import subprocess
+
+            subprocess.run(
+                [
+                    sys.executable,
+                    "-m",
+                    "pip",
+                    "install",
+                    "torch",
+                    "torchvision",
+                    "torchaudio",
+                    "--index-url",
+                    "https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu126",
+                    "--force-reinstall",
+                    "-q",
+                ],
+                check=True,
+            )
+
+    logger.info("Binary built in %s", backend_dir / "dist" / binary_name)
 
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
+if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Build voicebox-server binary")
     parser.add_argument(
-        '--cuda',
-        action='store_true',
+        "--cuda",
+        action="store_true",
         help="Build CUDA-enabled binary (voicebox-server-cuda)",
     )
     cli_args = parser.parse_args()

backend/config.py

@@ -4,20 +4,24 @@ Configuration module for voicebox backend.
 Handles data directory configuration for production bundling.
 """
 
+import logging
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 # Allow users to override the HuggingFace model download directory.
 # Set VOICEBOX_MODELS_DIR to an absolute path before starting the server.
 # This sets HF_HUB_CACHE so all huggingface_hub downloads go to that path.
 _custom_models_dir = os.environ.get("VOICEBOX_MODELS_DIR")
 if _custom_models_dir:
     os.environ["HF_HUB_CACHE"] = _custom_models_dir
-    print(f"[config] Model download path set to: {_custom_models_dir}")
+    logger.info("Model download path set to: %s", _custom_models_dir)
 
 # Default data directory (used in development)
 _data_dir = Path("data")
 
+
 def set_data_dir(path: str | Path):
     """
     Set the data directory path.
@@ -28,7 +32,8 @@ def set_data_dir(path: str | Path):
     global _data_dir
     _data_dir = Path(path)
     _data_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    print(f"Data directory set to: {_data_dir.absolute()}")
+    logger.info("Data directory set to: %s", _data_dir.absolute())
+
 
 def get_data_dir() -> Path:
     """
@@ -39,28 +44,33 @@ def get_data_dir() -> Path:
     """
     return _data_dir
 
+
 def get_db_path() -> Path:
     """Get database file path."""
     return _data_dir / "voicebox.db"
 
+
 def get_profiles_dir() -> Path:
     """Get profiles directory path."""
     path = _data_dir / "profiles"
     path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     return path
 
+
 def get_generations_dir() -> Path:
     """Get generations directory path."""
     path = _data_dir / "generations"
     path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     return path
 
+
 def get_cache_dir() -> Path:
     """Get cache directory path."""
     path = _data_dir / "cache"
     path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     return path
 
+
 def get_models_dir() -> Path:
     """Get models directory path."""
     path = _data_dir / "models"

backend/database.py

@@ -1,298 +0,0 @@
-"""
-SQLite database ORM using SQLAlchemy.
-"""
-
-from sqlalchemy import create_engine, Column, String, Integer, Float, DateTime, Text, ForeignKey, Boolean
-from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base
-from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker, Session
-from datetime import datetime
-import uuid
-from pathlib import Path
-
-from . import config
-
-Base = declarative_base()
-
-
-class VoiceProfile(Base):
-    """Voice profile database model."""
-    __tablename__ = "profiles"
-
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    name = Column(String, unique=True, nullable=False)
-    description = Column(Text)
-    language = Column(String, default="en")
-    avatar_path = Column(String, nullable=True)
-    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
-    updated_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow)
-
-
-class ProfileSample(Base):
-    """Voice profile sample database model."""
-    __tablename__ = "profile_samples"
-    
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    profile_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("profiles.id"), nullable=False)
-    audio_path = Column(String, nullable=False)
-    reference_text = Column(Text, nullable=False)
-
-
-class Generation(Base):
-    """Generation history database model."""
-    __tablename__ = "generations"
-
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    profile_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("profiles.id"), nullable=False)
-    text = Column(Text, nullable=False)
-    language = Column(String, default="en")
-    audio_path = Column(String, nullable=False)
-    duration = Column(Float, nullable=False)
-    seed = Column(Integer)
-    instruct = Column(Text)
-    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
-
-
-class Story(Base):
-    """Story database model."""
-    __tablename__ = "stories"
-    
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    name = Column(String, nullable=False)
-    description = Column(Text)
-    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
-    updated_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow)
-
-
-class StoryItem(Base):
-    """Story item database model (links generations to stories)."""
-    __tablename__ = "story_items"
-    
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    story_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("stories.id"), nullable=False)
-    generation_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("generations.id"), nullable=False)
-    start_time_ms = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)  # Milliseconds from story start
-    track = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)  # Track number (0 = main track)
-    trim_start_ms = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)  # Milliseconds trimmed from start
-    trim_end_ms = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)  # Milliseconds trimmed from end
-    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
-
-
-class Project(Base):
-    """Audio studio project database model."""
-    __tablename__ = "projects"
-    
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    name = Column(String, nullable=False)
-    data = Column(Text)  # JSON string
-    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
-    updated_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow)
-
-
-class AudioChannel(Base):
-    """Audio channel (bus) database model."""
-    __tablename__ = "audio_channels"
-    
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    name = Column(String, nullable=False)
-    is_default = Column(Boolean, default=False)
-    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
-
-
-class ChannelDeviceMapping(Base):
-    """Mapping between channels and OS audio devices."""
-    __tablename__ = "channel_device_mappings"
-    
-    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
-    channel_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("audio_channels.id"), nullable=False)
-    device_id = Column(String, nullable=False)  # OS device identifier
-
-
-class ProfileChannelMapping(Base):
-    """Mapping between voice profiles and audio channels (many-to-many)."""
-    __tablename__ = "profile_channel_mappings"
-    
-    profile_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("profiles.id"), primary_key=True)
-    channel_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("audio_channels.id"), primary_key=True)
-
-
-# Database setup will be initialized in init_db()
-engine = None
-SessionLocal = None
-_db_path = None
-
-
-def init_db():
-    """Initialize database tables."""
-    global engine, SessionLocal, _db_path
-
-    _db_path = config.get_db_path()
-    _db_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-
-    engine = create_engine(
-        f"sqlite:///{_db_path}",
-        connect_args={"check_same_thread": False},
-    )
-
-    SessionLocal = sessionmaker(autocommit=False, autoflush=False, bind=engine)
-    
-    # Run migrations before creating tables
-    _run_migrations(engine)
-    
-    Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
-    
-    # Create default channel if it doesn't exist
-    db = SessionLocal()
-    try:
-        default_channel = db.query(AudioChannel).filter(AudioChannel.is_default == True).first()
-        if not default_channel:
-            default_channel = AudioChannel(
-                id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
-                name="Default",
-                is_default=True
-            )
-            db.add(default_channel)
-            
-            # Assign all existing profiles to default channel
-            profiles = db.query(VoiceProfile).all()
-            for profile in profiles:
-                mapping = ProfileChannelMapping(
-                    profile_id=profile.id,
-                    channel_id=default_channel.id
-                )
-                db.add(mapping)
-            
-            db.commit()
-    finally:
-        db.close()
-
-
-def _run_migrations(engine):
-    """Run database migrations."""
-    from sqlalchemy import inspect, text
-    
-    inspector = inspect(engine)
-    
-    # Check if story_items table exists
-    if 'story_items' not in inspector.get_table_names():
-        return  # Table doesn't exist yet, will be created fresh
-    
-    # Get columns in story_items table
-    columns = {col['name'] for col in inspector.get_columns('story_items')}
-    
-    # Migration: Remove position column and ensure start_time_ms exists
-    # SQLite doesn't support DROP COLUMN easily, so we recreate the table
-    if 'position' in columns:
-        print("Migrating story_items: removing position column, using start_time_ms")
-        
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
-            # Check if start_time_ms already exists
-            has_start_time = 'start_time_ms' in columns
-            
-            if not has_start_time:
-                # First, add the new column temporarily
-                conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE story_items ADD COLUMN start_time_ms INTEGER DEFAULT 0"))
-                
-                # Calculate timecodes from position ordering
-                result = conn.execute(text("""
-                    SELECT si.id, si.story_id, si.position, g.duration
-                    FROM story_items si
-                    JOIN generations g ON si.generation_id = g.id
-                    ORDER BY si.story_id, si.position
-                """))
-                
-                rows = result.fetchall()
-                
-                current_story_id = None
-                current_time_ms = 0
-                
-                for row in rows:
-                    item_id, story_id, position, duration = row
-                    
-                    if story_id != current_story_id:
-                        current_story_id = story_id
-                        current_time_ms = 0
-                    
-                    conn.execute(
-                        text("UPDATE story_items SET start_time_ms = :time WHERE id = :id"),
-                        {"time": current_time_ms, "id": item_id}
-                    )
-                    
-                    current_time_ms += int(duration * 1000) + 200
-                
-                conn.commit()
-            
-            # Now recreate the table without the position column
-            # 1. Create new table
-            conn.execute(text("""
-                CREATE TABLE story_items_new (
-                    id VARCHAR PRIMARY KEY,
-                    story_id VARCHAR NOT NULL,
-                    generation_id VARCHAR NOT NULL,
-                    start_time_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
-                    created_at DATETIME,
-                    FOREIGN KEY (story_id) REFERENCES stories(id),
-                    FOREIGN KEY (generation_id) REFERENCES generations(id)
-                )
-            """))
-            
-            # 2. Copy data
-            conn.execute(text("""
-                INSERT INTO story_items_new (id, story_id, generation_id, start_time_ms, created_at)
-                SELECT id, story_id, generation_id, start_time_ms, created_at FROM story_items
-            """))
-            
-            # 3. Drop old table
-            conn.execute(text("DROP TABLE story_items"))
-            
-            # 4. Rename new table
-            conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE story_items_new RENAME TO story_items"))
-            
-            conn.commit()
-            print("Migrated story_items table to use start_time_ms (removed position column)")
-    
-    # Migration: Add track column if it doesn't exist
-    # Re-check columns after potential position migration
-    columns = {col['name'] for col in inspector.get_columns('story_items')}
-    if 'track' not in columns:
-        print("Migrating story_items: adding track column")
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
-            conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE story_items ADD COLUMN track INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"))
-            conn.commit()
-            print("Added track column to story_items")
-    
-    # Migration: Add trim columns if they don't exist
-    # Re-check columns after potential track migration
-    columns = {col['name'] for col in inspector.get_columns('story_items')}
-    if 'trim_start_ms' not in columns:
-        print("Migrating story_items: adding trim_start_ms column")
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
-            conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE story_items ADD COLUMN trim_start_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"))
-            conn.commit()
-            print("Added trim_start_ms column to story_items")
-    
-    columns = {col['name'] for col in inspector.get_columns('story_items')}
-    if 'trim_end_ms' not in columns:
-        print("Migrating story_items: adding trim_end_ms column")
-        with engine.connect() as conn:
-            conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE story_items ADD COLUMN trim_end_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"))
-            conn.commit()
-            print("Added trim_end_ms column to story_items")
-
-    # Migration: Add avatar_path to profiles table
-    if 'profiles' in inspector.get_table_names():
-        columns = {col['name'] for col in inspector.get_columns('profiles')}
-        if 'avatar_path' not in columns:
-            print("Migrating profiles: adding avatar_path column")
-            with engine.connect() as conn:
-                conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE profiles ADD COLUMN avatar_path VARCHAR"))
-                conn.commit()
-                print("Added avatar_path column to profiles")
-
-
-def get_db():
-    """Get database session (generator for dependency injection)."""
-    db = SessionLocal()
-    try:
-        yield db
-    finally:
-        db.close()

backend/database/__init__.py

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Database package — ORM models, session management, and migrations.
+
+Re-exports all public symbols so that ``from .database import get_db``
+and ``from .database import Generation as DBGeneration`` continue to work
+without changing any importers.
+"""
+
+from .models import (
+    Base,
+    AudioChannel,
+    ChannelDeviceMapping,
+    EffectPreset,
+    Generation,
+    GenerationVersion,
+    ProfileChannelMapping,
+    ProfileSample,
+    Project,
+    Story,
+    StoryItem,
+    VoiceProfile,
+)
+from .session import engine, SessionLocal, _db_path, init_db, get_db
+
+__all__ = [
+    # Models
+    "Base",
+    "AudioChannel",
+    "ChannelDeviceMapping",
+    "EffectPreset",
+    "Generation",
+    "GenerationVersion",
+    "ProfileChannelMapping",
+    "ProfileSample",
+    "Project",
+    "Story",
+    "StoryItem",
+    "VoiceProfile",
+    # Session
+    "engine",
+    "SessionLocal",
+    "_db_path",
+    "init_db",
+    "get_db",
+]

backend/database/migrations.py

@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+"""Column-level migrations for the voicebox SQLite database.
+
+Why not Alembic?  voicebox is a single-user desktop app shipping as a
+PyInstaller binary.  Every user has exactly one SQLite file.  Alembic's
+strengths -- migration tracking across environments, rollback, team
+coordination -- don't apply here and would add bundling complexity
+(alembic.ini, env.py, versions/ directory all need to survive
+PyInstaller).  The column-existence checks below are idempotent, run in
+<50 ms on startup, and have worked reliably across 12 schema changes.
+If the project ever moves to a server-based deployment or Postgres, this
+decision should be revisited.
+
+Adding a new migration:
+    1. Append a new ``_migrate_*`` helper at the bottom of this file.
+    2. Call it from ``run_migrations()`` in the appropriate spot.
+    3. The helper should check column/table existence before acting
+       (idempotent) and print a short message when it does real work.
+"""
+
+import logging
+
+from sqlalchemy import inspect, text
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def run_migrations(engine) -> None:
+    """Run all schema migrations.  Safe to call on every startup."""
+    inspector = inspect(engine)
+    tables = set(inspector.get_table_names())
+
+    _migrate_story_items(engine, inspector, tables)
+    _migrate_profiles(engine, inspector, tables)
+    _migrate_generations(engine, inspector, tables)
+    _migrate_effect_presets(engine, inspector, tables)
+    _migrate_generation_versions(engine, inspector, tables)
+
+
+# -- helpers ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _get_columns(inspector, table: str) -> set[str]:
+    return {col["name"] for col in inspector.get_columns(table)}
+
+
+def _add_column(engine, table: str, column_sql: str, label: str) -> None:
+    """Add a column if it doesn't already exist."""
+    with engine.connect() as conn:
+        conn.execute(text(f"ALTER TABLE {table} ADD COLUMN {column_sql}"))
+        conn.commit()
+    logger.info("Added %s column to %s", label, table)
+
+
+# -- per-table migrations --------------------------------------------------
+
+def _migrate_story_items(engine, inspector, tables: set[str]) -> None:
+    if "story_items" not in tables:
+        return
+
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "story_items")
+
+    # Replace position-based ordering with absolute timecodes
+    if "position" in columns:
+        logger.info("Migrating story_items: removing position column, using start_time_ms")
+        with engine.connect() as conn:
+            if "start_time_ms" not in columns:
+                conn.execute(text(
+                    "ALTER TABLE story_items ADD COLUMN start_time_ms INTEGER DEFAULT 0"
+                ))
+                result = conn.execute(text("""
+                    SELECT si.id, si.story_id, si.position, g.duration
+                    FROM story_items si
+                    JOIN generations g ON si.generation_id = g.id
+                    ORDER BY si.story_id, si.position
+                """))
+                current_story_id = None
+                current_time_ms = 0
+                for item_id, story_id, _position, duration in result.fetchall():
+                    if story_id != current_story_id:
+                        current_story_id = story_id
+                        current_time_ms = 0
+                    conn.execute(
+                        text("UPDATE story_items SET start_time_ms = :time WHERE id = :id"),
+                        {"time": current_time_ms, "id": item_id},
+                    )
+                    current_time_ms += int((duration or 0) * 1000) + 200
+                conn.commit()
+
+            # Recreate table without the position column (SQLite lacks DROP COLUMN)
+            conn.execute(text("""
+                CREATE TABLE story_items_new (
+                    id VARCHAR PRIMARY KEY,
+                    story_id VARCHAR NOT NULL,
+                    generation_id VARCHAR NOT NULL,
+                    start_time_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+                    track INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+                    trim_start_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+                    trim_end_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+                    version_id VARCHAR,
+                    created_at DATETIME,
+                    FOREIGN KEY (story_id) REFERENCES stories(id),
+                    FOREIGN KEY (generation_id) REFERENCES generations(id)
+                )
+            """))
+            conn.execute(text("""
+                INSERT INTO story_items_new (id, story_id, generation_id, start_time_ms, track, trim_start_ms, trim_end_ms, version_id, created_at)
+                SELECT id, story_id, generation_id, start_time_ms,
+                    COALESCE(track, 0), COALESCE(trim_start_ms, 0), COALESCE(trim_end_ms, 0), version_id, created_at
+                FROM story_items
+            """))
+            conn.execute(text("DROP TABLE story_items"))
+            conn.execute(text("ALTER TABLE story_items_new RENAME TO story_items"))
+            conn.commit()
+
+        # Re-read after table recreation
+        columns = _get_columns(inspector, "story_items")
+
+    if "track" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "story_items", "track INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", "track")
+    # Re-read so subsequent checks see new columns
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "story_items")
+    if "trim_start_ms" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "story_items", "trim_start_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", "trim_start_ms")
+    if "trim_end_ms" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "story_items", "trim_end_ms INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0", "trim_end_ms")
+    if "version_id" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "story_items", "version_id VARCHAR", "version_id")
+
+
+def _migrate_profiles(engine, inspector, tables: set[str]) -> None:
+    if "profiles" not in tables:
+        return
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "profiles")
+    if "avatar_path" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "profiles", "avatar_path VARCHAR", "avatar_path")
+    if "effects_chain" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "profiles", "effects_chain TEXT", "effects_chain")
+
+
+def _migrate_generations(engine, inspector, tables: set[str]) -> None:
+    if "generations" not in tables:
+        return
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "generations")
+    if "status" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "generations", "status VARCHAR DEFAULT 'completed'", "status")
+    if "error" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "generations", "error TEXT", "error")
+    if "engine" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "generations", "engine VARCHAR DEFAULT 'qwen'", "engine")
+    # Re-read after engine column (variable name shadows outer scope in old code)
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "generations")
+    if "model_size" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "generations", "model_size VARCHAR", "model_size")
+    if "is_favorited" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "generations", "is_favorited BOOLEAN DEFAULT 0", "is_favorited")
+
+
+def _migrate_effect_presets(engine, inspector, tables: set[str]) -> None:
+    if "effect_presets" not in tables:
+        return
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "effect_presets")
+    if "sort_order" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "effect_presets", "sort_order INTEGER DEFAULT 100", "sort_order")
+
+
+def _migrate_generation_versions(engine, inspector, tables: set[str]) -> None:
+    if "generation_versions" not in tables:
+        return
+    columns = _get_columns(inspector, "generation_versions")
+    if "source_version_id" not in columns:
+        _add_column(engine, "generation_versions", "source_version_id VARCHAR", "source_version_id")

backend/database/models.py

@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+"""ORM model definitions for the voicebox SQLite database."""
+
+from datetime import datetime
+import uuid
+
+from sqlalchemy import Column, String, Integer, Float, DateTime, Text, ForeignKey, Boolean
+from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base
+
+Base = declarative_base()
+
+
+class VoiceProfile(Base):
+    """Voice profile."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "profiles"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    name = Column(String, unique=True, nullable=False)
+    description = Column(Text)
+    language = Column(String, default="en")
+    avatar_path = Column(String, nullable=True)
+    effects_chain = Column(Text, nullable=True)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+    updated_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class ProfileSample(Base):
+    """Audio sample attached to a voice profile."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "profile_samples"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    profile_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("profiles.id"), nullable=False)
+    audio_path = Column(String, nullable=False)
+    reference_text = Column(Text, nullable=False)
+
+
+class Generation(Base):
+    """A single TTS generation."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "generations"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    profile_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("profiles.id"), nullable=False)
+    text = Column(Text, nullable=False)
+    language = Column(String, default="en")
+    audio_path = Column(String, nullable=True)
+    duration = Column(Float, nullable=True)
+    seed = Column(Integer)
+    instruct = Column(Text)
+    engine = Column(String, default="qwen")
+    model_size = Column(String, nullable=True)
+    status = Column(String, default="completed")
+    error = Column(Text, nullable=True)
+    is_favorited = Column(Boolean, default=False)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class Story(Base):
+    """A story that sequences multiple generations."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "stories"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    name = Column(String, nullable=False)
+    description = Column(Text)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+    updated_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class StoryItem(Base):
+    """Links a generation to a story at a specific timecode."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "story_items"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    story_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("stories.id"), nullable=False)
+    generation_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("generations.id"), nullable=False)
+    version_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("generation_versions.id"), nullable=True)
+    start_time_ms = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)
+    track = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)
+    trim_start_ms = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)
+    trim_end_ms = Column(Integer, nullable=False, default=0)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class Project(Base):
+    """Audio studio project (JSON blob)."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "projects"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    name = Column(String, nullable=False)
+    data = Column(Text)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+    updated_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow, onupdate=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class GenerationVersion(Base):
+    """A version of a generation's audio (original, processed, alternate takes)."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "generation_versions"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    generation_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("generations.id"), nullable=False)
+    label = Column(String, nullable=False)
+    audio_path = Column(String, nullable=False)
+    effects_chain = Column(Text, nullable=True)
+    source_version_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("generation_versions.id"), nullable=True)
+    is_default = Column(Boolean, default=False)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class EffectPreset(Base):
+    """Saved effect chain preset."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "effect_presets"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    name = Column(String, unique=True, nullable=False)
+    description = Column(Text, nullable=True)
+    effects_chain = Column(Text, nullable=False)
+    is_builtin = Column(Boolean, default=False)
+    sort_order = Column(Integer, default=100)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class AudioChannel(Base):
+    """Audio output channel (bus)."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "audio_channels"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    name = Column(String, nullable=False)
+    is_default = Column(Boolean, default=False)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime, default=datetime.utcnow)
+
+
+class ChannelDeviceMapping(Base):
+    """Mapping between a channel and an OS audio device."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "channel_device_mappings"
+
+    id = Column(String, primary_key=True, default=lambda: str(uuid.uuid4()))
+    channel_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("audio_channels.id"), nullable=False)
+    device_id = Column(String, nullable=False)
+
+
+class ProfileChannelMapping(Base):
+    """Many-to-many mapping between voice profiles and audio channels."""
+
+    __tablename__ = "profile_channel_mappings"
+
+    profile_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("profiles.id"), primary_key=True)
+    channel_id = Column(String, ForeignKey("audio_channels.id"), primary_key=True)

backend/database/seed.py

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+"""Post-migration data seeding and backfills."""
+
+import json
+import logging
+import uuid
+from pathlib import Path
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def backfill_generation_versions(SessionLocal, Generation, GenerationVersion) -> None:
+    """Create 'clean' version entries for generations that predate the versions feature."""
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        existing_version_gen_ids = {
+            row[0] for row in db.query(GenerationVersion.generation_id).all()
+        }
+        generations = db.query(Generation).filter(
+            Generation.status == "completed",
+            Generation.audio_path.isnot(None),
+            Generation.audio_path != "",
+        ).all()
+
+        count = 0
+        for gen in generations:
+            if gen.id in existing_version_gen_ids:
+                continue
+            if not Path(gen.audio_path).exists():
+                continue
+            version = GenerationVersion(
+                id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
+                generation_id=gen.id,
+                label="clean",
+                audio_path=gen.audio_path,
+                effects_chain=None,
+                is_default=True,
+            )
+            db.add(version)
+            count += 1
+
+        if count > 0:
+            db.commit()
+            logger.info("Backfilled %d generation version entries", count)
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+
+def seed_builtin_presets(SessionLocal, EffectPreset) -> None:
+    """Ensure built-in effect presets exist in the database."""
+    from ..utils.effects import BUILTIN_PRESETS
+
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        for idx, (_key, preset_data) in enumerate(BUILTIN_PRESETS.items()):
+            sort_order = preset_data.get("sort_order", idx)
+            existing = db.query(EffectPreset).filter_by(name=preset_data["name"]).first()
+            if not existing:
+                preset = EffectPreset(
+                    id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
+                    name=preset_data["name"],
+                    description=preset_data.get("description"),
+                    effects_chain=json.dumps(preset_data["effects_chain"]),
+                    is_builtin=True,
+                    sort_order=sort_order,
+                )
+                db.add(preset)
+            elif existing.sort_order != sort_order:
+                existing.sort_order = sort_order
+        db.commit()
+    finally:
+        db.close()

backend/database/session.py

@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+"""Engine creation, initialization, and session management."""
+
+import logging
+import uuid
+
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker
+
+from .. import config
+from .models import (
+    Base,
+    AudioChannel,
+    EffectPreset,
+    Generation,
+    GenerationVersion,
+    ProfileChannelMapping,
+    VoiceProfile,
+)
+from .migrations import run_migrations
+from .seed import backfill_generation_versions, seed_builtin_presets
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Initialized by init_db()
+engine = None
+SessionLocal = None
+_db_path = None
+
+
+def init_db() -> None:
+    """Initialize the database engine, run migrations, create tables, and seed data."""
+    global engine, SessionLocal, _db_path
+
+    _db_path = config.get_db_path()
+    _db_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+
+    engine = create_engine(
+        f"sqlite:///{_db_path}",
+        connect_args={"check_same_thread": False},
+    )
+
+    SessionLocal = sessionmaker(autocommit=False, autoflush=False, bind=engine)
+
+    run_migrations(engine)
+    Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
+
+    # Create default audio channel if it doesn't exist
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        default_channel = db.query(AudioChannel).filter(AudioChannel.is_default == True).first()
+        if not default_channel:
+            default_channel = AudioChannel(
+                id=str(uuid.uuid4()),
+                name="Default",
+                is_default=True,
+            )
+            db.add(default_channel)
+
+            for profile in db.query(VoiceProfile).all():
+                db.add(ProfileChannelMapping(
+                    profile_id=profile.id,
+                    channel_id=default_channel.id,
+                ))
+            db.commit()
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+    backfill_generation_versions(SessionLocal, Generation, GenerationVersion)
+    seed_builtin_presets(SessionLocal, EffectPreset)
+
+
+def get_db():
+    """Yield a database session (FastAPI dependency)."""
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        yield db
+    finally:
+        db.close()