Build a One-Word Radio App That Turns a Feeling Into Sound and Motion
The user does not select music.
They enter one word.
That word becomes:
• a looping ambient soundscape
• a reactive visual environment
• a unique “station identity”
This is not a playlist app.
It’s a vibe generator.
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🧠 Core Concept
One word becomes a world.
Examples of words:
• “midnight”
• “static”
• “warm”
• “neon”
• “rain”
• “empty”
Each word should feel meaningfully different — not random — influencing both audio character and visual mood.
The experience should feel calm, hypnotic, and slightly mysterious.
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🎧 Audio System (Web Audio API)
Generate sound entirely in the browser using the Web Audio API.
Requirements:
• No uploaded audio files
• No external assets
• Everything is synthesized
The input word influences:
• oscillator types (sine, triangle, noise)
• pitch range
• tempo / modulation speed
• filter warmth
• reverb intensity
The sound should:
• loop seamlessly
• evolve slowly over time
• never feel repetitive or abrupt
Think ambient radio, not music tracks.
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🌌 Visual System (Canvas)
Create a full-screen canvas visual that reacts to audio energy.
Visuals should:
• move slowly and continuously
• respond subtly to volume or frequency
• use abstract forms (waves, particles, gradients)
The input word influences:
• color palette
• motion speed
• density
• glow intensity
Visuals must feel:
• soft
• immersive
• non-distracting
No sharp edges.
No UI-heavy graphics.
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📻 Station Identity
Each generated station displays:
• a generated station name based on the word
• a fictional frequency (e.g. 91.7 FM)
• a small “ON AIR” indicator
These elements are subtle and atmospheric, not interactive controls.
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🎛 Minimal Controls
Controls should be minimal:
• regenerate station
• mute / unmute audio
No sliders.
No playlists.
No settings panels.
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💾 Local-First Behavior
• Remember the last generated station using localStorage
• Reloading the page restores the same vibe
• Works fully offline
• No accounts
• No analytics
• No tracking
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🎨 Visual Style Guidelines
• Dark mode only
• Glow-based UI
• Soft gradients
• Subtle noise or grain
• Minimal text
The app should feel like:
tuning into a forgotten signal late at night
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🛠 Technical Requirements
• Single HTML file
• Embedded CSS + JavaScript
• Web Audio API + Canvas
• No external libraries
• Clean, readable, commented code
Include a CONFIG section for:
• base tempo
• color intensity
• motion speed
• noise texture strength
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📦 Final Output
Deliver:
1. One complete runnable HTML file
2. Clear explanation of how the word affects sound and visuals
3. Notes on how to extend (presets, sharing, recording, themes)
Optimized for LLMs
Programming Languages
Tags
What this app is really about
This micro app is designed to explore how language influences perception. The goal is not accuracy or mood detection, but interpretation. The same word should consistently produce a similar atmosphere, while still allowing small variations each time.
The experience should feel intentional, not random.
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How to get the best results
Tip 1: Treat the word as a seed, not a command
The word should influence ranges and tendencies (tempo, warmth, motion), not directly map to fixed outcomes.
Tip 2: Keep evolution slow
Rapid changes break immersion. Audio and visuals should drift gradually, like a radio signal that never quite settles.
Tip 3: Favor subtraction over addition
A few well-tuned oscillators and visual layers feel richer than complex systems that draw attention to themselves.
Tip 4: Make silence meaningful
Very low-volume or near-static moments add depth. Avoid constant motion or sound.
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Common questions
Q: Should the app analyze the word semantically?
A: No. Simple hashing or character-based influence is enough. Mystery is part of the experience.
Q: Can this be used for focus or relaxation?
A: Yes, but it should never advertise itself as a productivity or wellness tool.
Q: Why no playlists or presets?
A: Limitation creates curiosity. The word is the interface.
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Debug & tuning notes
• If audio feels harsh, reduce high-frequency content and smooth filter transitions.
• If visuals feel distracting, lower contrast and motion speed.
• If stations feel too similar, widen parameter ranges tied to the word seed.
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This app doesn’t play music.
It creates a space to sit inside.
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