Mcaster1Studio

Feature Reference — All implemented capabilities — Last updated: 2026-03-10 (v0.2.0)

Window & Shell

AppRibbon Phase B

48px window-level ribbon above all surface tabs
Drag-drop RibbonBox widgets — reorder by dragging the grip handle; blue drop indicator
Hover × to remove any ribbon box
+ Add button — inline picker: Clock · Weather · VU Meter
● ON AIR toggle — checkable, turns red when active
MIME: application/x-m1-ribbon-box

Surface Tabs Phase 1–A

One tab per open surface; minimum one always kept
+ button opens Surfaces menu to add any surface type
Double-click tab to inline-rename
Right-click tab → Add Module ▶ submenu (14 modules) Phase B
Right-click → Rename / Close Surface
Custom Surface dialog: name + module checkbox list
Session persistence — open surfaces restored on next launch

Ribbon Box Widgets

Clock Widget Phase A

Ticking live clock — HH:MM:SS
Timezone selector (any Qt-supported TZ)
Shows timezone abbreviation below time
Right-click to configure timezone
Also available as full surface module

Weather Widget Phase B

Free data from wttr.in — no API key required
Shows city name, temperature, condition description
Auto-refresh every 30 minutes
Right-click → Configure: city/zip, °F or °C
Settings persisted in QSettings per instance
Graceful "Unavailable" error state

Compact VU Meter Phase B

120×44px horizontal L/R bars with segmented fill
Peak-hold tick per channel
Device name label (truncated)
Fed from EventBus::audioLevelsChanged
Same VUMeterWidget class — setCompact(true) mode

Surface Layout

Surface Ribbon Phase A

Per-surface 32px strip at top of each surface
Surface name label (left)
ON AIR indicator button
Action buttons (configurable)
Pinned Clock widget (right) — independent timezone per surface

Module Docks Phase 4

Horizontal QSplitter — resize modules by dragging handles
Drag title bar to reorder; blue drop indicator line
Float dock to free-floating Tool window; re-dock by dropping back
Pin to lock position
Minimize to tray — chip appears in bottom tray strip
Close — removes module from surface
Each dock shows module icon + display name in title bar

Surface Tray Phase A

40px strip at bottom of every surface
Pinned area (left) — LOG button, SCHED button, any custom widgets
Minimized area (right) — scrollable chips; click chip to restore dock
LOG button shows unread count badge in real-time

Surface Event Log Phase A

Per-surface timestamped event log (up to 2000 entries)
Color-coded categories: ERROR · SCHED · DECK · ENCODER
Floating dialog with live updates and Clear button
Unread count badge on LOG tray button
All module actions automatically logged

Surface Automation Scheduler Phase A

Per-surface time-triggered event scheduler (30-second poll resolution)
Event types: Load Playlist · Insert Jingle · Insert Video · Load Media · Run Command
Each event: time, label, target file/data, one-shot or repeating
Enable/disable individual events without removing them
Full editor dialog via SCHED tray button
Fires signals: loadPlaylist · insertJingle · insertVideo · loadMedia · eventFired

Module Reference

Module	Plugin ID	Key Features	Status
VU Meter	`com.mcaster1.vumeter`	Stereo VU/PPM bars · segmented fill · peak hold (3s) · clip LED · 20 fps smooth ballistics · compact ribbon mode (horizontal bars) · device name label · surface mode or ribbon box mode	✓ Done
Deck A / B / Combined	`com.mcaster1.deck` / `.deck.a` / `.deck.b`	Dual transport player · track history list · BPM detect · pitch/speed control · crossfader (A↔B) · cue point · loop · 4 hot cue pads · 3-band EQ · hi-res inline VU meter (smooth gradient fill, 30fps, 3-zone coloring) · browser tabs (History/Library/Playlist/Queue) · HTTP stream playback (FFmpeg + ICY) · smart play button (empty deck menu) · drag-from-library · AutoDJ hand-off · rich metadata extraction (TagLib: artist/title/album/genre/year/BPM)	✓ Done
Media Library	`com.mcaster1.library`	SQLite (default) or MySQL/MariaDB backend · TagLib scanner · folder watch · search/filter · MusicBrainz lookup · drag to deck (text/uri-list) · right-click to deck A or B	✓ Done
Encoder	`com.mcaster1.encoder`	8 simultaneous slots · 7 codecs (MP3/Opus/Vorbis/FLAC/AAC-LC/HE-AAC-v1/HE-AAC-v2) · 7-state machine (Idle/Starting/Connecting/Streaming/Reconnecting/Sleep/Error) · Icecast2 / Shoutcast / Mcaster1DNAS · ICY 1.x + ICY 2.2 metadata push · per-slot DSP chain (10-band EQ + AGC + PTT duck) · lock-free SPSC ring buffer · hi-res VU meter panel (per-slot L/R bars, broadcast ballistics) · QTableWidget list-view UI · 5-tab config dialog · DnasPoller live listener stats · auto-reconnect watchdog with sleep/wake	✓ Done
Effects Rack	`com.mcaster1.effects`	19" virtual rack UI · IEffectUnit DLL ABI · bypass per slot · RT chain in audio callback · 6 built-in DSP units: EQ31 · Sonic Maximizer · Compressor/Limiter · AGC · Mic Preamp · Stereo Width	✓ Done
Metadata	`com.mcaster1.metadata`	ICY 2.2 full editor — 70+ fields across 8 groups (Station · Show · Track · DJ · Social · Podcast · Broadcast · Content) · HTTP PUT push to DNAS · ICY 1.x StreamTitle= always sent for compatibility	✓ Done
Playlist / AutoDJ	`com.mcaster1.playlist`	Clock template editor · category-based rotation · artist/title separation · AutoDJ mode (auto-advances on track end) · drag-and-drop queue reorder · broadcast logger	✓ Done
Push-to-Talk	`com.mcaster1.ptt`	Latched and momentary modes · mic gain · RT mix into audio callback chain · keyboard shortcut binding · LED indicator	✓ Done
Podcast	`com.mcaster1.podcast`	Multi-track recorder (up to 4 tracks) · lock-free SPSC ring buffers · WAV export · chapter markers · 20ms drain timer · works alongside PTT	✓ Done
Video	`com.mcaster1.video`	QMediaPlayer-based player · video playlist · RTMP output stub · social cast integration · fullscreen preview	✓ Done
Stream Monitor	`com.mcaster1.monitor`	Polls Icecast2 / Shoutcast / Mcaster1DNAS servers · listener count chart (60-sample ring buffer) · custom QPainter chart widget · configurable poll interval	✓ Done
Clock	`com.mcaster1.clock`	Ticking HH:MM:SS display · timezone selector · compact ribbon widget · independent instance per surface; also default-pinned to each surface ribbon	✓ Done
Cart Wall	`com.mcaster1.cartwall`	Instant-play audio grid (4×4 default, up to 8×8) · CartPlayer (QAudioDecoder → float32 PCM) · colored grid buttons with play indicator · F1–F12 shortcuts · integrated into RT audio callback chain after PTT	✓ Done
Queue (AutoDJ)	`com.mcaster1.queue`	Track queue for AutoDJ mode · drag-and-drop reorder · feeds Deck A on track end · wired to Playlist rotation engine	✓ Done
Church Surface Modules (12)
Timer / Clock	`com.mcaster1.church.timerclock`	Countdown/count-up service timers · configurable presets · visual time alerts	✓ Done
Graphics Engine	`com.mcaster1.church.graphics`	Central rendering pipeline for visual overlays (lyrics, scripture, announcements)	✓ Done
Lyrics Caster	`com.mcaster1.church.lyrics`	Worship lyrics display · verse/chorus navigation · CCLI song database integration · GraphicsEngine output	✓ Done
Scripture Caster	`com.mcaster1.church.scripture`	Bible verse display · book/chapter/verse navigation · multiple translations · GraphicsEngine output	✓ Done
Announce Caster	`com.mcaster1.church.announce`	Announcement/bulletin overlay · rich text · scheduling · rotation · GraphicsEngine output	✓ Done
TelePrompter	`com.mcaster1.church.teleprompt`	Scrolling teleprompter · adjustable speed/size/mirroring · sermon notes · GraphicsEngine binding	✓ Done
Media Caster	`com.mcaster1.church.mediacaster`	Video/image overlay source · backgrounds · loops · media playback · GraphicsEngine output	✓ Done
Stage Monitor	`com.mcaster1.church.stagemon`	Confidence monitor: current lyrics, next slide, timer, notes · for worship team stage display	✓ Done
Audio Mixer	`com.mcaster1.church.audiomix`	Multi-channel church audio mixer · per-channel gain/mute/solo/EQ/aux sends · master bus	✓ Done
Transcription Recorder	`com.mcaster1.church.transcriberec`	Live sermon transcription recorder · PTT integration · SPSC ring buffer · WAV export	✓ Done
Production Switcher	`com.mcaster1.church.switchcaster`	Program/Preview bus · Cut/Dissolve/Fade-to-Black transitions · lower third · all visual source module bindings · 10fps preview / 60fps transition	✓ Done
Service Runner	`com.mcaster1.church.servicerunner`	Service rundown with timed segments (Welcome/Worship/Prayer/Scripture/Sermon/Offering/etc.) · auto-advance · TimerClock integration · JSON template save/load	✓ Done
Podcast Surface Modules (13)
Podcast Mixer	`com.mcaster1.podcast.mixer`	6-channel mixer (Host, Guest 1-2, Soundboard, Music, Phone) · per-channel gain/volume/pan/mute/solo/EQ/aux · VU bars · master bus · headphone volume	✓ Done
Podcast PTT	`com.mcaster1.podcast.ptt`	Enhanced Push-to-Talk · Hold/Toggle/AlwaysOn modes · Cough button · Talkback · VAD (voice activity detection) · full DSP params	✓ Done
Podcast Recorder	`com.mcaster1.podcast.recorder`	Multi-track WAV recorder · show/episode metadata · markers with labels · take management · time display · ring buffer recording · WAV header writing	✓ Done
Podcast Soundboard	`com.mcaster1.podcast.soundboard`	Sound pad grid with banks (Intro/Outro, Sound FX, Music Beds) · QMediaPlayer per pad · OneShot/Toggle/Loop modes · custom colors · keyboard shortcuts · JSON serialization	✓ Done
Podcast Effects	`com.mcaster1.podcast.fx`	7-processor voice FX chain: Noise Gate, Compressor, De-Esser, Parametric EQ, High-Pass Filter, Limiter, LUFS Meter · per-processor bypass · reorderable chain · RT-safe DSP	✓ Done
Podcast Editor	`com.mcaster1.podcast.editor`	DAW-style waveform editor · timeline with markers · region selection · cut/trim stubs · playback with position indicator · zoom/scroll · QMediaPlayer backend	✓ Done
Podcast Encoder	`com.mcaster1.podcast.encode`	Multi-format export (MP3/AAC/OGG/FLAC/Opus) · bitrate/samplerate/channels config · ID3 metadata form · LUFS normalization target · job queue with progress	✓ Done
Podcast Transcription	`com.mcaster1.podcast.transcribe`	Transcript segment editor (time/speaker/text/confidence) · speaker labels · SRT/VTT export · chapter marker generation · Whisper integration (v2)	✓ Done
Show Notes	`com.mcaster1.podcast.shownotes`	WYSIWYG editor · bold/italic/link/timestamp toolbar · templates (Standard/Interview/Solo) · chapter markers · resource links · guest bios · HTML/Markdown/text export	✓ Done
RSS Feed	`com.mcaster1.podcast.rss`	RSS 2.0 + iTunes namespace feed generator · show settings · episode table · feed validation · XML preview · file export	✓ Done
Publisher	`com.mcaster1.podcast.publisher`	Multi-target publishing: Local Copy (v1), SFTP/FTP/HTTP (v2) · target management · per-target progress	✓ Done
Podcast Analytics	`com.mcaster1.podcast.analytics`	Episode stats dashboard · downloads/subscribers/growth trend · bar chart · episode data table · CSV export	✓ Done
Remote Guests	`com.mcaster1.podcast.remote`	Up to 4 remote guests · status indicators · audio level bars · mute/admit controls · join URL generation · WebRTC (v2)	✓ Done
System Modules
System Health	`com.mcaster1.health`	CPU/memory monitoring · encoder status summary · deck status · 2s refresh · Prometheus /metrics endpoint (v2)	✓ Done

Theming

Dark (Default)

Deep navy (#0f172a) background
Sky-blue (#0ea5e9) accents + borders
Broadcast green (#22c55e) for play/active states
Segmented VU bars: green → amber → red

Classic — SAM Broadcaster Style

Warm dark brown (#2a1e14) background
Amber gold (#d4891e) accents
Chrome/nickel gradient buttons
Cream (#f0e6d8) primary text

Enterprise Pro — Light

White/sand (#fdf8f0) background
Steel blue (#2980b9) accents
Tan/gold ribbon and tray gradients
Dark navy text (#2c3e50)

Theme selectable live via File → Preferences → Appearance. No restart required. Applied via QApplication::setStyleSheet() using objectName-based QSS selectors.

Audio Engine

Feature	Detail
Audio I/O	PortAudio 19.7 with ASIO SDK support
RT callback chain	deck → PTT → cartwall → effects → podcast → encoder (strict order)
Peak metering	`std::atomic<float>` — RT safe, post-gain measurement, polled at 20-30fps by VU timers
EventBus	`audioLevelsChanged(inL, inR, outL, outR)` — queued connection to Qt thread
Thread safety	No Qt calls, no allocation, no mutex waits in `onAudioBlock()`
Sample rates	44100 / 48000 Hz (configurable in Preferences)
Buffer sizes	128 / 256 / 512 / 1024 frames (configurable)

ICY Protocol Compliance

Non-negotiable: ALL encoder targets MUST always send ICY 1.x StreamTitle= even when also sending ICY 2.2. Backward compatibility is mandatory.

Server	ICY 1.x	ICY 2.2	Push Method
Icecast2	✅ Required	❌ N/A	HTTP GET `/admin/metadata?mode=updinfo&song=…`
Shoutcast v1/v2	✅ Required	❌ N/A	In-stream at icy-metaint boundaries
Mcaster1DNAS	✅ Required	✅ Required	HTTP PUT + `Icy-Version: 2.2` header

ICY 2.2 Groups (70+ fields)

Group	Prefix	Key Fields
1 — Station	`icy2-station-*`	id · name · logo · genre · url · language
2 — Show	`icy2-show-*`	title · host · start · end · next · description
3 — Track	`icy2-track-*`	title · artist · album · year · genre · artwork · bpm · key · isrc · mbid · label
4 — DJ	`icy2-dj-*`	handle · name · bio · avatar · website · email
5 — Social	`icy2-social-*`	twitter · instagram · tiktok · youtube · facebook · twitch · linktree · hashtags
6 — Podcast	`icy2-podcast-*`	title · episode · season · feed · guid · duration · chapter
7 — Broadcast	`icy2-broadcast-*`	mode · relay · cdn · lufs · codec · samplerate · channels
8 — Content	`icy2-content-*`	explicit · live · type (radio\|tv\|podcast\|socialcast) · rating

SDK / Plugin System

Third-party modules are DLLs exporting a C ABI. The SDK interface library at SDK/include/ provides all headers needed to build external plugins.

Export	Purpose
`mcaster1_plugin_info()`	Returns `Mcaster1PluginInfo*` — API version, ID, name, type
`mcaster1_create_module(IModuleHost*)`	Factory — creates and returns a new `IModule*`
`mcaster1_destroy_module(IModule*)`	Cleanup
`mcaster1_create_effect(void*)`	DSP unit factory (optional)
`mcaster1_destroy_effect(IEffectUnit*)`	DSP cleanup (optional)

See SDK/examples/SampleModule/ for a working minimal module DLL. Module DLLs placed in plugins/modules/ are discovered at startup.

Known Refinements Pending (Phase C)

AppRibbon box sizing and spacing visual polish
WeatherWidget live-data end-to-end test with real location
Compact VU rendering verification against real audio levels
Drag-drop indicator position fine-tuning in AppRibbon
Prevent duplicate singleton modules via tab right-click Add Module
Ribbon box persistence — save/restore which boxes are open across sessions
ON AIR button wiring to encoder slot active state
ModuleDock collapse button (title-bar ▼/▶ to shrink content area)
Surface splitter size persistence across sessions
Status bar now-playing track + encoder count live updates
EffectsRack pre-populate 3 default units on first load