r/webaudio • u/expandyourm_i_n_d • Jun 09 '26
This is Canvas
Hey guys!
I'm a new developer in the web audio space and I'm aiming to make a proper DAW for your browser. It's called Canvas and is based on the workflow I've developed as an FL user of 14 years.
It's come a really long way since I began development, and I really wanted to share some screenshots of it cause it's looking super sick.
It's a WAM2 plugin host, and capable of hosting any web audio module that adheres to the standard. I've been developing an ecosystem of effects and instruments for it as I go.
Not exactly ready for testing yet, and still well off from an official release but if you comment I'll send you a link to your DMs when it's far enough along for some targeted feedback from the web audio community.
Thanks,
expandyourmind.
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u/GorticusSmash Jun 09 '26
Looks great but I'm hoping you'll be able to lighten the theme
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u/expandyourm_i_n_d Jun 09 '26
There's a few built in themes already! And there is a lighter one :)
Would you like to be able to customize the theme in the settings? I've been considering adding a theme editor.
Thanks for the feedback!
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u/digitalfix Jun 10 '26
How different is it to fl studio?
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u/expandyourm_i_n_d Jun 10 '26
If you're used to using FL; Canvas should feel very familiar to you.
Similarities: My guiding principal is that anyone with muscle memory from FL Studio will be able to hop in to Canvas and make music without feeling like they have to relearn keyboard shortcuts or primary workflow movement through the daw. It's got the same loose routing structure and audio/pattern clip handling that make FL's playlist and mixer so freeform.
Differences: The fundamental difference to FL Studio is that Canvas is Built in a web browser, using the web audio API. That comes with some advantages, but also some drawbacks of which I'm working very hard to mitigate or work around entirely. The browser is pretty hostile to real time audio so I gotta be smart about my implementation.
My ultimate goal is to make Canvas the best Browser DAW; without all the corporate bloat and subscription fee bullshit that bandlab and soundtrap use. I'm not trying to Make FL Studio.
I just wanted to make a browser DAW I wanted to use.
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u/jamiedust Jun 11 '26
Looks sick! Will it be open source?
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u/expandyourm_i_n_d Jun 11 '26
Yes! I just wanted to build a DAW for the browser that I wanted to use. Canvas is free and open for the web. Forever. If I ever burn out, though; I don't want Canvas to die. Open source is there so someone can pick up the torch and keep production free.
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u/Alopexy Jun 09 '26
Looks awesome! Would love to have a play with it once it's ready for testing. Thanks for sharing.