Foleyard: A Local-First Browser for Your Sound Library
Foleyard is an open source, local-first browser for large collections of sound effects, music cues, samples, loops, and other audio assets.
It is built for people who already have audio files on their machine and want a faster way to work with them. Point Foleyard at a folder, let it index the files, then browse, search, preview, favorite, and organize sounds without moving your library somewhere else.
The problem
Audio libraries don't get messy overnight. They grow slowly. A few sound effects here, some music cues there, downloaded packs, old project folders, recordings with unclear filenames. Eventually the sounds are still there, but finding the right one takes longer than it should.
For a small collection, the file explorer is usually enough. Once the library grows, that setup breaks. You know the right sound exists somewhere, but you do not remember where. You open file after file just to find one usable hit, ambience, cue, or loop.
Foleyard is meant to solve access, not storage. A sound library is only useful if you can move through it quickly.
What it does
- Index audio files from a local folder
- Browse your existing library
- Search through indexed files
- Preview sounds inside the app
- Favorite useful files
- Organize sounds into playlists
Search helps when folder names are not enough. Previewing helps when filenames are unclear. Favorites keep useful sounds close. Playlists let you build smaller working collections inside a much larger library.
Why local-first matters
Your audio files stay on your machine. You do not need to upload a private, licensed, personal, or massive library to a cloud platform just to browse it properly.
Foleyard works around your existing folder structure instead of forcing you to rebuild everything from scratch. The files stay where they are; Foleyard gives you a better way to work with them.
Who it is for
- Video editors looking for sound effects and music while cutting
- Indie game developers managing audio assets for projects
- Filmmakers and motion designers working with large SFX folders
- Musicians and producers browsing samples or loops
- Sound designers organizing recordings and sound packs
- Developers interested in open source media tools
- Anyone with a messy folder full of useful audio files
It is not trying to replace your DAW, video editor, or file system. The goal is smaller and more practical: make it easier to find and organize the sounds you already have.
How it works
- Choose a folder that contains your audio files.
- Let Foleyard scan and index the folder.
- Browse or search your library.
- Preview sounds directly in the app.
- Favorite the sounds you want to keep close.
- Create playlists for projects, categories, or ideas.
Foleyard is still early, so the focus is on getting the basics right before adding heavier features. Future ideas include better metadata support, waveform visualization, and integrations with common editing software.