SoundGates is an independent software and research project focused on practical tools for radio, broadcast operations, and professional audio workflows.
Audio teams often rely on a mixture of automation software, spreadsheets, text files, plugins, monitoring services, and manual checks. Small inconsistencies can become time-consuming problems: artist names do not match, playlist data requires repetitive cleanup, a file fails a technical requirement, or a completed task has no clear verification record.
SoundGates explores focused ways to make those workflows more reliable, understandable, and easier to verify.
Our approach
SoundGates starts with a specific operational problem and builds the smallest useful solution around it. A tool should fit the workflow people already use, explain what it changed, and produce an output that can be checked.
- Solve a real task: start with a concrete problem rather than a broad technology trend.
- Respect existing systems: support established formats and document compatibility clearly.
- Keep data private when possible: avoid uploading or storing information when browser-based processing is enough.
- Make results verifiable: users should be able to review errors, understand the output, and confirm the final result.
- Be honest about scope: no vague certification claims and no promises beyond what a tool can actually prove.
Our first tool for StationPlaylist Creator
The first public SoundGates utility is Artist Separator for StationPlaylist Creator. It converts artist and collaboration data into the Related Artists structure used by the StationPlaylist Creator Related.dat file.
Artist Separator grew from a repetitive radio workflow: separating performers from multi-artist playlist entries, preserving the original combinations, and formatting the result consistently. The tool now supports artist-only input, optional song titles, escaped separators, Unicode names, case-variant merging, line-by-line validation, clipboard copying, and direct Related.dat downloads.
What SoundGates is researching
Future SoundGates research is centered on professional audio quality and proof—not generic music generation or another media player. Areas under evaluation include:
- broadcast playlist and playout verification;
- audio quality checks and repeatable publishing standards;
- proof-of-play and evidence for scheduled content;
- audio review, versioning, and approval workflows;
- clear reports that turn audio evidence into an operational decision.
These are research directions, not claims about products that are already available. New tools will be published only when they solve a defined problem and can be tested against a real workflow.
Who SoundGates is for
SoundGates is intended for radio professionals, station operators, playlist managers, audio producers, podcasters, studios, WordPress publishers, and technical teams that value dependable workflows over unnecessary complexity.
Start with Artist Separator
If you use StationPlaylist Creator, try the free Artist Separator and Related.dat generator. You can also browse all available SoundGates plugins or follow project updates on the blog.