Progress Log: Java DAW MVC Setup

Project Overview

The Java DAW project aims to create a modular digital audio workstation using the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern. The application will load, process, and manage audio samples while providing user-friendly interaction via a JavaFX interface.

Initial Development

1. Core Goals

• Load and process audio samples with features like playback, volume control, and spatial effects.
• Implement psychoacoustic effects and 3D sound placement.
• Use an MVC architecture for clean separation of concerns.

2. Early Structure

• Model: Handles audio data and project logic.
• View: Provides a graphical user interface using JavaFX.
• Controller: Bridges the model and view, managing user actions and application logic.

Key Classes Developed

1. Main Class
   • Initializes the MVC components (AudioModel, AudioView, and ProjectController).
   • Manages project loading and saving using .ias files.
2. AudioModel
   • Handles reading audio data from files.
   • Processes audio samples and manages data structures for storage.
3. AudioView
   • Provides file chooser dialogs for loading and saving audio files.
   • Displays messages and errors using JavaFX dialogs.
4. ProjectController
   • Handles saving and loading audio projects.
   • Interacts with the model to persist or retrieve project data.
5. AudioProject
   • Represents a DAW project containing a collection of audio samples.
   • Provides methods for adding and managing samples.

Functionality Achieved

• File Handling:
  • Users can load audio samples from files into the application.
  • Sample metadata (e.g., name and file path) and audio data are stored in the model.
  • Users can save projects to .ias files and reload them later.
• Audio Data Processing:
  • AudioModel successfully reads and processes sample data.
  • Dynamic buffer size adjustments to accommodate long audio files.
• MVC Integration:
  • A basic structure was set up with functional interactions between model, view, and controller components.

Challenges Encountered

1. JavaFX Configuration Issues

• The application intended to use JavaFX for the UI but encountered persistent issues with:
• Module system setup.
• Adding JavaFX libraries to the project correctly.
• Compatibility between JavaFX 23 and Java 21.
• Errors like Module not found and java.lang.module.FindException arose repeatedly during runtime.

2. Environment Setup

• Eclipse IDE was used, but difficulties with:
• Properly adding JavaFX SDK to the build path and module path.
• Configuring module-info.java to recognize JavaFX modules.
• Ensuring compatibility between the project setup and JavaFX requirements.