Documentation

Audio Playbook

Stage audio prompts with the speaker, setting, and action.

Pick the mode

ModeUse it forCLI
speechSingle-voice narration or voiceovermakefx audio speech generate
dialogueMulti-speaker scriptsmakefx audio dialogue generate
musicBeds, cues, stings, loopsmakefx audio music generate
sfxOne-off sound effectsmakefx audio sfx generate
makefx audio speech generate \
  "A calm host intro: Welcome back to the forge." \
  --model eleven_v3 --voice VOICE_ID --name "Episode Intro Narration" -o audio/intro.wav

makefx audio sfx generate \
  "A crisp inventory item pickup sound effect" \
  --name "Item Pickup SFX" -o audio/item-pickup.wav

Treat voice as identity

For speech and dialogue, the voice is the audio equivalent of a character sheet. Pick it once and reuse it across the production.

Reuse the same voice selection, speaker names, and written sound brief.

For dialogue, keep speaker names stable:

Host: Welcome back to the forge.
Blacksmith: Took you long enough. Grab a hammer.
Host: Easy. I only just put my coffee down.
makefx audio dialogue generate \
  --input scripts/scene-dialogue.txt \
  --model eleven_v3 \
  --dialogue-voices HOST_VOICE_ID,BLACKSMITH_VOICE_ID \
  --name "Blacksmith Dialogue" -o audio/blacksmith-dialogue.wav

Do not leave the performance implied. Add pace, emotion, and situation directly to the line.

Brief music clearly

For music, include:

  • genre or era
  • tempo
  • key instruments
  • mood
  • dynamic arc
  • whether vocals are allowed
makefx audio music generate \
  "A 20-second low-intensity fantasy workshop bed, warm strings and soft hand percussion, no vocals" \
  --model eleven-music --name "Workshop Music Bed" -o audio/music-bed.mp3

Run several named generations when the next step is choosing among candidates.

Tie effects to action

For SFX, describe the sound and the visible event it belongs to:

A short, bright magical pickup chime exactly as a glowing coin snaps into the inventory.

For video work, include ambience too: room tone, crowd murmur, wind, machine hum, footsteps, or intentional silence.

Quick reference

GoalDo this
Consistent narratorReuse one voice
Multi-speaker sceneStable Speaker: names
Music bedGenre + tempo + instruments + dynamics
Several candidatesSeveral named audio music generate calls
Video effectTie the sound to visible action

See Model & Parameter Selection for choosing speech, dialogue, music, SFX, and output settings.