curiositech/win31-audio-design

Win31 Audio Design: Satisfying Retro Sound Vocabulary

Expert in creating authentic Windows 3.1 era sound experiences for modern web and mobile applications using CC-licensed alternatives that capture the satisfying, lo-fi essence of early 90s computing.

Decision Points

Sound Selection Tree

Input Type:
├── UI Feedback
│   ├── High frequency (>20/sec) → Single click (20ms, 800Hz)
│   ├── Medium frequency (5-20/sec) → Toggle chirp (100ms, sweep)
│   └── Low frequency (<5/sec) → Chime variation (400ms, harmonic)
│
├── System Events
│   ├── Success → TADA-style fanfare (1-2s, ascending chord)
│   ├── Error → DING-style alert (300ms, 880Hz + decay)
│   └── Navigation → RINGIN/OUT-style sweep (150ms, pitch slide)
│
└── Device Constraints
    ├── Mobile → Add haptic pairing + respect silent mode
    ├── Low bandwidth → Use procedural synthesis over samples
    └── Desktop → Full sample library + optional reverb

Frequency/Sample Rate Selection

Sound Type → Sample Rate → Frequency Range:
├── Button clicks → 11kHz → 600-1200Hz
├── System alerts → 22kHz → 400-2000Hz
├── Musical elements → 22kHz → 200-4000Hz
└── Error/warning → 11kHz → 200-800Hz

Device Memory:
├── <100MB available → Procedural only
├── 100-500MB → Core samples + procedural fallbacks
└── >500MB → Full sample library

Failure Modes

| Anti-Pattern | Detection Rule | Symptom | Fix | |--------------|----------------|---------|-----| | Modern Clarity | Sounds crisp at 48kHz+ | Too clean, loses retro charm | Downsample to 22kHz max, apply 8-bit quantization | | Cathedral Reverb | Reverb tail >200ms | Sounds spacious, not desktop-like | Remove reverb or limit to <100ms room | | Frequency Bloat | Energy below 200Hz or above 8kHz | Muddy bass or harsh highs | High-pass at 200Hz, low-pass at 6kHz | | Copyright Trap | Using actual .WAV filenames | Legal risk, identical to Windows | Replace with CC-licensed alternatives only | | Sound Spam | >3 sounds per second | User fatigue, cacophony | Limit to primary actions, add global toggle |

Worked Examples

Mobile Haptic-Audio Sync Example

Scenario: Creating a satisfying toggle switch with coordinated vibration and Win31-style sound

// 1. Analyze requirements
const toggleRequirements = {
  duration: "100-150ms", // Fast enough to feel instant
  frequency: "sweep 600→1200Hz for ON, reverse for OFF",
  haptic: "light impact at sound start",
  timing: "audio and haptic must fire within 5ms"
};

// 2. Decision point: Procedural vs sample?
if (memoryConstraint < 50MB) {
  // Choose procedural synthesis
  function createToggleSound(isOn: boolean) {
    const ctx = audioContext;
    const osc = ctx.createOscillator();
    const gain = ctx.createGain();
    
    // Win31 characteristic: triangle wave (softer than sine)
    osc.type = 'triangle';
    
    // Frequency sweep decision
    const startFreq = isOn ? 600 : 1200;
    const endFreq = isOn ? 1200 : 600;
    
    osc.frequency.setValueAtTime(startFreq, ctx.currentTime);
    osc.frequency.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(endFreq, ctx.currentTime + 0.12);
    
    // Envelope: fast attack, medium decay
    gain.gain.setValueAtTime(0.3, ctx.currentTime);
    gain.gain.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(0.001, ctx.currentTime + 0.12);
    
    return { oscillator: osc, gainNode: gain };
  }
}

// 3. Timing coordination (critical for satisfaction)
async function playToggleWithHaptic(isOn: boolean) {
  const startTime = performance.now();
  
  // Fire simultaneously
  const [soundPromise, hapticPromise] = await Promise.allSettled([
    playToggleSound(isOn),
    Haptics.impactAsync(Haptics.ImpactFeedbackStyle.Light)
  ]);
  
  const endTime = performance.now();
  
  // Quality check: timing must be tight
  if (endTime - startTime > 10) {
    console.warn('Haptic-audio sync exceeded 10ms threshold');
  }
}

// 4. What expert catches vs novice misses:
// Expert: Checks for silent mode before playing
// Expert: Uses exponential ramps (more natural than linear)
// Expert: Applies 8-bit quantization for authentic character
// Novice: Forgets to coordinate timing
// Novice: Uses default Web Audio sample rate (48kHz - too clean)

Quality Gates

• [ ] All sounds limited to 22kHz sample rate or lower
• [ ] Frequency content stays within 200Hz-6kHz range
• [ ] No sound plays without user interaction (browser policy compliance)
• [ ] Global audio toggle implemented and functional
• [ ] Mobile builds include haptic coordination within 5ms timing
• [ ] All audio samples properly attributed with CC license info
• [ ] Sound levels stay between -24dB (UI) and -6dB (system events)
• [ ] Procedural fallbacks work when samples fail to load
• [ ] Silent mode respected on all mobile platforms
• [ ] Maximum sound duration under 2.5 seconds (prevents audio fatigue)

NOT-FOR Boundaries

Do NOT use this skill for:

• Modern flat/material sound design → Use sound-engineer instead
• Voice synthesis or speech → Use voice-audio-engineer instead
• Music composition or background tracks → Use DAW tools instead
• Film/video sound design → Use linear audio workflows instead
• Real-time audio effects (reverb, delay) → Use audio-effects-specialist instead
• Accessibility audio cues → Use accessibility-expert instead

Delegate when:

• Client wants spatial audio → sound-engineer
• Need advanced DSP → audio-effects-specialist
• Designing for hearing impaired → accessibility-expert
• Building music applications → audio-programmer

Core Formula: Win31 sounds = Simple + Bright + Lo-fi + Fast decay. Always pair audio with haptics on mobile. Never copy Microsoft sounds - create inspired CC-licensed alternatives.