Project Overview
Bassolation is a specialized web application designed for bass players who want to practice along with their favorite songs. Using advanced AI audio separation technology (Demucs), it extracts bass stems from any audio file, allowing musicians to hear isolated bass lines, play along with the rest of the band, or create their own bass covers. The full-stack application combines a FastAPI backend with a React frontend, providing a seamless experience for audio processing and user management.
Tech Stack
- Backend: FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, Alembic
- Frontend: React.js, Vite, TanStack Query
- AI/ML: Demucs (Meta’s audio source separation model)
- Database: PostgreSQL
- Authentication: JWT-based user authentication
Key Challenges
- Audio Processing Performance: Processing large audio files with AI models requires significant computational resources and time
- File Management: Handling upload, processing, storage, and delivery of large audio files efficiently
- Real-time Updates: Keeping users informed about the processing status of their audio files
- User Experience: Creating an intuitive interface for non-technical musicians while handling complex backend processes
Solutions
Efficient Audio Processing Pipeline:
- Implemented asynchronous task processing using background workers
- Created a queue system to handle multiple extraction requests
- Optimized Demucs integration for faster processing times
- Added progress tracking for long-running extraction tasks
Scalable Backend Architecture:
- Built RESTful API with FastAPI for high-performance async operations
- Implemented proper database schema with SQLAlchemy ORM
- Used Alembic for database migrations and version control
- Created modular service layer for clean separation of concerns
Modern Frontend Development:
- Developed responsive UI with React.js and modern hooks
- Utilized TanStack Query for efficient data fetching and caching
- Implemented real-time progress updates using WebSockets
- Created intuitive file upload interface with drag-and-drop support
User Authentication & Management:
- Built secure JWT-based authentication system
- Implemented user registration and profile management
- Added file ownership and access control
- Created user dashboard for managing extracted stems
Features & Innovation
- AI-Powered Extraction: Leverages state-of-the-art Demucs model for high-quality stem separation
- Multiple Output Options: Users can download isolated bass, drums, vocals, or other instruments
- Batch Processing: Support for processing multiple songs in queue
- Audio Preview: In-browser playback of extracted stems before download
- Processing History: Users can access previously processed files
Impact & Use Cases
- Enables bass players to learn songs more effectively by isolating bass lines
- Helps music teachers create practice materials for students
- Allows musicians to create backing tracks for performances
- Supports music producers in remixing and sampling workflows
Lessons Learned
- Gained hands-on experience with audio processing and machine learning model integration
- Developed expertise in building scalable full-stack applications with modern frameworks
- Learned to optimize performance for compute-intensive tasks
- Understood the importance of user feedback and progress indication for long-running processes
- Mastered async programming patterns in both backend and frontend development
Attachments
Main Dashboard
Audio Upload Interface
Processing Progress
Extracted Stems Player
Project Repository: Bassolation - Bass Stem Extractor