Documentation

Setup Guide

RadioDesk installs in under a minute. Download the correct .dmg for your Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon), drag it to your Applications folder, and launch it. macOS will ask for microphone permission the first time you record a voice track.

System Requirements

Before installing RadioDesk, confirm your Mac meets these requirements:

macOS
12 Monterey or later
Ventura or later recommended
Processor
Intel or Apple Silicon
RAM
2GB minimum
4GB recommended
Disk Space
500MB available

A microphone or audio interface is needed for recording voice tracks.

Installation

Which version should I download?

Click the Apple menu → About This Mac. If you see Apple M1, M2, M3, or M4 under Chip, download the Apple Silicon version. If you see Intel under Processor, download the Intel version.

STEP 01
Download RadioDesk
Download the correct .dmg for your Mac from your Gumroad purchase receipt. Intel Mac (2019 or earlier): RadioDesk_Intel.dmg · Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4): RadioDesk_AppleSilicon.dmg
STEP 02
Open the DMG
Double-click the downloaded .dmg file. A window appears showing RadioDesk and your Applications folder.
STEP 03
Drag to Applications
Drag RadioDesk into the Applications folder. That's it — no installer required.
STEP 04
First Launch
Open RadioDesk from your Applications folder or Launchpad. If macOS shows a security dialog saying "RadioDesk cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified," right-click the app and choose Open, then click Open in the dialog. You only need to do this once.
Tip: RadioDesk is a self-contained app. You do not need to install Python or any other software — everything is bundled inside.

Microphone Permission

RadioDesk needs microphone access to record voice tracks. macOS asks for permission the first time you use the recording feature.

  1. Click Record VT or Dub Song in the toolbar
  2. macOS shows a dialog: "RadioDesk would like to access the microphone." Click OK
  3. Done. This permission only needs to be granted once

If you accidentally clicked Don't Allow: go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, find RadioDesk in the list, and toggle it on. Then relaunch RadioDesk.

Quick Start — Your First Show

Building Your Playlist

  1. Click + Add Song and browse to your audio files (MP3, WAV, or FLAC)
  2. Repeat to add more songs. Drag the :: handle on any row to reorder
  3. Click Record VT to record a voice track. Press RECORD, speak, press STOP, then Save & Add to Playlist
Tip: RadioDesk reads your MP3 and FLAC tags automatically — artist, title, and album appear without any manual entry.

Playing Your Show

  1. Click Play on any row to start playback
  2. The Now Playing bar shows track name, artist, remaining time, and a live countdown
  3. Press the spacebar to stop playback at any time
Tip: The wall clock in the top right corner always shows the current time so you can stay on schedule.

Saving Your Show

  1. Click Save in the menu bar to save your show as a .radiodesk file
  2. RadioDesk autosaves every 5 minutes automatically
  3. Use Open to load a previously saved show

Key Features

Segue Editor

Click the ~ Segue button between any two songs. Set how long the two tracks overlap and how far the outgoing track ducks. The standard starting point for duck depth is -14dB. The Preview button lets you hear exactly how the transition will sound before your show.

Voice Track Recording & Processing

Click Record VT to open the recording panel. Select your input device, press RECORD, and speak. After stopping, click anywhere on the waveform to scrub to a specific point. Go to VT Processing in the menu bar for Noise Gate, Compressor, High-Pass Filter, and Limiter controls. A light high-pass filter and gentle compressor is a good starting point for most environments.

Using an Audio Interface

Connect your audio interface before opening RadioDesk. In Record VT, select your interface from the Input Device dropdown. RadioDesk automatically prioritizes professional interfaces like Vocaster and BlackHole and remembers your last selection.

Cue Sheet Export

Click Cue Sheet in the menu bar to export a CSV log with offset timestamps, media type, title, artist, album, and year for every element in your show. Enter your show name and host name once — RadioDesk remembers them.

Exporting Your Show

Click Export Show to render your entire playlist — crossfades and all — to a single WAV or MP3 file. WAV for lossless quality, MP3 for a smaller file. MP3 export requires ffmpeg:

brew install ffmpeg

Need More Help?

Check the FAQ for answers to the most common questions, or email support@radiodesk.app with your macOS version, Mac model, and a description of the issue.