Question 1

What is DMKI Lab?

Accepted Answer

DMKI Lab builds focused, privacy-first tools that run on your own devices. Our current lineup includes SoundWorks (AI audio and video creation), Notepad# (a modern code and text editor), and Castiel Calculator (a six-in-one calculator), with more tools planned.

Question 2

Are DMKI Lab tools free?

Accepted Answer

SoundWorks and Notepad# are completely free. Castiel Calculator's Simple and School modes are free forever, while its advanced modes unlock with a small one-time purchase. There are no subscriptions anywhere in the lineup.

Question 3

What platforms do your tools run on?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the tool. SoundWorks and Notepad# are Windows applications. Castiel Calculator runs across desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), mobile (iOS and Android), the web, and even the watch.

Question 4

How do you protect my privacy?

Accepted Answer

Our tools have no accounts, no telemetry, and no tracking. Processing happens on your device, and your files and data stay with you. Any optional network feature (such as a cloud service you choose to connect) is clearly opt-in.

Question 5

How do I get support or join the community?

Accepted Answer

Join the DMKI Lab Telegram community for help and discussion, follow the Telegram channel for announcements, or contact us directly by email. The blog also carries guides and updates.

Question 6

How do I report a bug?

Accepted Answer

Report bugs through the Telegram community group or by email. Include the product name, its version, your operating system, and the steps to reproduce the issue for the fastest resolution.

Question 7

What is SoundWorks?

Accepted Answer

SoundWorks is a free Windows desktop application that combines AI voice cloning, Whisper transcription, batch audio processing, video automation, and creative AI tools in a single native interface. It runs entirely on your local hardware.

Question 8

Is SoundWorks really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, SoundWorks is completely free with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or premium tiers. All features are available from day one, and there are no usage limits.

Question 9

What can I create with SoundWorks?

Accepted Answer

You can clone voices, transcribe audio, convert and master audio files in batch, create narrated videos from slides, fix HDR footage, generate subtitles, rephrase text with AI, and much more.

Question 10

Who is SoundWorks for?

Accepted Answer

SoundWorks is built for musicians who need batch audio processing, AI content creators who need video automation at scale, and privacy-conscious users who want powerful AI tools that run offline.

Question 11

Do I need AI or machine learning knowledge?

Accepted Answer

No. SoundWorks is designed for everyone. All AI features have simple interfaces - load your files, choose your settings, and the application handles the rest. No technical expertise required.

Question 12

Which platforms does SoundWorks support?

Accepted Answer

SoundWorks currently supports Windows 10 and Windows 11. macOS and Linux versions are planned for the SoundWorks 2.0 release on .NET.

Question 13

What are the system requirements?

Accepted Answer

Minimum: Windows 10, 4GB RAM, 500MB disk space. Recommended: Windows 11, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GPU with 6GB+ VRAM for AI features. All features also work in CPU mode on any hardware.

Question 14

Does SoundWorks work offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most features work entirely offline, including voice cloning, Whisper transcription, audio processing, and video tools. Only cloud TTS and AI rephrasing via ChatGPT/Claude require an internet connection.

Question 15

What audio and video formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

Audio: MP3, AAC, AC3, Opus, FLAC, WAV, and more. Video: MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WebM. SoundWorks handles conversion between all major formats with full codec control.

Question 16

How accurate is the AI transcription?

Accepted Answer

SoundWorks uses OpenAI Whisper models which deliver state-of-the-art accuracy. Results depend on audio quality, background noise, and speaker clarity. Clean recordings typically achieve over 95% accuracy.

Question 17

Can I train custom voice models?

Accepted Answer

Yes. VibeVoice supports training custom voice models from your own recordings. Provide 10-15 minutes of clear speech samples, and SoundWorks trains the model locally on your GPU or CPU.

Question 18

Do I need a GPU for AI features?

Accepted Answer

No, all AI features work in CPU mode. However, an NVIDIA RTX GPU with 6GB+ VRAM is recommended for voice cloning and transcription as it runs significantly faster.

Question 19

Is my data safe with SoundWorks?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All processing happens on your device, and SoundWorks contains zero telemetry, analytics, or tracking. Your voice recordings, audio files, and project data never leave your machine. The only network request is an optional update check.

Question 20

Can I use SoundWorks commercially?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Content you create with SoundWorks (audio, video, transcriptions) is yours to use however you wish, including for commercial and client work. There are no licensing restrictions on your output.

Question 21

Is Notepad# free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Notepad# is completely free to use with no restrictions, no subscriptions, and no premium tiers.

Question 22

How is Notepad# different from Notepad++?

Accepted Answer

Notepad# is a modern .NET 10 application with native dark mode, live Markdown preview with math rendering, encrypted auto-save, and secure file deletion. It uses the same Scintilla editing engine but is built for the modern Windows platform.

Question 23

What languages does syntax highlighting support?

Accepted Answer

C#, C/C++, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, XML, SQL, PowerShell, Batch, and Markdown. You can add more languages by dropping a JSON definition file into the SyntaxDefs folder.

Question 24

Does the Markdown preview support math equations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. It renders both inline math and display math, and code blocks are syntax-highlighted. The preview refreshes live as you type.

Question 25

What are the system requirements for Notepad#?

Accepted Answer

Windows 10 or later with the .NET 10 Runtime (setup installs it for you). For Markdown preview, the WebView2 Runtime is needed, which ships with Microsoft Edge. The application itself is lightweight and runs on minimal hardware.

Question 26

Can I use Notepad# without installing it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Place a file named portable.marker next to the executable, and all settings are stored in a Config subdirectory beside the app. No registry entries, no AppData files.

Question 27

How does the encrypted auto-save work?

Accepted Answer

Notepad# saves your work at a configurable interval (default 60 seconds) using NTFS EFS encryption. If the application or your system crashes, you can recover the last auto-saved version, or simply double-click the auto-saved file to reopen it.

Question 28

Can I open large files?

Accepted Answer

Notepad# warns at 50 MB and blocks files above 200 MB to protect system stability. Syntax highlighting is automatically disabled above 10 MB to keep the editor responsive.

Question 29

What is Castiel Calculator?

Accepted Answer

Castiel is six calculators in one app: a clean four-function Simple calculator, a full scientific School calculator, an Engineering workstation with a computer algebra system, a Financial calculator, and a programmable environment. Every mode shares one editable, recomputing paper tape.

Question 30

What platforms does Castiel run on?

Accepted Answer

Castiel runs on desktop (Windows, macOS, and Linux), mobile (iOS and Android), the web, and the Samsung Watch. Your work and settings follow the same familiar interface across all of them.

Question 31

Is Castiel free?

Accepted Answer

The Simple and School modes are free forever, with no timer and no ads. The advanced modes (Engineer, Financial, and Programming) run free in timed sessions, and a small one-time purchase removes the timer permanently. There is no subscription.

Question 32

What can each mode do?

Accepted Answer

Simple is everyday arithmetic with memory and a docked tape. School adds a scientific calculator plus graphing, statistics, distributions, a spreadsheet, equation solving, and geometry. Engineer adds a computer algebra system, matrices, unit conversion, and constants. Financial covers time value of money, cash flow, amortization, and bonds. Programming lets you author, run, and debug calculation sequences.

Question 33

Is Castiel private, and does it work offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Castiel has no accounts, no ads, and no telemetry. Your work stays on your device, and live currency rates are cached for offline use. Any API keys you add are stored in your operating system's secure store, never in plain text.

Question 34

Does Castiel have AI features?

Accepted Answer

Castiel has no built-in AI and sends nothing on its own. In the Programming mode you can optionally connect your own LLM provider (such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Qwen, or DeepSeek) using your own API key to get an assistant panel. It is entirely opt-in.

Question 35

What is the editable tape?

Accepted Answer

Every mode writes to one running paper tape. Unlike a printed receipt, Castiel's tape is editable: correct any earlier line and every dependent result recomputes automatically, so you never have to start a calculation over.

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