3f8h.net Assets ProofListener: audio in the DAM, up to 3.0x

With the 3f8h.net Assets ProofListener, you listen to audio assets directly in WoodWing Assets, without download and without an external tool. Combine one or more audio files into a playlist, reorder them as needed, and play back at variable speeds up to 3.0x. Login, permissions, and data residency stay inside WoodWing Assets.

What the ProofListener does

Open multiple audio assets from WoodWing Assets as a playlist. Reorder by drag-and-drop. Total playtime visible at a glance, even across 20 or more tracks.

Variable playback speed in seven steps: 0.75x, 1.0x, 1.25x, 1.5x, 1.75x, 2.0x, and 3.0x. Keyboard shortcuts for play and pause (space), seek (left arrow, right arrow), and volume (up arrow, down arrow).

Runs in all current browsers, desktop and mobile. The ProofListener is built on the plyr.io library and supports all audio formats that modern browsers play natively (MP3, WAV, OGG, AAC, WebM audio).

High speed proof listening

In the audiobook industry, proof listening is the final quality check before release. A proof listener works through the finished audiobook and checks for mispronunciations, edit artefacts, noise transitions, and narrator inconsistencies. For a 12-hour audiobook, that is a full workday and more.

With the ProofListener at 2.0x playback, that time drops to 6 hours. At 1.5x, 8 hours, still a substantial efficiency gain. Trained ears handle 2.0x to 2.5x without losing comprehension. 3.0x works for spot checks and replaying individual sections.

The same efficiency applies to other audio review workflows: podcast episodes before release, voice-over demos in creative selection, vocabulary audio in language publishing, and tutorial audio in e-learning.

When the ProofListener fits

Publishers with an audiobook list. Editorial teams who sign off on audiobooks before release dramatically speed up their final QA.

Publishers and agencies with podcast production. Episode review by editorial or chief editor without tool-hopping between DAM and external player.

Language publishers and e-learning providers. Vocabulary recordings, pronunciation samples, and listening comprehension material can be reviewed systematically with the WoodWing Assets permission model in place.

Creative agencies with voice-over casting. Compare multiple narrator demos in a single session, no separate audio tool needed for client review.

Dubbing studios and voice-over professionals. Run through takes, prepare cast decisions.

When it does not fit

Audio editing is out of scope; dedicated audio editors are the right tool for that. The ProofListener is playback only.

Timecode-accurate annotations and comments on audio require a different solution. The ProofListener shows position and duration but does not offer an annotation layer.

Video assets need a different player. The ProofListener is built for pure audio files.

The ProofListener is currently not available for WoodWing Assets 10 (SaaS) because Assets 10 has a different API structure. An Assets 10 version is under evaluation.

3f8h.net Assets ProofListener in context

The ProofListener is part of a family of in-house developments built by 3f8h.net / electronic publishing for WoodWing Assets 6: Assets Forensic (data diagnostics), Assets ConfigCharm (configuration helper), MissingMaintenance (maintenance window info), AltTextCreator (image descriptions), and SpeechToText (audio transcription). Find the overview on our page for custom scripts and tools for WoodWing Assets.

For embedding WoodWing Assets into broader workflows, we also offer our own n8n node for WoodWing Assets. With it, assets can be wired into n8n automations for auto-tagging, format conversion, or distribution.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the 3f8h.net Assets ProofListener cost?

Pricing depends on your setup and is available on request. Options include single-instance licenses for one WoodWing Assets system, or company-wide licensing across multiple instances and brands.

Which audio formats are supported?

All formats that modern browsers play natively. In practice this covers MP3, WAV, OGG, AAC, and WebM audio. The ProofListener uses the plyr.io library as its HTML5 player engine.

Does the ProofListener work with WoodWing Assets 10?

Currently only with WoodWing Assets 6. Assets 10 has a different API structure, an Assets 10 version is under evaluation.

Are permissions and login inherited from WoodWing Assets?

Yes. The ProofListener runs inside the existing Assets session. Anyone who can see an audio asset can listen to it. No separate login, no separate permission management.

Does the ProofListener work on mobile?

Yes. The player runs in all current browsers on desktop and mobile. Tablet and phone browsers are supported as long as they correctly implement HTML5 audio and JavaScript.

How fast can you really listen?

Up to 3.0x. In practice, 1.5x to 2.0x stays comprehensible for untrained ears. Trained proof listeners can work at 2.5x to 3.0x for spot checks or when replaying individual sections. Full content comprehension at the top end takes practice and is not suitable for every use case.

Which use cases fit best?

Audiobook proof listening, podcast review, voice-over selection, vocabulary audio in language publishing, e-learning audio QA, dubbing preparation.

Who develops and maintains the ProofListener?

3f8h.net / electronic publishing. We develop the plugin, support it, and release updates. Built on the plyr.io open source audio player, which is widely established.

Pricing and access

The 3f8h.net Assets ProofListener is available for individual instances or company-wide. Licensing depends on setup and usage, on request. Get in touch for a demo or a quote.