Exploring the Web Audio API w/ Honchan Choi (Google) | Ep 23

In this special edition of The Audio Programmer Meetup, we welcomed Hongchan Choi, Technical Lead and Manager at Google Chrome and co-chair of the W3C Audio Working Group, for an in-depth discussion about the Web Audio API and the future of music technology on the web. Hongchan provided fascinating insights into how the web platform is evolving to support professional audio applications, from the architecture of dual-threading systems that prevent audio glitches to the latest developments like Audio Worklet, which gives developers low-level control over audio processing using JavaScript and WebAssembly. He explained how the W3C working group operates through bi-weekly meetings to establish web standards, taking a data-driven approach based on developer surveys rather than assumptions about what features are needed.

The conversation explored practical challenges facing web audio developers, including memory limitations, multi-channel support, and the balance between providing powerful low-level APIs while maintaining user security and privacy. Hongchan shared exciting examples of professional web audio applications like Ableton's Learning Music platform, Cleanfeed's distributed recording studio, and AudioTool's hybrid approach that combines web technology with local VST plugin support. He emphasized that web audio shouldn't try to simply replicate native applications, but rather leverage the web's unique advantages like instant accessibility, cloud connectivity, and cross-platform compatibility to create innovative new experiences that wouldn't be possible on traditional platforms.

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Originally recorded on August 16th, 2023.