Introduction
BandMate is a self-hosted, collaborative music production platform designed for bands and musicians. It provides a structured workspace where you can organize projects, upload audio files and stems, visualize waveforms, leave timestamped feedback, and collaborate in real-time with your bandmates.
Why BandMate?
If you've ever shared music files through Dropbox, Google Drive, or group chats, you know the pain:
- Folders full of
final_mix_v3_ACTUALLY_FINAL.mp3 - Feedback buried in text threads with no way to reference a specific moment
- No clear organization for which version is which
- Files scattered across multiple platforms
BandMate solves all of this with a purpose-built platform for band collaboration.
Core Concepts
BandMate organizes your music using a three-level hierarchy:
| Level | What It Represents | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Project | Your band's workspace | "Summer EP" |
| Vibe | A song idea or theme | "Sunset Groove" |
| Cut | An individual take or mix | "Demo v1", "Final Master" |
This hierarchy mirrors how bands actually think about their music, making it natural to find and manage every version of every idea.
Key Features
- Real-time collaboration — see changes as they happen
- Audio waveform visualization for easy navigation and playback
- Timestamped comments pinned to exact moments in tracks
- File management for audio (MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc.), stems (ZIP), and images
- User invitations with role-based permissions (Admin, Member)
- Activity feed with notifications and deep linking
- Lock screen playback controls on mobile devices
- Google sign-in for optional single sign-on
- Self-hosted — your data stays on your server
Next Steps
- User Guide — Learn how to use BandMate
- Roadmap — See what's coming next
- Changelog — See what's changed