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Nightingale
What it is
Nightingale is a free, open-source karaoke app that turns songs in a music library into sing-along tracks with separated vocals, synchronized lyrics, and real-time pitch scoring. It can use local folders or libraries from Plex Media Server, Jellyfin, and Navidrome. Vocal separation uses the UVR Karaoke model or Demucs, while WhisperX transcribes and aligns lyrics word by word; LRCLIB lyrics are used when available. Japanese, Chinese, Cantonese, and Korean songs can use character-level alignment and romanized readings. After analysis, listeners can change key and tempo and follow pitch scoring. Lyrics can be supplied as timed LRC or Enhanced LRC, pasted as plain text for alignment, or edited. Playback backgrounds include GPU shaders, Pixabay video styles, and video files. The app also supports MP4 and MKV files, experimental UltraStar song folders, separate score histories for multiple player profiles, gamepad navigation, and touch controls. Native builds are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with CUDA or Metal acceleration when available and CPU fallback. A web build can run on a Linux computer on a home network and open in a browser.
For and against
For
- Works with local, Plex, Jellyfin, and Navidrome libraries.
- Offers real-time pitch scoring and key and tempo controls.
- Supports word-level lyric alignment and CJK character alignment.
- Separate score histories are available for multiple profiles.
- Free and open-source under GPL-3.0-or-later.
Against
- The web build runs on a Linux computer on a home network.
- UltraStar song-folder support is experimental.
- CUDA or Metal acceleration is available only when supported; otherwise CPU fallback.
The verdict
Nightingale combines vocal separation, lyric alignment, and pitch scoring across desktop and home-network web use. Its multiple lyric and playback controls make it a fit for singers who want to work with their own music libraries.
Who it suits
Nightingale suits singers who want to turn their music libraries into karaoke tracks and adjust lyrics or playback. It offers desktop builds and a web build for a Linux computer on a home network.
Plans and prices
Nightingale
Free and open-source karaoke app
Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
On the record
- CJK support
- Japanese, Chinese, Cantonese, and Korean songs support per-character alignment and romanized readings.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- File support
- The app supports .mp4 and .mkv video files and experimental UltraStar song folders.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- License and support
- Nightingale is free and open-source under GPL-3.0-or-later; the maker links to Discord and offers Patreon and Ko-fi support.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Lyrics
- WhisperX transcribes and aligns lyrics word by word, and LRCLIB lyrics are used when available.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Lyrics editing
- Users can provide timed LRC or Enhanced LRC lyrics, paste plain lyrics for alignment, and edit existing lyrics.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Music sources
- It can use local folders, Plex Media Server, Jellyfin, and Navidrome libraries.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Playback controls
- After analysis, users can adjust a song's key and tempo and view real-time pitch scoring.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy and connection
- The site describes the app as having no cloud, and says Navidrome login details are encrypted on disk.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Profiles and controls
- It supports separate score histories for multiple player profiles, gamepad navigation, and touch playback controls.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Nightingale turns songs in a music library into karaoke with separated vocals, synchronized lyrics, and real-time pitch scoring.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The web build can run on a Linux computer on a home network and be opened from a browser.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Stem separation
- Vocals are separated from instrumentals using the UVR Karaoke model or Demucs.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Supported desktops
- Native builds are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with CUDA or Metal acceleration when available and CPU fallback.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
- Visuals
- Playback offers 10 GPU shader backgrounds, five Pixabay video styles, and video-file backgrounds.nightingale.cafe · read 7 Oct 2026
