Nightingale
nightingale.cafe
What it is
Nightingale turns songs from local folders or Plex Media Server, Jellyfin, and Navidrome libraries into karaoke tracks with separated vocals, synchronized lyrics, and real-time pitch scoring. Vocal separation uses the UVR Karaoke model or Demucs. WhisperX transcribes and aligns lyrics word by word, and LRCLIB lyrics are used when available. Japanese, Chinese, Cantonese, and Korean songs can use character-level alignment and romanized readings.
After analysis, users can adjust key and tempo and follow pitch scoring. Lyrics can be provided as timed LRC or Enhanced LRC, pasted as plain text for alignment, or edited. Playback backgrounds include 10 GPU shader options, five Pixabay video styles, and video files. The app supports MP4 and MKV videos and experimental UltraStar song folders. Multiple profiles keep separate score histories; navigation can use a gamepad or touch controls. Native Linux, macOS, and Windows builds use CUDA or Metal acceleration when available, with CPU fallback. A web build can run on a Linux computer on a home network and open in a browser. The app is free and open source under GPL-3.0-or-later, describes itself as having no cloud, and encrypts Navidrome login details on disk.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- Nightingale turns songs in a music library into karaoke with separated vocals, synchronized lyrics, and real-time pitch scoring.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- CJK support
- Japanese, Chinese, Cantonese, and Korean songs support per-character alignment and romanized readings.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- File support
- The app supports .mp4 and .mkv video files and experimental UltraStar song folders.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- 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.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Lyrics
- WhisperX transcribes and aligns lyrics word by word, and LRCLIB lyrics are used when available.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Lyrics editing
- Users can provide timed LRC or Enhanced LRC lyrics, paste plain lyrics for alignment, and edit existing lyrics.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Music sources
- It can use local folders, Plex Media Server, Jellyfin, and Navidrome libraries.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Playback controls
- After analysis, users can adjust a song's key and tempo and view real-time pitch scoring.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Privacy and connection
- The site describes the app as having no cloud, and says Navidrome login details are encrypted on disk.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Profiles and controls
- It supports separate score histories for multiple player profiles, gamepad navigation, and touch playback controls.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Self-hosting
- The web build can run on a Linux computer on a home network and be opened from a browser.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Stem separation
- Vocals are separated from instrumentals using the UVR Karaoke model or Demucs.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Supported desktops
- Native builds are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with CUDA or Metal acceleration when available and CPU fallback.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
- Visuals
- Playback offers 10 GPU shader backgrounds, five Pixabay video styles, and video-file backgrounds.Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
Plans and prices
Nightingale Free Free and open-source karaoke app Read 7 Oct 2026 · nightingale.cafe
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Uses local folders and three named music servers.
- Offers word-aligned lyrics and CJK character alignment.
- Supports key and tempo adjustment.
- Separate score histories for multiple profiles.
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0-or-later.
Limits
- Web build requires a Linux computer on a home network.
- UltraStar folder support is experimental.
- CPU fallback is used when CUDA or Metal acceleration is unavailable.
Who it suits
Nightingale suits people who want to turn music libraries into karaoke, adjust song key or tempo, and track pitch scores. It supports desktop use and a self-hosted web build on a Linux computer.
Verdict
Nightingale combines vocal separation, lyric alignment, and pitch scoring with multiple library sources and playback controls. The Linux-based web hosting requirement and experimental UltraStar support are useful limits to note.
Where Specifiction places it
- Karaoke Software#13 of 307.9