Fantasy Fader
Audio crossfading for tabletop RPG game masters.
The DM's Audio Problem
Running audio at the table is awkward. You're managing a playlist in one tab, your notes in another, fielding player questions at the same time. The moment you need to switch from ambient dungeon atmosphere to a combat track, you're fumbling through a music app mid-sentence.
Most DMs end up with one of two compromises: a single looping playlist they set and forget, or constant manual track switching that pulls their attention away from the table.
Why Sound Matters
Tabletop RPG plays out in your players' heads. They're building a picture of the world you describe, and sound helps fill in what words alone can't. When someone hears a crackling fire or distant wind, the setting stops being abstract.
The right music at the right moment makes a tense negotiation feel more dangerous, a dungeon feel heavier, a victory feel earned. The problem isn't finding good music. It's getting to it fast enough without losing your focus at the table.
What Fantasy Fader Does
Fantasy Fader gives you two decks so there's always a track staged and ready before you need it. One keypress crossfades between them without a hard cut or moment of silence.
Every feature is designed for use at a live table, with one hand on the keyboard and your attention on your players:
- Two-deck crossfader: Stage your next track while the current one plays, then fade between them in one keypress.
- Playlist management: Build your session's playlist in advance, rename tracks for quick recognition, and drag them onto decks without touching the mouse.
- Keyboard-first controls: Every action has a remappable hotkey so your hands stay off the trackpad when your players are watching.
- Fade to Silence: Fade the music out for a pause, then fade it back in when you're ready.
- Local Library: Connect a folder of audio files from your computer (MP3, FLAC, WAV, and more) and use them on your decks and playlist the same as YouTube tracks. No upload needed; files stream from your drive. Chrome and Edge only.
- Session saving: Store complete playlists under named sessions and switch between campaigns. A free account syncs sessions across devices.
See It In Action
A recorded walkthrough of the main features with live commentary.
Pro Features
Fantasy Fader Pro adds tools for DMs who want more control over their audio:
- Volume Balancing: Measures the perceived loudness of every loaded track and adjusts volume sliders so everything plays at a consistent level. No manual adjustments mid-session when a quiet ambient loop is followed by a loud combat track.
- Track Layering: Combine two or more tracks into a single unit that plays simultaneously. Stack ambient wind under dungeon drums, or layer two soundscapes that work together. Each layer has its own volume control and can be removed individually. The combined unit fades, saves, and loads like a regular single track.
- Spotify Integration: Connect a Spotify Premium account to use Spotify tracks on your decks alongside YouTube.
- Soundboard: Map keyboard keys to short audio clips from YouTube or your Local Library. Trigger a thunderclap, a door creak, or a combat sting on top of whatever is already playing.
Pricing
Fantasy Fader is free with all core features included. Pro features are available under two plans:
- Monthly, $5/month. Full Pro access, billed monthly. Cancel any time through the subscription portal in Settings.
- Lifetime, $20 one-time. Pro access for as long as Fantasy Fader exists. Lifetime members get a badge on their account showing how cool they are.
Monthly subscribers can upgrade to Lifetime at any time for $15. Gift codes for Lifetime access can be purchased from the Settings panel and sent to a friend.
Built for the Table
Fantasy Fader is an independent app built by and for tabletop RPG players. It isn't a general-purpose music player adapted for game use. Every design decision, from the two-deck layout to the keyboard shortcuts to the session save format, was made with a DM running a live game in mind.
When initiative is rolled or the party walks into the throne room, the music should already be right. You shouldn't have had to think about it.