At a glance
| Waveform + QR code | TraceSound glyph | |
|---|---|---|
| What gets scanned | A separate QR code printed beside the waveform | The soundwave itself — there is no QR code |
| Design | The waveform is decoration; the square code sits next to it | The whole glyph is the artwork, in your choice of style and colour |
| Where the audio lives | A link chosen by the seller — its own site, a file host, a music service | TraceSound, which keeps it under the Forever Promise |
| How long it keeps playing | Depends on the seller and the link; often not stated | No expiry — backed by the Forever Fund |
| Your own copy | Varies | Download the audio and artwork any time |
| As a tattoo | QR codes rarely suit skin | Designed to be tattooed as well as printed |
| Hear it before buying | Rarely | Yes — make it and scan it before paying |
| Opening it | Any phone’s built-in camera app | The TraceSound scan page in any phone browser |
The part you cannot see: the link
A QR code does not hold a voice. It holds a web address, and the voice lives wherever that address points. If the file is moved, the account behind it lapses or the shop closes, the code still scans — and leads nowhere.
A TraceSound glyph also fetches its recording, so we are honest that it depends on us too. The difference is what stands behind it: one payment with no renewal, a share of our profits set aside in the Forever Fund, your audio always downloadable, and a written plan if we ever stopped.
Sound, artwork and keepsake in one place
TraceSound keeps the voice, draws the glyph, and makes the keepsake from it — UV-printed acrylic blocks and laser-engraved oak boards, previewed live with your own glyph and words. Each production method is only offered once glyphs made with it have been scanned back successfully, so the object on your shelf is one we know plays. See the keepsakes.
Questions
Why not just put a QR code on soundwave art?
It works — but the square code is the part people notice, the waveform becomes decoration, and the voice plays only for as long as whatever link the code points to stays alive. A TraceSound glyph is the code, so the art stays whole, and the recording is kept under a written promise.
Is a glyph harder to scan than a QR code?
It takes one extra step: opening the TraceSound scan page instead of the phone’s camera app. After that, you hold the glyph in frame and it plays. You can add a short line such as “Scan at tracesound.com/scan” to any keepsake.
Can the same voice go on several things?
Yes. One glyph can be printed, engraved and tattooed as many times as you like, and every copy plays the same recording.