🎹 OsTirusTools Manual

Your guide to morphing and mutating OsTirus synthesizer patches

Getting Started Patch Morpher Patch Mutator Tips & Tricks Troubleshooting

🚀Getting Started

What is OsTirusTools?

OsTirusTools is a desktop application that provides two powerful tools for manipulating OsTirus synthesizer patches:

🔀 Patch Morpher

Creates smooth transitions between two patches using mathematical interpolation algorithms. Perfect for creating evolving soundscapes and smooth parameter changes.

🧬 Patch Mutator

Generates 8 variations of a single patch using intelligent mutation algorithms. Great for discovering new sounds and creating patch families.

Installation

1 Download and install OsTirusTools from the releases page
2 Launch the application - you'll see the main menu with tool options
3 Use the menu or keyboard shortcuts to navigate between tools

Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Cmd/Ctrl+H - Home page
  • Cmd/Ctrl+M - Patch Morpher
  • Cmd/Ctrl+T - Patch Mutator
  • Cmd/Ctrl+Q - Quit application

🔀Patch Morpher

What it does

The Patch Morpher creates 8 intermediate patches between two source patches, allowing you to create smooth transitions and explore the parameter space between different sounds.

How to use it

1 Prepare your patches: Export two OsTirus patches as JSON files from your synthesizer
2 Load Patch A: Copy your starting patch JSON to clipboard and paste it into the "Patch A" textarea, or click "📋 Paste A" button
3 Load Patch B: Copy your ending patch JSON to clipboard and paste it into the "Patch B" textarea, or click "📋 Paste B" button
4 Choose interpolation mode: Select from 8 different mathematical curves:
  • Linear: Even spacing - constant rate of change
  • Ease In: Slow start, fast finish
  • Ease Out: Fast start, slow finish
  • Ease In-Out: Smooth S-curve
  • Sine: Gentle wave-like progression
  • Bounce: Elastic bouncing effects
  • Exponential: Explosive finish
  • Chaotic: Unpredictable organic evolution
5 Configure chaos (if using chaotic mode): Adjust the chaos rate from 3.57 to 4.0 for different levels of unpredictability
6 Generate morphs: Click "🔀 Generate Morphs" to create 8 intermediate patches
7 Export results: Click "📋 Copy" on any morph you like to copy it as a complete OsTirus JSON patch
💡 Pro Tip: Try different interpolation modes with the same two patches to discover different evolutionary paths between sounds!

🧬Patch Mutator

What it does

The Patch Mutator generates 8 variations of a single patch by intelligently modifying parameters with configurable intensity and scope.

How to use it

1 Load your patch: Copy an OsTirus patch JSON to clipboard and paste it into the textarea, or click "📋 Paste Patch" button
2 Set mutation intensity (1-10):
  • 1-3: Subtle variations, minor tweaks
  • 4-6: Moderate changes, noticeable differences
  • 7-10: Dramatic mutations, major transformations
3 Choose parameters to mutate (5-80):
  • 5-20: Conservative mutations, few changes
  • 21-40: Balanced approach, moderate complexity
  • 41-80: Extensive mutations, complex evolution
4 Generate mutations: Click "🧬 Generate Mutations" to create 8 variations
5 Review changes: Each mutation shows which parameters changed and by how much
6 Export results: Click "📋 Copy" on any mutation you like to copy it as a complete OsTirus JSON patch
💡 Pro Tip: The mutation algorithm favors musically important parameters (oscillators, filters, envelopes) over effects parameters for more musical results!

💡Tips & Tricks

OsTirus Patch Format

OsTirus patches are JSON objects that look like this:

{ "plugin": "OsTIrus", "pluginVersion": "1.4.2", "pluginVersionNumber": "10402", "formatVersion": 1, "sysex": "f0 00 20 33 01 00 10 01 00..." }

Morphing Tips

  • Choose contrasting patches for more dramatic morphs
  • Linear mode works best for predictable, technical transitions
  • Ease-in is great for builds and crescendos
  • Ease-out works well for impacts and attacks
  • Chaotic mode with r=3.8 provides good balance of chaos and musicality

Mutation Tips

  • Start with low intensity (1-3) for subtle variations
  • Use high parameter counts (40-80) for complex evolution
  • Parse your original patch first to understand the baseline
  • Try multiple mutations of the same patch for variety

Workflow Suggestions

  1. Export patches from OsTirus as JSON files
  2. Keep a library of interesting base patches for morphing/mutation
  3. Use mutations to create patch families with related sounds
  4. Use morphing to create smooth automation sequences
  5. Combine both tools: mutate patches, then morph between mutations

🔧Troubleshooting

Common Issues

⚠️ "Invalid JSON" Error
Make sure your patch is properly formatted OsTirus JSON. Check for missing quotes, brackets, or commas.
⚠️ "SysEx too short" Error
The patch must contain complete 256-parameter SysEx data. Ensure you're copying the full patch export from OsTirus.
⚠️ Empty Results
Check that your patches parsed successfully before generating morphs or mutations. Look for the success message.
⚠️ "Parameters not changing"
For mutations: Increase mutation intensity or parameter count. For morphs: Ensure your two patches are actually different.

Browser Compatibility

The clipboard functionality requires:

  • Modern browser with ES6+ support
  • HTTPS or localhost for security
  • Tested on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

Getting Help

If you encounter issues:

  • Check that your OsTirus patches are valid JSON format
  • Try with a fresh patch export from OsTirus
  • Restart the application if it becomes unresponsive
  • Report bugs on the project's GitHub page

🎵Happy Patch Morphing!

OsTirusTools opens up new creative possibilities for sound design and musical exploration. Experiment with different algorithms, intensities, and parameter combinations to discover unique sounds and evolving textures.

Remember: There are no rules in creative sound design. Use these tools as starting points for your own musical journey and don't be afraid to experiment!