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Support Policy
Wotja is a FREE App with a 'Featuregrade' Business Model. It's developed by Intermorphic, a team of two.
All App updates are FREE, and we do our level best to make it as bug free, stable and user friendly as possible.
We provide Primary, Secondary and Limited End User Direct Support options, as set out below.
Irrespective of the above, please do get in touch via our Contact Form for any of the following:
- Pre-sales inquiries: If you have questions before making an IAP purchase.
- Issues with a Primary Support resource below: Tell us so we can address it!
- Providing feedback/suggestions: Let us know how we can improve Wotja!
- Bug reporting: If we don't know about it, we can't squash it!
Please be aware that we DO NOT provide telephone support, ever.
Finally, please don't use our social media accounts for support issues as we don't regularly monitor them!
How we support Wotja:
- Primary Support Resources:
- Wotja is FREE to use in powerful Lite mode
- Check it does what you want before you Go Pro!
- Regularly updated and comprehensive User Guides
- Wotja User Guide, plus (optional) standalone guides for the following:
- Regularly updated Tutorials and videos
- Regularly updated FAQs
- Wotja is FREE to use in powerful Lite mode
- Secondary Support Resources (Forum):
- We don't have our own forum (and this is because of onerous GDPR obligations which would equally apply if we hosted a sub-forum on some other 3rd party forum). However, for the two music app related fora below we do try to respond to queries in the following posts/threads:
- KVR: Wotja Post/Thread
- The KVR forum (as we understand it) started out being primarily for Windows/macOS Apps/Plug-ins
- Now also for mobile
- Loopy Pro: Wotja Post/Thread
- The Loopy Pro forum (as we understand it) started out being primarily for iOS/iPadOS Apps/Plug-ins
- Now also for macOS and mobile
- Formerly called the Audiobus forum
- Limited End User Direct Support in 2024 :
- ELIGIBILITY:
- You must be using the current major version of Wotja (i.e. 24, updates are free) and either:
- have an active Pro Subscription; or
- have within the last 30 days purchased a Pro Thirty Day Unlock; or
- have purchased the most recent Pro XX One Time Buy (i.e. a 24 One Time Buy).
- You must be using the current major version of Wotja (i.e. 24, updates are free) and either:
- All initial support requests must be via our Contact Form (please do not email directly).
- As there are only 2 of us and time is always short, please DO first try using the primary and secondary support resources before reaching out!
- If your support question requires a detailed answer from us then before we reply to it we WILL first request that you send us a screenshot of the In-App Store screen in Wotja on your device, and we may also request further information. We ask for this as the App Stores never tell us who our customers are. Thank you for your understanding.
- CAVEATS (in respect of any issues below, please only reach out in truly exceptional circumstances):
- 3rd party DAWs & Plug-ins: There are too many of these for us to test in/with, so please assume that the information in our primary and secondary support resources is all that we know and should be all that you need.
- Wotja Scripting: We provide many worked examples in our Scripting Cookbook and these should be all that you need.
- Wotja API (for use by Apps/Games): We provide worked examples in our API documentation and these should be all that you need. See also Developer FAQs.
- ELIGIBILITY:
How we support Retired/Archived Apps:
- Primary Support Resources:
- Wotja 23 and earlier
- Final version of the relevant User Guide.
- Wotja 22 and earlier, and Noatikl, Mixtikl, Liptikl and Tiklbox
- Final versions of the relevant User Guide.
- Final versions of the relevant FAQs.
- Wotja 23 and earlier
- Secondary Support Resources:
- We do not provide Direct Support - refer to the Primary Support Resources above.
Licensing & Ownership
- Music Copyright & IP Considerations
- Do I own the rights to Recordings I make with Wotja?
- Can I use Recordings of Wotja for Commercial Use?
- Can Recordings I make of Wotja be made public domain?
- Can I use Wotja for Live Use (LU)?
- Can I broadcast Wotja 'live' on e.g. YouTube/Zoom etc.?
- Do I need to credit or attribute Intermorphic for any Recordings I make of the output of Wotja?
- Where do I find the latest Wotja EULA?
- Can I install and use Wotja on 2 computers?
- I am an indie developer. Can I use Wotja to create background music for my game/app?
- I have a special project with special requirements. Do you ever build custom apps/software?
- Is it possible to license any of your engines (i.e. WME, WAE, WSE)?
Music Copyright & IP Considerations
Copyright and ownership is a very, very, very complex area and we are not lawyers.
Wotja is a powerful and open Generative Music System. It supports many different music generation techniques (including use of 3rd Party Content, Templates & Patterns) and allows total customisation over what it generates. Whatever you do with it and however you use it, be that to e.g. make Recordings or for Live Use etc., all we ever say is that it is up to you and you alone to ensure that you do not infringe anyone else's copyright - it is your responsibility, not ours.
Use of the latest major version of Wotja apps and content is covered by the Wotja End User Licence Agreement (EULA) which also references the Intermorphic Pak EULA. Please note that we cannot give any legal interpretations whatsoever of our EULA or of Intellectual Property law and that includes, for example, how it pertains to copyright. If you feel you need such guidance you will need to ask a lawyer. As a general rule tread carefully and always respect the rights of 3rd parties.
In General
The key thing to understand is that there are different rights in Recordings and Compositions.
Whilst copyright in the Recordings you make of the output of a generative music system like Wotja (e.g. audio/MIDI/video/text) might seem simple and straightforward, it is a much more complex issue than you might imagine, especially when it comes to the rights in Compositions (e.g. melodies, the music composition, MIDI etc). For a quick overview we strongly recommend you have a look at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/copyright-in-sound-recordings/copyright-in-sound-recordings.
Intermorphic does not assert or claim any any copyright in Recordings of or Compositions you may make with Wotja using the included generative Templates and/or suitably modified generative Templates (see 'Templates & Melodic Patterns' below) or the included Word Banks or Word Database.
3rd Party Content
If you use any 3rd Party Melodies, Audio Loops, MIDI, Text, Image, SoundFonts etc. in Wotja then you are wholly responsible for ensuring you have all necessary rights to do so and for use of that content in Recordings and Compositions.
Compositions
As we have said, we are not lawyers and it seems to us that something generated at random cannot by definition be copied. That is entirely different from saying it may not be the same as something already created.
Put another way, just because our apps can use chance to generate a melody, music or text does not mean that what is generated is necessarily unique or might not be something someone else might assert (or have asserted) copyright over - our apps DO NOT cross-reference any databases of copyrighted content, e.g. copyrighted music. See also 'Using Templates that include Patterns' below.
Example 1: If you input the words to e.g. a copyrighted phrase and then only used those words as the words available in the cut-up/randomization pool, then there is every chance you could end up with the phrase you started with. If using Cut-up be careful to use a large pool of words to draw upon such as the Word Bank or Wotja Database we include in Wotja (see Text Sources).
Example 2: What happens if by chance, perhaps using TTM, a melody was generated that resembled a popular song? it is always a possibility....
That is why we say that whatever the output of our apps and whatever you do with it, it is entirely up to you and you alone to ensure that you do not infringe anyone else's copyright - it is your responsibility, not ours.
Templates & Melodic Patterns
The reason this section is important to understand is because a number of the Templates we include or make available for use in our apps include B or F type patterns and/or text for use in Text to Music. That means it is possible that the melodies generated and/or the ensuing composition is not 100% randomly generated and so you need to be especially mindful of composer's rights issues, i.e. who created the pattern.
Because of that you will need to read and understand this section and then may need to suitably modify your mixes.
Using Templates that include TTM Text
TTM Text in any Templates is randomized when you create an automatic mix and/or add a template to a mix (unless it uses locked words); Custom Text is not randomized.
Using Templates that include Melodic Patterns (B or F Type)
Our generative apps/engines are very powerful creativity tools and use various randomization techniques to generate their musical output. A good number of included Templates also allow the use of (or use) pre-created note orderings (including those generated from characters such as Text to Music), in other words 'Patterns' (TTM still uses patterns under the hood).
Patterns have a simple syntax and melodic patterns can be of 2 types, the B or F types. These are similar to melodies in that they contain note pitch and duration. Such Patterns can also be generated "under the hood" from text using our Text to Music technique, but when generated that way they are not currently visible or editable.
Depending on how they are set up / used, Patterns affect the ensuing composition in different ways including it being completely pre-determined.
Note: Provided the Wotja "Settings: General > Templates Auto-Change Patterns" toggle is ON (which it is by default) then any B or F patterns that may be in Templates (including ones might have created/saved) are also randomized when you create an automatic mix and/or add a template to a mix. The upshot is that provided that setting is on, and you have not manually entered a melody pattern, you may not need to read further unless you are interested in the background to all this.
We see things breaking down into three main Use Case areas for consideration.
Pattern Use Cases:
- Copyright in music generated randomly, without use of B or F melodic Patterns
- Copyright in music where some of it is generated from a B or F melodic Pattern not created by you
- Copyright in music where some of it is generated from a B of F melodic Pattern created by you
In the case of 1 above, we expect you should not have issues with composition rights as the music is generated at random.
In the case of 2 above we recommend you change the B or F Pattern and instead take approach 3. See the "What should I do?" section below where we give you pointers.
How do I know if a Template or mix uses Patterns, and/or what type they are?
We provide hundreds of Templates and there is no easy way to see this except by examining the Template and/or mix which is why that is what we recommend you do.
If you find any B or F Type Patterns in your mix then you MUST change them (including text being used for Text to Music) to be something of your own making (see below). Of course, whether you actually do that or not up to you.
What should I do?
If you wish to make recordings of Wotja for Commercial Use then you need to be looking at Use Case 1 or 3 above. If you are developer using Wotja via its API for Live Generative Music then you still need to make sure you have the necessary rights to any content you provide to Wotja for it to play. Note that in your mix/piece you will need to check EVERY VOICE used in every Content Cell. Here are some pointers.
- Use Case 1 (music generated randomly, without use of Patterns):
- Use only purely generative music Templates (i.e. those using Rhythmic, Ambient or Repeat Generator Types to generate notes, or which are followed by Follows voices) or generative content that you have created yourself from scratch from an WME Generator template.
- Tip: Create, edit and save your own 'safe' generative music Templates. In Wotja can be found in the Templates screen in the 'Saved Files' folder and have a .noatikl extension. They can be selected for randomization like any other Template meaning you can create new random mixes based only on them.
- Use Cases 2 and 3 (music where some of it is generated from a Pattern):
- If you choose to use Templates that utilise B type WME Pattern then:
- B type patterns contain information on both pitch and duration whereas R type patterns (below) define only note durations leaving the engine choose the note pitches at random (these can also be used for beat patterns, too).
- If you have to use B type patterns then you MUST use your own patterns and it is your responsibility to ensure that the patterns you use do not infringe the rights of any 3rd parties (e.g. ensure you do not use melodies owned by others). Even though you can apply a mutation factor to a B type pattern it always starts with the pattern and we do NOT recommend relying on this technique.
- For those reasons we instead recommend using R type patterns. Alternatively, change the generator type to be a generative one such as Rhythmic or Ambient (this will also change how the music is composed, however).
- Tip: There are other generative strategies such as using a Follower Generator to follow a Pattern Generator. The Follower Generator MUST use a Chordal Harmony rule with associated Scale rule with a few elements. Set the volume of the Pattern Generator to zero and all you should then hear is the Follower Generator, which might be OK for an audio recording. Note that MIDI recordings will still capture the MIDI output of the Pattern Generator, however.
- Tip: See this FAQ entry - How do I find and change any 'patterns' used in a mix?
- if you do choose to use a Text-to-Music (TTM) template and/or there is text in the TTM Text Editor field then:
- Unless you are certain the text has been created at random then you MUST change it as it generates a B type melodic pattern under the hood (i.e. the seed pattern). If you feel the melody has been created essentially at random (i.e. you have not tried in any way to reverse engineer the TTM algorithm or channel its results) then you may feel that melody has been generated at random and so no one could accuse you of deliberately copying it.
- Further detail: Although TTM generated melodies are created from text (characters) that you enter, a specific sequence of characters will in general result in the same melody as it is built up one note at a time from that sequence of characters. If you do not know how the TTM algorithm works then when you enter text the melody that is generated may seem to you to be generated at random. However, if you did know and used that knowledge to "channel it" then the melody would not be generated randomly.
- Note: Be careful what you claim as the same text characters may well generate the same melody in another mix so it may well not be unique to you. The greater the number of characters of text used the greater number of notes will be in the generated melody and so the more likely it is to be unique (it all comes down to maths and probabilities).
- Tip: Save and only use your own 'safe' generative music Templates. See the tip above.
- If you choose to use Templates that utilise B type WME Pattern then:
- General Things:
- Even generatively created content has the potential to end up as a tune that a 3rd party might claim ownership of - so always be careful. Remember, we make creativity tools.
- In any Use Case ensure you use only content that you own the rights to (e.g. your own WAVs, SF2, MIDI files and/or Noatikl / Mixtikl / Wotja files and/or WAE Sounds Designs) or you have secured permission to use for your purposes.
- With respect to recordings you make where you are using Wotja MIDI Output to drive 3rd party synth(s) ensure that that you have the necessary rights to record those synths.
- In all recordings you must ensure you comply with the terms for use of the IM Wavetable(s) (See Intermorphic EULA, noting clause 5 concerning "Intermorphic Wavetable" which applies to all included Intermorphic SF2/DLS wavetables).
- When you make the audio or MIDI recording(s) that you want to use Commercially make sure you have (as relevant) an active subscription or have purchased a valid licence to use the app as full product (e.g. including In-App purchase in an older Freemium version).
- Please be aware that Educational versions may not be used for commercial or business purposes.
- If using Templates or content from any of the Free Paks ensure you comply with the Intermorphic Pak EULA.
Do I own the rights to Recordings I make with Wotja?
Short answer: Yes
However, you MUST read and understand Music Copyright & IP Considerations, especially in relation to Compositions, Templates & Patterns and 3rd Party Content.
Can I use Recordings of Wotja for Commercial Use?
Short answer: Yes, provided you are in Pro mode when you make them and you respect ALL terms and exclusions set out in the EULA.
Some examples of permitted use of Recordings: YouTube etc, SoundCloud etc., social media, CDs, videos, podcasts, websites, films, documentaries, ads, shops, public events, library music etc.
See also: Music Copyright & IP Considerations
- If at the time of making a Recording the Software is in Lite mode then that Recording may be used for Personal Non-Commercial Use only;
- Recordings made of the Software running on any device where that instance of the Software is in a properly licenced and active Pro mode may be used (subject also to Clause 7A) for any Personal or Commercial purpose other than for inclusion in or as add-on content for competitive or potentially competitive i) apps, ii) games, iii) software or iv) interactive applications, all of the foregoing being expressly prohibited.
- Commercial Use Recordings may be assigned but Personal Non-Commercial Use Recordings may not be assigned.
- It is not permitted for any Recordings to be made public domain by you or any assignee.
Can Recordings I make of Wotja be made public domain?
Short answer: No, as this is prohibited by the the EULA.
The main reason for this is to prevent app/game developers using Recordings of Wotja in potentially competitive applications. If you are an app/game developer we recommend using the Wotja Developer API instead!
See also: Music Copyright & IP Considerations
- If at the time of making a Recording the Software is in Lite mode then that Recording may be used for Personal Non-Commercial Use only;
- Recordings made of the Software running on any device where that instance of the Software is in a properly licenced and active Pro mode may be used (subject also to Clause 7A) for any Personal or Commercial purpose other than for inclusion in or as add-on content for competitive or potentially competitive i) apps, ii) games, iii) software or iv) interactive applications, all of the foregoing being expressly prohibited.
- Commercial Use Recordings may be assigned but Personal Non-Commercial Use Recordings may not be assigned.
- It is not permitted for any Recordings to be made public domain by you or any assignee.
Can I use Wotja for Live Use (LU)?
For a discussion of Live Use, and what it is, see here.
Personal Live Use
- YES.
- See the conditions from Section 7C ("Personal Live Use") of the relevant Wotja EULA:
EULA: Section 7C. Personal Live Use (LU)
- Permitted for any purpose but where Live Use Public Broadcast may only be made available through a non-specialist generic audio or video streaming service partner offering that service to all content creators and that you are present and interacting with the Software for its entire duration.
Commercial Live Use
- YES, ONE instance only, with Wotja operating in Pro mode.
- See the conditions from Section 7D ("Commercial Live Use") of the relevant Wotja EULA:
- NB: Please do take note of and respect the exclusions and get in touch if you need to.
EULA: Section 7D. Commercial Live Use (LU)
- Permitted only with Software that is in a properly licenced and active Pro mode and is subject to Clause 7A, one instance only per User ID/User Account may be used for any Commercial purpose other than i) to provide of any kind of music streaming service, ii) for Live Use Public Broadcast or iii) to provide music for a space or conjoined space larger than 10,000 sqm, all of the foregoing being expressly prohibited. CLU requires display of "Powered by Wotja" branding to be clearly visible as directed by Intermorphic (get in touch for details).
Why is Live Public Broadcast a special case?
"Live Public Broadcast means using the Software to make a Live Use or time-delayed Live Use public broadcast or stream."
- Example: Using Wotja to generate live background or foreground music that is broadcast or streamed over the internet (e.g. YouTube, Zoom etc.), radio or TV etc.
- See: Broadcast and Streaming.
- See also the Wotja EULA.
There are some "specialist" Commercial services that would wish to corner a market in this area almost entirely for their own gain. We don't want to facilitate that with Wotja so our Wotja EULA terms expressly forbid Live Public Broadcast for Commercial Use. HOWEVER, there is one exception to that and that is for Artist use. See the FAQ "Can I broadcast Wotja 'live' on e.g. YouTube/Zoom etc.?".
Can I broadcast Wotja 'live' on e.g. YouTube/Zoom etc.?
Broadcasting the live output from Wotja on e.g. YouTube/Zoom etc. is one example of something refer to as Live Use Public Broadcast.
The Wotja EULA permits Live Use Public Broadcast for Personal Use ONLY (which also means this activity is not monetized in any way) - see FAQ: "Why is Live Public Broadcast a special case?"
Live Public Broadcast of Wotja for Commercial Use, however, is expressly forbidden.
The one exception we permit for Commercial Use (it is a special exception) is where you are an Artist who wants to somehow commercialise the Live Use stream directly yourself (and not acting for or on behalf of a Company that is not your own) e.g. via ads or some-such. As an Artist, you will know if this exception applies to your use case - if it doesn't or you are in doubt, simply use recordings (see below).
To be licensed for the above exception you must be using Wotja in Pro mode. And, the same goes as for Personal Live Use (LU), "... the broadcast must only be made available through a non-specialist generic audio or video streaming service partner offering that service to all content creators and that you are present and interacting with the Software for its entire duration."
The alternative to doing a Live Public Broadcast is, of course, to first record the output of Wotja (i.e. to a video or audio recording) and then to later broadcast that recording (a time-delayed live stream is not permitted however). Provided you in a properly licenced (i.e. you have paid for it) Pro mode then there is no extra licence required to broadcast such recordings for Commercial Use.
Do I need to credit or attribute Intermorphic for any Recordings I make of the output of Wotja?
Of course you do not need to attribute Intermorphic! If you wish to, though, then please do!
Please note, though, that Educational versions may not be used for commercial or business purposes. Please also ensure you comply with the licence terms for any IM Pak and/or 3rd party content you use in your recordings.
Where do I find the latest Wotja EULA?
You find it here.
Can I install and use Wotja on 2 computers?
Broadly speaking, we have always tried to draft our Software EULAs to be flexible for you. We don't want our licence to get in the way of your working and coming up with great ideas.
The Wotja App Bundle is available from the Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google Play App Stores, which are all independent of each other and have their own multi-installation licensing terms (and you would need to check with those).
I am an indie developer. Can I use Wotja to create background music for my game/app?
It depends in you are talking about using the Wotja API for Live Generative Music [YES] or about Recordings of Wotja [NO for audio or MIDI].
Wotja API for Live Generative Music
See the Developer FAQ section.
Recordings
We specifically prohibit the use of ANY recording in games through Clause 7B of our EULA. This partly for business reasons, but also because we are not lawyers and there are simply way too many caveats and ifs and buts when it comes to use of audio recordings (see Recording Ownership).
If you are a developer, then instead look to use the Wotja API for Live Generative Music.
Developer API
- Can I use Wotja to provide, for FREE, live generative background music for my App/Game?
- Why does your approach rely on use the FREE Wotja App?
- What are some example use cases? Where are some examples of Wotja URIs?
- Where can I find details on the API and the example Projects for iOS/macOS, Windows and Android?
- What restrictions are there on the use of Wotja by my App/Game?
- Do you provide Direct Developer Support? What resources are available?
- As a developer, do I need to be a Pro user?
- Can my Wotja URIs reference 3rd Party Plug-ins?
- Will you be adding more FAQs? Can I request a FAQ?
- Student Developers and Apple Swift Student Challenge 2025
Can I use Wotja to provide, for FREE, live generative background music for my App/Game?
Short Answer: From Wotja 24.1 onwards, then yes you can!
Wotja is a powerful & FREE system for on-device generation of Live Generative Music & MIDI.
In keeping with the experimental nature of Wotja we have added to the Wotja App and Plug-ins the Wotja URI Player. We have also added to Wotja URIs support for several API commands.
For micro to small App/Game developers who need a free solution for background music for their App/Game, and who are willing to experiment with the use of live generative music, then these changes allow that.
If that is you, then all your App/Game end user needs for this is to install the FREE Wotja App to which we have added a Wotja URI Player mode. This operates for free in Lite mode. In Lite mode the Wotja URI Player will play a Wotja Album for 10 minutes which we figure is plenty of time for free use. To restart play the App/Game end user simply needs to tap the Play button in the Wotja URI Player.
See also: Why does your approach rely on use of the FREE Wotja App?
We have made available example code projects on Github that show how your App/Game can pass a Wotja URI to the Wotja App for it to be played in the Wotja URI Player. These projects also detail the API commands available and how to use them.
Initial control is pretty simple (load/play/stop) with some 'real-time' control (set tempo/set root). Auto-timeouts might be applied depending on whether or not Pro mode in the relevant feature set has been unlocked by the end user. Whether or not we look to extend it further depends on the level of interest in it.
No auto-timeouts?
If your end user is prepared to Go Pro in the Wotja App then they will not get any auto-timeouts. Be aware that the only means we have of getting revenues to continue working on Wotja is when any user (including you) goes Pro, so we hope that some do choose to do that!
Also note that if your end gets a One Time Buy to Go Pro then that unlocks Pro mode in a specific Feature Set (FS). If your Wotja URI uses a New Feature from a later version of Wotja, then they will get a timeout until they Go Pro for THAT version of Wotja.
The above is why we suggest (if you wish to) you encourage your end users to Go Pro with a Subscription or Thirty Day Unlock - both of those are 'evergreen' (Microsoft users see this FAQ) in that they unlock Pro mode in whatever version of Wotja they have installed (and all Wotja App updates are free).
Why does your approach rely on use of the FREE Wotja App?
Short Answers: Risk and Time - but at least we found a free SOLUTION
SUMMARY:
The Wotja App Bundle is already available to end users via the Apple App Store, Microsoft Store, Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore. It is FREE, regularly updated and has support for IAPs. We required an innovative and out-of-the-box solution that allowed the App Store distributed free Wotja App to be used for free by App/Game Devs.
- FREE API: Your use of the Wotja API (see Github Projects) is free.
- FREE APP: The Wotja App can be downloaded/installed for free by your End User from the relevant App Store; its use is governed solely by the Wotja EULA.
- FREE PLAY: Your End User can enjoy 10 minutes play time of a Wotja URI Album for free in Lite mode (tap play to restart; play time is cumulative).
- PRO: If your End User wants to play without auto-timeouts they can choose how they wish Go Pro in the Wotja In-App Store.
Risk
Intermorphic Ltd is just 2 people (Tim and Pete) and is organically funded. For 30+ years our audience has largely been artists/creators who use Wotja as a powerful creativity lab for live generative music. That means Intermorphic is a Business to Consumer and not a Business to Business company.
Setting aside the huge additional amount of time required to create/package/administer etc. a Wotja generative music engine for e.g. Unity, Unreal etc., doing so would open ourselves up to totally unnecessary additional risk for totally unknown gain. How would we update it? How would we support it? How would we sell it (as we certainly could not make it free)?
There were countless other questions, issues, icebergs and black holes in going the packaged game engine route. Maybe if we were VC funded and had a big team behind us then we might consider it, but we are not going there any time soon.
What we do know, however, is that as soon as you charge for something then there are expectations to meet.... and Business to Business is a whole different world to Business to Consumer.
Time
It's already difficult enough as it is for us to develop, maintain, extend and support the Wotja Generative Music System - a powerful creativity lab for Live Generative Music. It is an enormous undertaking for a frankly pretty niche market.
Even with the existing App Store variants there is plenty enough development/testing and admin effort involved for a month of Sundays, but the App Stores do at least provide easy mechanisms for App updating, App discovery, End User In-App Purchasing and they do take care of Tax collection/remittance - and much more besides.
What we can say on this is - never forget the importance of admin overhead!
A FREE solution for End Users and Developers
We knew that to have any chance of facilitating experimentation with Wotja by any 3rd Party App/Game Developer (even if only the very smallest in size) any solution we came up with had to be FREE for both End Users and Developers. It could not involve yet more Risk or demand more Time, and it had to work within the context of our Business Model. We had to find an innovative and out-of-the-box solution which itself utilised the App Store distributed free Wotja App.
Business Model
After many years developing and refining it, our current Business Model allows us to make the Wotja App FREE (and ad-free) for users who operate it in Lite mode. End User use of the Wotja App is governed solely by the Wotja EULA.
We fund ongoing development, maintenance and support entirely through end users who Go Pro via 3 different kinds of low-cost In-App Purchase - namely Subscription, Thirty Day Unlock and One Time Buy.
The model is simple, easy, flexible and works for our end users - and there is no way we are going to change it now.
If your End User is willing to download/install the FREE Wotja App, then they can play Wotja URI Albums for 10 minutes for free before an auto-timeout kicks in (a tap on the play button will restart it). Alternatively, if they wish to remove the auto-timeouts they just need to decide how they wish to Go Pro.
Wotja URI Player
We designed/built and added to the Wotja App a new and simple player mode called the Wotja URI Player. We designed it to auto-play any Album/Mix/Schema Wotja URI (basically, a deep link) that is imported into it (great for Artists), or passed to it (great for Developers).
Wotja API for the URI Player
For an App/Game requiring background music, then getting the Wotja App to play Live Generative Music in the Wotja URI Player can be achieved with just a few lines of code. Any 3rd Party Developer can use our demo code (MIT license) to:
- check if the Wotja App is available
- check what version of the Wotja App is installed
- take user to where they can install / update the Wotja App
- use whatever Wotja API calls they want to control playback in the Wotja URI Player
The Wotja App is launched via the underlying mechanism of Wotja API URIs (deep links).
On macOS/Windows the Wotja App is launched in the background; on iOS/Android the Wotja App has to launch to the foreground due to OS restrictions in URI handling, but the End User can background it manually.
After launch, Wotja API commands are delivered to the Wotja App to control playback in the Wotja URI Player via Wotja API URIs. On all platforms other than Android, these commands are sent in such a way that Wotja App stays in the background.
The API calls are one-way so it is up to the Wotja App to maintain state. They are focused on playback with real-time control and you cannot use them to build a Wotja authoring tool.
Limitations of our approach
We appreciate that this approach is not for all Apps/Games, but hopefully some developers will be interested to experiment with it and put it to use. It could even be used as an interim to help accelerate development while waiting for full composed/licensed audio tracks!
Although at initial release the API is fairly limited, if there is sufficient interest we could fairly easily add Wotja Script command support to e.g. control the Wotja Music Engine in real-time.
What are some example use cases? Where are some examples of Wotja URIs?
Example Use Cases
There are a few use cases that we can think of:
- Hobby & student App/Game developers who want to create something that utilises live background generative music, be that a visualiser/screensaver app, turn-by-turn game, productivity/relaxation app etc.
- Micro to Indie App/Game developers who are interested in experimenting with live generative background music for an App Store published app/game.
- Creators of art installations who want to have music that (say) changes according to time of day etc.
- In-house App/Game developers who want to try live generative background music for an app or game without having to wait for 'final scores' from their music colleagues.
- Free or paid-for AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in developers who would like their users to hear it in action in the context of some live generative music.
- There may well be many others - we don't really know yet as this is kind of an experiment for us!
Please note: Recordings of Wotja made by end users are licenced only for Personal Non Commercial Use, unless they Go Pro. Subject always to the foregoing, it is up to you what Wotja URI and other content you create/use in your App/Game and what you allow your end users to do with it.
Example Wotja URIs
See the examples here.
To create your own Mixes, Albums and Schemas is quite easy. See the Tutorials to get started. Once you have created something you like, then use the Share screen to export it to a Wotja URI for use in your project.
Note: We strongly recommend that you read and familiarize yourself with the issues outlined in the FAQ Music Copyright & IP Considerations. And that you do so whether or not you create (or perhaps getting someone else to create it for you) and/or include Wotja URIs or content in your App/Game.
Where can I find details on the API and the example Projects for iOS/macOS, Windows and Android?
You can find it all here:
What restrictions are there on the use of Wotja by my App/Game?
The Wotja Generative Music System is a powerful creativity lab for Live Generative Music.
We have tried to impose as few conditions as possible on a developer and these are set out in the EULA. Should we feel we need to, we may expand upon the above conditions at any time.
See Section 7E: Developer Use of Wotja, namely:
- The use of Wotja by you or the end user of your App/Game (refer to Wotja Developer Help) is governed solely by the Wotja EULA and (as relevant) the associated Intermorphic Pak EULA.
- Your App/Game's use of Wotja is entirely at your own risk and you understand and acknowledge that Wotja's API support is experimental and subject to change.
- The Wotja URIs you provide for use by your App/Game must be created with Wotja and be for the express purpose only of generating background music for your App/Game.
- You are wholly responsible for and have all necessary rights and/or copyrights etc. in or to any Wotja URI and its contents that you provide/use (and we direct you to read https://wotja.com/help/#music-ip-considerations).
- Your App/Game prominently displays on its 'About' window or equivalent the words:
- 'Live Generative Music by Wotja', with an active weblink on the word Wotja to one of the following App Store links, as relevant
- Apple App Store - https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1344821101
- Microsoft Store - https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9NH2TJ3JGNVP?cid=wdga
- Google Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intermorphic.WotjaGP
- Amazon Appstore - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C29Q7B4
- 'Wotja EULA', with an active weblink to https://wotja.com/legal/eula
- 'Live Generative Music by Wotja', with an active weblink on the word Wotja to one of the following App Store links, as relevant
- Your App/Game and/or Wotja URIs must not contain, use or permit to be used any obscene, offensive, pornographic, illegal or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, images, graphics, sounds etc.).
- Your App/Game and/or Wotja URIs must not use Wotja in any way that may cause it reputational harm.
Do you provide Direct Developer Support? What resources are available?
Short Answer: No, sorry, we do not provide Direct Developer Support.
Please see our Support Policy.
For the low cost of the Wotja Pro IAPs we simply cannot afford to provide Direct Developer Support. :(
Support Resources
We do provide, however, extensive Primary and Secondary support resources.
Note: If you are a Developer using Wotja in Pro mode and you are working on something really exciting that you will publish in one of the App Stores and that should go like gangbusters, and you get REALLY get stuck, then as a last resort you could try to reach out via our Contact Form. We may or may not reply, we don't know. We are ALWAYS busy so it depends on just how much time it would take us to respond.
As a developer, do I need to be a Pro mode user?
Short Answer: No, you do not need to be a Pro mode user.
HOWEVER, we strongly recommend that you do Go Pro partly because you will not get auto-timeouts, but also because there are many advantages to going Pro (which includes helping to support continued development and extension of Wotja).
Will you be adding more FAQs? Can I request a FAQ?
Short Answer: Yes, we will be adding more FAQs
If there is something you would particularly like to see covered in a FAQ (or elsewhere) and you believe it would be of use/interest to other developers, then you can try requesting it via our Contact Form (see Wotja FAQ Request option).
Student Developers and Apple Swift Student Challenge 2025
If you are interested in Generative Music then whilst in the build phase for your entry to the Apple Swift Student Challenge 2025 why not experiment with Wotja live generative background music?
The Wotja App for iOS/iPadOS/macOS is free for anyone to download from the Apple App Store. It operates for free in default Lite mode and requires no internet connection.
You could easily configure your entry so that *if Wotja is installed* your entry uses live generative music generated from small included Wotja URIs, rather than playing included public domain recordings.
Why not give it a try? Maybe it will even help you come up with other cool app or game ideas! Check out the Wotja API.
Important: Please note that Recordings of Wotja may not be made public domain.
Crashes and Bugs
Help, Wotja crashes after load screen
- If Wotja on iOS crashes after the load screen then it might well be that using iCloud and do not have BOTH the relevant app's "Apps Using iCloud" and "iCloud Drive" settings toggled on. This has the effect of confusing Wotja as to where to look for its files and so it can crash.
- Solution: See Wotja > Settings > iCloud.
- If Wotja on macOS or Windows crashes as it is loading then it might be because of some 3rd party driver, most likely from some external peripheral such as a videocam, USB hub, microphone or audio expansion unit.
- Solution: Unplug all external peripherals, reboot and check that Wotja then loads correctly. Gradually add them back one at a time, rebooting each time, to find the one causing the issue. Please then let us know!
Wotja crashes occasionally
We try very hard to ensure Wotja is stable and does not crash, and we carry out a lot of testing. Wotja is a very deep app, with a huge number of possible workflows, so it is possible we missed something. Sorry!
Provided you permit crash reporting to be sent to developers we will normally receive crash reports and they are uploaded when Wotja next restarts. So, if it has crashed and you have restarted Wotja we should get to know - rest assured we will be on it!
That said, if you are getting a crash that is hard to pin down then could we suggest trying a clean re-install:
- Back-up your device with iTunes (iOS/iPadOS)
- If you have iCloud enabled, and are using it for Wotja, then your files should be safely stored there. If not (and even if you do, just to be on the safe side!), before you delete/reinstall Wotja below we strongly suggest backing up your Wotja mixes/files via iTunes App File Transfer. See our FAQs: Backing Up, Wotja Folder and Apple's own help on backing up.
- Re-install Wotja to the device, restore IAP (if the subscription version is what you are using)
- Restart Wotja, connect to iCloud
- Your documents will re-sync, should all be fine
- Try again!
If Wotja is still crashing and there is any particular work flow that is causing the crashes/issues, could you please get in touch with us via our Contact Form and provide the following information:
- Which version number of Wotja you have installed (you can see this in the Settings Title bar e.g. 24.x.x)
- What specific version of OS you have installed
- Which device/device version you are running Wotja on?
- How much free memory is available on your device
- Step by step instructions as to how to reproduce the crash
Thanks for your help, and patience and we look forward to getting to the bottom of this as soon as possible!
How do I report bugs?
Apps can unfortunately go wrong some times with a 'bug'. If or when that happens, we want to squash that pesky bug as soon as we can. However, if we don't know about it, we cannot fix it. So, we need your help there.
PLEASE DO CONTACT US via our contact form and provide whatever background to the bug that you can (e.g. how to repeat it etc.). Hopefully we will be able to fix the crash in the next update. We are very friendly and responsive; besides, it's best not to wait and assume someone else will do it!
On the other hand, please don't leave an "it's broken" app review which may not give us the information we need to find out what has gone wrong and, more importantly - does not help us quickly fix things for you.
We have quickly fixed many bugs for the benefit of all as a result of kind people promptly reporting them to us (and we thank them for that!).
Crash Reporting and Crash Logs
We try as hard as we can to make our apps stable as we regularly issue app updates with bug fixes - which is why recommend that you always keep Wotja updated to the latest version supported by your device/OS. If Wotja does crash on you, however, the chances are that we will get reports from the App Center integrated crash reporting system and so we do not need you to send us Crash Logs.
How to Enable Crash Reporting on Apple Devices
See also: Share analytics, diagnostics, and usage information with Apple.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements
- Enable "Share iPhone & Watch Analytics"
If we do not get a Crash Log, as above, we may need to ask you to manually send us a Crash Log, as follows:
Where to Find Crash Logs on Apple Devices
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data.
- Search for “Wotja" and find the latest Wotja app crash from the list.
- Tap on the crash and you will the text of the crash log. Use the top Actions menu to copy this share this to our support email which is listed at the bottom of our Contact form.
How do I send you a Mix File?
Why do you need a Mix file?
When trying to track down or resolve an issue it helps us to have a Mix file that clearly and repeatably exhibits that issue.
We understand that there is a bit of work involved for you to do that, but without it we can be looking for a needle in a haystack.
What Mix file do I send?
The best Mix file to send us is one that has been stripped down to the bare minimum that still illustrates the issue. Ideally this will be configured as follows:
- One Cell mix
- One Generator in that Cell
- Cell Generative Bars set to 4 and range 0
- Bare minimum FX Network that shows the issue (or none if unrelated)
- No Scripting
How do I send you the Mix file?
See the Tutorial "Share a Wotja URI" which shows you how to export your Mix file as a Wotja URI which you can then paste into the Contact Form.
If you are are already in email contact with us and the Wotja URI is too big to paste into our Contact Form, then find the mix file in your Wotja folder and attach it to your email reply.
General Questions
See also: IAP to Go Pro - TDU | SUB | OTB
- Is it true that I can download and use Wotja Software for FREE?
- I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
- How do I check my Pro In-App Purchase history?
- How do I Restore a Pro One Time Buy or Subscription?
- My Pro IAP is not working. What should I do?
- What is the Wotja Business Model?
- Common Misconceptions...
- What are 'Features'? What is a 'Feature Set'?
- Lite vs Pro modes
- What does it mean to Go Pro? How do I Go Pro?
- What is the lowest cost way to evaluate or use Pro mode?
- What is the best value way to use Pro mode?
- What is a One Time Buy?
- What is a Subscription?
- What is a Thirty Day Unlock?
- How do I copy a shared Wotja URI and/or import/play one in Wotja?
- Why does my Wotja file not open/play correctly in an older version of Wotja?
- Why does Lite mode no longer permit save and export?
- How do I reinstall/re-download Wotja?
- I'm an App/Game Developer. Do you have anything for me?
- What is the current major version of Wotja?
- Why is Wotja only available via App Stores?
- What is the quickest way to get started?
- Where can I hear some Wotja music?
- How can I do more in Wotja?
- Do I ever need to get the next major version of Wotja?
- Is there a roadmap for New Features in Wotja?
- Will the next major version of Wotja overwrite the current version of Wotja?
- In the past I purchased Noatikl / Mixtikl / Liptikl / Tiklbox. Should I get Wotja?
- What are the main differences between Noatikl / Mixtikl / Liptikl / Tiklbox and Wotja?
- Why did you consolidate all your apps into just one, Wotja?
- I have a special project with special requirements. Do you ever build custom apps/software?
- Is it possible to license any of your engines (i.e. WME, WAE, WTE)?
- Will you ever do a Linux version?
- Is Wotja suitable for use in Music Education, and/or for artistic collaboration?
- I made a purchase and would like a refund, is that possible?
- I'm a Wotja user & fan! How can I help?
What is the Wotja Business Model?
Wotja has a 'Featuregrade' Business Model
What it means (it is as simple as this!):
- FREE: Wotja is a powerful FREE App.
- FREE: Wotja operates by default in (very capable!) Lite mode which can be used for FREE.
- FREE: Wotja App updates are FREE.
- Our aim is that every major version has some cool New Features.
- Continued development is supported by customers who either:
- Go Pro in the current major version; and/or
- Buy a T-Shirt! :)
- See also: Do I ever need to get the next major version of Wotja?
On Business Models in General...
It seems there are as many business models as there are venture funded businesses. Each of these businesses has to figure out how to make a return for their investors who will have ponied up a TON of money for the privilege of their stake. So, if an app or service is free, there is a good chance YOU are the product and you will pay for it eventually, somehow.
Even for apps and services that aren't free, it can still be useful to understand the business model behind them.
Just to be clear, Intermorphic Ltd. is NOT venture funded and the Wotja business model does not in any way, shape or form, rely on the monetization of YOUR data WHATSOEVER, whether by e.g. customer profiling for ads, cross selling, revenue share on user generated content or whatever.
Wotja (which comprises over 0.5 million lines of code) it is developed by just Tim and Pete (with awesome help from Mark Harrop). It is our passion and we sweat blood and tears over it - and we always do the very, very best we can by and for our customers.
In our world you are NOT the product, Wotja is the product, and the ONLY way we can fund development is if YOU make a purchase in the Wotja In-App Store. And/or perhaps buy a T-Shirt...
For an in depth background to the 'Featuregrade' and earlier 'Fullgrade' Business Models see this blog post.
Common misconceptions...
- Misconception 1: I bought Wotja Pro 23 / Wotja Pro 24 etc...
- Firstly, Wotja 23+ is a free app and we no longer sell 'paid-for' versions.
- So, no, you did not buy Wotja Pro 23 / Wotja Pro 24 etc.!
- What you actually purchased will be one of the In-App Purchase options to unlock Pro mode, as follows:
- Misconception 2: Continued Wotja development/evolution will happen whether I make a purchase or not.
- That may be true if enough other people make a purchase, but please don't rely on that.
- We are only 2 people and we simply cannot afford to work on Wotja for free - development and support are very time consuming things and there are many costs to keep a company going.
- If you are a fan of Wotja and enjoy the improvements we keep making to it then, whether or not you want to use any New Features in Pro mode, we truly hope you will wish to help support ongoing development by making purchases every year.
- Yes, you can purchase a One Time Buy and for its specific Feature Set use Wotja in Pro mode, enjoying free App updates for as long as we keep developing Wotja...
- ... but that only entitles you to Limited End User Direct Support in year of your One Time Buy and it does not help us fund work on future improvements.
- See also: Why might I NOT Go Pro?
- Misconception 3: Wotja is expensive
- Firstly, what you are actually referring to is not the Wotja App itself, which is free, but one of the In-App Purchase options (see above).
- And, no, the Wotja IAPs are not expensive - they are in fact very, very keenly priced indeed!
- Misconception 4: Wotja for Apple would cost less if iOS/iPadOS/macOS/tvOS/watchOS apps were 'unbundled'
- Apart from it being a real headache administratively to maintain separate single Apps and different IAP for each, if we unbundled them all then they would not cost any less.
- The bundle really is the very best deal and approach and it is already very keenly priced. See: Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?
- Misconception 5: Wotja can be downgraded to an earlier major version
- No it cannot as it is regularly updated and all App updates are free!
- If you have an older One Time Buy e.g. Pro 23 OTB and are getting a message about Wotja being in Lite mode then all that means is that you are using a New Feature in the major version you have installed (e.g. 24).
- See I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
What are 'Features'? What is a 'Feature Set'?
Features | Improvements | New Features
- Feature
- Referred to collectively as Features, a Feature is a property, capability or content item in a major version of Wotja that is not a New Feature.
- Note: A Feature that was a New Feature in an earlier major version of Wotja is not considered a New Feature in a later major version of Wotja; it is just a 'Feature' in that later version.
- Improvement (including Fixes & Changes)
- An Improved Feature ('Improvement') is one that simply works better than it did before, but which we have not designated as a New Feature.
- Improvements are FREE for all users to use in the latest major version of Wotja to use, whether they are using it in Lite or Pro mode.
- See the latest FREE Improvements.
- New Feature
- A New Feature is a Feature that is NEW to a XX major version of Wotja.
- Use of such New Feature in that XX version of Wotja or later will cause Wotja to operate in Lite mode UNLESS it has an active Subscription, Thirty Day Unlock or the necessary XX One Time Buy.
- See the 24 Feature Set New Features.
- See I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
- Feature States
- Included
- The Feature operates the same in both Lite and Pro modes.
- Limited (see Lite mode)
- When Wotja is operating in Lite mode the Feature has some kind of Lite mode Limitation applied (which can include auto-timeouts).
- Unlocked (see Pro mode)
- When the Lite mode Limitation for a Feature has been removed/unlocked by a Subscription, Thirty Day Unlock or relevant One Time Buy.
- Included
Feature Set
- A Feature Set for a major version of Wotja of Wotja comprises:
- Features in that version.
- These include ALL Features/New Features from earlier Feature Sets (except where deprecated).
- New Features in that version.
- Features in that version.
- Each major version of Wotja has a corresponding Feature Set (AKA 'FS'), e.g.
- Wotja 23 had the 23 Feature Set (AKA ' 23 FS').
- Wotja 24 has the 24 Feature Set (AKA ' 24 FS').
- Wotja 25 will have the 25 Feature Set (AKA ' 25 FS') etc.
See also:
What is the current major version of Wotja?
The current major version of Wotja is 24
In 2024 that means Wotja 24 is the version curently available on the App Stores and supported by us.
What is the Feature Set (FS) for Wotja 24 ?
Wotja 24 has the 24 Feature Set.
Looking for documentation on Retired Wotja Versions?
You can find this in the Wotja Documentation Archive.
Looking for info on other Retired Intermorphic Apps?
You can find support resources for retired apps in the Intermorphic App Archive.
Why is Wotja only available via App Stores?
There are only 2 of us, we are in a niche market, and even if it might make us a few extra dollars we simply don't have enough time to make Wotja available on other than one major App Store per OS platform.
And, to be clear, we cannot afford not to do this via the default OS App Stores.
- That means we make Wotja available via the Apple, Microsoft, Google Play and Amazon app stores.
We are truly sorry if those stores are not your preferred App Stores but they do provide a route for anyone who wants to get Wotja for their OS.
Benefits of the Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google Play App Stores
Some of the user benefit reasons we have chosen to make Wotja available via the Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google Play App Stores are as follows (read below for more background, and see also the FAQ on why we do not make Wotja available in some of the Google Play Stores):
Pros
- Benefit: You get to know of updates without having to check our website (convenience)
- Benefit: You can get and install updates in a secure and easy manner (convenience & security)
- Benefit: You can more easily find our apps (there is better discovery in App Stores where you will get most of your other apps)
- Benefit: You can get only the relevant updates (apps are only available to install on devices with the right OS/capability)
- Benefit: You can enjoy overall security and trust (you are more likely trust the procedures of a major App Store than those of a small developer)
- Benefit: You can be confident of your data privacy (we never get to know who our customers are, better from a GDPR perspective)
- Benefit: If you have made a purchase and you ever feel the need to get a refund you just need to ask the relevant App store, noting that any refund request of course needs to be within that Store's refund period (this means that getting a refund is under your control; the flip side to this App Store user-centric model however is that it is technically impossible for us, as a developer, to issue refunds - only the App Store can do that, sorry).
- Benefit: Wotja is actually available for your OS platform!
Cons
- Disadvantage: App stores never let a developer know who has purchased their app - you are the Appstore customer - and being completely separate "silos" from the perspective of an app developer means it is administratively impossible for us to cross-platform offers/purchases.
Reasons why we make Wotja available only through the above 4 App Stores
Making Wotja available via any App Store is by no means "effort free".
Each store we make Wotja available through requires separate setup, support, software builds (thus testing), documentation and maintenance. On top of that there is the regular updating we have to do for each app entry, required as we tend to do regular App updates during the year.
Finally, each store also has its own legal agreements, tax/GDPR issues and support/refund policies to consider and which might involve other costs.
If we were a big company with a sales, marketing and accounting departments with time on their hands, then maybe we could support other stores!
Reasons why we do not make Wotja available direct via our own webstore
Making Wotja available direct is by no means "effort free".
Many, many years ago before we had mobile versions and before the advent of the major app stores, we did sell Windows and macOS apps direct from our own webstore and with a payment processor called Bluesnap (which had a huge range of payment options).
However, selling via that route delivered none of the main benefits above yet it still required separate support, software builds (thus testing), documentation and maintenance. Furthermore there was the regular updating we have to do for each app entry, required as we do a lot of app updates during the year, and there was no easy way we could advise customers when updates were available, let alone upgrades (which we do not do - just get the next major version if you want it).
Finally, it had its own legal agreements, tax/GDPR complications and support/refund policies to consider and which could involve other costs.
So, this takes us back to what we said at the start: there are only 2 of us, we are in a niche market, and even if it might make us a few extra dollars we simply don't have enough time to make Wotja available on other than one major App Store per OS platform - sorry!
More Background: Rise of the App stores
Things really all started to change when iOS came along. And change very quickly they did, too.
Firstly, Apple decided that iOS apps could only be sold via the Apple App Store. The Apple App Store had many customer advantages including (amongst other things) app discovery, device detection, easy app updating, excellent security (a big and growing thing for customers) and trust (another massive thing). This greatly influenced customer expectations and was a sign of things to come.
Even though Apple still allowed (and allow) macOS apps to be sold direct, the Mac App Store then arrived and it also had the same benefits.
When it came to Android we could never find a secure and easy update mechanism (very important) and it seemed the only route to achieve that was, in any event, going to be via the Amazon Appstore or Google Play.
Microsoft was late to join the party but it created its own App store focused on Windows 10 apps and it, too, had the same customer benefits as above.
Finally, customer privacy has come to the fore as an extremely important issue (hence GDPR) and so data retention has become a big issue for developers - the App Stores 'solve' this as they never give developers any information on the people that buy their apps.
From a consumer perspective there are therefore now too many features and services provided by the App stores that are good and right and that a developer would have no chance of matching, even if it wanted to (and even though the App stores take a large cut).
That being the case, and being a small niche developer, we decided we could not "fight city hall" (meaning we had to go with the flow). Over a period of time we therefore gradually migrated to selling only via the major App stores (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google). Note that we only make Wotja available in some of the Google Play Stores - see this FAQ for our reasons on that.
What is the quickest way to get started?
The best way to get familiar with Wotja is to first check out our Tutorials section where you can find out how to auto-create and play some things.
Our tutorials (both written and video) are great for your very first steps like e.g. how to play a Flow, how to create a new auto-mix etc. These use linked schematics to make it easy to read about what each control does and to get to the parameters you want to know about.
Learning Tip: Open an auto-created mix. Solo/mute things and to focus on different elements that you really like and then try changing some parameters, referring to the Guide as required. That kind of self-directed exploration is different for everyone. How people use Wotja varies enormously from person to person, so it can be a very effective approach.
Where can I hear some Wotja Music?
If you have less than 1 minute...
Quickly check out some Demo Recordings.
If you have a minute or more...
Wotja is all about the live experience, there is no substitute for that. Here's how to enjoy beautiful, live, auto-generated generative music with just one tap:
- Get Wotja for your OS (there is a free version for every OS!)
- Run it up and it will open in the Documents > Schemas Screen
- Tap any one of the Flow buttons and it will start playing beautiful, live, auto-generated generative music 'flow' (a succession of auto-generated mixes) in the Flow Player (see also the quick tutorial "Play a Flow").
- If you don't like the app, just delete it; otherwise, enjoy Wotja and try out some more things!
Do I ever need to get the next major version of Wotja?
Short answer: Yes!
We think the answer to this question is yes because we only support the latest major version of Wotja and from Wotja 23 onwards all Wotja App updates are FREE (i.e. major version updates, bug fixes and improvements etc.). That means there is no reason NOT to get it!
See also:
Is there a roadmap for New Features in Wotja?
Short answer: No
We never publish a roadmap as we never know we can do something until we do it!
We always try very hard to get several New Features into the initial release of a new Major version and then look to add others during the course of the year.
You may well be asking this because you are trying to decide whether or when to purchase a One Time Buy.
At the release of a new Major version you could say "is there enough that is new for me to get the OTB for that version?". If you do not feel there is, then simply wait until later in the year to decide.
Alternatively, whilst waiting to decide you could take out a Subscription and if at any time you felt the value was not right then you could cancel it. You might even decide to stick with that because of the benefits of Subscriptions.
Alternatively, you could take some combined IAP approach.
At the end of the day we believe that our pricing for Wotja is extremely keen (and several customers have told us that it is worth WAY more to them than what we charge for it)! Wotja is a niche app which means our revenues are small - so every penny/cent we get helps us to continue its evolution. So we hope you do decide to Go Pro!
In the past I purchased Noatikl / Mixtikl / Liptikl / Tiklbox. Should I get Wotja?
Short answer: Yes!
That is because Wotja is the evolution of Noatikl, Mixtikl, Liptikl and Tiklbox! Those apps were all archived some time ago now, meaning no more updates are forthcoming - Wotja is their future and it can open Noatikl, Mixtikl and Liptikl files.
See the Evolution of Wotja.
You might want to consider getting Wotja if:
- You want to use any of its cool new features.
- You want an app that is actively being developed and supported.
- You want to continue to play your Noatikl / Mixtikl pieces or open Liptikl files if your OS version no longer supports the running of those apps.
- Wotja can open Noatikl, Mixtikl and Liptikl files. Any parameters not supported by Wotja (there are just a small number) are ignored on opening and are simply not saved when the file is re-saved as a Wotja file. In other words, Wotja is largely backward compatible, but may not always be, so this is also another reason to get it now.
- You are a fan of our artisan "creative relaxation" tools and what they mean to you, and you want to help support us in our efforts to continue developing them for you.
Note: Wotja does not interfere with Noatikl, Mixtikl or Liptikl installations and should work just fine with pieces you have made in previous versions of Noatikl (mobile or desktop), with many mixes made with previous variants of Mixtikl (mobile or desktop) and files created with Liptikl. As there are free variants of Wotja you can easily try it out with your Noatikl and Mixtikl pieces (see: How to copy Noatikl pieces and Mixtikl mixes into Wotja).
What are the main differences between Noatikl / Mixtikl / Liptikl / Tiklbox and Wotja?
See also the Evolution of Wotja.
Selected New App Features / Capabilities in Wotja (and not in Noatikl, Mixtikl, Liptikl) - this is by NO means an exhaustive list (see also What's New in Wotja):
- Flow Player Mode
- An easy way to generate a succession of randomly generated mixes where Randomization Presets (new, below) make it easy to change what is created.
- New Template Paks
- Wotja includes many new Template Paks, including those that use 'Text to Music' to generate melodies. The gorgeous templates in these Paks can be previewed in the Wotja template list.
- Wotja Music Engine (WME), Wotja Audio Engine (WAE) and Wotja Text Engines
- WME: TTM (Text to Music) parameters
- WME: Euclidian parameters
- WME: 2 octave Rules (Scale, Harmony & Next Note)
- WAE: Macro Oscillator 1 Tone Generator
- WAE: R2XL Reverb Unit
- WAE: Pitch Shifter Unit
- WTE: Syllable support and sources only cut-up
- Wotja mix
- Mix level parameters (Ramp up, Playlist Duration, Playlist Duration Range, Playlist Ramp Down)
- Display tab parameters
- Schemas
- An easy way to quickly select different sets of Randomization settings e.g. Templates.
- Schemas options
- To allow more control over the content you mix together in randomly generated mixes in Wotja we have both expanded the granularity of randomization options available, e.g. Template list tagging (Content) and how/where it can be accessed/deployed in the Mix mode. We have also added a whole new set of Album randomization settings.
- "Wotja TV" player app for Apple TV
- Enjoy listening to 'flows' in the Flow Player on TV
- Album/Playlist Player
- This major new feature allows you to create playlists/album of up to 20 mixes that play in sequential or shuffle mode. Playlist was never possible before and it is perfect for installations. Your mixes can be as custom as you want and, of course, use custom SoundFonts (SF2) (see this FAQ) and even WAV/Ogg files (see Paks). This feature is accompanied by two new file formats (.wotjalist, .wotjabox).
- Automatic Albums with new mix icons
- This new facility makes it a snap to create a collection of random new mixes with TTM/cut-up text and colorful icons. This is the fastest way to create/check out new mixes you want to keep and you can export them for later editing/customization.
- Wotja Script Engine (WSE)
- Allows programmatic control over the WME parameters and is useful for using Wotja as a hyper-instrument.
- Multi-tasking support (Split View / Slide Over) in all Wotja apps on iPad
- Makes it easy to work with two apps on screen
- Chinese and Japanese localizations (except in Mix Editing Mode)
- Makes Wotja easier to use for Chinese and Japanese users.
Consolidated Features in Wotja (from Noatikl, Mixtikl, Liptikl):
- The main differences between Wotja and Noatikl, Mixtikl, Liptikl and Tiklbox that were already in place by Wotja V5 are set out in the Wotja 5 Comparison Table.
- Note: On importing into Noatikl 3 or Mixtikl 7 (as relevant) a .noatikl or .mixtikl file exported from Wotja then any new values included in the file are simply ignored. Such new values are not saved to the exported file when those apps re-save such an imported file.
Not supported in Wotja:
We want to devote our efforts to working on what we can uniquely do best, and that means recognising that some previous app capabilities are now better done by other tools. Our more focused approach means we can develop, extend and improve Wotja as fast as possible for our niche audience.
We have no current plans to add support to Wotja for any of the features below.
- Tap Play [was only ever in Mixtikl for macOS/iOS]
- Instead: Use Wotja with a Listening Voice and MIDI In, or try using Track Play Type "One Shot"
- Microphone recording [was only ever in Mixtikl for macOS/iOS]
- Instead: Do that in your DAW which is much better suited to it!
- Minor/little used features now deprecated
- Mixtikl Advanced cell settings, i.e. Stream
None of the following are coming back at any time.
- Lua Scripting for specialists [Lua support was only ever in Noatikl for macOS]
- Instead: In all versions of Wotja we have now implemented support for Wotja Script (ECMAScript AKA JavaScript) for programmatic control of parameters
- AudioCopy/AudioPaste [was only ever in Mixtikl for iOS]
- Instead: Try using apps like AudioShare
- Minor/little used features now deprecated
- Any Mixtikl visualizer related settings
- Mixtikl Store/Recall settings
- Mixtikl Advanced cell settings, i.e. Silent, Audio Sample
Why did you consolidate all your apps into just one, Wotja?
We are a hard working 2-man artisan developer team who takes great pride in our niche music apps and who give them our all. Due to their inherent complexity they are very hard to build which is why you will find it hard to find anything else that covers the same breadth of capabilities.
To better serve our customers we took the tough decision back in 2016 to improve productivity and reduce costs. This decision meant that rather than spending our development time working on the next chargeable major version of Noatikl, we would work to consolidate the best of Noatikl Mixtikl, Liptikl, Wotja (earlier versions) and Tiklbox - and further improvements and extensions - into just the one app - Wotja.
See the Evolution of Wotja.
We hope that enough customers want us to survive, want to see what the next part of our journey will bring and will stay with us through this time of change. If that is the case, then, with Wotja, we should in the longer term be much better placed to be able to extend this one app with new features and capabilities and to maintain it (this is particularly important if you have created files in our other apps that you want to be able to continue to play in the coming years).
I have a special project with special requirements. Do you ever build custom apps/software?
Sorry, but we never build custom apps/software ('software').
In order that our software can meet the needs of as many use cases as possible 'out of the box' we work very hard to make it both powerful and flexible. We then publish it 'As is' and make it available to all at very reasonable prices. It reflects our 'inmo' approach in that 'it does what it does at any one moment in time'.
Of course we want it to have the features and capabilities that artists want/need to do the cool things they do. Because of that we do take on-board feedback/features suggestions (see our contact form). We do listen and consider things carefully.
That said ... we already have a very long list of things we want to do meaning we try never to pre-announce features or make any promises as to what might come next or when. This is mainly because we do not want to over commit and then have to disappoint - when something is done we will announce it.
Tip: To figure out if our software can do what you want can often require a good deal of experimentation and there is no shortcut to that. You will find our free versions should be plenty powerful enough for you to explore that. If you are working on an art project and you want to do specific things then get in touch as we are happy to try to give pointers as to things / approaches to try. At the end of the day, though, if you want specific results then you need to assure yourself it can do what you want - and that the means setting aside enough time to work with and familiarise yourself with its capabilities and the results it creates.
Is it possible to license any of your engines (i.e. WME, WAE, WTE)?
Now that Wotja is becoming so advanced and capable we are no longer considering approaches to licensing any of our engines, these being mainly the Wotja Music Engine (WME), Wotja Audio Engine (WAE) and Wotja Text Engine (WTE).
Short answer
No, but see the solution below.
Your situation
It might seem like a great idea to develop (or commission), market and sell your own music app or installation software.
The reality
Doing that is a bit like owning a Race Horse, Football Team, Formula 1 car - or caring for a baby. It's a long term commitment that, depending on what you do, can demand endless amounts of your time and can require very deep pockets (this helps if you want to reduce the time).
We can tell you now that it is not at all easy to build a generative music system that sounds great.
That said, feel free to have a go at that it if you really need your own software for your business (and we hope you have venture capital!) or if you are driven by an all consuming passion where it is not about the money (it is best not to expect to make any).
Know that when it comes to developing a generative music system nothing stays still and know that you will never likely have enough of either time or money.
There are tons of reasons we say the above:
- Market Risks: User expectations for apps are always growing; there is a ton of competition from other apps; you will be competing with 'free'; your app may not as planned sell like hotcakes
- Cost Risks: Advice (law, tax), branding, marketing, accounting, content licensing, development, support, living (while you do it!) etc. etc.
- Time Risks: Support, development (software is never finished), maintenance (OS & 3rd party component changes), testing, social media + what is required to do all the above
- Sector Risks: Music apps are ESPECIALLY HARD
The creative solution
You may well find that you can instead find a way to work with a powerful, established and low cost "Generative Music System" like Wotja, either as a solution or even as a temporary solution to get your project going! That approach could save you much hassle, time and risk.
Here are some of the reasons to consider Wotja:
- Free App: 4 major OS platforms
- Wotja is a free App for 4 major OS platforms, and all App updates are free, too.
- It is available for: iOS/iPadOS, macOS, Windows and Android (and not forgetting tvOS!)
- Your target audience may well be across many platforms!
- See Downloads
- Engines: WME, WAE and WTE
- Wotja includes proven generative music, audio/sound and text engines.
- The audio/sound engine includes the Reverb (R2XL) and Pitch Shifter units, allowing awesome Reverb out of the box.
- Wotja can be used for free:
- See Feature Set and Lite mode.
- To remove Lite mode auto-timeouts all an end user needs to do is Go Pro.
- Background music generator: Wotja can generate music when backgrounded.
- All your user needs to do is to download Wotja, install it, load up (your) content, start that content playing (see also auto-play) and then background Wotja.
- They can then enjoy Wotja music whilst playing your game.
- To remove Lite mode auto-timeouts all an end user needs to do is Go Pro.
- Adaptive Music: Incoming MIDI can be detected and Wotja Script used to affect composition.
- If you can send MIDI events to Wotja that it can detect, and if you have a Wotja Mix loaded and playing, then you can use powerful Wotja Script affect your mix according to those detected events.
- See Hyper-instrument.
- Note: Wotja Script does NOT support play stop/start; this requires user intervention.
- Installations: Licensing
- When it comes to using Wotja for (smallish) public Installations we have very easy and low cost solution.
- Subject to the Wotja EULA, in particular Clause 7D "Commercial Live Use", then all you need is to use Wotja in Pro mode. For how little that costs it's a complete no brainer!
- Content: Focus on what you do best...
- Rather than spending time on developing software (or paying for it to be created), you could instead spend that time on developing content (including SF2) to be use in Wotja - e.g. for installations or to be marketed/sold as Wotja "Albums" that include mixes and any required SF2 to be used by those mixes.
- Your content remains your content, and, unlike software, is not always subject to change (a downside of software development and a plus for recorded content!!).
- It would be up to you how to monetize and license that content or installation (subject of course to the Wotja EULA).
- NB: If you want to sell your content there are many places you can sell digital content, e.g. Bandcamp, Patreon etc.
- Plug-in Host and Plug-in: AUv3/VST3
- Wotja both supports use of Hosted Plug-ins (AU3/VST3) and there is a Wotja Plug-in (AU3/VST3), too.
- Time: It is of the essence when it comes to apps or music projects
- You could get started right away!
- Risks?
- Longevity: It is evidently the case that Wotja might one day no longer be actively developed, but that is true of any app/software - even if it is something you might build yourself. Wotja is the continued evolution of SSEYO Koan and Noatikl, so it already has a well established longevity.
- Fitness for purpose: All our software is provided "As is". Try the free version to make sure it does what you want and that your mixes/content plays as you want; test with a Pro Feature Set, too, if you wish!
Will you ever do a Linux version?
Sorry, but we simply can’t see a feasible market for linux version of Wotja.
That is both in terms of there being sufficient customer demand to cover our costs and a standard marketplace through which we could sell it securely.
Is Wotja suitable for use in Music Education, and/or for artistic collaboration?
Absolutely, yes!
Firstly, Wotja is a deep and powerful generative music and creativity system that can be used:
- as a music creator (e.g. using rules to explore scale and harmony etc.)
- as a music player (e.g. to explore music for relaxation or mindfulness etc.)
- as a music lab (e.g. for sound design experiments etc.)
- as a generative music Plug-in (AU3 or VST3 [Apple/Windows])
- as a generative music DAW (with its support for Plug-in Hosting [Apple/Windows])
- as a text generator (e.g Cut-up Text for creative writing ideas etc.)
- ... and even just for fun, too!
Secondly, there are free variants of Wotja for every major OS (iOS, macOS, Windows, Android [which also means Chromebooks]) and even Apple TV/Fire TV/Android TV -> try it out now, for free.
Finally, it is well suited for educational, research and/or collaborative creation purposes because Lite mode allows mixes to be saved and then shared for others to edit, play etc.
Wotja Requirements: Note that the CPU power required to run Wotja depends on how you want to use it. Some uses require more CPU power than others (i.e. such as use of the R2XL reverb unit), but it is easy to customize content and figure out what works for you.
I made a purchase and would like a refund, is that possible?
One of the reasons we make available a powerful free variant of Wotja for every platform is for you to try it out and make sure Wotja is for you, before you Go Pro - meaning you purchase a Pro IAP.
We are sorry if you are someone who has made such Pro IAP purchase and, for whatever reason, does want a refund. However, it is easy to do for Apple, Microsoft and Google Play purchases, if that is what you really want (Amazon does not give refunds, see below).
Note that Wotja is sold via the App Stores and, as a developer, it is technically impossible for us to issue refunds ourselves - only the App Store can do that, sorry.
To get a refund (where possible) you just need to ask the relevant App store (see links below), noting that any refund request of course needs to be within that Store's refund period.
Note: Monthly 'Pro' Subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.
- Apple App Store
- Microsoft App Store (and contact Microsoft support)
- Google Play Store
- Amazon Appstore (no refunds are possible, see 'Digital Products')
I'm a Wotja user & fan! How can I help?
I'm a Wotja user & fan!
Thank you so much and we are so happy that you are enjoying Wotja!
You may or may not know this, but we are just a team of two and Wotja is a labor of love that is many decades in the baking.
We are not VC funded but we are instead entirely organically funded by kind souls who want to do more and Go Pro. This all means we are only still here today through the love, support and kindness of our fans - so we thank you again!
As a Wotja fan we hope you would like us to continue developing and evolving Wotja.
How do I help?
- Do more and Go Pro in Wotja.
- It may be simplistic to say it, but this is the most direct way a fan can help us to survive and to support continued development of Wotja.
- Get an item from our cool range of official Intermorphic "Merch".
- These include T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies!
- Leave nice reviews and regularly update your app rating:
- It really does help us a lot if you can leave nice reviews and update your ratings at every update (and it does not cost you anything) - and we greatly appreciate it!
- Post on social media:
- If would help us enormously if you could also talk about Wotja on social or other media and share some of the things you make (and it does not cost you anything, either) - and let us know if you wish us to retweet anything!
Uninstall / Reinstall
- How do I uninstall/delete Wotja?
- How do I reinstall/re-download Wotja?
- How do I configure Wotja to use iCloud / iCloud Drive?
- Wotja macOS: 'Wotja' is damaged and can't be opened. Delete 'Wotja' and download it again from the App Store
- How can I get or restore an older version for iOS?
- How do I copy files (e.g. Zip, SF2, WAV, MID etc) into the Wotja Folder from some other folder?
- What should I backup?
How do I uninstall/delete Wotja?
Uninstall/Delete: Apple (iOS/macOS) | Microsoft (Windows) | Google Play (Android) | Amazon (Android)
It is easy to uninstall/delete the Wotja App and Plug-in and to delete any Wotja files you might have created.
IMPORTANT: Wotja saves its files (see File Types) to the Wotja Folder (« see that link for full details). Tip: All Desktop versions of Wotja include the following easy way to find the Wotja Folder - Desktop Menu > Help > Show Wotja Data Folder.
External links below () are to the manufacturers own docs on this (e.g. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Google).
- Apple (Apple docs ):
- Uninstall Wotja App & Plug-in:
- Delete Wotja Files (see Wotja Folder)
- Microsoft (Microsoft docs ):
- Uninstall Wotja App:
- Delete Wotja Files (see Wotja Folder)
- Delete Wotja Plug-in:
- To find the Wotja VST Plug-in use the Wotja Help Menu > Show the Windows VST3 Folder which may well show that it is here:
\Users\your-user-account\Program Files\Common Files\VST3\
. See also the FAQ How do I install the Wotja VST3 Plug-in?
- To find the Wotja VST Plug-in use the Wotja Help Menu > Show the Windows VST3 Folder which may well show that it is here:
- Google (Google docs ):
- Uninstall Wotja App:
- Delete Wotja Files (see Wotja Folder)
- Amazon (Amazon docs ):
- Uninstall Wotja App:
- Uninstall an App from Your Fire Tablet (FireOS 7 and higher)
- You can also delete the App from your Amazon Account using a web browser; go to Your Account > Apps and More (these links are for a UK account, change the URL to suit your country
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/mas/your-account/myapps
) the select the action you want for the App in the RHS Actions button.
- Delete Wotja Files (see Wotja Folder)
- Uninstall Wotja App:
How do I reinstall/re-download Wotja?
Provided that your device meets the Wotja minimum device/OS requirements, you can always reinstall/re-download from an App Store the latest version of a Wotja App/Bundle that you have 'purchased' (free apps that have been downloaded are also considered as 'purchases' by the App Stores). See the links below for the relevant App Store.
Example: The above might be a purchased but no longer available for sale Paid-for version of the Wotja App/Bundle such as e.g. Wotja 22 Pro or just the latest free version of the Wotja 23+ App Bundle that you downloaded.
Note: If you instead want to restore an IAP, see: How do I restore a One Time Buy?, How do I restore a Subscription? or How do I restore a Thirty Day Unlock?
Important: Please note that to reinstall/re-download Wotja you will need to be logged into the relevant store below with the User ID that you used to purchase/download it.
- Apple:
- To reinstall/re-download a 'purchased' app from one of the Apple App Stores (iTunes App Store or Mac App Store) see Apple's page Re-download apps and games from Apple.
- Microsoft:
- To reinstall/re-download a 'purchased' app from the Microsoft Store see the "Reinstall your apps" section on this Microsoft page.
- Tip: Be aware that in the Library section of the Store the default view is filtered to exclude programs that are not installed.
- Note that you will need to ensure your devices are registered with the Store (see: Manage devices used with your Microsoft account).
- See also How to download apps using Microsoft Store.
- To reinstall/re-download a 'purchased' app from the Microsoft Store see the "Reinstall your apps" section on this Microsoft page.
- Amazon:
- To reinstall/re-download a 'purchased' app from the Amazon Appstore see the this Amazon page.
- Google:
- To reinstall/re-download a 'purchased' app from the Google Play Store see the this Google Play page.
Will the next major version of Wotja overwrite the current version of Wotja?
As all Wotja 23+ app updates are now FREE, then yes it will as every major version is just another update. See our 'Featuregrade' Business Model.
Wotja macOS: 'Wotja' is damaged and can't be opened. Delete 'Wotja' and download it again from the App Store
This message may very rarely occur. We believe it only happens for the Wotja macOS subscription version and only then if a subscription does not seem to be applied after purchase. We are really not sure at the moment what might be the root cause it.
You might find the following will fix it:
- Delete the Wotja app from your Mac via the Launchpad app. (NB: Deleting this way is sometimes more effective than merely dragging it to the Trash or Cmd + Backspace etc.) In Launchpad, click and hold on the app icon, then click the black 'X' icon that appears.
- Log out of the Mac App Store (from the menu bar, choose Store > Sign Out).
- Reboot your Mac.
- Log back in to the App Store (Store > Sign In), then switch to the Purchases tab and click the Install button next to the Wotja app to reinstall it.
If you do manage to find a solution that cures this for you (including if the above works), then please let us know! Alternatively, try contacting Apple.
How can I get or restore an older version for iOS?
You might want to do this if iOS updates to a new version and you do not or are unwilling to do that or you have removed Wotja and the new version of Wotja is no longer available for your version of iOS (we use Apple tools to build our apps, and Apple updates to these tools change which versions of iOS we can build for). So, how do you restore the last version of Wotja available for your version of iOS?
See Apple's instructions on how to do this or an AppleInsider article. Alternatively, you might try restoring from a device or even TimeMachine backup.
What should I backup?
Backing up:
Note: Using iCloud for your Wotja mix files and other content is very convenient because it keeps them in sync across devices, thus making it easy to work with those files in different version of Wotja. It is also brilliant because if you have uninstall/reinstall Wotja then the files in iCloud remain in iCloud, they are not deleted when you uninstall Wotja (although you will lose your Wotja System Settings).
However, iCloud is NOT suitable for use as a backup mechanism because IF you delete files in the Wotja Documents screen or from the Wotja iCloud Drive Folder e.g. using Finder or iCloud Drive app, then they are also deleted from iCloud - and therefore any other device that is using those files. They are GONE.
- For two reasons we strongly recommend you regularly back up your Wotja files, recordings and content (see Filetypes), whether they are on your device (local storage) or in the "Wotja iCloud Drive" folder: A) Just in case! and B) because iCloud is not a backup mechanism (see above).
- iOS specific note: Although making an iTunes backup of your device will back up all your installed apps AND their locally stored data (see: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946), if you remove and then reinstall an app, its local DATA is not restored: the only way to get back that app's local data is to do a device restore from a backup (See: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766) - but that also then OVERWRITES ALL device app data with whatever was in the backup. If you want or need to go that route, see this FAQ entry. It is always a good idea to keep separate backups of your files - see Wotja Folder.
Usage
- Why does Lite mode no longer permit save and export?
- Why does my Wotja file not open/play correctly in an older version of Wotja?
- How do I copy a shared Wotja URI and/or import/play one in Wotja?
- How do I share a Wotja URI or File?
- How do I open a Wotja file shared as an attachment?
- The "Wotja Folder" - Where is it and when should I use it?
- I have issues with the In-App Help (Resources/User Guide)?
- In the Documents Screen, Add New is not creating a new file?
- How do I delete a Document/File?
- How do I create/use/export my own Templates in Wotja?
- How do I copy/export a Wotja Cell and paste/import into another?
- How do I export a mix or album to clipboard or import from clipboard?
- How do Scale and Next Note Rules interact?
- Why does a change to the MIDI Patch Parameter not change the sound?
- How do I use Audio files (Wav, Ogg) in Wotja?
- From Wotja, how do I save / export Noatikl files?
- How do I export, backup or restore my Wotja Files?
- Why does Text to Music text disappear when in Text Edit screen I have "Random words" selected and press the dice?
- How do I find and change any 'patterns' used in a mix?
- I used a custom Template in a mix but it no longer sounds right. Why, and how do I fix it?
- How do I copy files (e.g. mix, Zip, SF2, WAV, MID etc.) into the Wotja Folder from some other folder?
- Where can I get the older "Flows" (Randomization Presets [RP]) that were in 21.6 and earlier?
- Where do I find the free add-on Paks?
Why does Lite mode no longer permit save and export?
From Wotja 24.4 onwards save or export actions are no longer supported in Lite mode.
There are several reasons we made this change:
- To make a clearer distinction between Lite and Pro modes.
- It is only through the kindness of those who Go Pro that we can continue our work to develop and extend Wotja.
- If that is you, know that we are doing this for you!
- To let us to increase auto-timeouts so that Lite mode users could have more fun exploring Wotja for free.
- Lite mode auto-timeouts used to be 2 minutes for mixes and 2 minutes in the Plug-in and we have now increased/changed them to be 10 minutes everywhere.
- To continue to try to simplify Wotja where we can.
- Rather than having different timeouts for different things we have adopted a 10 minute auto-timeout for all things.
- Because we now settled on 3 easy ways to Go Pro.
- It has never been easier to Go Pro, even if you just want to do it for 1 month at a time!
Why does my Wotja file not open/play correctly in an older version of Wotja?
Wotja is forward compatible with older Wotja, Noatikl, Mixtikl and Liptikl files. What that means is that the latest version of Wotja should be able to open and play them just fine.
However, it is likely that if you create a Wotja file in the latest version of Wotja then it may well not open/play correctly in an older version of Wotja, meaning it is not backward compatible. The image on the left shows what your mix thumbnail might look like.
The reason for that is that either the Wotja file format has changed and the older version does not know about that, or the file contains references to a New Feature and so does not know what to do with it.
Heads Up for Wotja 24.1.1:
The Wotja file formats in this version changed to be able to support Wotja URIs that include API commands. These Wotja files will either not open in an earlier version of Wotja, or open and all the Cells will appear to be empty.
If you really need to, then as follows below, you can manually convert the new files back into the old style format so that they should at least open in an older version of Wotja. The issue remains, however, that if the file references a New Feature then it will not play as intended.
For example, if your file was a Wotja Mix file, then open it in a text editor and replace e.g. wotja://mix/DATA...
or wotja://api_load/?data=mix/DATA...
with just wotja://wj4DATA...
and save it. It should then open in an older version.
How do I copy a shared Wotja URI and/or import/play one in Wotja?
Important: Wotja 24.1+ is required for Wotja URIs. If you don't have that, update Wotja now - updates are free! If you have multiple versions of Wotja installed then first delete or archive the old ones.
A Wotja URI is simply a Wotja Album, Schema or Mix file exported to clipboard. There are different export options to account for sharing it in different contexts. Go Pro to remove auto-timeouts. See also How do I share a Wotja URI or File?
How to Copy a Wotja URI to the Clipboard from a social post or message
Twitter/X; Facebook | BlueSky | iMessage |
Example Post | Example Post | |
Desktop Wotja
|
Desktop Wotja
|
Desktop Wotja
|
Mobile Wotja
|
Mobile Wotja
|
Mobile Wotja
|
How to import & play a Wotja URI from the Clipboard
Apple (iOS/macOS) | Windows | Android |
Open Wotja, then either
|
How to import & play a Wotja URI from a Weblink (see Shared Examples)
Apple (iOS/macOS) | Windows | Android |
Web Browser
|
Web Browser
|
Web Browser
|
Tap Web Link
|
How do I share a Wotja URI or File?
Important: Wotja 24.1 or later is required for Wotja URIs. If you don't have that, update Wotja now - all Wotja App updates are free! If you have multiple versions of Wotja installed then first delete or archive the old ones.
Important: As a generative music laboratory, Wotja is an 'open system'. This means that anyone with Wotja can open any Wotja URI (WJURI) or File you might share and then edit it (NB: Albums & Schemas require Pro mode for editing). If you don't want anyone to know how you did something, then don't share the Wotja file! Instead, share a video, audio or MIDI recording of it (see EULA).
It is easy and fun to share your Wotja Mixes, Albums and Schemas. You can share them either as a Wotja URI for pasting into something e.g. message, post or webpage, or as an Email Attachment, or as a Web File Download. See also How do I copy a shared Wotja URI and/or import/play one in Wotja?
General Tip: We recommend sharing Schemas and Mixes in Albums because Wotja App users in Lite mode can play Albums for 10 mins before auto-timeout (as opposed to 5 mins for Schemas and 2 mins for Mixes).
Share as a Wotja URI
Important: Please be aware that Wotja URIs need to be quite short to play with Windows browsers, as below.
Apple (iOS/macOS) | Windows | Android |
Web Browser
|
Web Browser
|
Web Browser
|
A Wotja URI (WJURI) is basically a 'deep link', i.e. a text string. This means it can be pasted anywhere! See the definition of Wotja URI.
- On a File thumbnail or in the relevant Player or Editor, tap the 'Share' Actions menu item which will take you to the Share screen.
- Select the checkboxes you require for Wotja URI Type, Format and Purpose.
- Tap the 'Copy' button to copy that to the clipboard for you to paste where you want.
- On macOS/iOS you can also tap the iOS Share menu or macOS Share menu to call up the relevant Share sheet.
Share File as an Email Attachment
You do so as you would share any file.
- In your e.g. Email app, use the Add Attachment option.
- In the file browser that pops up, find your Wotja file in the Wotja Folder.
- Attach the file.
Share File as a Web File Download
Wotja files can be shared via a web page download link provided they have first been manually renamed to have the required SSEYO Koan MIME Type (i.e. .SKM
, .SKP
, .SKD
or .SKT
), i.e. a Wotja Web file - see Wotja Web file extensions.
- For the Wotja file you want to share as a web file simply manually change its file extension from e.g.
mywotja.wotja
tomywotja.skm
.- Tip: These renamed files can also be directly opened and resaved in Wotja, too.
- Upload that .skm file to your website
- Link to it in a webpage as e.g.
<a href="mywotja.skm">Name of your file</a>
.
Historical
- The above MIME types were registered by SSEYO way back in 1996 which means they are supported as standard on pretty well any web server.
- We still use them today because Wotja is the evolution of SSEYO Koan and it can directly open (and play!) SSEYO Koan .SKD and .SKT files (the SSEYO Koan .SKM and .SKP are now re-used for different Wotja file types as outlined in Filetypes). See also: SSEYO Koan FAQ) and this blog post from 2020.
How do I open a Wotja file shared as an attachment?
Important: Always make sure you have the latest version of Wotja installed (updates are free)! If you have multiple versions of Wotja installed then first delete or archive the old ones.
Save it first
You do so as you would open any file, e.g. as an email attachment.
- From your e.g. Email app, save the file to the Wotja Folder and, in Wotja, open it in the Documents screen.
- Attach the file.
Open directly
- All OS:
- Double tap on a Wotja file (once downloaded to your device, as relevant) to open it in Wotja!
- Wotja Web files:
- Alternative:
- iOS
- A) Tap on the file attachment and from the pop-up action sheet select Wotja and it should then open in Wotja; or
- B) Tap/hold the file and in pop up menu select Move > iCloud Drive > Wotja THEN open Wotja, Documents screen > Action > Refresh and tap file to open it.
- macOS:
- Right click on it; Select "Open With..."; Choose Wotja.
- Other OS:
- Save the file attachment to your Wotja Folder.
- THEN open Wotja, Documents screen > Action > Refresh, select the segment for that filetype and tap the file to open it.
- iOS
The "Wotja Folder" - Where is it and when should I use it?
Wotja Folder for: iOS/macOS | Windows | Android | Examples
If you are using different versions/variants of Wotja (mobile/desktop) and you want to have e.g. mix files play consistently then we recommend putting your User Content (e.g. mix files, templates, schemas, ZIPs, SF2 etc.) in the Wotja Folder, as below. Its location depends whether you are or are not using iCloud. See also: "What should I backup?".
The Wotja folder is a flat folder and requires that *all content* (with the specific exception of zipped content, see below) must be at the top level of that folder or it will not be found i.e. content must not be put in a subdirectory under it.
Wotja Paks are the exception: To help keep content organised Wotja can find these in a 'zips' folder under the relevant Wotja Folder (see the Wotja Pak Folder Example).
Tip: You can easily find the Wotja Folder when using Wotja Desktop - Desktop Menu > Help > Show Wotja Data Folder.
Wotja Folder for iOS/macOS:
When using Wotja with iCloud enabled (recommended) the Wotja Folder is located as follows:
~/iCloud Drive/Wotja/
- See also: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/ where it is the
Wotja
folder under that.
When using Wotja without iCloud enabled the Wotja Folder is located as follows:
- iOS:
- For details on how to copy files from iOS to/from Mac/PC and vice-versa (e.g. App Files and Other Content) see:
- macOS with Catalina: See Apple's doc Use the Finder to share files between your Mac and your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
- macOS prior to Catalina: See Apple's doc Use iTunes to share files between your computer and your iOS or iPadOS device (i.e. the section on "Copy files from your computer to your iOS or iPadOS app")
- Note: Wotja saves files to a local folder on the device itself when the Wotja iCloud Settings are turned off. See the Files app.
- For details on how to copy files from iOS to/from Mac/PC and vice-versa (e.g. App Files and Other Content) see:
- macOS:
~/Music/Intermorphic/
- IMPORTANT: If using iCloud, Wotja will not look for files in either of the above places (as relevant)
Wotja Folder for Windows:
Note: The defualt Wotja Folder for Windows is shown below. You can choose to use a different folder (e.g. iCloud Folder) using Settings > Windows Documents Folder.
\Users\your-user-account\Documents\Wotja\
Wotja Folder for Android:
Android 10 or later:
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
- 'Internal Storage' might be referenced slightly differently on different devices.
- IMPORTANT: File System restrictions in Android 10+ mean that apps can no longer use external memory, and the Wotja folder is now some hidden folder using internal memory meaning you cannot get files in or out of that with the Files app. Android cannot use the iCloud folder, either. Sorry!
- See: How do I get Wotja files in/out of Wotja on Android 10?
Android 9 or earlier:
<storage>/Wotja/
- Depending on whether you installed Wotja to internal or external storage (and allowing installation of apps on external storage e.g. SD Card is a device setting), this is a folder that is at the top level of that storage.
Wotja Folder Examples
Wotja Files (see File Types): These must be placed directly in the Wotja Folder, e.g. file MyMix.wotja
- iOS/macOS (iCloud): https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/
Wotja/MyMix.wotja
or~/iCloud Drive/Wotja/MyMix.wotja
- iOS/macOS (no iCloud):
~/Music/Intermorphic/MyMix.wotja
- Windows:
\Users\your-user-account\Documents\Wotja\MyMix.wotja
- Android (see instructions):
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja/MyMix.wotja
Wotja Paks: These are zipped and so can go under a /zips
folder, e.g. Pak AL Collections 1-3
- iOS/macOS (iCloud): https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/
Wotja/zips/IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
or~/iCloud Drive/Wotja/IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
- iOS/macOS (no iCloud):
~/Music/Intermorphic/zips/IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
- Windows:
\Users\your-user-account\Documents\Wotja\zips\IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
- Android (see instructions):
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja/zips/IMTPALLoopEssentials1.zip
I have issues with the In-App Help (Resources/User Guide)?
A) The In-App Help Resources and/or In-App User Guide do not display.
- Cause:
- The native In-App browser that Wotja has access to is not recent enough to be able to display it.
- We already know this is the case for macOS High Sierra (10.13, or earlier).
- Solutions:
- Use the Online Guide instead by unchecking the Help: In-App toggle, or;
- Update your device or use a newer OS (e.g. macOS 10.14+).
B) The Schematic buttons in the In-App User Guide do not work as links.
- Cause:
- The native In-App browser that Wotja has access to is not recent enough to be able to use links in a SVG.
- We already know this is the case for macOS 10.14 (Big Sur, or earlier).
- Solutions:
- Use the Online Guide instead by unchecking the Help: In-App toggle.
- Update your device or use a newer OS (e.g. macOS 10.15+ with Safari 15+).
C) SVG images are not displaying in the In-App Guide (Windows).
- Cause:
- The native In-App browser that Wotja has access to is not recent enough to be able to display a SVG.
- This is possible in some older Windows 10 machines.
- Solution:
- Go to this Microsoft webpage.
- Download and run the "Evergreen Standalone Installer for x64".
- Restart Wotja.
In the Documents Screen, Add New is not creating a new files?
If this is not working then the likely cause is that you are using iCloud but it is somehow not configured correctly for use in Wotja. Try turning off iCloud support for Wotja and then turning it on again.
See: Settings: iCloud.
How do I delete a Document/File?
In the Documents screen, tap on the Document/File name and from the pop up select "Delete". Once it has deleted you might need to press the top Action button and select "Refresh" (this refreshes the screen).
How do I create/use my own Templates in Wotja?
Wotja includes hundreds of Templates but you can use your own generative Templates in Wotja. These can also be used for mix randomization, too.
It is easy to create your own Templates (.noatikl files). Simply modify a Content Cell to be as you want (i.e. as you would want it to be as a template) and then use Grid button in the Music Mode to export it (see Grid Button > Cell Actions > Export to Template).
- Tip: If you are using an older version without the Grid button then use the Toolbox button.
Once you have made one/some, you can either use it/them ad hoq (i.e. if you just have a few) or have them appear as a Pak if you would prefer that. Both are noted below. Those zipped as Paks show up in the Schema Editor > Templates for Randomization screen.
You will need to be using iCloud, and have a Wotja iCloud Drive folder, or be using the local Wotja Folder (e.g. Windows/Android) for your files.
A) How to use your own Templates 'ad hoq'
Wotja will display any Templates (.noatikl files) that are in the Wotja iCloud Folcer / local Wotja folder in the 'Saved Files' Pak, shown at the top left in the Templates screen. You can either copy existing Templates files there, or you can export a Template from a Content Cell (Mix Mode > Grid / Toolbox button > Export to Template). See also this FAQ.
B) How to use your own Templates in a zip
- Create a number of generative templates (each is a .noatikl file exported from a content cell - Music Mode > Grid Button > Export as Template.)
- Get an iOS app that allows you, on device, to create a zip file and copy it into Wotja. NB: For below we used the free "iZip - Zip Unzip Unrar Tool" from in the App Store.
- In this app what you do is:
- Go to Document Browser option which accesses iCloud Drive, and the find the Wotja folder.
- Select one of the template files above that you have created; this is then copied across to the app (only one at a time unfortunately).
- Once you have copied all the templates you want into the app then go to the app's "Files" option and you will see an import folder (you can remove what you don't want in here).
- Then select the bottom "Zip" option and give your zip a name (e.g. testpak.zip).
- Select the created zip (e.g. testpak.zip) and then the bottom "Share" option and select "Copy to Wotja" from the pop up action sheet.
- If you go into the Schema Editor > Templates screen you will see this pak at the bottom and you can toggle it/its content items as you want.
- Use the Templates in Wotja (you may/may not need to restart it for the pak to be picked up)!
C) How to configure templates to be used as TTM templates (text to music)
One of the benefits of using TTM type templates is that they make it really ease to create new seed melodies. There are a lot of Randomization options related to how you want those to work, too, and those parameters reward experimentation. See: TTM Generator.
Also, when creating random mixes, there are some specialist settings that apply to them, too. See: Schema Editor > in the General/Mix section refer to the TTM Cells/Column and TTM Words settings.
Remember that TTM templates are set up just to make melodies so they can use any sounds/fx etc. you want, and use Following Voices, Chording etc. - you can make them as complex as you want!
For any Template you want to be used as a TTM template then first of all ensure the following:
- Set Generator Type to Text to Music
- Set Cut-Up Rule to e.g. "Cut-Up Line# = Track#", or Custom
- If Custom, set TTM Text to something other than empty
- Set whatever you want for the other properties
Then, either:
- Preface them with TTM (must be capitals, e.g.TTM-fred.noatikl) or;
- Use TTM in the zip pak name if all templates in it are to be treated as TTM templates (e.g. TTM-mypak.zip)
When you copy this zip into Wotja, as above, they will be treated as TTM templates. One fun extra thing there is that every time a TTM template is randomly added to a mix the text in the TTM field will be randomized, too, meaning a new seed melody each time.
How do I copy/export a Wotja Cell and paste/import into another?
To do this you need to be in the Generator Network View of Music Mode.
- Select the source cell you want to copy.
- From the "Grid" button, select "Export to Clipboard".
- Select a target cell where you want to copy to (this can be in a different mix, if you want - which is really easy to do on desktop, where you can have many documents open at the same time in different tabs).
- From the Cell Toolbox menu, select either of the following:
- "Import from Clipboard": This menu item is only available if you are wanting to paste into an empty Cell.
- "Merge from Clipboard": Select this if you want to merge the content from the clipboard into the content that is already in the target Cell.
- "Replace from Clipboard": Select this if you want to replace the contents of your target cell with that
How do Scale and Next Note Rules interact?
The only way to really understand it (and it is simple when you grok it) is to have a quick play, as below!
Scale Rule
- Create an empty mix.
- Add a Rhythmic Generator to one cell by tapping in the RHS panel and from the Templates list select WME Generator Types > Rhythmic.
- Select the Scale Rule parameter for that Generator.
- See: Generator Editor > Generator Parameter Group "Rules".
- Tap on Scale Rule for the Scale Rule editor.
- Edit your Scale Rule to allow all notes in the scale.
- Hear what happens as you set some of the sliders to zero - you'll hear that the only notes that play are those that have non-zero slider values.
Next Note Rule
- Set your Scale Rule (above) to allow all notes in the scale again.
- As you did in 4) above for Scale Rule, tap on Next Note Rule for the Next Note Rule editor.
- Set the Next Note Rule so that only one of the items is available - try the +1 value (i.e. one semitone).
- You'll hear that as each note is composed, it is one semitone away from the other.
- The Next Note Rule tells Wotja how "far away" (in semitone terms) the note is from the last one.
- Enable a few more sliders and you'll hear that as Wotja has more options, it opens-up what can be composed.
- Now go back to the Scale rule, and hear the difference again as you change it.
How do I use Audio files (Wav, Ogg) in Wotja?
Tip: It is easy in Wotja to convert a Wav file to an Ogg file. Just put the Wav file in the Wotja folder and then either A) go to the Documents > Recordings screen, tap on your WAV file to select it and then the RHS Actions menu select 'Export to Ogg', or B) go to the Mix > Record Mode, tap on your WAV file to select it and then the RHS Actions menu select 'Export to Ogg'.
There are several ways to use audio files/samples in Wotja and what you go with depends on what you want to do.
- SoundFont: For audio samples (Wav, Ogg) that require pitch-shifting or time stretching or use in a polyphonic manner (e.g. as notes)
- To create a SF2 (Wav SoundFont) or SF3 (Ogg SoundFont) you will need a SoundFont tool.
- Once created, SoundFonts are very easy to use in the Wavetable Unit in a SFX Network.
- Note: The SoundFont file is NOT saved to your mix file.
- Note: You can save SFX Networks as Presets which can then be selected in the Schema Editor for use in Randomisation.
- Sample Player: Smallish samples (as Ogg files) that require (creative) pitch-shifting or time stretching or use in a polyphonic manner (e.g. as notes) and where the Ogg file is saved to your mix file for mix portability.
- Add an Ogg file to a Sample Player unit in a SFX Network.
- The Sample player allows you to play the Ogg files as notes (i.e. pitch shift/timestretch) or just as Samples, and there are a host of creative options that can be used.
- The Ogg file must be in the Wotja folder (and so appears in the Documents Pak) or in a Zip in the Wotja folder (which will appear at the bottom of the Templates list).
- Once loaded, the Ogg file is saved to the mix file which is perfect if you want to share self contained Mix files or such files in Albums.
- It is easy in Wotja to create an Ogg file from a Wav file, see the tip above.
- Note: Mix files can get quite large and the bigger the Ogg files used, the larger they get.
- Note: Ogg files have to be uncompressed into memory before they are used so the bigger the file, the longer that takes.
- Note: You can save SFX Networks as Presets which can then be selected in the Schema Editor for use in Randonisation.
- Cell: Use of a single Wav or Ogg file in a Cell for one shot play or looping and where you do not require pitch-shifting or time stretching, e.g. use of large foley sounds/loops.
- Add the Wav or Ogg file directly to a Cell from the Templates screen.
- The Audio File must be either in the Wotja folder (and so appears in the Documents Pak) or in a Zip in the Wotja folder (which will appear at the bottom of the Templates list).
- The downside of this approach is that the Audio File is NOT pitch shifted or time stretched when it is added to a mix file as it is when in a properly formatted Pak.
- Note: These audio files will not appear in the Schema Editor > Templates screen as they are not supported content for use in randomization.
- Audio Pak: A pre-prepared zipped collection of audio samples (WAV, Ogg) for use as in 3) but which can also support pitch-shifting or time stretching if required.
- An Audio Pak allows audio samples to be pitch-shifted/time stretched when added to a mix, in accordance with mix root and tempo.
- The built-in time stretching capability best suits samples that you want to use as notes as it is quite basic and the higher the quality original file, the higher the quality of the result.
- Look at the example Pak provided in the Audio Pak section as that will help you get the XML right.
- Tip: If you do not want time-stretching of your samples (e.g for foley sounds), then the XML is simpler.
- Tip: Paks are very useful if you want to organise your sounds for use in Wotja; they can even include SoundFonts and Templates etc. but they do require creating by you.
- Note: Audio Paks do not appear in the Schema Editor > Templates screen as they are not supported content for use in randomization.
Why does a change to the MIDI Patch Parameter not change the sound?
The Wotja Music Engine (WME) 'Patch' Parameter is of no relevance if you use a WAE Synth & FX Network ('SFX Network') to generate sound for that Generator.
It is only used to set the MIDI patch that gets sent via MIDI Out to a 3rd party App (e.g. a DAW) or device (e.g. Piano).
Note: If you want to use sounds in the included General MIDI SF2 wavetable, then create a SFX Network that is just a Wavetable Unit. Then, in the LHS "Wavetables" list select the "General MIDI" item and in the RHS list select the patch you want to use, e.g. '008 - Clavinet'.
From Wotja, how do I save / export Noatikl files?
Note: If content in your exported file uses a custom Wavetable/SF2 that is also in your iCloud Drive folder then for the file to play correctly when opened in Noatikl 3 you need to have that custom Wavetable/SF2 available in the Wotja Folder (or legacy Intermorphic Folder). If this does not work you will need to recreate the association to the custom Wavetable/SF2.
Saving/Exporting the contents of a Wotja Content Cell as a Noatikl file
- In the Wotja Mix screen, select the Content Cell you want to export.
- Tap the Grid button and select "Export Cell to Template" or "Export Cell to Clipboard". In the case of the former you will see a pop-up dialog where you name this file before it is saved.
- The file is saved to the Wotja Folder as a Wotja Template file (
.wotja_tp
). For use in Noatikl this file can be renamed to.noatikl
. - Note: As the file may well use features that are not available in Noatikl it may well not play as intended.
How do I export, backup or restore my Wotja Files?
See Backup.
Why does Text to Music text disappear when in Text Edit screen I have "Random words" selected and press the dice?
This can happen if, in Text Mode, you have the Word Library control "Use additional words?" set to "None" and you have no sources that contain text.
The reason the text disappears is because the pool to choose words from is restricted only to the sources, and there is no text in the sources!
The solution is either to add some text to a source(s) or to press the Use Words button and change the Word Library control "Use additional words?" to either "WJ Bank" or "WJ Database".
How do I find and change any 'patterns' used in a mix?
You are probably interested in knowing about how to do this as you are wanting to create and record some music (refer to the FAQ entry on recording ownership).
You will likely know therefore that many templates use B-type 'patterns' which are melodies and, just like any melody, they contain note pitch and durations. We are not aware that the 'seed melodies' we have used in these templates are infringing in any way but you will need to change them.
To do that, you will need to identify all instances of them and then either change them to use an R-type pattern or use only melodic patterns you have either entered yourself or have been randomly generated.
Tip: When creating a new automatic mix or automatic album all B-Type patterns used in TTM voices are generated from randomly generated text (see 4.3 thru 4.6 below though).
B-type 'patterns' are only used by Pattern Generators (which also includes the Text-to-Music [TTM] sub type). Pattern voices have a pink color in the Mix Mode Generator Network view.
So, in the Generator Network View view for any mix you create and for every cell in which there is content:
- Tap on a Cell to select that cell.
- Right click or tap hold on EACH Voice used in that cell that is PINK (this is the color of a Patterns voice).
- Select Edit from the pop up menu.
- Select the left side 'Text to Music' group and look to see if Enabled is checked.
- If Enabled is checked:
- This means the TTM generated pattern overrides the voice pattern.
- In that case, if you wish to use Text to generate a melody go into the TTM Text parameter at the top of this group and either enter your own text or randomize the text with the Dice button (we suggest the middle button should be set to either 'Random Words' or 'Shuffle Text').
- Ensure that you use enough text to generate a long enough melody, certainly longer than 7 notes.
- Bear in mind that whatever text is used will always generate the same melodic seed pattern so if two people enter "Happy birthday!" they will both get the same melody (even though there is no direct relationship between the text and the notes generated).
- Also remember that 2 people randomizing text can get the same result (it is just a question of probabilities).
- Note that in General/Mix section of Schemas, the 'TTM Words min'/'TTM Words max' settings can be changed to increase the number of words generated.
- If Enabled is not checked:
- This means the Patterns voice will use any patterns in the Patterns parameter and you will need to change it/them.
- Tap on the left side 'Patterns' group.
- Tap on the Patterns parameter field (it will look something like <B 60 1 60 2 60 3 60 4>) to go to the Pattern Editor screen.
- For all of the listed patterns shown in the bottom list (and there may only be one) you will need to change any with a B-Type pattern to be your own patterns or change them to be R-Type patterns.
- To do that, in this list tap on the pattern you want to edit and in the top field type in your changes (in Wotja Desktop you can also paste in patterns).
- Alternatively, to create a new random pattern use the Action button to the right of the toolbar and select one of the presets that are available.
- If Enabled is checked:
I used a custom Template in a mix but it no longer sounds right. Why, and how do I fix it?
Note: This FAQ relates only to mixes created in Wotja prior to V20.1.5 and which a Cell references a User Template (rare). And in that case, only those specific Cells need to be reloaded as below.
Throughout Wotja's long and rich history we have always strived for forward file compatibility. The reason for this particular issue, namely where a mix that uses custom Templates might no longer sound as expected, is related to how things were done in the long distant past - but it is easy to fix.
History
It has always been the case in Wotja that when any Template, i.e. those included in Wotja or some user or 3rd party Template, is added to a Cell that all the Cell WME parameter settings and any edits you may make to them are saved to a Cell (and thus the mix, when you save the mix).
Before Wotja 20.1.5, however, the WAE Synth and FX settings were saved to a Cell only if they differed from those in the original template. When the mix was saved and re-opened these changed settings would be used but, if no changes were made, they were restored from the original template values, which the software used as defaults.
The origin of the above behavior was to save space in the saved file when customization of Cells used to be fairly rare, that space saving being a way to keep files ultra-small. Moreover, at that time there was no concept of user-based templates which could disappear!
The above approach always worked just fine for built-in Templates provided:
- We did not change the WAE Networks in them after we created them
- This was true up to Wotja 20 when we need to make some small changes to the default WME Generator Type Templates
- A Template used in a mix was always available to Wotja
- This is not the case if you had deleted or removed it at some point
The upshot of all the above is that if you customized the WAE Network in a Cell that used a User Template it might not sound right when you opened the mix if the Template was no longer present on your system.
Solution
If you saved a mix using a version of Wotja prior V20.1.5 and any Cell in that mix references a Template that is non built-in, e.g. one of your own "User" custom templates, then assuming you still have access to that Template and can ensure it is in the Wotja Folder, we would recommend for that Cell:
-
A) If you're certain you've not modified any WAE Network settings for the Cell since you loaded your User Template into it, just reload the Cell from your User Template (.noatikl) file.
B) If you’re not sure of the above, or if you think you might have edited the Cell WAE Network settings since loading the User Template into it : export the Cell contents to a temporary Template (.noatikl) file (see Grid > Export to Template), then reload the Cell from that saved Template file using the Template browser (you will find it in the Saved Files pak).
- Save your mix
- You can then delete the original Template (.noatikl) file and your temporary Template export if you need to as all WAE data will then be saved to the Cell.
Where can I get the older "Flows" (Schemas/Randomisation Presets) that were in 21.6 and earlier?
Here is the link to download the RP zip file: wj_randompresets_wj_2_6.zip.
Download the zip and put it in your Wotja Folder then reload Wotja when they should appear in the Documents > Flows screen.
iCloud
How do I use Wotja with iCloud / iCloud Drive?
First Steps
iCloud Drive Folder:
macOS:
~/iCloud Drive/Wotja/
Windows:
C:\Users\yourname\iCloudDrive\iCloud~com~intermorphic~wotja
- NB: This assumes the Apple iCloud App for Windows is installed.
- NB: To select this path for Wotja see Settings > Windows Documents Folder.
Why use iCloud / iCloud Drive?
We strongly recommend using iCloud / iCloud Drive wherever you can.
There are five main reasons for that:
- Backups: Files kept in iCloud are always backed up (unless you delete them - so be careful).
- File Synchronization: Lets you easily create and edit on any device. For example, on an iOS device you create a file on device 1 and then edit it further on device 2, and then on macOS or Windows work on that file in the desktop version of that app, and vice versa.
- File Organisation: You can move files around on iOS with the iCloud Drive app or on desktop PC with Finder/Explorer (as relevant).
- Single copies of Zip files: If you Zip up additional content that you want your Wotja file to reference (e.g. SF2, WAV or OGG files) and you put that Zip File in the Wotja iCloud folder then you only need one copy of it (rather than a copy in the local Wotja Folder of very device you use).
- Simplicity: You don't need to understand the intricacies of the Wotja Folder or local Wotja Folder.
iCloud Drive Sub-folders:
Wotja supports a "flat" folder meaning that it will only display files at the top level of the folder, i.e. not in subfolders.
Tip: If you want to limit what files are displayed simply move the files you don't want to see out of the Wotja folder, perhaps into a "Archived" folder under iCloud Drive.
Apple iCloud Drive FAQ:
See: iCloud Drive FAQ
How to display iCloud Drive on your iOS device home screen:
Why can't I see the relevant app folder in my Mac's iCloud Drive folder or in the iCloud Drive on icloud.com?
Tip: Even if you have Wotja for iOS installed on your device, to see the Wotja iCloud folder on Mac we strongly suggest installing Wotja for macOS.
If you have just installed one of our iCloud Drive supporting apps for the first time, then it seems it can take a while for the iCloud Drive syncing to happen and for the folders/files to appear on your Mac. We know not why.... but a couple of suggestions to try are:
- Sign-in to your iCloud web account (icloud.com) and from the home page select the iCloud Drive icon when you will then be able to see all your iCloud Drive folders. It seems that doing this may cause the relevant app folder to appear soon on the Mac.
- It may be that the relevant folder is not showing in the above iCloud Drive folder, in which case we have found that if you connect your device to the iTunes App on your Mac and then perform an iTunes "Sync" for that device, it seems the folders/files then appear straight away under your Mac's iCloud Drive folder and in icloud.com.
How do I copy files (e.g. mix, Zip, SoundFont, WAV, MID etc.) into the Wotja Folder from some other folder?
On a macOS/Windows/Android device: Copy or move files
For any of the files below simply copy or move the file(s) into the Wotja Folder using e.g. Finder/File Explorer.
On an iOS device: Copy or move files
Say you have one of the files below in the iOS Files app "Download" (iCloud) folder. Try one of the options below to move or copy it (one file at a time, iOS limitation) into the Wotja Folder where it is an iCloud folder (if you are instead using Local file storage on your device see Note 1):
- .wotja, .wotja_al, .wotja_tp, .wotja_sc, .wotja_ls, .wotjabox, .wotjalist, .noatikl, .mixtikl, .liptikl, .skd
- Tap/hold the file and from the pop-up menu select "Move" > iCloud Drive > Wotja.
- Pro only: Tap the file to have it copied to the Wotja iCloud Folder and auto-open in Wotja.
- Load the Wotja app and in the Wotja Documents screen tap on the file to load it.
- Tap/hold the file and from the pop-up menu select "Move" > iCloud Drive > Wotja.
- .zip, .sf2, .wav, .mid
- Note: The following requires Wotja V20.11+.
- Tap/hold the file and from the pop-up menu select "Share" then find and tap on the required Wotja app icon and tap on it.
- This will load the app and when the file is "installed" you will see a message "File imported: the file data is now ready for use."
- .wotjarp
- Tap/hold the file and from the pop-up menu select "Move" > iCloud Drive > Wotja.
- Pro only: Load the Wotja app and tap on the Schemas icon in the Schemas screen or select it for use via the Schema Actions button.
- .tg, .fxm
- Tap/hold the file and from the pop-up menu select "Move" > iCloud Drive > Wotja.
- Load the Wotja app and you can use these "presets" files in e.g. the Wotja Synth & FX Editor.
Note 1: If you are instead using Local file storage on your iOS device then in the Files app select a file, tap the "Folders" button and select "On My Phone" and the Wotja folder under that (one that has a down arrow) and then the "Copy" button.
Note 2: Refer to the list of supported File Types for details on how they can be used in Wotja.
How do I regenerate the Wotja iCloud folder after deletion?
There should be *no reason at all* that you need to delete the Wotja iCloud folder and we strongly recommend that you DO NOT delete it. By all means delete any files in that folder, but just not the folder. The folder itself will take up no storage space.
If, however, you do delete that folder then what you can do to get it back again is as follows:
Go to Settings > iCloud and find the iCloud Drive toggle. Turn it off, then turn it on again. Then, return to Wotja and create a new file and the Wotja iCloud folder will be created and the file added to it (you must of course be using iCloud in Wotja as follows, 1) Settings > iCloud > Wotja toggled on and 2) Settings > Wotja > Use iCloud toggled on).
Apple’s page on this is here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT207689
They say "When you turn off an iCloud feature on a device, information stored only in iCloud for that feature is no longer available on the device."
Scripting
Why do Wotja scripts not work in earlier versions?
We've renamed a lot of the Wotja script functions in Wotja to better match the underlying technology components.
When you load a mix in the latest version of Wotja then any V21 and earlier Scripts in it will be auto-converted to use the renamed Wotja Script Engine (WSE) script functions.
This change means, however, that when a mix is saved from the latest version of Wotja any Scripts in it won't work as expected with Wotja 21 or earlier.
Plug-ins
- Why is the Wotja Plug-in not available in my DAW (iOS/macOS)?
- How do I scan for Plug-ins?
- Why is Wotja not hosting my 3rd Party Plug-in (AU/VST)?
- Where do I find the Fan Favorite Plug-ins page?
- How do I install the Wotja AU3 Plug-in?
- How do I install the Wotja VST3 Plug-in?
- Where does Wotja scan for VST3 Plug-ins?
- How do I use the Wotja Plug-in in a 3rd party DAW?
- How do I use 3rd Party Plug-ins in Wotja?
- How do I route MIDI from the Wotja Plug-in (AU3/VST3) in a DAW?
- How do I stop glitching/stuttering in the AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in?
- What is a "Sandbox Safe" Audio Unit (AU) Plug-in?
- What do I do when Wotja is Scanning for Plug-ins and I get a crash?
- Why does my DAW use the wrong version of Wotja Plug-in?
- Why doesn't Wotja for macOS support hosting of VST3 Plug-ins?
- Why can I not use a Plug-in as a Unit in the WAE Network Editor?
- Can I reference a 3rd Party Plug-in in a Mix?
- What are the main differences between the Plug-in versions of Wotja and the Wotja App?
- Can I use multiple instances of the Wotja Plug-in in my DAW project/session?
- iOS: In my DAW/AU Host project/session can I use Wotja used via Inter-App Audio or Audiobus at the same time as the Wotja AU3 Plug-in?
- Android: Will Wotja ever be available as a Plug-in?
- Does a Pro Subscription unlock Pro mode in the Plug-in?
Why is the Wotja AUv3 Plug-in not available in my DAW?
Apple's proprietary AUv3 Plug-in format arrived in 2020 or so. Being proprietary it is only supported on Apple OS, i.e. macOS, iPadOS and iOS.
The Wotja Plug-in is an Audio Unit v3 (AUv3 or AU3) format Plug-in because AUv3 it is Apple's way forward for Plug-ins.
An AUv3 Plug-in can only be loaded by a DAW that supports AUv3 Plug-in hosting.
Many DAWs now support AUv3 Plug-in hosting, such as:
- Wotja(!), Logic Pro, GarageBand, MainStage, Ableton Live, Cubase, Reaper and Presonus Studio One etc.
Some big name DAWs that don't yet and/or may never support AUv3 (at time of writing):
- Bitwig, Pro Tools, FL Studio.
How do I scan for Plug-ins?
See the Plug-in Scanner button section of the User Guide.
Why is Wotja not hosting my 3rd Party Plug-in (AU, VST)?
Wotja for iOS and macOS
- Our Wotja Apps for iOS and macOS support hosting of AUv3 and Sandbox Safe AUv2 Audio Unit Plug-ins only.
- They do not support hosting of VST Plug-ins because (for Apps distributed by the App Store, as is Wotja) Apple wants App developers to support only their proprietary format (Audio Units, and of course the latest iteration, AUv3).
- There are many big name (and smaller) Plug-in developers that (for their own reasons) still do not yet support the AUv3 Plug-in format (or Sandbox Safe AUv2), the biggest of all perhaps being Native Instruments.
Wotja for Windows
- The Wotja App for Windows supports hosting of VST3 Plug-ins only.
- VST is a Steinberg format and VST3 is the current format that they license/support.
- In 2018 Steinberg stopped licencing of any new VST2 developers (meaning we could NOT add support for VST2 Plug-in hosting, or distribute Wotja as a VST2 Plug-in).
Where do I find the Fan Favorite Plug-ins page?
It is here.
How do I install the Wotja AU3 Plug-in?
The Wotja AU3 is installed when you install the Wotja App, be that on either iOS and/or macOS.
Tip 1 (all OS): We strongly recommend that you launch the Wotja app after installation to ensure the Plug-in can be seen by the operating system. You can then close it if you wish.
Tip 2 (macOS): After running the Wotja app for the first time, you might have to restart my machine in order for the AU3 to be registered, this is the case not just for High Sierra but it has been reported for Mojave also.
iOS:
- Nothing to do!
macOS:
- Use the Logic > Preferences > Plug-in Manager to scan for Plug-ins (Logic may well auto-scan for them when you open it).
- The Wotja AU3 is listed under manufacturer "Intermorphic" and is easy to find!
- macOS Tips:
- The AU3 gets registered when you use the Finder to launch the standalone app which contains the AU3 appex bundle (i.e. double-click on the standalone app's icon in the Finder - i.e Wotja.app)
- On earlier versions of macOS you may need to reboot after installing the Wotja App.
- Older versions of Logic Pro X need you to check the "USE AUv3 mode" checkbox in Logic's Plug-in Manager.
- Every time you install an update to Wotja for macOS you may need to launch the Wotja app for the Plug-in change to get picked up. You can of course then close it again.
How do I install the Wotja VST3 Plug-in?
See also: Why doesn't Wotja for macOS support the hosting of VST3 Plug-ins?
The Wotja VST3 Plug-in is included in Wotja versions for Windows. If you cannot auto-copy the Plug-in as described below then follow the instructions for manual installation.
Auto-copy / update the bundled Wotja VST3 Plug-in:
- First install the Wotja App.
- Right click on the Wotja icon in the taskbar, shortcut or in the apps list (tap the Start or Windows button on the taskbar to open the Start Menu then Click All Apps at the top right corner).
- Select "Run as administrator" and tap Yes in the "Allow this app to make changes" popup.e.g.
- Provided the Wotja App is run in Administrator mode it can auto-copy the bundled Wotja VST3 Plug-in:
- On running the app, and if the Plug-in is not yet installed, you will be presented with a pop-up message asking you if you want to auto-copy the Plug-in. If you select Yes then it will copy it to the VST folder (Program Files > Common Files > VST3).
- In your DAW, scan for plug-ins as you would normally do and it should find the Wotja VST3 Plug-in here.
- Updating: If you are updating Wotja and the bundled Wotja VST3 Plug-in is more recent than the installed Plug-in, then on app start-up you will see a pop-up message asking if you want to copy over the updated Plug-in.
Manually install the bundled Wotja VST3 Plug-in:
- First install the Wotja App.
- Find where the Windows Store installs files to a hidden folder in Windows (there are various articles on the web that let you find the location of hidden folders in Windows).
- Copy the relevant Wotja VST3 Plug-in (.vst3 file) to the clipboard.
- Now go back to Wotja and from the Help Menu select "Show the Windows VST3 Folder".
- Open that folder in Explorer and paste the Wotja VST3 Plug-in into that VST folder.
- Note that you will require administrator access to do this.
- In your DAW, scan for plug-ins as you would normally do and it should find the Wotja VST3 Plug-in here.
Where does Wotja scan for VST3 Plug-ins?
See also: Why doesn't Wotja for macOS support the hosting of VST3 Plug-ins?
Wotja for Windows currently only scans for VST3 Plug-ins in this folder: Program Files > Common Files > VST3. This is also the folder that the Wotja VST3 Plug-in is installed to.
Note: You can find this folder in Wotja by going to the Help Menu and selecting "Show the Windows VST3 Folder".
How do I use the Wotja Plug-in in a 3rd party DAW?
- Windows - Wotja VST3
- Wotja Plug-in: How to I route MIDI in the Wotja AU3/VST3 Plug-in?
- Specifically: Cakewalk, Reaper, Ableton Live, Presonus, Bitwig, Other, Windows Generic.
- Wotja Plug-in: How to I route MIDI in the Wotja AU3/VST3 Plug-in?
- macOS/iOS - Wotja AU3
- Wotja Plug-in: How to I route MIDI in the Wotja AU3/VST3 Plug-in?
- Specifically: Logic, Reaper, Ableton Live, Presonus, GarageBand, MainStage, Other.
- See also: Why doesn't Wotja for macOS support the hosting of VST3 Plug-ins?
- iOS
- General (iOS)
- Open up an AU3 Host app, e.g. AUM, GarageBand or Cubasis 3 etc.
- Add the Wotja AU3 as you would any Audio Unit Extension.
- In the Wotja AU3 interface, from the Documents Screen load a Flow, Mix or Album.
- Press play in your AU3 host app.
- Tip: Use the volume sliders in the Cell mixer and Track mixer panels in the Wotja AU3 if you want not to hear certain tracks in your mix but you want MIDI still to be sent.
- Logic (iOS):
- Add it to a project and use as you would use any other AUv3 Plug-in!
- GarageBand (iOS)
- Create a new "External" project or add an "External" track, select Audio Unit Extension and tap on Wotja.
- In your GB project, tap the top "knob button" (left in iOS) to show the Smart Controls panel.
- Tap on the Wotja icon shown in the top panel and the Wotja UI will open at the Documents screen - open a flow/mix/album etc.
- Tap the play button in Garageband to toggle play on/off.
- General (iOS)
- macOS
- Logic (macOS):
- Add it to a project and use as you would use any other Plug-in!
- GarageBand (macOS):
- Ensure you have "Enable Audio Units" to be on (Preferences > Audio/MIDI > Effects).
- Create a new "Software Instrument" project or add a "Software Instrument" track.
- In your GB project, tap the top "knob button" (right in macOS) to show the Smart Controls panel.
- In the Plug-ins area, tap (in the top panel) the up/down arrow to the right of the already shown AU instrument (e.g. E-piano).
- In the pop-up "AU Instruments" list tap "AU Instruments" and in Intermorphic select Wotja.
- Tap the added AU for the instruments window.
- In the Instruments window tap on "Controls" and tap on the Wotja AU.
- The Wotja UI will open at the Documents screen - open a flow/mix/album etc.
- Tap the play button in Garageband to toggle play on/off.
- MainStage (macOS):
- Download the MainStage zipped template for Wotja AU3 and Watch this video Tutorial.
- Open the template above and right click on the rainbow layers above the keyboard display, select edit assignment and select Wotja Omni as the input.
- You will see a couple of instruments on channels 1 and 2 and a reverb on Bus 1 to get you started.
- The Template is set up so you can use 16 channels with Wotja.
- Logic (macOS):
- Wotja Plug-in: How to I route MIDI in the Wotja AU3/VST3 Plug-in?
How do I use 3rd Party Plug-ins in Wotja?
3rd Party Plug-ins: Wotja for iOS/macOS is a sandboxed app (a requirement of the App Store) and so supports use of AU3 Plug-ins only; Wotja for Windows supports used of VST3 plug-ins only.
Note: The colour used in the Wotja Plug-ins screen is a dark fuschia, and not green, but the instructions below are the same.
First, open a mix and go to the "Plug-ins" tab in that mix.
Tip: The "final output" from Wotja's Mix-level effects is presented as the "Wotja Output" 'Instrument' in the Plug-ins tab when you try setting the slot instrument.
- Tap "Select Instrument"
- Tap "Browse Plug-ins"
- Select "Wotja Output"
- To add an FX Plug-in, tap "Select FX" and select "Browse Plug-ins"
- To filter the Wotja Mix Tracks used, tap the "Wotja Tracks" filter button above it
- Select the Tracks you want and return
- You can now see the Wotja Mix Tracks are filtered (1,3,5,7)
- Instead of using Wotja Out in 3), select an Instrument Plug-in, e.g. AUMIDISynth
- To filter MIDI by Wotja Mix Track and/or MIDI Channel, tap the "MIDI:" button above it (see 8)
- Make your selections for either/both
- Here you have selected only Wotja Track 2 and MIDI Channel 6
- Exit this screen and see you are MIDI Filtering for Wotja Track 2 and MIDI Channel 6
How do I route MIDI from the Wotja Plug-in (AUv3/VST3) in a DAW?
Logic Pro | Reaper | Cakewalk | Ableton Live | Presonus | Bitwig | Other | Windows Generic
Logic Pro (10.7+): macOS/iOS (AUv3)
See also this helpful Wotja V21 video from UncertainMusicCorps.
- From Logic Menu select Track > New Software Instrument Track.
- Tap the Track Instrument button and add a Wotja AUv3 Plug-in.
- Open the Wotja AUv3 and set the Wotja MIDI Output for it:
- Option 1 (recommended) - Logic Pro Virtual MIDI (macOS and iOS)
- Wotja AUv3 > Settings: AudioMIDI+ > MIDI Output > Output Devices > 'Logic Pro Virtual In'
- macOS only: If you select instead Settings: AudioMIDI+ > MIDI Output > 'Virtual MIDI' then in Track 2 (Step 6) below you can use one of the Wotja AUv3 Input.
- Wotja AUv3 > Settings: AudioMIDI+ > MIDI Output > Output Devices > 'Logic Pro Virtual In'
- Option 2 - IAC (macOS only)
- Wotja AUv3 > Settings: AudioMIDI+ > MIDI Output > e.g. IAC Driver Bus 1
- Option 1 (recommended) - Logic Pro Virtual MIDI (macOS and iOS)
- In the Wotja Documents screen load a Wotja flow/file/album mix or create/open a new e.g mix and then close the Plug-in Window.
- Press the Play button in Logic Transport panel and ensure you hear Wotja play, then stop it again.
- Add another Software Instrument Track e.g. Track 2.
- In the left-hand panel for Track 2, expand the "Track" parameter region.
- Set the MIDI In Port to match what is selected in 3) above, e.g.
- Option 1 (recommended) - 'Logic Pro Virtual In' (macOS and iOS; shown at bottom of list)
- macOS only: If in step 3 above you have selected 'Virtual MIDI' then you can select one of the "Wotja AUv3" options [it is important you select the AUv3 option and NOT a Wotja option without AUv3].
- Option 2 - IAC
- e.g. "IAC Driver Bus 1"
- Option 1 (recommended) - 'Logic Pro Virtual In' (macOS and iOS; shown at bottom of list)
- Set the MIDI In Channel to what you want, e.g. Channel 1 (item below MIDI In Port).
- IMPORTANT: In Lite mode, Wotja sends MIDI ONLY on Channel 1.
- IMPORTANT: Not all included Templates (which Flows are created from) are configured to send MIDI on Channels 1 or 2; If you don't know what MIDI Channel Wotja is sending MIDI on (you can easily see this in a Wotja Mix) then you may need to use Omni above, if using Virtual MIDI.
- Arm your Software Instrument track for recording (the red "R" button on the right in the image above) - or it will not play at all.
- Press the Play button in Logic Transport panel and you should hear your synth play.
Reaper: Windows (VST3) / macOS (AU3)
- From the Reaper menu, select Track > "Insert new track".
- Tap the Track FX button and select AUi (macOS) / VSTi (Windows) > Wotja (i.e. the latest version of Wotja) and Add.
- Wotja MIDI Output: You do not need to do anything here!
- Reaper MIDI Inputs: You do not need to do anything here!
- In the Wotja Documents screen load a Wotja flow/file/album mix or create/open a new e.g mix and then close the Plug-in Window.
- Press the Play button in Reaper Transport panel and ensure you hear Wotja play, then stop it again.
- If in the Reaper Track above you do NOT see a "Route" button to the left of the FX button, then select Reaper > Options > Themes > Theme Adjuster / Color Controls > Track Control Panel > un-hide the Routing button.
- From the menu, select Track > "Insert new track".
- Tap the Track FX button and add your favorite Synth Plug-in.
- Tap the "Route" button in Track 2 and then click "Add new receive..." and add a receive from the Track number of the above (e.g. Track 1 or 1:). You MAY need to set the "MIDI:" drop-down to be MIDI channel 1.
- Tip: Set 'Audio:' to None if you do not also want Wotja Audio to be routed.
- Press the Play button in the Reaper Transport panel and you should hear your synth play.
- Tip: If you get a hanging note when you press the Stop button in the Reaper Transport panel, then tap the Pause button and that should clear it.
- You can repeat this as required to have different tracks get driven by different MIDI channels from Wotja.
- Alternatively, if you an existing project with tracks already set-up, you can select your Wotja Track, click "Route" and then "Add new send..." and set Track and "MIDI:" to whatever you want.
Cakewalk: Windows (VST3)
- From the Menu, select Insert > Softsynth > Wotja to add the Wotja Plug-in to a new track.
- Tap the track icon for the plug-in to load the Wotja Plug-in/UI.
- At the top of the Plug-in window is a VST button; tap it and select "Enable MIDI Output".
- In the Wotja Documents screen load a Wotja flow/file/album mix or create/open a new e.g mix and the close the Plug-in window.
- Press the Play button in Cakewalk Transport panel and you will hear Wotja play, then stop it again.
- Add another track, i.e. select Insert > Softsynth > Cakewalk TTS-1 (or whatever one you want, e.g. Kontakt).
- Expand this track so you can see the Track Input Source box (shown to the left of the Output Bus box); tap on that and select Wotja > e.g. MIDI Ch 1 (Omni may work with your Synth but does not seem to for TTS-1).
- Tap the orange "Echo" button in the Cakewalk track or it will not play.
- Press the Cakewalk transport "Play" button and you should hear both Wotja and your Synth play, it being driven by MIDI from Wotja.
- Tip: You may need to configure the MIDI Input channel on your Synth, e.g. Kontakt.
Ableton Live (11.2+): macOS (AU3), Windows (VST3)
- Wotja on track 1, Instrument on track 2.
- Track 2 midi input has Wotja selected.
- Additionally select "Wotja" again in the pre/post dropdown.
However: there appear to be limitations with Live 11. For reference, see Chapter 15 in the Live 11 Reference Manual, Routing and I/O, section 15.5.2, Several MIDI Tracks Playing the Same Instrument.
By adding a new MIDI only track as a go-between the instrument tracks, you can receive from a MIDI source and then send that input to any MIDI output, and in the case of a multi-timbral synth, the 16 "send to" channels are available
However, Live apparently only sees all MIDI output from Wotja as "Omni", or "ch1", so there is no way to split up the internal Wotja MIDI outputs in Live to allow you to pick and choose what to send where. So no matter what you do in Live, all Wotja channels are merged together, so all you can do is parallel them as "Omni" to other Live tracks.
Presonus Studio One: macOS (AUv3), Windows (VST3)
- There is a little arrow above the instrument UI for multi-timbral instrument.
- This allows you to route each MIDI channel to each layer in the instrument.
- See these two very helpful videos from JeremyH (thank you Jeremy!):
Bitwig: Windows (VST3)
- Configure the Wotja Plug-in on (say) Track 1.
- Configure a different instrument on (say) Track 2.
- Set the Track 2 MIDI input to Wotja.
Other DAWs
We cannot advise on Wotja Plug-in MIDI routing for every DAW as there are simply too many of theme!
To be able to use the Wotja Plug-in MIDI output in a DAW then the DAW must of course support Plug-in MIDI routing (i.e. routing MIDI from one plug-in to another) - and some DAWs may still not yet support that.
So, if you have another DAW then we suggest trying a web search using terms like your DAW + Plugin MIDI routing e.g. "Fruity Loops Studio Plugin MIDI routing".
Windows DAWs: Generic solution (and workaround for Ableton Live)
How do I stop glitching/stuttering in the AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in?
Glitching/stuttering is most always related to the CPU of your device not being able to deal with the complexity of the mix you are playing. The Wotja AUv3 and VST3 Plug-ins use the audio settings of the DAW Host (they are not adjustable in the Wotja Plug-in). If the suggestions below do not work well enough then you either need to try to simplify your mix or possibly purchase/use a more powerful/newer device. See also: I am getting audio issues (slow, breakup etc.) or audio artefacts (glitches, crackles, pops, noise, distortion etc.)
Logic Pro (iPadOS)
In Logic Pro go to Settings > App Settings > Audio and try changing the I/O buffer to 512 samples. You could also try reducing the Project Sample rate from 48Khz to 44.1kHz.
Cubasis 3 (iOS)
Cubasis has a Settings > Audio > Device Latency setting. The Audio Engine Latency values shown depend on the Device Latency, so try making that larger to start and THEN change the Audio Engine Latency. You should be able to find a value that works.
Garageband (iOS)
Garageband does not allow you to change its audio settings, and we think it is using an Audio Block size of 256 (which is too low for more complex Wotja mixes).
Cubase (Windows)
- Select Menu: Studio: Setup
- Select 'Audio System' ... and UNCHECK the 'Activate ASIO Guard' checkbox.
- Select 'Audio System > Generic Low Latency ASIO Driver' ... and press the 'Control Panel' button - from here, in the 'Audio buffer size' section set the 'User Definable' checkbox, and set slider to 100 ms (or some higher value; you may need to experiment).
- Apply/OK as required.
- You might need to restart Cubase after this.
Reaper (Windows)
- Reaper > Options > Preferences > Device > Buffers
- Try increasing the buffers setting from the default of 8 x 1024 samples to e.g. 24 x 1024 samples.
What is a "Sandbox Safe" Audio Unit (AU) Plug-in?
A requirement of the Apple App Store is that any app for iOS/macOS that is distributed via the App Store and that hosts Audio Unit Plug-ins can only host those that are marked as "Sandbox Safe". Wotja is no exception.
- AUv3:
- Wotja 23+ can host Audio Unit v3 Plug-ins (AUv3) because they have the 'sandboxSafe' flag set.
- AUv2:
- Wotja 23+ can generally host Audio Unit v2 (AUv2) plug-ins on iOS/macOS provided they're properly signed and marked as 'sandboxSafe'
- The Audio Unit v2 format is now an older Plug-in format (AUv3 arrived in 2020 or so). Even so, it is possible that an AUv2 can be properly signed and marked as 'sandboxSafe'.
- If you have an AUv2 that you would love to use in Wotja, then reach out to the developer and ask them to fix that side of things (point them to this FAQ if you like!).
- Naturally, we've been in touch with a few developers of our own favorite AUv2 over the past few months to give them a "heads-up", and some have already fixed their plug-ins to work with Wotja.
- Wotja 23+ can generally host Audio Unit v2 (AUv2) plug-ins on iOS/macOS provided they're properly signed and marked as 'sandboxSafe'
Note for developers on the on "sandboxSafe" flag
Please see here for a general description of what to do: https://forum.juce.com/t/sandboxsafe-and-macos-host-au2-hardened-runtime-disable-library-validation/47281.
See here also for an example of an open-source developer fixing the issue: https://github.com/surge-synthesizer/surge/issues/5633.
What do I do when Wotja is Scanning for Plug-ins and I get a crash?
First of all, ensure that you are using the latest version of OS for your device, and of Wotja, your DAW and all your Plug-ins.
After that, follow the instructions on how to use the Plug-in Block button (that button is found top left in the Plug-in Scanner screen [which you get to from the Scanner button in the Mix Plug-ins screen]).
Note: We appreciate that to find out which Plug-in(s) is causing the problem it is a bit laborious to block all plug-ins and to then unblock them one at a time, so we hope at some point in the future to provide a mechanism that will allow you to block or unblock all.
Why does my DAW use the wrong version of Wotja Plug-in?
If you have Wotja 23+ installed AS WELL AS an earlier version of Wotja, then it is possible that your DAW will load the Plug-in of the earlier version and not the new one (and we know not why this can happen).
Solution: Simply uninstall/delete all older versions of Wotja / Wotja Plug-in (and before doing so we would suggest you first back up your Wotja files, which is always a good idea!). Then, reboot your device, reload your DAW, open your project and re-insert the Wotja Plug-in (if needed).
Why doesn't Wotja for macOS support the hosting of VST3 Plug-ins?
It is our understanding that apps (like Wotja) distributed via the Apple App Store can only support the hosting of Audio Units, and specifically only those that are marked as Sandbox Safe (which in reality means AUv3 units).
Aha, you say. But Logic Pro is distributed via the Apple App Store and it can host both VST3 Plug-ins AND AU Plug-ins not marked as Sandbox Safe, so what gives?
Well, macOS is Apple's OS. As far as we can make out Apple can do whatever they want in their own macOS apps distributed via the Apple App Store - such as supporting VST and AUv2 units that are not Sandbox Safe - 3rd party developers like us can not.
From our perspective, it would certainly help a wider adoption of AU3 Plug-ins if Logic Pro could only load AU Plug-ins that were tagged as sandbox safe.
Why can I not use a Plug-in as a Unit in the WAE Network Editor?
There are deep technical reasons for why VST3/AU3 plug-ins cannot be "injected" into Wotja Audio Engine (WAE) Synth/FX chains in the Network Editor - and there is no way we can alter the way it works.
These are a couple of the main ones:
- There is an internal polyphony processing requirement within Wotja (for performance reasons) and no Plug-in could ever be aware of that.
- They're just too heavyweight for our architecture.
Because of the above (and other reasons too technical to go into), we had to add Wotja support for "hosted plug-ins" a kind "post process" to the Wotja Audio Engine (WAE) output.
That said, it lets you route your Wotja MIDI and/or Audio very flexibly to work with your hosted VST3/AU3 - hopefully with enough flexibility to deal with *most* requirements.
Here are your options:
- Use Wotja as a MIDI generator (Wotja App or Wotja Plug-in).
- Use Wotja as an Audio Generator (Wotja App or Wotja Plug-in) using the WAE Synth/FX Units.
- Use the Wotja App as a Plug-in host using the WAE Synth/FX Units and/or any hosted Plug-ins you want.
Can I reference a 3rd Party Plug-in in a Mix?
Wotja is a 3rd Party Plug-in Host, and so yes you can!
Tip: The good news wrt Wotja URIs is that provided the relevant Plug-in is already installed on your OS then you do not first have to scan for Plug-ins in Wotja in order to have the Wotja URI play as intended in the Wotja URI Player.
Note also that saving Plug-in references to a mix file is a Pro only feature. See Plug-in Hosting.
iOS/macOS (Wotja 24.1+ required)
- If you have the awesome FAC Alteza AUv3 Plug-in for iOS or macOS installed then when you play the Mix below in the relevant OS you will hear reverb from that plug-in.
- ▶ 'Mix referencing FAC Alteza Plug-in' (Stop | Replay | Help | Save)
Windows (Wotja 24.1+ required)
- If you have the free Valhalla Supermassive VST3 plug-in for Windows installed then when you play the Mix below in Windows you will hear reverb from that plug-in.
- ▶ 'Mix referencing Valhalla Supermassive Plug-in' (Stop | Replay | Help | Save)
What are the main differences between the Plug-in versions of Wotja and the Wotja App?
Note that multiple instances of the Wotja AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in are not supported for use in a DAW.
Whether in Lite or Pro mode, the Wotja AUv3/VST3 Plug-ins have similar features to the Wotja App - see the differences.
The main differences between the Plug-in versions of Wotja and the Wotja App are as follows:
- Plug-in: Play/stop is via the DAW transport bar
- Plug-in: No MIDI input devices (use DAW for plugin MIDI input)
- Plug-in: No Recording mode
- Plug-in: No In-App Store
- Plug-in: No Camera support
- Plug-in: No Wotja URI Import from clipboard
- Plug-in: No multi-document support (single file can be open)
- Plug-in: No Virtual MIDI Output (iOS)
- Plug-in: No Ableton link (iOS)
- Plug-in: No support for Audiobus/IAA (iOS);
Can I use multiple instances of the Wotja Plug-in in my DAW project/session?
No, sorry. For a number of reasons we only support use of only a single instance of the Wotja Plug-in in a DAW Host.
Even if it turns out that you might be able to include more than one, you will likely get multiple audio artefacts.
iOS: In my DAW/AU Host project/session can I use Wotja used via Inter-App Audio or Audiobus at the same time as the Wotja AU3 Plug-in?
Yes, you might be able to (your device permitting) - but..... Wotja can be quite resource intensive, meaning using both may well cause glitches on even some modern devices and in some AU Hosts/DAWs.
Also note that the two instances of Wotja will compose completely independently.
We strongly suggest that you try to do everything you want with just one instance, be that with the Wotja AU3 Plug-in, or with Wotja used via Inter-App Audio (IAA) or Audiobus
Does a Pro Subscription unlock Pro mode in the Plug-in?
Yes, it does!
iOS/macOS or Windows: The Subscription must be taken out in the Wotja App itself as there is no In-App Store in the Plug-in (AUv3 or VST3).
iOS/macOS: The Wotja App for Apple Devices is a Bundle and so it does not matter whether you take out the Pro Subscription in the iOS or macOS version - it unlocks them all.
Audio
- I hear silence - no sound / no audio / no midi / nothing / nada / quiet
- I am getting audio issues (slow, breakup etc.) or audio artefacts (glitches, crackles, pops, noise, distortion etc.)
- I am getting audio issues when using Wotja via InterApp Audio (IAA) in e.g. AUM, Audiobus
- How can I make Wotja louder for Mixes, Flows and Albums?
- How do I change the Wotja Audio Output Device (Desktop) [Tutorial]?
- Is there a way to separately route the audio from Wotja tracks in the Wotja Desktop Versions for macOS/Windows?
- I am getting a DC offset in my recordings. How do I remove it?
- How can I play Wotja via Bluetooth, AirPlay or other audio output device driver?
- In iOS how can I play via AirPlay to HomePods, use the "Now Playing" audio card and control Wotja with Siri?
I hear silence - no sound / no audio / no MIDI / nothing / nada / quiet
General Tips: It almost goes without saying, but don't forget to press play! And, make sure your system volume is turned-up and any speakers are turned on. If you are using Bluetooth, try not using that in case that is somehow the issue.
Plug-in Tip: Don't forget to press play in your DAW's transport panel!
Mix Tip: You can tell if a Generator is generating notes because the Generator button (and its Rules) will flash when a note is generated.
Things to check...
- Audio only: In the Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output section check that you have the "WAE for Sounds & FX" toggle turned on.
- It needs to be on for Wotja to automatically render all MIDI data that it generates through Wotja's built-in Wotja Audio Engine, i.e. its integral modular synth. If the checkbox isn't ticked, Wotja will only send its MIDI data to whatever MIDI Output destination you have defined in Wotja's MIDI Out settings... which means that you've probably got a bit of MIDI configuration to do first in order to hear Wotja play. Note that Wotja can play both through WAE and through a MIDI device, if that is how you have configured things - the choice is yours.
- Audio: Try playing one of the included Albums, e.g. Calm or Relax. If you hear audio then the issue is likely then going to be down to an issue in your mix file.
- MIDI: Try playing one of the included Albums, e.g. Calm or Relax. If there is no MIDI is output (and bear in mind that if you are in Lite mode it will be Channel 1 only) then check your MIDI Output Settings and see also the Help MIDI section.
- Audio & MIDI: Unless you are trying to use external MIDI to start/stop Wotja, then in the Settings: Audio MIDI+ > MIDI Input section ensure that BOTH "MIDI Transport Control" and "External Clock Sync" are unchecked, otherwise Wotja will be prevented from playing. If just "External Clock Sync" is on you might hear a note or chord when a mix, flow etc. starts, but then nothing after that (it will sound as if generators have stopped generating).
- Audio & MIDI: Make sure you haven't muted all Generators/Cells or soloed an empty Cell (See: Solo and Mute track controls). Tip: When you mute a Generator it does play and so does NOT send MIDI.
- Audio & MIDI: Make sure your mix contains populated Cells (i.e. it is not empty, and "Empty Mix") and/or you are not playing just empty Cells (playing Cells have a green bar in the middle). Tip: Trying locking a Cell that does contain content to make sure it is playing (tap cell, select "Loop Cell" or set Cell Properties > Loop)) - a Looping Cell has an orange bar in the middle (See: Cells).
- Audio & MIDI: Make sure you have not set the Track Play Type button to "Loop" without setting the Cell Properties to "Loop" (see above) or no Cell will play and so there are no Generators generating any notes!
- Audio only: Make sure you haven't set all Track volumes to zero (See: Track Mixer).
- Audio only: Make sure you haven't set all Generator volumes to zero (See: Cell Mixer).
- Audio & MIDI: Make sure you haven't set Generator track velocities to zero (See: Envelopes).
- Audio & MIDI: If you are using Pattern Generators, make sure they don't all have empty patterns (See: Pattern Generator).
- Audio & MIDI: If you are using TTM (Text to Music) player templates, make sure you have entered some text and that its "Cut-up Rule" setting is pointing to a populated line of Cut-up text (See also: TTM Generator).
- Audio & MIDI: If your templates use Ambient Generators, they can sometimes take a while to start playing (See: Ambient Generator).
- Audio & MIDI: It is possible you might have Generator Rule conflicts which are preventing Generators in generating notes (which can also be in combination with other Generators). This can be tricky to isolate but once you have got notes being generated then you can work back. The quick steps are:
- In the Rule Editor, set the Scale, Harmony, Next Note, Rhythm Rules used by Generator to "Use Mix Properties Mix Rule" or so that the Rule elements are all available for selection.
- If you are still not getting notes then try setting the Mix Rules so that the Scale, Harmony, Next Note & Rhythm Mix Rules have all elements available for selection (Tip: in the Rule Editor, tap the "Rules button" in the bottom Toolbar and select one of the "All Elements" rules).
- If you are still not getting notes then try unchecking the Cell Properties > Harmonize with Me? and Harmonize with Others?
- Audio only: If you have modified any WAE sounds settings, check that you have not bypassed WAE units (checking "Bypass?") or set the "Amp" values in any WAE units to NO VALUE (i.e the same as off) or any modulators to a value that would make it do the same (See: WAE Amp Unit).
- Audio & MIDI: When creating a new mix or randomizing a mix make sure you have not deselected all Paks or content otherwise nothing will be added to a mix. Likewise, make sure the General/Mix section of Schema settings all have sensible values i.e. TTM is NOT set to 0 if Cells are 1, Generative % is NOT set to 0, Blank Cell % is NOT set to 100, Volume Min/Max NOT set to 0 etc. (See: Schemas).
If none of the above work and you are still stumped then try creating a new automatic mix...
- Go into Schema Editor and go to the bottom of the screen and select "Reset Settings of this Schema to Defaults".
- Go to the Documents screen and select Add New > Music Mix (Automatic).
- Open and play this mix. IF you have the "WAE for Sounds & FX" toggle turned on in Settings: Audio MIDI+ (as above) then you should hear something and can go from there (sometimes it can be easier just to start over).
If even that does not work, and you are using iCloud (so your files are backed up) then as a last resort try re-installing Wotja.
If you are still stuck, then go to the Music Mode and from the top right Action button select "Export Wotja to Clipboard". Go to our support form, select the "Problem Mix File" option and then paste your mix into the form and send it to us. If it is something going on in the mix file we will see if we can figure it out for you!
I am getting audio issues (slow, breakup etc.) or audio artefacts (glitches, crackles, pops, noise, distortion etc.)
Important: The Wotja AUv3 and VST3 Plug-ins use the audio settings of the DAW Host (they are not adjustable in the Wotja Plug-in). Please also see this FAQ: How do I stop glitching/stuttering in the AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in?
For Wotja App and IAA related issues in Audiobus/AUM first see Audio Output Settings Mismatch below for a general overview.
If you are getting performance issues then it is highly likely to be because of something in one of the following areas below.
Tip: When trying to track down what is going on, always start off:
- Playing/testing with the Built-In Albums (Calm or Relax)
- Playing any Flow with (CPU-) in the title.
- Try creating a mix that uses just a single template.
- Try creating an Automix created with a low impact (CPU-) Schema
- Finally try creating your own more complex mixes.
If at any point you hear glitches or other audio artefacts then either you need to experiment with settings below, or it is possible the mix(es) as they stand are simply too complex for your device.
- Audio Output Settings Mismatch:
- You are using the default Wotja Audio Output Settings and these are not suited to or matched to those of your particular device and/or other apps you are using it with.
- See also: Wotja App and IAA related issues in Audiobus/AUM
- Device and OS:
- These relate to OS and your device settings.
- Content Complexity:
- Too many templates in use: Your mix is simultaneously playing more templates than your device can deal with or the templates being used are too complex (some templates drive the processor much harder than others).
- Too many FX in use: Your mix is using too many FX (Cell, Track or Global), and the heaviest hitters there are the Reverb R2XL and Resonator Units, and in some cases the Pitch Shifter Unit.
- Too many mixes playing concurrently: This is possible in the Desktop version with multiple tabs open (ensure all are stopped except one).
Audio Output Settings Mismatch:
See Settings > Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output
Tip: The Wotja App (and as used via InterApp Audio [IAA]) really does work best with a block size of 1024 (See Settings > Audio Output, and this is because it composes in real-time. See also: Wotja App and IAA related issues in Audiobus/AUM. The Wotja AUv3 and VST3 Plug-ins use the audio settings of the DAW Host (they are not adjustable in the Wotja Plug-in) - see How do I stop glitching/stuttering in the AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in?
Wotja App / Plug-in for iOS uses the following default Audio settings:
- Audio Sample Rate (device dependent output, Hz): 48000/44100
- Audio Block Size: 1024
- Audio Block Count: 10
Wotja App / Plug-in for macOS uses the following default Audio Output settings:
- Audio Sample Rate (Auto-detected, Hz): 48000
- For the Output device you have selected (Wotja menu > Options > Output devices) ensure that the Wotja Audio Output Setting is the same as that selected in your Mac's 'Audio MIDI Setup' > Default Format (which determines the bit depth and sample rate e.g. '2 ch 24-bit 48.0 kHz').
- Audio Block Count: 10
Wotja App / Plug-in for Windows uses the following default Audio Output settings:
- Audio Sample Rate (Auto-detected, Hz): 48000/44100
- For the Output device you have selected (Wotja menu > Options > Output devices) ensure that the Wotja Audio Output Setting is the same as that selected in your Windows PC's Sound Control Panel > Playback tab > Speakers > Properties > Advanced tab > Default Format (which determines the sample rate and bit depth e.g. '24 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality)').
- Audio Block Count: 10
Wotja App for Android uses the following default Audio Output settings:
- Audio Sample Rate (Hz): 22050
- Audio Block Size: 2048
- Audio Block Count: 10
Desktops
Provided your settings above are correctly matched then the default settings are likely fine for Desktops.
Windows Tip: If you have the settings matched and are still experiencing glitching then we have had a customer report that they resolved it by going into the BIOS settings and "in the processor options turned off 'Hyperthreading' along with 'Intel Speedstep Technology' for good measure". They came across that by googling for an answer to "DAW crackling/popping issues". This is not advice from us, and only make changes like that if you know what you are doing - making changes is at your own risk!
Mobile Devices/Tablets
The default settings above are likely fine for most 2-3 track mixes on newer iOS and premium Android devices. However, if on a mobile device you are getting glitching when playing mixes for listening purposes then first try the following, one at a time and in order.
To apply changes to any of the following Audio Output Settings you will need to restart Wotja. Note that increasing any of these values will increase the time taken for Wotja to stop playing.
- Audio Block Size: Try changing this to 2048 and restart Wotja. There is every chance this will fix your issue completely, if not completely then it will likely make a big difference. Wotja Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output > Audio Block Size.
- Audio Block Count: After completing step 1 above, try setting this value to some higher number, e.g. 20 and then again restart Wotja. There is every chance that both in combination will fix your issue completely. Wotja Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output > Audio Block Count.
- Audio Sample Rate: After completing step 2 above, try reducing the output quality to one of the lower values that are shown and then again restart Wotja. Wotja Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output > Audio Sample Rate.
- Recordings: Recordings are made at the Wotja Audio Sample Rate. Even if you are getting glitches trying to play a mix live, it should record just fine using Recordings. Wotja Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output > Audio Sample Rate.
If changes to the above do not fix your problems, then it is likely your mixes contain too many tracks (i.e. too many things playing at the same time). However, as content customization is more specialist activity then before we look at anything there, we need to check / note a few general things first so that the app can use the maximum processor power possible.
Device and OS:
- Use latest OS version: Ensure your device is using the latest OS update available for it.
- Power cycle your device: This just ensures there is nothing running you don't expect to be running. Tip: Even if no other app is running, this can sometimes solve problems that seem to have no obvious cause.
- Other running apps: Although OS are good at managing app usage these days, it might well be worth closing all other running apps.
- Inter-App Audio / Audiobus (if relevant; see also step 1 below): Use of these takes up processing cycles, so try working without these on (at least until you have found an approach that works for you).
- AirPlay, WiFi, BlueTooth, Chromecast, Media Streaming, Cellular data (as relevant): Use of these takes up processing cycles, so try turning these off. Why not try temporarily putting your device into Airplane mode?
- Don't run Wotja backgrounded (mobile): There are less processor cycles available to the app when backgrounded.
- Cable connection to computer (mobile): If your device syncs, that, too, can use processor cycles, so try using it without a computer connection (but charging it from a USB charging point is fine).
Content Complexity:
- Templates/Content/Tracks: To make the new Templates sound really great they take advantage of the stereo sound unit capability (above) in the WAE. Some Templates feature synth (and generator) networks are really quite complex, too, meaning they will use more processor cycles. The processor usage therefore greatly depends on the Templates/content being used which means that some mixes will take up more processor cycles than others. Also, how you configure the WAE can also play a part.
- Templates: Either use fewer Templates/tracks in a mix (for Automatic albums see Schema Editor > in the General/Mix section set Tracks to 1 or 2) so there is less sound to generate, use less complex sound generators (such as Templates that have a sound network primarily based on Wavetable units), or look to remove some FX units that are used in a template (you can do this via the WAE Network Editor). Alternatively, if you do not need to use the Wotja Audio Engine at all, i.e. you are using MIDI to drive a 3rd party synth, then just turn off the WAE altogether.
- Solution 2 - Note Stealing: When the WME generates a lot of overlapping notes and the WAE is generating the sound then unless the WAE Polyphony setting is sufficient to cover all the notes that may be playing at the same time you can get an effect called "note stealing". This means a newly composed note will play in preference to the a previously generated note, on a First in First Out (FIFO) principle. The last note is instantly "dropped" meaning it can cause a click, especially if you are using FX. See the Polyphony setting in the WAE Network Editor.
- Track and Global FX: Our current Templates are generally sonically richer than earlier templates and most use a reverb and other FX in the template itself. If you have a lot of Generators in your mix, then a lot of FX units can be in play at the same time so you may well need to reduce the number of FX units you are using. Bear in mind that a particularly heavy hitters are the Reverb R2XL and Resonator Units, and in some cases the Pitch Shifter Unit, or FX presets that use those.
- Solution:
- First remove (or bypass) the WAE Reverb R2XL, Resonator and Pitch Shifter Units everywhere they are used, which might also be in any FX presets that you might have applied.
- If you still want reverb, then try instead using a Reverb R1 unit; this can still be a little heavy on CPU depending on the settings, but just no where near AS heavy.
- See what Generator FX could instead be used as Cell FX (the FX apply to the whole Cell);
- See what Cell FX could instead be used as Track FX (the FX apply to the all Cells in the Track); and
- See what Track FX could instead be used as Mix FX (the FX apply to the entire mix).
- Once you find an FX above, copy FX network to the clipboard (WAE Network Editor > bottom right Action button > Export to clipboard) and then paste it into the FX Network you want to use (WAE FX Network Editor > bottom right Action button > Import from clipboard); don't forget to then remove the FX from where you copied it! This may change how the mix sounds quite a bit, so may require some experimentation.
- First remove (or bypass) the WAE Reverb R2XL, Resonator and Pitch Shifter Units everywhere they are used, which might also be in any FX presets that you might have applied.
- Solution:
- Merging mixes: Because of the richness of newer Wotja Templates (see above), you do not need many when creating a mix.
- Solution: Try merging no more than 3 Templates. This should still give you PLENTY of goodness to play with.
- Use some older content, too: We still include the older Noatikl templates which in general has less of a processing hit, so you might want to try sprinkling some of those in (they are in the BP00 and BP000 Paks).
- Solution: Templates > Toggle: Show Old?
- Try to isolate the issue: If you have got this far down the list and are still getting issues, such as occasional clicks, glitches or pops etc., then it may be that the issue is coming from your mix and it might be worth seeing it you can isolate the problem. That means gradually removing WME Generators and WAE Sound Networks from your mix until the problem goes. Then you can work back up again.
- Optional - MIDI Out: If you are STILL getting audio issues then it may well be worth trying to play the WME MIDI note streams via external/3rd Party synths (using MIDI Out) and seeing if the issues then go... If they do go, then it is likely the issue is something related to the WAE...
- You can also trying turning OFF the toggle "Use WAE for Sounds & FX" in the Settings: Audio MIDI+ screen and then using MIDI to drive external synths (but don't forget to turn it on again if you want to use sounds internal to Wotja, including using SoundFonts in the Wavetable Unit!).
- Your Device....: We also put this at the very of this list because we know only too well that money does not grow on trees and powerful desktop/mobile devices are very expensive. :( But, the device you are using is also a factor to keep in mind. How our app sounds is very important and, to keep moving forwards, we have to take advantage of new capabilities and device power - we do this very carefully though. Unfortunately, sound generation and sound processing is a heavy hitter, and, moving to stereo sound units (see WAE comment, above) is just something we had to do...
- Solution: If your funds allow, it might be worth at some point checking out a more powerful device.
I am getting audio issues when using Wotja via InterApp Audio (IAA) in e.g. AUM, Audiobus
Tip: See also this video - Wotja: How to solve noise issue in Audiobus or AUM [iOS] (6 mins)
If you are getting glitching when using Wotja via InterApp Audio (IAA) then it is most certainly down to a mismatch in the Wotja Audio Output rate / block size and those used in e.g. AUM and Audiobus. See: Audio Output Settings Mismatch for a general overview. Alternatively, try using Wotja as an AUv3 - see How do I stop glitching/stuttering in the AUv3 or VST3 Plug-in?
For Wotja for iOS to work with such apps it requires the following (see Wotja Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio Output):
- The Wotja Audio Block Size MUST be the same value as the Buffer Size (samples) or Latency Control (frames) in those apps [different apps refer to the same thing in different ways]. We recommend that this value is 1024, but you might be able to use 512. If you need to change these Settings in Wotja OR AUM/Audiobus then for the settings to be correctly applied you will need to close and restart both Wotja AND AUM/Audiobus.
- The Wotja Audio Sample Rate MUST be the same as that being used by those apps, e.g. 44100 Hz. Some newer devices might be set to use 48000 Hz. If you need to change these Settings in Wotja OR AUM/Audiobus then for the settings to be correctly applied you will need to close and restart Wotja AND AUM/Audiobus.
It is likely that with any other setting you will get a lot of glitches and noises (but if you already get those then changing these is worth a try).
One other thing to try (noting that you still need to match the settings as above) is to connect Wotja to either Audiobus or AUM and then from there into your recording app, e.g. Audioshare or GarageBand. i.e. Wotja > Audiobus/AUM > Audioshare/GarageBand.
- GarageBand Tip: It seems that this app has a default hard wired Audio Block Size of 256 (there is no way to change that setting in GarageBand). If you want to directly use Wotja as an IAA in GarageBand then change that setting to 256 in Wotja, too, however such a low value may result in glitching. An easier alternative is to keep your Wotja settings as they are above, but connect to GarageBand via AUM/Audiobus as noted above - and that seems to work.
Tip 1: When trying to isolate an issue like this always use simple content when setting that up, perhaps just a single TTM template….
Tip 2: Once you have correctly matched the settings, then (for some reason) you need to restart both Wotja and AUM/AB3.
Tip 3: Wotja, composing in real-time as it does, really does work better with a block size of 1024 (See Settings > Audio Output.
How can I make Wotja louder for Mixes, Flows and Albums?
Mixes
You can make your Wotja mixes louder by adding a WAE Amplifier or Compressor unit to Mix FX, but that is done on a per-mix basis.
Flows and Albums
To make Flows and Albums louder, add a custom FX Network to the Mix FX Override. Note that this FX Network will REPLACE whatever Mix FX is being used, so it will need to include any FX you want to use AS WELL as include an Amplifier or Compressor unit.
If you want to use just a Compressor, try using the FX Preset "- Compressor default" which provides 6db of input gain. Of course, you could edit this in the SFX Network Editor (you would have to add the preset to any FX button in Mix Music mode), change the gain to what you want, and save as your own FX Preset.
I am getting a DC offset in my recordings. How do I remove it?
Sometimes a DC bias can be built up when using a Reverb.
It is easy to remove a DC offset using a high-pass filter. See Wikipedia high-pass filter.
Simply add a WAE filter unit to the Mix FX slot and use a high pass setting for filter type. You might need to experiment with settings such as dry/wet, cutoff, Q, quality etc.
Is there a way to separately route the audio from Wotja tracks in the Wotja Desktop Versions for macOS/Windows?
You may be asking this because, for example, you are using e.g. a 4-channel USB audio interface but need to have the output on channels 3-4 instead of 1-2. Or, you simply want to route the output of each Wotja track (or combination of tracks) to different audio outputs (if your system supports that).
For a number of technical reasons the short answer is no, sorry, not directly in Wotja.
However, fear not - there is a solution!
One clever user (thanks ZincT, see below!) suggested it might be possible to use a Wotja-hosted "Audio routing" Plug-in to do this. It turns out there is at least one Plug-in that can do this (Blue Cat Audio Connector being one), and it does work (at least for Windows as is it a VST3, but it is not yet an AU3 so is not a solution for macOS)!
The Wotja App (but not the Wotja Plug-in) can, in its Hosting screen and for each "Chain", filter by Wotja Audio Track (including multiple selections). What this means is that it is possible to set-up a Wotja mix with a number of chains and, with the required Plug-in, use it to route its audio output to the required input in another instance in e.g. a DAW - which itself has support for multiple audio outs.
For details on how to configure the solution, check out this KVR post.
How can I play Wotja via Bluetooth, AirPlay or other audio output device driver?
Note: It is important that you follow the numbered steps in order.
See also "In iOS how can I play via AirPlay to HomePods, use the "Now Playing" audio card and control Wotja with Siri?".
- Connect/pair your Bluetooth, AirPlay or other audio output device to the device/desktop you are running Wotja on and ensure your system is using it as its output. See also the Apple Docs on setting up a HomePod and Apple docs on Using AirPlay.
- Mobile Device tip: In the Settings section for your device check to see that e.g. Bluetooth is on and your audio output device is selected
- Mac Desktop tip: Select your status bar Volume Control and in the droplist ensure that your desired audio output device is selected under in the Output Device section (e.g. "HomePod"). Note: If it is not selected, it may well not show up in Wotja.
- Mac Desktop tip: Instead of doing this, you can also use an app like Audio Hijack to route your system output to e.g. a Bluetooth device.
- Wotja Desktop Version: Start or restart Wotja
- Wotja Desktop Version: From Desktop Menu Options > Output Devices > you will see the currently selected audio output device. Select your new desired audio output device from the list shown. Note that the Bluetooth or AirPlay device, AirPod, HomePod or other audio device/driver will ONLY show up here if you have ALREADY paired/connected them with your desktop as in step 1.
- Note: Once you set or change this you may AGAIN need to restart Wotja for this change to be implemented.
- If you do not already have a Wotja file, playlist, album or flow selected, select one in the Documents screen
- Start Wotja playing
- You should now hear Wotja playing through your selected audio output device!
MIDI
- How do I make MIDI Recordings?
- Why do I get no MIDI notes in Recordings?
- How do I mute the WAE sound from a Generator but still send MIDI Out?
- How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on iOS?
- How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on macOS?
- How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on Windows?
- How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on Android?
- How do I record Wotja MIDI out in Logic Pro X?
- How to I route MIDI in the VST3 Plug-in for Windows?
- How can I stop/start Wotja on iOS with MIDI Transport Control (MTC) and sync tempo to an external MIDI Clock?
- How do I use Virtual MIDI to get more than 16 MIDI Channels out of Wotja?
- Why are my MIDI notes "off pitch"?
How do I make MIDI recordings?
See: this FAQ entry.
Why do I get no MIDI notes in Recordings?
If you are not getting notes in MIDI recordings it is because there are no Generators generating notes.
See: this FAQ entry and look at the items that affect MIDI.
How do I mute the WAE sound from a Generator but still send MIDI Out?
Tip: If you want to mute ALL sound from the Wotja Audio Engine (WAE), then simply turn OFF the setting 'WAE for Sounds & FX'. Note that this must be left ON if you are using Wotja as a Plug-in host.
Issue: If you Mute a Generator or use a the Mute button in the Cell Mixer then that mutes the WAE sound but it ALSO mutes the Generator's MIDI notes, which is probably not what you want.
Solution: Put an Amp unit in the relevant Generator FX network and then set that to a level of 0 (-infinity). This will mute the WAE sound from it but NOT the MIDI it is generating (i.e. for MIDI Out).
How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on macOS?
See: this FAQ entry.
How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on Windows?
See: this FAQ entry.
How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In on Android?
See: this FAQ entry.
How do I record Wotja MIDI out in Logic Pro X?
See: this FAQ entry.
How can I stop/start Wotja on iOS with MIDI Transport Control (MTC) and sync tempo to an external MIDI Clock?
This is possible only in Wotja when using either Audiobus 3 or AUM and an app such as MidiBus that can send MIDI tempo and MIDI Transport Control [MTC] start/stop messages (AKA MIDI Machine Control [MMC], as opposed to MIDI Time Code [MTC] i.e. MIDI Clock). That app can also be used as a Master MIDI Control app if you are controlling/syncing multiple MIDI apps at the same time.
See this FAQ on Audio Issues wrt Settings required (you may well get audio glitches if these are not set correctly).
Finally, if you get stuck, see the section at the end of this FAQ entry for another suggestion to try.
Wotja and Audiobus 3
- Load Audiobus, add the Wotja app to it and then launch Wotja
- Ensure you have your MTC app loaded, e.g. MidiBus. In this app you must ensure that "Network" is selected as a destination.
- In Wotja, go to Settings: Audio MIDI+ and in the MIDI Input section check on "MIDI Transport Control" and "External Clock Sync" (if you also want the tempo synced).
- In the MIDI Input section then tap "Input Devices" and ensure that both "Network Session 1" (this is how iOS [CoreMIDI] refers to the name of the network MIDI device) and "MidiBus" are checked (or whatever MTC app you are using), possibly even Audiobus 3. Note that these may not appear at the top of the list, you might have to scroll to the bottom.
- In the Wotja Music Mode screen, tap the play button as if to start the mix, and the wording under the button changes to "Wait: MIDI". You will only see this if you have the "MIDI Transport Control" option checked on.
- Go to your MTC app, e.g. MidiBus, and press the start/play button. This should then start Wotja playing. Press stop to stop it playing. Sometimes you may need to allow a few seconds between pressing Stop and Play for the transport command to work correctly.
Wotja and AUM
- Load AUM, add the Wotja app to it and then launch Wotja
- Ensure you have your MTC app loaded, e.g. MidiBus. In this app you must ensure that "AUM" is selected as a destination, as well as "Network".
-
- Alternative 1 (shown):
In AUM, go to its Menu and select the MIDI Routing screen. In this ensure that you have your MTC app, e.g. "MidiBus", connected through to "Network Session 1" (which is Wotja in this case, see below). - Alternative 2:
In AUM, A) tap the bottom Wotja channel button (shown in image 1 as text "Chan 1" then B) in the pop-up menu tap the top left Mixer button and C) in the pop-up menu tap the MIDI Sources button then D) select your MTC app e.g. MidiBus and back out of the menus; E) If you go to the MIDI Routing screen shown in Alternative 1 you will see a setup where your MTC app (e.g. MidiBus) is connected to MIDI Control built-in, which will work just fine.
- Alternative 1 (shown):
- In Wotja, go to Settings: Audio MIDI+ and in the MIDI Input section check on "MIDI Transport Control" and "External Clock Sync" (if you also want the tempo synced).
- In the MIDI Input section then tap "Input Devices" and ensure that both "Network Session 1" (this is how iOS [CoreMIDI] refers to the name of the network MIDI device) and "MidiBus" are checked (or whatever MTC app you are using), possibly even AUM. Note that these may not appear at the top of the list, you might have to scroll to the bottom.
- In the Wotja Music Mode screen, tap the play button as if to start the mix, and the wording under the button changes to "Wait: MIDI". You will only see this if you have the "MIDI Transport Control" button checked on.
- Go to your MTC app, e.g. MidiBus, and press the start/play button. This should then start Wotja playing. Press stop to stop it playing. Sometimes you may need to allow a few seconds between pressing Stop and Play for the transport command to work correctly.
Got stuck?
OK, let's try it another way (you can still refer to the relevant images above).
First, launch MIDIbus and e.g. Audiobus so they are open and then add Wotja to Audiobus.
Launch Wotja (from Audiobus) and create a simple test piece based on a Fixed Pattern template (you can have made it before of course, in which case just open it). To do this, go into the Documents screen and select Add New then choose "Mix (Manual)" which creates an empty mix (probably called "Untitled or "Untitled 1" etc). Open this mix and tap on Cell 1 in Track 1 and select the "WME Generator Types" pak on the left of the Template list, then Pattern in the right and then top right "Load". Now save this mix.
Go back to Wotja and go into Settings, MIDI Input section and Input Devices and ensure that you have at least "Network Session 1" and "MidiBus" checked (you can also check "Audiobus 3" if you want). Also ensure that in Wotja Settings both MIDI Transport Control and External Clock sync are checked. Finally, in order to hear it in Wotja, ensure you have the "WAE for Sounds/FX" box checked. Press the play button in Wotja and you will see the "Wait: MIDI.." in the bottom toolbar.
Now, go into MidiBus and ensure that both "Network" and "Midibus" are checked (it may still work if just MidiBus is checked). If you press the MidiBus play button you should hear an ascending 4 note pattern. If not, press the MidiBus stop button, wait a few seconds and press the play button again (sometimes it does seem you need to wait for the MIDI transport command to get picked up).
How do I use Virtual MIDI to get more than 16 MIDI Channels out of Wotja?
Output from Wotja using Settings: Audio MIDI+ > Audio MIDI+ > Virtual MIDI out and then split the incoming Virtual MIDI in your DAW.
Notes:
- Virtual MIDI an iOS/macOS capability and is not available in the iOS version of the Wotja AU3 Plug-in.
- only one Virtual MIDI channel is enabled in Lite mode.
Why are my MIDI notes "off pitch"?
The WME generates standard MIDI notes, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_tuning_standard, meaning A=440Hz.
That said, we have had a couple of reports over the years (from macOS users only) that MIDI notes can be off by about a tone.
Some initial things to check (note: with these you would hear the same effect in mixes played in both iOS AND macOS versions - and that was not the case with the reports):- It is unlikely, but there is a remote chance you have configured Wotja to use the specialist Tuning Mode.
- It could be that in your mix you have manually detuned WME Generator MIDI notes using WME Micropitch.
- If the issue is with WAE Sounds being "off pitch", it is possible you are using semitone and micro offsets in e.g. WAE Wavetable unit.
Other than the above, if you are experiencing WME MIDI note pitches that are "off pitch" then it is highly likely that it is some other setting (or app) on your Mac that is doing it - and that will require a bit of detective work on your side (sorry!).
The first thing to try is to go to the Wotja Output Settings and select e.g. Built-in Output. Restart Wotja and see if that solves the issue!
Possible Solution: One Logic customer who reported this issue found that it was either being caused by Logic itself (Logic has many very powerful options that could have caused the issue) or by an installed app called "Boom 2". The issue was eventually resolved (and was nothing to do with Wotja) but we never got to know exactly what the fix was!
SoundFonts
How do I make SoundFonts?
If you want to create your own SoundFont files then you may wish to check out Polyphone, Polyphontics or even Awave Studio.
How does Wotja use SoundFonts?
Wotja let you use SoundFonts via the WAE Wavetable Unit.
RAW SoundFont files (not zipped)
Simply put your SF2 or SF3 SoundFont file (e.g "yoursoundfont.sf2") in the Wotja Folder, restart Wotja to make sure it is found, and then open an WAE Wavetable Unit and you will see it listed in the left hand selector list.
When using SoundFont files like this Wotja loads the SoundFont data only as required - the SoundFont is not cached in memory. The SoundFont is only loaded into memory when used e.g. you open a mix file that refers to it or select a SoundFont file in the Wavetable Unit to see what patches are in it.
Zipped SoundFont files
For file organisation purposes you can also zip your SoundFont files. However, be aware that when Wotja loads it also loads into memory ALL zip files in the Wotja Folder (i.e. including any SoundFont zips) - this might be an issue for you on a mobile device that is short of RAM.
Where do I put SoundFonts?
You should put SoundFonts or SoundFont Zip files in the Wotja Folder.
Using Zipped SoundFonts with/without folders
IMPORTANT: When Wotja starts it loads ALL zip files in the Wotja Folder into an in-memory file system - this means any SoundFont zip files, too! This might be an issue for you on a mobile device that is short of RAM - if you do not want your SoundFont "mounted" like that, just keep them as raw SoundFont files in the file system.
We appreciate you may have lots of SoundFonts you might want to use, or even collections of them, and you want to keep things tidy and structured on your PC or even in the Wavetable SoundFont list.
Zipping without folders
If all your SoundFonts are in a flat folder then just zip up the SoundFont files. The resulting zip file can be placed at the root of the Wotja folder or in a 'zips' subdirectory below that. See also the Wotja Pak Maker section of the Wotja User Guide.
Zipping with folders
You might wish to zip with folders if:
- You want to use the SoundFont file name as a means to group your SoundFont in the LHS column of the WAE Wavetable Unit (i.e. you might want to easily see all ‘synths’ in one block, e.g. synths1.sf2, synths2.sf3 - see also the Wotja Pak Maker section of the Wotja User Guide; or
- You want to retain the structure of the SoundFont grouping (perhaps you have licensed a collections or set from a 3rd party and it is already set out like that).
Say you have the following collection of SoundFont files that you want to use in an App (and want to show up in the Wavetable Unit SoundFont list like this, too):
mySF2Collection1/drones/drone1.sf2
mySF2Collection1/pads/pad1.sf2
mySF2Collection1/synths/synth1.sf3
To retain that structure you must zip the above directory *such that it keeps the entire folder paths*. You can give this zip any name, maybe something like "mySFCollection1.zip"
In macOS you can create this zip by right clicking the "mySFCollection1" folder and selecting “Compress 'mySFCollection1'”. Alternatively, in Terminal, navigate to the folder above this folder and type:
zip -r mySFCollection1.zip mySFCollection1
You can check that the zip has the files you expect in it by typing in terminal:
unzip -t mySFCollection1.zip
Now, put this zip file in the iCloud Folder, restart Wotja and then create and save mixes that reference these SoundFonts. If you then move those mixes to other devices, they should still play just fine in Wotja on those (provided you have copied that zip file in of course!).
How do I use the "Fixed Key" parameter in SoundFont for use with spot / foley / beat sounds
It is easy to configure a SoundFont so that sounds are not used as melodic sounds, i.e. so they are not pitch shifted when triggered by notes of different pitches. This uses the "Fixed Key" parameter and is a cool technique we use with e.g. the IM Drums SoundFont so that the sound can easily be used to generate beats from TTM melodies.
The instructions below are for doing this in Polyphone, a free SoundFont creator tool.
- Start a new SoundFont.
- Either import or drag and drop the sample files to the sample viewer.
- By default all imported samples are allocated a sample root key = midi note 60 (middle C). If you want to change this do it in the sample viewer.
- Drag the samples you want to use into the Instrument viewer. When asked, select the option to create one instrument per sample.
- Select an instrument to view its properties. By default you will only see the major properties. Reveal the extended properties as shown here:
- Set the "Fixed key" parameter to match that of the "sample root key":
- And if you need to set the looping options for the sample do that here:
- Use "Loop while key on" for cases where the sample extends beyond the defined loop. When the key is released the sample will then play the section from the end of the loop to the sample end.
- Also, it is recommended to set the volume envelope parameter to a small positive value. This will prevent clicking if the envelope in the Wavetable Unit is not defined.
- Drag and drop instrument to the Preset viewer to create presets. Name and number them as you wish. These are the options that will be visible in the Wotja Wavetable Unit.
- Finally save the SoundFont and copy it to the top level of the Wotja content folder in use. When Wotja is next launched it will detect the new SoundFont and you can use it in your mix by selecting it in the Wotja Wavetable Unit (i.e. as part of a WAE Synth Network).
How does Wotja manage SoundFont memory usage?
In V21.7 we improved how Wotja manages SoundFonts in memory.
Wotja now purges cached SoundFont/DLS files that are no longer referenced and haven’t been looked at for 10 seconds or more.
- This is done only when the SoundFont/DLS cache is referenced; it is not an automatic background process.
- Wotja now shows an alert if you open a document that refers to one or more SoundFont/DLS files that no longer exist.
- That alert lists the name(s) of the missing item(s).
Further Notes:
- When a mix is open that uses the SoundFont Wotja considers the SoundFont as being "looked at".
- Opening an album of mixes causes any SoundFont files referenced by mixes in that album to be cached; If you close the album and then open another document which doesn't reference the SoundFont files in the album you just closed, those SoundFont files will be released.
Recording
In Wotja how do I make audio recordings of my wotjas?
Note: Pro mode is required to make recordings for Commercial Use. Refer to EULA.
Important: The making of audio recordings via the Recording tab is only supported in Pro mode.
Recordings
Simply go to the Record screen, select the bars you to record for and the type of recording you want to make and then press record!
Here it is in more detail, step by step:
- Go to the Documents screen and open a mix file (.wotja).
- In the Music Mode tap the bottom Record Tab.
- Tap the top segment bar to select the type of recording you want to made (Audio, MIDI [as available], Video [as available]).
- In the Record slider below that select how long you want to record for. This has a default value that you can override if you have space to make especially long recordings (change the maximum value in Settings: Audio MIDI+ > General > Recording > Max Recording.
- Tap the bottom left "Record" button to start the recording and you will see a progress bar popup in the middle of the screen showing the progress of the recording, as well as the title bar changing to show the size of recording. Recordings are all saved to your Wotja Folder.
- Once Wotja has finished making the recording you should see it in the list of recordings which shows the recordings in your Wotja Folder, above. If you are using iCloud and are making long recordings, this can take some time and you might need to press the top "Refresh" button. See this FAQ.
- Once the recording shows in the list then if it is an Audio or MIDI recording you can tap it to start/stop it playing, or tap the Cogs icon for a popup menu where you can select how you want to open it, preview it, delete it etc.
- Tip: If you do not seem to be making recordings, first check to see if they are in your Wotja Folder. If they are not, then it is likely an iCloud related issue, in which case see this FAQ.
Recording in Audiobus/IAA 3rd party app
Wotja for iOS is Audiobus / Inter-App Audio enabled which means you can send an audio stream out through that and then record it with another suitable 3rd party app that supports Audiobus / Inter-App Audio and recording.
Audiobus / Inter-App Audio support is enabled by default and we make no charge for its use*.
Inter-App Audio
Please refer to the Apple website for information on how to use Inter-App Audio (and iOS 7+ system provided capability) with GarageBand. There are numerous IAA enabled apps.
Audiobus
Please refer to the Audiobus website for instructions on how to use Audiobus.
*To use Audiobus you will also need to install the Audiobus app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch This is a 3rd party paid for app.
See this FAQ on Audio Issues wrt Settings required.
How do I record MIDI files?
Note: Pro mode required to make recordings for Commercial Use. Refer to EULA.
Important: The making of MIDI recordings via the Recording tab is only supported in Pro mode.
Making a MIDI Recording
- Go to the Record screen and select the MIDI tab.
- Adjust the Record slider at the top for the time/bars you want to record.
- Press the bottom left Record button and your recording will be made.
Note 1: MIDI file recordings can be made in the 'Pro' Feature Set whether or not your device supports MIDI Out (e.g. such as some Android devices).
Note 2: MIDI file recordings are saved as Type 1 files.
- Wotja V19+: There is a Setting that allows you to decide how you wish your MIDI file recordings to be made - see: Settings > MIDI File Track Grouping.
- Wotja V4-18: Type 1 MIDI recordings combine *all* MIDI from Cells in each Track onto one MIDI channel, irrespective of the MIDI assignments in that Cell. For example, if you have a mix with content/templates in both Cell 1 Track 1 and in Cell 1 Track 2 then all MIDI from the former is recorded to MIDI channel 1, and from the latter to MIDI Channel 2, etc. If you wish to record to a multi-channel Type 1 MIDI file you must therefore split your content up across Cells in different Tracks. i.e. if you had content in Cell 1 which generated MIDI on Channels 1 and 2, then remove the Channel 2 MIDI content and put that into Cell 2.
How can I use Wotja for iOS recordings in iMovie for iOS?
Requirements:
- Inter-app Audio supporting Intermorphic iOS app: e.g. Mixtikl 6+, Noatikl 2.5+, Tiklbox 1.4+, Wotja 1.4+
- GarageBand 2+ for iOS
- iMovie 2+ for iOS
- iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
1) First record the Intermorphic app (as an Inter-App Audio instrument) in GarageBand. Please refer to this Apple Product Support doc for information on how to use Inter-App Audio with GarageBand: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT6038.
2) Then follow the instructions in Apple Product Support doc here: http://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT6040.
Note: What may not be 100% clear is that the Action button they refer to in step 2 is the top left "Share" button; and, on iPhone you cannot see the "Open in" option on the pop up screen unless you scroll that screen down. Once you have done that, everything else is straightforward!
On my iOS device the Recording progress bar goes to the end but recordings do not seem to be made?
Tip: The first thing to check is if you have enough free storage available wherever you are saving your recording to, be that to iCloud or to your device. If you do not have enough space, the recording cannot be completed!
Assuming you do have enough storage available then it is likely because your version of Wotja is getting confused as to where to save the recordings. Depending on whether you want recordings to be saved to iCloud or to your device you need to have BOTH settings below to be on or off, as the case may be.
The two places are to be found here:
- iOS Device > Settings > (scroll down the screen to find) Wotja > Wotja > Settings > Use iCloud (Toggle)
- iOS Device > Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Apps Using iCloud > Wotja (Toggle)
See the images in the iCloud Settings section of User Guide.
Go Pro
See also: IAP to Go Pro - TDU | SUB | OTB
- What does it mean to Go Pro? How do I Go Pro?
- I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
- How do I check my Pro In-App Purchase history?
- How do I Restore a Pro One Time Buy or Subscription?
- My Pro IAP is not working. What should I do?
- Is it true that I can download and use Wotja Software for FREE?
- Lite vs Pro modes
- What is an In App Purchase (IAP)?
- Why are there In-App Purchase options for each App Store?
- Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?
- Why should I Go Pro?
- Why might I NOT Go Pro?
- What is the cost to Go Pro?
- What is the lowest cost way to evaluate or use Pro mode?
- What is the best value way to use Pro mode?
- Do you run Early Bird Deals on One Time Buys?
- What is a Subscription?
- How do I restore a Subscription?
- What are the benefits of a Subscription?
- How do I check my Subscription?
- What happens if my Subscription lapses?
- How do I cancel a Subscription?
- I have a Subscription. How can I tell if it is active?
- What is a One Time Buy?
- Example of how a One Time Buy works
- How do I restore a One Time Buy?
- I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
- My Pro In-App Purchase is not showing up on all my devices. Why?
- Do I ever need to purchase another One Time Buy?
- If I buy a 24 One Time Buy, am I entitled to a free 25 One Time Buy?
- I am still confused about the One Time Buy; should I get one now or wait until 2025 ?
- Is Wotja with a One Time Buy equivalent to 'perpetual' software?
- What has happened to the paid-for Pro variant?
- Can I upgrade a One Time Buy?
- Can I purchase an old One Time Buy?
What does it mean to Go Pro? How do I Go Pro?
What does it mean to Go Pro?
To 'Go Pro' in any XX major version of Wotja means to purchase in it (or maintain as active) the required Pro IAP, i.e. the related XX One Time Buy (OTB), a Subscription (SUB) or a Thirty Day Unlock (TDU).
XX One Time Buy: To Go Pro in Wotja 24 (the current major version of Wotja) with a XX One Time Buy means you would need to purchase the 24 One Time Buy. See also this FAQ.
And, when you Go Pro in 2024 , you are entitled to Limited Pro User Direct Support in 2024 as well!
How do I Go Pro in Wotja 24 ?
First Get Wotja 24 or install the free update to it.
Then, in its In-App Store, get one of the In-App Purchase options below:
Go Pro with a
Go Pro 24 with a
See also:
I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
TLDR: Wotja will operate in Lite mode if you have a One Time Buy (OTB) for an earlier major version of Wotja than the one you are using and a New Feature is in use. E.g. you have a 23 One Time Buy and are using a New Feature in Wotja 24 . To prevent this happening,
- EITHER:
- Go Pro
- Or...
- Do not select or use any NEW Schema (e.g. 24 ) for randomisation e.g. new automixes, Flows etc.
- Do not use any New Feature (e.g. 24 ) in a file or otherwise.
Issue
You purchased a One Time Buy yet Wotja is operating in Lite mode. You know that because you experience one or all of the following:
- You see 'Lite' on the Store button.
- You see at the top of the Wotja In-App Store.
- In the Wotja In-App Store you see:
- In the Screen Title the text 'Mode: Lite'.
- In the Top text panel a link to this FAQ.
- To the right of the FAQ link above you see a collapse/expand button
- Tip: Tap this button to see the list of the New Features that are in use.
- You see a menu item refer to e.g. 'Go Pro'.
- You get an auto-timeout with pop-up message about Wotja being in Lite mode.
- You see the Lite mode panel at the top of the URI Player.
Reason
You are using a later version of Wotja than that of your One Time Buy and your Wotja file or Wotja itself is using a New Feature in that later version. That being so, Wotja will operate in Lite mode.
See Example of how a One Time Buy works
Example: In 2023 you purchased a 23 One Time Buy which permanently unlocks Pro mode (i.e. 23 Pro mode) for the 23 Feature Set only. You are now using Wotja 24 (all Wotja App updates are free) but the Wotja file you are playing, or Wotja itself, is using a New Feature in the 24 Feature Set (whether you are aware of it or not). Whilst this situation continues Wotja will operate in Lite mode.
Solutions
- You are using a Schema for randomisation that has a number later than that of your OTB (such Schemas may well use New Features in that later Feature Set), be that for e.g.
- Creating an automix
- Solution: In Mixes Screen Add File Button > 'Select Schema' make sure to select only Schemas with a number the same as or lower than that of your OTB. See the Tutorial: Select a Schema.
- Alternative: Go Pro.
- In-mix randomisation
- Solution: In Music Mode, then in Randomize button > 'Select Schema' make sure to select only Schemas with a number the same as or lower than that of your OTB. See the Tutorial: Select a Schema.
- Alternative: Go Pro.
- Generating a Flow in the Flow Player
- Solution: In the Flow Player simply select and use only Schemas with a number the same as or lower than that of your OTB. See the Tutorial: Select a Schema.
- Alternative: Go Pro.
- Creating an automix
- You are playing an Album which includes a Mix file that uses a New Feature not unlocked by your OTB, or a Schema.
- Solution: Play only Albums that do not included such Mixes, or Schemas.
- Alternative: Go Pro.
- You are using in your Mix a New Feature such as a Template, SFX Preset, SoundFont, WAE Unit and WME Capability etc.
- Solution: Do not use in any Mix or content a Template or SFX Preset that includes a reference to a number larger than that in your OTB (if you have, then remove it).
- Tip: Go to the Top text panel of the Wotja In-App Store where you can see a list of the New Features that are in use.
- Alternative: Go Pro.
- Solution: Do not use in any Mix or content a Template or SFX Preset that includes a reference to a number larger than that in your OTB (if you have, then remove it).
- You are playing a Wotja URI in the URI Player and that content uses a New Feature not unlocked by your OTB.
- Solution: Play only content that does use the New Feature.
- Alternative: Go Pro.
- General Solution
- If you are enjoying and wish to continue using the New Feature, then Go Pro. Your continued support also helps us to continue evolving Wotja!
- Alternatively, in your Wotja file or Wotja, simply remove any dependency on any such New Feature and Wotja will again operate in Pro mode for the Feature Set unlocked by your One Time Buy.
- Tip: Go to the Top text panel of the Wotja In-App Store where you can see a list of the New Features that are in use.
How do I check my Pro In-App Purchase history?
You might wish to do this if you experience either situation below:
Situation 1:
You cannot restore a Wotja In-App Purchase, e.g. a One Time Buy or Subscription (Apple/Microsoft only).
Situation 2:
You have 2 devices on which Wotja is installed (i.e. 2 Apple devices or 2 Windows devices).
On one device you can restore a Wotja In-App Purchase, e.g. a One Time Buy or Subscription (Apple/Microsoft only), but on the other you cannot.
Solution:
By far the most likely situation is that you are not on the device in question signed into the same App Store User Account that you used to make the purchase.
View your purchase history on the device in question to make sure you are signed into the App Store User Account that you used to make the purchase. You should then be able to see it.
- On Apple App Store devices see:
- On Microsoft Store devices see:
- On Google Play devices see:
- On Amazon Appstore devices see:
Still cannot see your purchase?
If you are absolutely certain on the device in question you are signed into the same App Store User Account you used to make the purchase of a One Time Buy or Subscription (Apple/Microsoft only) but still cannot see it, then please get in touch.
How do I Restore a Pro One Time Buy or Subscription?
See also: I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
First off, there is no need to panic. It should be very simple to resolve.
- Make sure that you are connected to the Internet.
- Make sure that on your device you are signed in to the App Store User ID that was used to make the One Time Buy or Subscription purchase
- Make sure that you have the latest version of Wotja installed (this will be the current version on the relevant App Store).
- Launch Wotja and go into its In-App Store where in the top panel you should see details of your purchase.
- If you do not see that, or if the Title Bar is showing 'Mode: Lite', then simply tap the top right Restore button.
- After doing the above you may need to close and restart Wotja for the Restore to be applied.
- macOS/iOS only: If the 'Restore Purchases (default)' option does not work, then next try the 'Store Sync (requires sign-in...') option. After that you may again need to select again 'Restore Purchases (default)' and possibly also close and restart Wotja.
- If none of the above works then try uninstalling/reinstalling Wotja.
- Once you have restored your One Time Buy or Subscription then, if you wish, you can disconnect from the Internet.
- If you are still having an issue, then please get in touch.
My Pro IAP is not working. What should I do?
If you have a problem with an In-App Purchase then please don't let us know via an App Store review which is poorly suited for the provision of support.
Instead, please reach out to us via our contact form and we will do our best to help you. Tx!
See also:
Is it true that I can download and use Wotja Software for FREE?
YES, it is true!
Wotja is a FREE App and you can use it totally for FREE in default Lite mode.
All App updates are provided free of charge (i.e. they are available for free).
Powerful and capable Lite mode lets you easily create, play and explore generative music.
Being free to use, Lite mode is great for education, students, learning, exploring, experimentation and evaluation etc. It is even great for a nice play relaxing generative music (see Play a 'Flow').
What's not to love about all of that?!
There are of course a few limitations on what you can do in Lite mode, and that is because continued development of Wotja is only supported by those who Go Pro.
Lite vs Pro modes
Lite mode
IMPORTANT: Wotja will operate in Lite mode if you have a One Time Buy for an earlier major version of Wotja than the one you are using and a New Feature is in use. See I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
- Lite mode (AKA 'Lite') is the default mode of operation of any major version of Wotja.
- In it, Limitations and auto-timeouts (AKA 'Lite mode Limitations') are applied to various Features and New Features in its Feature Set.
- Wotja remains in Lite mode until, via an In-App Purchase, you Go Pro to use Wotja in Pro mode.
- Wotja reverts to operating in Lite mode if Pro mode lapses.
- Lite mode limitations.
Pro mode
- Pro mode (AKA 'Pro') is where Lite mode has been unlocked either:
- temporarily by a Thirty Day Unlock (TDU).
- Pro shows on the Wotja Store button, i.e. Pro mode.
- temporarily by a Subscription (SUB).
- Pro shows on the Wotja Store button, i.e. Pro mode.
- permanently by a XX One Time Buy (OTB).
- Pro XX mode is how we refer to this, e.g. Pro 24 mode.
- Pro XX shows on the Wotja Store button (e.g. 'Pro 24 ').
- Important: Pro mode is unlocked for the XX Feature Set only.
- New Features in a later Feature Set are NOT unlocked.
- If used, they cause Wotja to operate in Lite mode.
- By default a XX One Time Buy can be purchased only in Wotja XX and during the XX calendar year in question (but see also this FAQ) e.g.
- temporarily by a Thirty Day Unlock (TDU).
See also:
What is an In-App Purchase?
An In-App Purchase (AKA 'IAP') is a payment you can make in the Wotja 24 In-App Store to Go Pro, i.e. a payment to unlock all Lite mode Limitations.
There are three different IAP options in Wotja 24 to Go Pro:
Pricing is shown on the Get Wotja page.
Note: If you have a problem with an In-App Purchase then please don't let us know via an App Store review - instead, reach out to us via our contact form and we will do our best to help you. Tx!
Why are there In-App Purchase options for each App Store?
Wotja is a free App available in each of the following App Stores:
- Apple App Store:
- Wotja is an App bundle (for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS)
- In-App Purchases: Subscription, Thirty Day Unlock, One Time Buy
- Microsoft Store:
- Wotja is an App bundle (for Windows)
- In-App Purchases: Subscription, Thirty Day Unlock, One Time Buy
- Google Play Store:
- Wotja is an App bundle (for Android, Android TV
- In-App Purchases: Thirty Day Unlock, One Time Buy
- Amazon App Store:
- Wotja is an App bundle (for Fire OS [Andrloid], Fire TV [Android]
- In-App Purchases: Thirty Day Unlock, One Time Buy
Reasons why In-App Purchase options for each App Store are separately purchasable:
- OS platform issues:
- Each OS platform we support has its own foibles, issues and complexities.
- Even though there is some shared code, we still have to build and test separate apps (which takes a good deal of time) as well as support them.
- Remember that iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS are all different OS platforms, too!
- It's impossible to identify OUR Customers:
- No app store (e.g. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon or Google) ever tells us who has our apps because you are THEIR customers.
- This makes it administratively impossible for us to create bundles or cross purchases.
- Keeping Prices Low:
- Many years ago we used to sell multi-OS version licenses from our Web Store (for Mac and Windows at the time). These licenses had a higher price because they covered apps for multiple OS (see above).
- We had a good deal of customer feedback to suggest people would much prefer that we sold each OS version separately and at a de-bundled (and thus lower) price.
- We listened and took that feedback on-board and so that is what we do now - just get the 'Pro' option(s) you want or need for the OS you want to use Wotja on.
- Epilog: Were we ever be crazy enough to be tempted to go back to the old approach of selling OUTSIDE the App Stores then, for reason #1 above, the price of a multi-OS One Time Buy would likely need to be around 3-4 times the price it is now for Apple or Windows, i.e. a no go for single platform users.
See also:
Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?
Our In-App Purchase pricing represents exceptional value. For current pricing see the Get Wotja page.
Intermorphic Ltd. is just Tim and Pete. It is not a venture funded mega-corp.
We have no source of income to sustain the development of Wotja (with its with a long history of continuous development and over 0.5 million lines of code) other than via the kind users and fans who make an In-App Purchase via the Wotja In-app Store, e.g. those who Go Pro. This is what we refer to as the Wotja Business Model, and we settled on it after many, many years of trying out different approaches.
To be clear, developing something as deep, complex, niche and powerful as the Wotja generative music system, which is a Plug-in Host and includes a Plug-in, takes a huge amount of time and effort. We sweat blood and tears over it and there is really nothing else like it. It may be our passion, but it is a miracle we manage to do it at all for how little we actually get in return, as above.
Despite the effort involved, our version specific One Time Buy is keenly priced, and is well less than the price of many a desktop plugin (see KVR): Wotja, as a self-contained system, has the built-in WAE modular synth network with many units, plus includes so much more.
If you love or need what it does in Pro mode then Wotja can be invaluable to you - it's as simple as that! If you don't, then, well, you don't and you may wish to look elsewhere, maybe for a single-purpose app or plug-in i.e. not a deep system like Wotja.
So, to get a better handle on the 'value' of Wotja and why not everything can be free or why Pro mode options cost what they do, it can help to stand back a bit for a moment and to think about what Wotja is, and what it isn't. Remember, though, you can ALWAYS use Wotja for free in Lite mode.
First, what it isn't...
It's fair enough to say - without dispute - that...
- Wotja is NOT a "toy-like" app:
- Wotja is actually the accumulation of 30+ years of painstaking work on apps (SSEYO Koan, Noatikl, Mixtikl, Liptikl & Tiklbox), technologies and techniques.
- It is a "Creator Player Lab" for generative music and comprises somewhere around 500,000 lines of code (it is a massive undertaking that has become a large part of our life's work!).
- It has a UI that works across mobile to desktop (and with players for Watch and TV) and includes many different editors.
- ... we regularly extend and evolve Wotja and its UIs.
- Wotja is NOT a 'siloed' app:
- The Apple variants (iOS/macOS) support AUv3 Plug-in hosting and include a Wotja AUv3 Plug-in.
- The Windows variants support VST3 Plug-in hosting and include a Wotja VST3 Plug-in.
- The iOS variants support Ableton Link.
- All variants support MIDI in and out.
- ... it can easily fit into and 'play nice' with most workflows.
- Wotja is NOT a single synth or FX unit:
- Wotja in fact includes several engines that we continue to improve and extend such as the Wotja Audio Engine (WAE), featuring a whole range of synth and FX units, and the Wotja Music Engine (WME) featuring many different generator types, and the Wotja Script Engine (WSE) that allows "adaptive music" and provides deep control over Wotja (if required!).
- ... we regularly extend and evolve the Wotja engines.
- Wotja is NOT an app that includes a small amount of content:
- Wotja instead includes 100s of editable templates & SFX Presets, many quality SF2 Soundfonts and a range of Schemas.
- ... we regularly add to Wotja more included content.
- Wotja is NOT a single platform app:
- Wotja is generative music system software that is available for 7 OS platforms (iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS, Windows and Android) and is available in the 4 major app stores (Apple, Microsoft, Google Play, Amazon).
- The variants are as follows: 4 variants for Apple (iOS/iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS), 1 for Windows and 2 for Android (Amazon and Google Play are separate builds).
- ... you can use Wotja to create or play generative music on a large ranges of devices.
- Wotja is NOT abandonware:
- Wotja has long history of continuous development there is every chance it will be here for a long time yet.
- It can play SSEYO Koan content from ~30 years ago and in the future should be able to play the content you make for it today.
- Wotja is NOT an app that is never updated
- Some apps are hardly ever updated.
- Wotja gets regular updates - see the release history - and all App updates are FREE.
Next, what it is...
Wotja is a complex, powerful & completely unique Generative Music System.
It's a System that has several engines (and includes many Synth and FX units), and we are always working to improve it and to incorporate new features and capabilities.
Is it totally bug free after all this time? Like any complex software, of course not, but it is highly functional and very stable!
Is there more we want to add to it? You bet, we have a huge and seemingly ever-expanding list of things we want to get to.
Do we still love working on it? Sure, it is about a voyage of discovery for us and, besides, we love making apps to help aid creativity & relaxation.
Customer feedback and reviews
We have had customers tell us (directly and in reviews) that "Wotja could easily be a program costing at least a few hundred dollars", "the price is way cheap, for the use I'm getting out of it" and that it is "sensational value".
They have also said of Wotja things like "unequalled for generative music software", "The king of generative apps" and "way deeper than it seems" etc... See the reviews.
Longevity DOES matter
A big plus for creators is that with its long history of continuous development there is every chance it will be here for a long time yet, and on many platforms to boot.
And, just as it can play SSEYO Koan content from ~30 years ago, in the future should be able to play the content you make for it today. That is not something to be sniffed at when in today's world there are many apps that are "abandonware" (i.e. no longer developed or maintained by a developer).
"Extra Special" sauce for Apple users
In case it is not immediately clear, it is also worth pointing out that purchase of a 24 One Time Buy permanently unlocks the relevant Pro 24 mode in Wotja for macOS, iOS, iPadOS and tvOS AND in the Wotja AUv3 Plug-in for both iOS and macOS - incredible value frankly!
And lastly, to the (big) elephant in the room - money
The business of developing, testing, documenting, maintaining, extending, selling and supporting a complex X-platform app like Wotja is most like a service business in that it requires a great deal of time and effort - on an ongoing basis. Even what may seem a small bug fix update (and we do a lot of updates) can take a very large chunk of time to do. Other than taking our time, we also have the costs to regularly update our own computers and devices.
We simply can't afford to work on/add New Features for free and we know you would not expect us to do that, just as we would never expect you to work for free.
That is why have low-cost Go Pro options to help fund the time we spend time working on new features, capabilities [which may include improved UIs] and content.
So now you know!
For the reasons we have set out, we genuinely feel that our In-App Purchase options represent exceptional value.
How you feel about those ultimately depends, however, on what value you see in Wotja and how much you want to use it.
We have done our level best to figure out the right set of options to cover as many "use cases" as possible, starting from free. Even so, it may even be that it is not for you - it is not for everyone. If you can find something else that does what you want, then cool! It may even be you want to come back to it later.
If you think it might be for you, then you can rest assured that we have set our pricing options to be as fair and as low as possible so that we can reach as many people as possible and that give us a fighting chance of keeping going and continuing to extend Wotja.
We thank all customers very, very much for supporting the continued development of Wotja and we hope you enjoy how we continue to improve and evolve it!
Why should I Go Pro?
You should Go Pro if in Wotja 24 you want to unlock ALL 24 Feature Set Lite mode limitations (i.e. including New Features in Wotja 24 ) and/or if you want Limited Pro End User support in 2024 .
Alternatively, Go Pro if you simply love the complex, quirky, powerful, niche and totally unique App that it is Wotja, and you want to see it continue to survive and evolve. We really cannot do it without your support.
See also:
Why might I NOT Go Pro?
All Wotja software updates are free meaning that you can benefit from all the improvements we make, for free.
So, you might not Go Pro in Wotja 24 if you are happy only ever to use Wotja in Lite mode.
Or, you might not Go Pro in Wotja 24 if you have a One Time Buy for a previous Feature Set and you A) never want to use any New Feature added since then or B) you never need Support.
HOWEVER, CONSIDER THIS: If everything is free then how can we afford to continue to improve, support and evolve the complex, quirky, powerful, niche and totally unique app that is Wotja? Answer: We can't.
Whether you might appreciate it or not, software development takes a lot of time and care - and Wotja is a complex beast to maintain, let alone to develop and extend.
All work by us on Wotja is 100% organically funded by those kind users who in some way Go Pro. We do that work largely as a labour of love as it is in no way financially viable for us at the moment to do it otherwise.
WITHOUT sufficient funds coming in from those who Go Pro to allow us sufficient scope even only to do that, then development, improvements and evolution would grind to a halt - Wotja would in effect then slowly (or quickly) die. Sadly, it really is that simple.
So, whether we can continue or not is actually in your hands. You have the power, not us.
If you love Wotja or appreciate what it does, then please don't let it slip away - Go Pro NOW (don't put it off).
A little love can go a long way, and you can continue to enjoy free updates and improvements - as well as all the New Features!
See also:
What is the cost to Go Pro?
Our regular $USD In-App Purchase prices to Go Pro are shown on our Get Wotja page, as well as any current discounts/deals we may be running (these are rare).
See also:
What is the lowest cost way to evaluate or use Pro mode?
IMPORTANT: Work on Wotja is entirely funded by users who Go Pro. Although all App updates are free, which means general improvements are also free, if we do not get in enough revenues from users who Go Pro then... we can't continue to work on it. It's a simple fact of life. If you love Wotja and want to see it continue to evolve then please don't rely on the kindness of others. See: Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?
There are two easy and low cost ways to evaluate or use Wotja in Pro mode, as below.
- Get Wotja if you do not already have the latest version installed.
- In the Wotja In-App Store get one of the following In-App Purchases:
- Thirty Day Unlock; or
- Subscription (Apple and Windows versions only)
- Once the In-App Purchase is no longer active then Wotja simply reverts to operating in Lite mode.
- If after your evaluation is completed you wish to continue using Wotja in Pro mode for another period of 30 days then either:
- Purchase (or continue with) that same In-App Purchase as above; or
- Purchase a One Time Buy in that major version of Wotja.
- What could be easier or simpler than that? :)
Or...
Get a One Time Buy in the current major version of Wotja and only ever use a New Feature in that (or earlier) Feature Set (e.g. Pro 24 mode). See also: Do you run Early Bird Deals on One Time Buys?
If you do that then, unless you really want to use in Pro mode a New Feature in a later Feature Set or you want Support, then you would never need to spend again.
And, with our Featuregrade model you would get all general improvements for free!
What is the best value way to use Pro mode?
IMPORTANT: Work on Wotja is entirely funded by users who Go Pro. Although all App updates are free, which means general improvements are also free, if we do not get in enough revenues from users who Go Pro then... we can't continue to work on it. It's a simple fact of life. If you love Wotja and want to see it continue to evolve then please don't rely on the kindness of others. See: Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?
- The best value way to use Pro mode is a Subscription. See What are the benefits of a Subscription?
- If you don't like Subscriptions and you are happy to use Wotja in a specified Pro mode only (e.g. Pro 24 mode), then we think the next best option is to get a One Time Buy in the current major version of Wotja - either whenever we run a sale (which is rare) or when we run an Early Bird Deal in the first month of a year.
- Of course, whenever you get a One Time Buy you can be sure it represents exceptional value.
- Our Featuregrade model means you would for free get all general App improvements (but not Support outside the year in question).
- You would never need to spend again unless you wanted to use in Pro mode a New Feature in a later Feature Set, or to get Support.
- See also: I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
Do you run Early Bird Deals on One Time Buys?
IMPORTANT: Work on Wotja is entirely funded by users who Go Pro. Although all App updates are free, which means general improvements are also free, if we do not get in enough revenues from users who Go Pro then... we can't continue to work on it. It's a simple fact of life. If you love Wotja and want to see it continue to evolve then please don't rely on the kindness of others. See: Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?
What is an Early Bird Deal?
It is an extra special time-limited price for the One Time Buy of the current major version of Wotja.
Early Bird Deals are only available in January. See also: Heads Up - Wotja 25 Pricing & Early Bird Deals
History: We started doing Early Bird (AKA 'EB') Deals for the earlier paid-for 'Fullgrade' variants of Wotja. We ran them for only a few weeks at the beginning of each major version product cycle. When we moved to our Featuregrade model we continued offering them on One Time Buys.
Will there be any Early Bird Deals on One Time Buys in 2024 ?
Yes, we are running Early Bird Deals in 2024 on the 24 One Time Buy IAP options for Wotja 24 .
Whatever we decide on pricing, we can say hand-on-heart that our Pro IAP prices will always represent exceptional value.
Your options for going Pro in 24 are:
- Unlock Pro mode only when you need it - see What is the lowest cost way to use Pro mode?; or
- In January 2024 purchase a One Time Buy in Wotja 24 whilst we are running an Early Bird Deal; or
- Purchase a One Time Buy in Wotja 24 at whatever the price is at the time knowing that every little bit of revenue we get helps support Wotja development - see Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?); or
- If you have an earlier One Time Buy but have missed the Early Bird Deal and are prepared to wait to see if we run any other time-limited sale during the year on a 24 One Time Buy (which might of course not happen) then you could:
- Make sure not to use any New Feature in the 24 Feature Set as that would bump Wotja into operating in Lite mode; or
- do A).
Will there be any Early Bird Deals on One Time Buys in 2025 ?
Will will probably be running Early Bird Deals in 2025 on the IAP options for Wotja 25 , but you would need to check at the time. Be aware that IAP prices may increase.
Whatever we decide on pricing, we can say hand-on-heart that our Pro IAP prices will always represent exceptional value.
Your options for going Pro in 2025 will likely be:
- Unlock Pro mode only when you need it - see What is the lowest cost way to use Pro mode?; or
- In January 2025 purchase a One Time Buy in Wotja 25 whilst we are running an Early Bird Deal; or
- Purchase a One Time Buy in Wotja 25 at whatever the price is at the time knowing that every little bit of revenue we get helps support Wotja development - see Why are your In-App Purchase prices exceptional value?); or
- If you have an earlier One Time Buy but have missed the Early Bird Deal and are prepared to wait to see if we run any other time-limited sale during the year on a 25 One Time Buy (which might of course not happen) then you could:
- Make sure not to use any New Feature in the 25 Feature Set as that would bump Wotja into operating in Lite mode; or
- do A).
What is a Thirty Day Unlock?
Go Pro | See also: Subscription and One Time Buy
Pricing: See the Get Wotja page.
A Thirty Day Unlock [AKA 'TDU'] is a one-off In-App Purchase that, for 30 days from the date of purchase, unlocks Pro mode in any App and Plug-in (as relevant) but ONLY on the device that was used to make the purchase.
Notes:
- A Thirty Day Unlock is perfect for evaluating Pro mode.
- A Thirty Day Unlock will cease to function and cannot be restored if you uninstall/reinstall Wotja, or if in Settings you select "Reset IAP Settings".
- A Thirty Day Unlock is OS-specific and works only in Wotja 24+.
- A Thirty Day Unlock is suitable for both offline/online use but be aware that Wotja will revert to operating in Lite mode when it is no longer in date.
- Limited End User Direct Support is only available whilst your Thirty Day Unlock is in date.
- Consider also: Subscription or One Time Buy.
- Thirty Day Unlock IAP problem? Please reach out to us via our contact form.
See also:
How do I restore a Thirty Day Unlock?
Short answer: You cannot.
The data related to purchase of a "consumable" Thirty Day Unlock is stored on the device used to make the purchase.
Once that data has been deleted (i.e. Wotja is uninstalled/reinstalled, or the Reset IAP Settings option is used) it cannot be restored with the Restore button.
Note: The Restore button only works with a One Time Buy or Subscription because the purchase details of those (and which as are associated with your App Store User ID) can be queried from the App Store itself.
What is a Subscription?
Go Pro | See also: Thirty Day Unlock and One Time Buy
Pricing: See the Get Wotja page.
A Subscription [AKA 'SUB'] is a monthly auto-renewing In-App Purchase that, whilst active, unlocks Pro mode in any App and Plug-in (as relevant).
Notes:
- A Subscription is perfect for evaluating Pro mode.
- It is easy at any time to cancel a Subscription.
- Each Subscription is OS-specific:
- Apple devices:
- Unlocks Pro mode in any major version of Wotja 23+ installed under the App Store User ID you used to purchase the Subscription.
- Microsoft devices:
- Unlocks Pro mode in the major version of Wotja in which it was purchased installed under the App Store User ID you used to purchase the Subscription.
- It should also do the above in a later major version until we need to increase the price of the Subscription, as below.
- When we need to increase the price of a Subscription for Microsoft then we need to create a new Subscription IAP and you will need to subscribe to that new Subscription.
- Apple devices:
- A Subscription is suitable for both offline/online use but be aware that Wotja will revert to operating in Lite mode when it lapses (i.e. it cannot be verified as being in date/active when occasionally checked with the App Store).
- Limited End User Direct Support is only available whilst your Subscription is active.
- Consider also: One Time Buy or Thirty Day Unlock.
- Subscription IAP problem? Please reach out to us via our contact form.
See also:
How do I restore a Subscription?
First off, there is no need to panic. It should be very simple to resolve.
- Make sure that on your device you are signed in to the App Store User ID that was used to make the purchase, AND make sure that you are connected to the Internet.
- Apple Purchases: See also How do I check my Apple In-App Purchase history?
- Make sure that you have the latest version of Wotja installed (this will be the current version on the relevant App Store).
- Launch Wotja and go into its In-App Store where in the top panel you should see details of your purchase.
- If you do not see that, or if the Title Bar is showing 'Mode: Lite', then simply tap the top right Restore button and select 'Restore Purchases (default)'.
- After doing the above you may need to close and restart Wotja for the Restore to be applied.
- macOS/iOS only: If the 'Restore Purchases (default)' option does not work, then next try the 'Store Sync (requires sign-in...') option. After that you may again need to select again 'Restore Purchases (default)' and possibly also close and restart Wotja.
- If none of the above works then try uninstalling/reinstalling Wotja.
- Once you have restored your Subscription then, if you wish, you can disconnect from the Internet.
- If you are still having an issue, then please get in touch.
What are the benefits of a Subscription?
A monthly Subscription is a win-win for both you and us.
Important: It may be obvious, but a Subscription is App Store specific meaning that a Subscription purchased through the Apple App Store will NOT work on Wotja from the Microsoft Store, and vice-versa!
Remember: You can cancel a Subscription at any time up to 24 hours prior to renewal.
-
Benefits to you:
- Always used the latest features, capabilities [which may include improved UIs] and content in Pro mode whatever major version of Wotja (W23+) you have installed:
- An active Subscription unlocks Pro mode in any relevant Wotja App (and Plug-in) installed via your App Store User Account ID, whatever the major version of Wotja.
- For the low cost of a monthly Subscription you never need to worry about missing out on something new!
- See: Wotja Business Model.
- Evaluation - low cost TBYB:
- Take a month to fully evaluate Pro mode and then decide whether you want to
- A) continue with the Pro SUB; or
- B) cancel the Subscription and get a Thirty Day Unlock to unlock Pro mode for 30 days on that device; or
- C) cancel the Subscription and get a One Time Buy; or
- D) cancel the Subscription and just use Wotja for FREE in Lite mode.
- Take a month to fully evaluate Pro mode and then decide whether you want to
- Cash Flow - easy budgeting:
- Rather than making an outright purchase for a One Time Buy, pay a small amount every month.
- Save Money 1 - perfect for occasional use:
- Cancel/re-subscribe at any time and thus dip in and out whenever you want.
- Save Money 2 - stopgap to next year's version:
- Rather than getting this year's relevant One Time Buy you could wait it out to get one for the next major version!
- Cancel at any time:
- It very easy for you to cancel a Subscription at any time.
- Move to a Thirty Day Unlock or One Time Buy at any time:
- If you want to, cancel your Subscription and instead purchase the required Thirty Day Unlock or One Time Buy.
- Always used the latest features, capabilities [which may include improved UIs] and content in Pro mode whatever major version of Wotja (W23+) you have installed:
-
Benefits to us:
- Recurring revenues:
- If you continue with your Subscription we get a small amount from you every month.
- Customer acquisition (us):
- A Subscription allows us to spend more time working for our existing Wotja customers rather than spending that time in trying to find new ones.
- Fans - we get a bit more:
- If you continue with your Subscription for the course of a full year then we do get a bit more when compared to the price of a One Time Buy - know that we appreciate this very much.
- NB: See also our range of T-Shirts, Sweatshirts and Hoodies!
- Recurring revenues:
How do I check my Subscription?
Apple: Pro SUB
See also their own docs: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039
- To get to your iTunes subscription page, either click the link shown in the above Apple page or follow the instructions below. Note that in both cases you must be signed into your iTunes account.
- Go to the Wotja In-App Store and press the "Manage Subscriptions" button (it is shown in the area marked as "Miscellaneous".
- You then see the Wotja Subscription page and you can see what Subscription you currently have in place, as well as being able to see expired Wotja Subscriptions.
Microsoft: Pro SUB
See also their own docs: Manage a Microsoft subscription
- To get to your Microsoft subscription page, either click the link shown in the above Microsoft page or follow the instructions below. Note that in both cases you must be signed into your Microsoft account.
- Go to the Wotja In-App Store and press the "Manage Subscriptions" button (it is shown in the area marked as "Miscellaneous".
- You then see the Subscription page and you can see the Subscription you currently have for Wotja.
What happens if my Subscription lapses?
Your Subscription will lapse if you cancel it or it does not auto-renew.
The most likely reasons for a Subscription not to auto-renew (and where you have not cancelled it) are either that your payment has not gone through or we have removed that Subscription from sale (we sometimes need to change the tiers we make available and/or we sometimes need to remove an app from sale).
Don't panic!
There is no need to panic if your Subscription lapses! All that means is that at the end of your Subscription period then Wotja will revert to operating in Lite mode.
If or when you decide you would like to start a new Subscription then you can do so at any time.
How do I cancel a Subscription?
It is very easy to cancel a Subscription and you can do so at any time up to 24 hrs before it renews.
Apple
Apple provides detailed information on managing subscriptions. Please refer to : https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039
Note: to cancel your Pro Subscription you must be signed into your Apple App Store User Account.
- To get to your Subscriptions page, either click the link shown in the above Apple page or go to the Wotja In-App Store and press the "Manage Subscriptions" button (it is shown in the area marked as "Miscellaneous").
- You then see the Wotja Subscriptions page and you can see the Subscription you currently have in place for your Wotja App, as well as being able to see expired Wotja Subscriptions.
- To cancel the Subscription just press the "Cancel Subscription" button (if shown).
- Note: If not shown, it means this Subscription is no longer available for sale and your Subscription will automatically end once your present subscription period is up.
- Press the "Confirm" button in the pop up.
- Your Subscription will no longer auto-renew.
- At the end of the Subscription period then Wotja will simply revert to operating in Lite mode.
- If or when you decide you would like to start a new Subscription you can do so at any time.
Important: Provided you have the relevant version of Wotja installed on your device and are using Wotja with iCloud then if your Subscription lapses you will always have access to and be able to open/play in Lite mode any previously created Wotja mixes, playlists or albums ("files") as appropriate. If you are using Wotja with iCloud and have to reinstall Wotja then you are still fine as your Wotja files should still be safe in iCloud. However, if you were not using iCloud and have uninstalled Wotja without first backing up your files somewhere then you will have lost those files.
Microsoft
See the Microsoft docs: Manage a Microsoft subscription.
I have a Subscription. How can I tell if it is active?
Apple
Go to the In App Store and tapping the Manage Subscriptions item in the Miscellaneous section. This takes you to the Subscriptions section in the OS Store (iOS, macOS or Windows depending on which app version you are using). Active Subscriptions are shown in the Active section, and Expired Subscriptions shown in the Expired section. For Apple see also: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039.
Tip: If your Subscription does not show up here then it means your purchase was, for some reason, not processed or you never completed your purchase in the first place.
Tip: Even if you cannot tell in the Wotja In-App Store that a Subscription is active (there is no status indicator; this can sometimes happen) then you can quickly easily tell if it is working in Wotja:
- Open a Flow - if it shows a Play time of more than 5 minutes then Wotja is operating in Pro mode. If you open a mix and play it and the play timer counts UP, then Wotja is operating in Pro mode.
- If your Subscription does not seem to be active - try preforming a Restore in the In App Store.
Microsoft
See the Microsoft docs: Manage a Microsoft subscription.
What is a One Time Buy?
Go Pro | See also: Subscription and Thirty Day Unlock
Pricing: See the Get Wotja page.
A XX One Time Buy [AKA 'XX OTB'] is a one-time In-App Purchase that permanently unlocks Pro mode for the *specific XX Feature Set only* in any Wotja App and Plug-in (as relevant).
For example, a 24 One Time Buy unlocks Pro 24 mode in any Wotja 24 or later App and Plug-in.
Put another way, it's a one-off purchase that permanently unlocks specified features in that or any later version of Wotja (App updates are free), but it does not unlock a New Feature in any later version. You can think of it as delivering the functional equivalent to a paid-for variant of that specified major version, should we have done it, plus you get ongoing Improvements for free!
Notes:
- Each XX One Time Buy is OS-specific and unlocks Pro XX mode in Wotja XX or later installed under the App Store User ID you used to purchase it.
- There is a different One Time Buy for every major version of Wotja.
- A XX One Time Buy does *not* unlock any New Feature in a later XX Feature Set.
- A One Time Buy is suitable for both offline/online use.
- Limited End User Direct Support is only available in the XX calendar year of the XX One Time Buy.
- Consider also: Subscription or Thirty Day Unlock.
- One Time Buy IAP problem? Please reach out to us via our contact form.
See also:
Example of how a One Time Buy works
- In 2024 you get Wotja 24 (i.e. download/install)
- You can install it on any device(s) that you have in your App Store User ID.
- NB: If you already had an earlier major version of Wotja installed, then this is just a free App update.
- At some point you decide to purchase a 24 One Time Buy.
- Such a purchase permanently unlocks Pro 24 mode for the 24 Feature Set.
- It does so in every Wotja 24 or later App and Plug-in (as relevant) that you install under your App Store User ID.
- To continue to use it in Pro 24 mode you do not have to be logged into the relevant App Store.
- The only times you would need to be logged into the App Store would be:
- A) if you uninstall/reinstall Wotja, in which case after doing that use the In-App Store > 'Restore' button or;
- B) to get an update for the Wotja App (and all App updates are FREE).
- The only times you would need to be logged into the App Store would be:
- In 2025 we release Wotja 25 by way of a free Wotja App update.
- Installing Wotja 25 will not affect any Feature or New Feature in the 24 Feature Set that you have already unlocked with the 24 One Time Buy you purchased.
- These Features will remain unlocked (except for any Feature/New Feature that some reason we might have had to deprecate).
- However... as at this point you have only a 24 One Time Buy then use of any New Feature in the 25 Feature Set will result in Wotja operating in Lite mode.
- Installing Wotja 25 will not affect any Feature or New Feature in the 24 Feature Set that you have already unlocked with the 24 One Time Buy you purchased.
- At some point after that you may decide you would like purchase the 25 One Time Buy.
- Such a purchase will permanently unlock Pro 25 mode for the 25 Feature Set.
- It will so in every Wotja 25 or later App and Plug-in (as relevant) that you install under your App Store User ID.
- And so on....
How do I restore a One Time Buy?
See also: I have a One Time Buy but Wotja is in Lite mode. Why?
First off, there is no need to panic. It should be very simple to resolve.
- Make sure that on your device you are signed in to the App Store User ID that was used to make the purchase, AND make sure that you are connected to the Internet.
- Apple Purchases: See also How do I check my Apple In-App Purchase history?
- Make sure that you have the latest version of Wotja installed (this will be the current version on the relevant App Store).
- Launch Wotja and go into its In-App Store where in the top panel you should see details of your purchase.
- If you do not see that, or if the Title Bar is showing 'Mode: Lite', then simply tap the top right Restore button.
- After doing the above you may need to close and restart Wotja for the Restore to be applied.
- macOS/iOS only: If the 'Restore Purchases (default)' option does not work, then next try the 'Store Sync (requires sign-in...') option. After that you may again need to select again 'Restore Purchases (default)' and possibly also close and restart Wotja.
- If none of the above works then try uninstalling/reinstalling Wotja.
- Once you have restored your One Time Buy then, if you wish, you can disconnect from the Internet.
- If you are still having an issue, then please get in touch.
My Pro In-App Purchase is not showing up on all my devices. Why?
I purchased a One Time Buy or Subscription on one device, and it shows in the Wotja In-App Store as purchased on that, but it is not showing as purchased in the Wotja In-App Store on my other devices. Why?
Reason
There are two likely possible reasons for this:
- Your devices are not all running the latest version of Wotja and so some devices might not show your purchase.
- Solution: Update Wotja on all devices. If some devices are too old to get the latest version of Wotja then your purchase will not be able to be detected by them.
- You are not on all devices signed into the account that was used to make your One Time Buy purchase e.g. you may have purchased on an iOS device with one App Store User ID but are logged into a different App Store User ID on your Mac. If that is the case, some devices will not show your purchase.
- Solution: On each device, check the purchase history for that User ID. If you are logged in to the right User ID you should be able to see it.
- On Apple App Store devices see: View your purchase history for the App Store, iTunes Store and other Apple media services
- On Microsoft Store devices see: View your Microsoft Store order history
- On Google Play devices see: Review your order history
- On Amazon Appstore devices see: Welcome to Amazon Customer Service
- Solution: On each device, check the purchase history for that User ID. If you are logged in to the right User ID you should be able to see it.
Do I ever need to purchase another One Time Buy?
Short answer: No. You do not ever need to purchase another One Time Buy (OTB).
See Example of how a One Time Buy works
A Wotja 23+ App can always be updated for free, meaning you can always for free get the benefit of any general improvements and general bug fixes etc. that we make.
NB: If you are asking this then you are probably someone with an expressed preference for 'ownership' and who in the past purchased a pre-Wotja 23+ paid-for Wotja variant. Paid-for variants are no more.
HOWEVER, you might want to purchase another OTB for the following reasons...
- To use a XX New Feature in Pro mode
- If you want to unlock a XX New Feature in a new XX major version of Wotja, then go ahead and purchase the relevant XX One Time Buy!
- Conversely, if you don't want to unlock the New Feature above, then just skip it and make sure you do not use Wotja with any New Feature dependencies!
- To get Direct Support from us
- In 2024 we only provide Limited End User Direct Support to those who are using Wotja 24 in Pro mode. See our Support Policy.
- To help support Wotja's continued development
- Without the support of enough paying customers and fans we simply cannot afford to develop New Features. Just like you cannot afford to work for free (unless you are very, very lucky), nor can we. Your purchase not only lets you use the current software, but it also encourages us to continue to push the envelope for Wotja. What could we do next? You know how to find out! :)
If I buy a 24 One Time Buy, am I entitled to a free 25 One Time Buy?
Short answer: No
Purchase of a 24 One Time Buy does NOT entitle you to a 25 One Time Buy - they are completely separate purchases. If you have a 24 One Time Buy and want to unlock Pro 25 mode features then you will either need to purchase a 25 One Time Buy or take out a Subscription or purchase a Thirty Day Unlock.
If it is nearing the end of the year and you are interested in going the One Time Buy route instead of a Subscription route, then might we suggest you do not purchase a One Time Buy and wait instead for next year's One Time Buy to become available. In the interim you could if you wanted take out a Subscription and then cancel it before you purchase that One Time Buy.
I am still confused about the One Time Buy; should I get one now or wait until 2025?
Short answer: Whether you get one now or not is up to you!
Let's try to recap on a few things, which might help...
Wotja is not like single purpose app like a synth or FX unit - it is a complex system. Being so, it needs a business model to support the work we need to do on it (extension, evolution, support, maintenance etc).
In the past we used to sell paid-for 'Pro' versions on an annual basis. They got updates only during the year in question. We called this a FullGrade model.
In 2023 we changed our model to have a free App that got free updates but with a selection of In-App Purchase options to unlock Pro mode in that current major version. If you are interested as to why, the we did a Blog post on that here.
In reality, a Subscription model best suits our ongoing work on Wotja. However, we know that many musicians and artists tend to prefer a tool ownership mode so we have worked exceptionally hard to try to find a mechanism to provide something like that for them. We call this a FeatureGrade model and it has 3 different In-App Purchase options to Go Pro. We also make available a lot of capability for free, but not everything can be free.
We know that our model is a bit different to most apps but, as we said right at the outset, Wotja is a complex system. In our Go Pro FAQs we try as hard as we can to try explain the model and why we have it (i.e. to allow us to continue to work on Wotja). We appreciate that it can still take time to grok, so we are always working to improve our explanations.
See also: Do I ever need to purchase another One Time Buy?
See also: What is the Wotja Business Model?
Is Wotja + One Time Buy equivalent to 'perpetual' software?
'Perpetual' software
'Perpetual' software is software that once purchased does not time out or require further payments in order to keep running - with the implicit assumption being that should you subsequently update your OS or device or 3rd party services those changes do not prevent the software working as expected.
To allow for that, much software that is referred to as being a 'perpetual' ALSO has a purchasable "support package" that covers updates (which included new features, capabilities and content), maintenance and, of course, support.
One Time Buy
Wotja + One Time Buy is equivalent to 'perpetual' software in that, although support is available only during that calendar year, no further payments are required for its Features to remain in Pro mode for the specified Feature Set, e.g. 24 FS.
See Example of how a One Time Buy works
And, with our new 'Featuregrade' Business Model, all Wotja App updates are now FREE - meaning it is ever better!
See:
What has happened to the paid-for Pro variant?
The paid-for 'Pro' variant is no more - the last one we released was in 2022 and this was Wotja 22.
As to how this came about see this blog post.
However, the very good news is that we have evolved an alternative (and equally good approach) for Wotja 23+ - we call it the 'Featuregrade' Business Model and we have for each OS a One Time Buy option that delivers the functional equivalent of a paid-for 'Pro' equivalent variant for that major version (were we to had done it)!
Can I upgrade a One Time Buy?
We no longer sell paid-for Pro variants. See this FAQ.
In Wotja 23 we adopted a 'Featuregrade' Business Model, meaning the introduction of One Time Buy options to unlock Pro mode for a specific Feature Set (see Pro XX mode).
You can purchase them in the Wotja In-App Store and they are priced as if they were an upgrade (see also Early Bird Deals). So, if or when you want one, just buy it - you are already getting the best price!
We don't provide Pro upgrades for a paid-for Pro app to the next major version, e.g. 'Wotja Pro 21' to 'Wotja 22 Pro', or for a paid-for Pro app to a new One Time Buy. If you want to use Wotja in the latest Pro mode then just get the latest version of Wotja and purchase your required In-App Purchase from its In-App Store.
See also: Do I ever need to get the next major version of Wotja?
Can I purchase an old One Time Buy?
Short answer: Yes you can, in Wotja 24.4+
Wotja 24.4+ has the Display Legacy OTB IAP Items option in Settings General.
This support option is primarily for customers who are unable to install/use the current major version of Wotja and who wish (or need) to use an older version of Wotja 24+ in Pro XX mode (or where a Subscription option is no longer available in that version) and who did not (for whatever reason) purchase the XX Pro One Time Buy for that version.
It can, however, also be used by a user of the current major version of Wotja 24+ who are happy to use it only an earlier Pro XX mode, perhaps for reasons of cost.
Note for Wotja 23 users: Although there is no Display Legacy OTB IAP Items option in Wotja 23, the 23 Pro One Time Buy option should be visible in the In-App Purchase panel and you should be able to purchase it.
How it works
When the option is selected it takes you to the Wotja In-App Store and the In-App Purchase panel will then display any older and still available for sale One Time Buy IAPs so that they can be purchased.
Once the store is exited, or Wotja is restarted, the old One Time Buy IAP options will no longer be visible in the In-App Purchase panel. To show them again, use the Display Legacy OTB IAP Items option again.
Be aware that Limited End User Direct Support is only available during the XX calendar year of a XX OTB, e.g. a 24 Pro OTB entitles you to such support in 2024 only.
Use cases
Example scenarious where you might wish/need to purchase an older One Time Buy:
- You have installed on your device an older version of Wotja 24+ and cannot update it to use the current major version
- Despite Wotja updates being free, you are continuing to use that older version because of a change to Wotja OS Requirements.
- You did not (during the calendar year that this major version was available) purchase that year's One Time Buy and it is not displaying as an option in the In-App Purchase panel.
- Use the Display Legacy OTB IAP Items option to display any older One Time Buy options that are still available to purchase.
- You wish to save money by purchasing an older One Time Buy
- An older One Time Buy is likely to have the same USD $ SRP that was used during that year (except during January of any year where they will always be raised higher than any Early Bird Deal).
- Use the Display Legacy OTB IAP Items option to display any older One Time Buy options that are still available to purchase.
- You understand that use of any New Feature in any later Feature Set will result in Wotja operating in Lite mode (see this FAQ).
Apple App Store
See also: IAP to Go Pro - TDU | SUB | OTB
- See also Go Pro FAQs
- See also General Questions FAQs
- See also Uninstall/Reinstall FAQs
I have a SUB or OTB for iOS, do I need a separate one for macOS or vice-versa?
No, SUB and OTB options in Wotja for iOS and macOS are common to both.
This works because both versions share the same App ID, meaning they can share the same SUB or OTB.
That means you can purchase the IAP in either Wotja for iOS or macOS.
How do I redeem/apply a promo code?
To redeem an App Promo Code:
- On your iPad or iPhone
- Open the App Store. Then tap on the center icon at the bottom named 'Apps'. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Tap on 'Redeem', then tap on 'Enter code manually'. Follow the prompts from there.
- On your Mac
- Open the App Store. Then scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Tap on 'Redeem', then tap on the text box below 'You can also enter your code manually'. Follow the prompts from there.
For Gift Cards please look at this page on how to redeem codes: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4480
Microsoft Store
See also: IAP to Go Pro - TDU | SUB | OTB
- See also Go Pro FAQs
- See also General Questions FAQs
- See also Uninstall/Reinstall FAQs
- How do I Restore a Pro One Time Buy or Subscription?
- How do I check my Pro In-App Purchase history?
- I have a problem with the Microsoft Store, is there a FAQ?
- Microsoft Store messages like "The purchase did not complete" and "Purchase failed."
- I have purchased an IAP but the purchase does not seem to have gone through
- The Microsoft Store closes immediately on running it
- I have a download/install issue or am getting Microsoft Store error code 0x803fb005
- Why can I not see Wotja in the Microsoft Store?
- How do I update my Wotja app from the Microsoft Store?
- Why does my Pro Subscription no longer work? Why do I need to resubscribe?
- How do I redeem/apply a promo code?
I have a problem with the Microsoft Store, is there a FAQ?
Yes, here is the link: Microsoft FAQ: Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store.
Microsoft Store messages like "The purchase did not complete" and "Purchase failed."
Heads Up: This issue seems to be very rare and it is not an issue with Wotja - it is something Microsoft Store related. We do not know what causes it, but see the customer reported solutions below.
The pop-up messages you might see are something like "The purchase did not complete. You have cancelled the purchase." and "Purchase failed. Sorry, your purchase attempt failed. Please try again later!"
Our best guess the moment is that for some reason the Microsoft Store either does not like your card/payment means, or that you might be trying to purchase from a DIFFERENT account to the one that the card is registered with (however unlikely that might be). Or, maybe it could even be some internet related issue?
Other than that, it might just be worth waiting a bit and trying again later. Or, if you have another card/means of payment accepted by the Microsoft Store then trying with that.
NB: If you have had this issue and been able to resolve it, please let us know how so we can add it to the list of solutions below.
Customer reported solutions:
- For one customer it turned out that payments were disabled by Microsoft due to "suspicious activity" (even though they were not aware of any, and Microsoft could not advise - worse still, they were told their account would not be reinstated :(). Their solution in the end was to purchase a Microsoft gift code and then add that to their Microsoft Account balance.
- For another customer it turned out that when their initial payment method failed it left the Services and Subscriptions part of their account temporarily borked. They contacted MS to resolve this and once that was resolved they were able to complete the purchase within Wotja.
- For another customer they tried using Windows auto repair tools before attempting a repurchase which was then successful (the repair tool fixed a Windows issue related to a process that controlled their Microsoft account which was turned off).
- For another customer using Windows 10 they solved it by using another computer that had Windows 11 on it (we know purchases can also work fine on Windows 10, but this was a solution for that customer).
- For another customer the solution was to create a new user on their Windows workstation. They had run across a post that someone by accident created a new user and things started working in MS Store so they tried it. We appreciate this is an onerous and "last roll of the dice" thing to do as it may require e.g. reinitializing applications, re-authorizing things with e.g. iLok etc.
If none of the above work, then it might even be worth working through the Microsoft suggestions here and if still no luck then getting in touch directly with the Microsoft Store (see links on the foregoing page) to ask them why this has happened.
I have purchased an IAP but the purchase does not seem to have gone through
We believe the issue is related to the Microsoft Store. We do not know why that might be, however.
From the handful of customers who have seen this we have had it reported that the problem will just go away of its own accord (it can take a day or so).
NB: See also the FAQ below, as it may be a similar problem.
The Microsoft Store closes immediately on running it
We have had this issue reported on at least one machine. We've had a dig around, and found quite a few pages documenting different solutions, for example this Microsoft forum entry: Microsoft Store Closes Immediately After Opening.
I have a download/install issue or am getting Microsoft Store error code 0x803fb005
This seems to be quite rare and we are not sure what causes it; we're confident though that it is nothing to do with Wotja itself.
Tip: For the computer you want to install Wotja on you it is worth checking that you are logged into the Microsoft Store account from which you got it.
After investigating it with a handful of customers we have come to the conclusion that it is some kind of Microsoft Store related issue, possibly an order processing issue. We decided that because customers have told us that the problem just disappears of its own accord after a period of time (maybe a day or so). The download/install then goes OK. We know that is extremely irritating to have to wait, and can only apologise...
If the above looks OK, we suggest having a look at this FAQ: Microsoft FAQ: Fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store.
Other than that, we suggest trying a Google search on the error number. You should get a few things returned, some with more difficult solutions than others. The easiest is a suggestion that you trying signing out of your Microsoft account and then sign back in again. However, it seems to us that no one really seems to know what the issue is.
If none of the above suggestions resolves your issue then please get in touch and provide as much information as you can. Tip: When using the form, please select the correct option before submitting.
Why can I not see Wotja in the Microsoft Store?
If you go to the Wotja for Windows download links from our download page and you get a message like "Wotja is not currently available" then fear not - we have not removed it!
One helpful user had that very issue. He discovered on some forum (found by Google search) that the Microsoft Store does some sort of IP filtering. He reported being on 4G LTE which rotates IPs regularly so he instead tried it from a VPN and the app was then showed available. Result!
How do I update my Wotja app from the Microsoft Store?
You should be able to update automatically from the Microsoft Store.
- See the Microsoft Store Guidance: Get updates for apps and games in Microsoft Store.
It is also pretty easy to turn-on automatic updates.
- See the Microsoft Store Guidance: Turn on automatic app updates.
How do I redeem/apply a promo code?
- Copy the URL inside the tsv file we provide you, paste it into your web browser URL field and press enter. This will redeem the promo code in the Microsoft Store.
- Make the purchase of that IAP item from the Wotja In-App Store.
Note: Because of step 1), step 2) should not be charged as it will use the redeemed promo code.
Note: The Wotja In-App Store 'Restore' button is for OTBs and SUBs only; TDU purchases do not get restored - they are one-offs and so are either detected or not.
Why does my Pro Subscription no longer work? Why do I need to resubscribe?
There is actually a very simple reason.
We sometimes need to increase the price of the Pro Subscription for Wotja. Microsoft does not allow the price of an existing Subscription to be increased (unlike Apple, which allows a user to agree to a price rise and stay subscribed).
To be able to increase the price of a Pro Subscription in the Microsoft Store we instead need to create a NEW monthly Pro Subscription IAP with the new price, and at the same time remove from sale the old monthly Pro Subscription IAP (meaning that it will simply not auto-renew, i.e. it will lapse).
To continue to remain subscribed, simply purchase the new Pro Subscription once your old one has lapsed.
Google Play Store
See also: IAP to Go Pro - TDU | SUB | OTB
- See also Go Pro FAQs
- See also General Questions FAQs
- See also Uninstall/Reinstall FAQs
In what Google Play Stores do make available Wotja for Android?
We are a niche app developer, not an accountant or tax specialist, and so we do our best to make available Wotja via Google Play stores in countries where as far as we understand:
- Google sets & collects ALL required Sales Taxes (VAT, GST etc.) for all states/provinces/territories, and;
- Google remits those collected taxes to the relevant tax authorities.
As to why this is, see General Google Play Store Notes below.
Notes:
- USA:
- Google Play is gradually adding more states/territories to the list that it collects/remits taxes for. However, it does not yet cover all states/territories and it does not permit a developer to sell into only certain states/territories - i.e. it is the whole of the USA and territories, or not at all. We will sell into USA as soon as we can!
- Country not listed:
- If you would like to make a purchase and your country is not listed below but believe it meets both criteria above (see Google's own list on this), then please get in touch!
We currently sell in these 68 Country Google Play Stores (which incl. EU)
- Albania (from 19 July 2021)
- Australia (from 19 July 2021)
- Bahrain (from 19 July 2021)
- Bangladesh (from 19 July 2021)
- Belarus (from 19 July 2021)
- Cambodia (from 6 April 2022)
- Cameroon (from 19 July 2021)
- Canada (from 25 Feb 2022)
- Chile (from 19 July 2021)
- European Union (ALL 27 countries) (from December 2020)
- Eygpt (from 13 July 2023)
- Georgia (from 6 April 2022)
- Ghana (from 6 April 2022)
- Iceland (from 19 July 2021)
- India (from 19 July 2021)
- Indonesia (from 19 July 2021)
- Kazakhstan (from 21 Feb 2023)
- Kenya (from 19 July 2021)
- Liechtenstein (from 19 July 2021)
- Malaysia (from 19 July 2021)
- Mexico (from 19 July 2021)
- Moldova (from 25 Feb 2022)
- Monaco (from 21 Feb 2023)
- Morocco (from 6 April 2022)
- New Zealand (from 19 July 2021)
- Nigeria (from 6 April 2022)
- Norway (from 21 Feb 2023)
- Oman (from 19 July 2021)
- Puerto Rico (from 13 July 2023)
- Russia (from 19 July 2021)
- Saudi Arabia (from 19 July 2021)
- Serbia (from 19 July 2021)
- Singapore (from 19 July 2021)
- South Africa (from 19 July 2021)
- South Korea (from 19 July 2021)
- Taiwan (from 19 July 2021)
- Thailand (from 9 Sept 2021)
- Turkey (from 19 July 2021)
- Ukraine (from 12 Jan 2022)
- United Arab Emirates (from 19 July 2021)
- United Kingdom (from November 2020)
- Uzbekistan (from 25 Feb 2022)
- Vietnam (from 21 Feb 2023)
General Google Play Store Notes
- Tax Setting & Collecting: We are not tax specialists or accountants and it is very expensive to secure tax advice - the laws are very complicated. The cost to a low volume niche app business like ours would be way more than we would ever get back in terms of app sales.
- Remitting Tax to Tax Authorities: There are administrative burdens and associated costs of making tax remittances and these are simply way too high for a small company like ours to do ourselves.
- Amazon does what is needed on our behalf for *all* countries which is why we make available Wotja for Android in all Amazon Appstores we can.
Amazon Appstore
See also: IAP to Go Pro - TDU | SUB | OTB
- See also Go Pro FAQs
- See also General Questions FAQs
- See also Uninstall/Reinstall FAQs
- How do I Restore a Pro One Time Buy?
- How do I check my Pro In-App Purchase history?
- How do I get the Amazon Appstore so I can download Wotja?
- How do I restore a purchase on Amazon Appstore?
- I am using Wotja and get Amazon Appstore message "Internal Service Failure"?
- I have installed the Amazon Appstore and Wotja seems to download OK but it does not install?
How do I get the Amazon Appstore so I can download Wotja?
See the Download Amazon Appstore page.
If you do not already have an account with Amazon you will need to set one up, but this is no different to what you would need to do to purchase via Google Play, either!
Once you have the Amazon App Store installed, just download Wotja from the store. Once downloaded and installed you then just load the app from its icon, like any other installed Android app (you do not have to first load the Amazon Appstore).
If you have problems with the Amazon Appstore see their Amazon Appstore Help pages.
How do I restore a purchase on Amazon Appstore?
This is what you do:
- Open the Amazon Appstore on your device
- Tap the menu button
- Select "MY APPS" from the menu list
- Tap "ALL" in the upper right side (below the search bar)
- Locate your App and click “Install"
See also Amazon's help page purchasing and installing apps: Amazon help page.
I am using Wotja and get Amazon Appstore message "Internal Service Failure"?
This is not a Wotja issue. Do a web search for "amazon android internal service failure". You should find a number of solutions to try and it seems that you need to de-register and re-register the device. You might even need to re-install the Amazon Appstore app :(.
I have the Amazon Appstore installed and Wotja seems to download OK but it does not install?
We have tested Wotja App download and installation via the Amazon Appstore and know that it works fine.
If you are having issues that you can download the Wotja app via the Amazon Appstore but it just does not seem to install then we believe it might be related to the Android setting 'Enable Unknown Sources' - Amazon mention this setting on their Amazon Appstore app download page. See: https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000851343. Tip: Of course once you have successfully installed Wotja you might want to revert the setting back to "Disabled".
As every Android device seems a little different you might also find it helps to do a web search for something like "Amazon App store apps not installing" and check what results you get back.
OS: iOS/iPadOS specific
- See other general FAQ items in the FAQ Contents Table
- iOS/iPadOS: How do I copy out my Wotja Files and Audio, MIDI & Video recordings?
- iOS/iPadOS: I am using Wotja with Inter-App Audio/Audiobus and getting a lot of glitches. Why?
- iOS/iPadOS: When using Wotja with some apps via Inter-App Audio/Audiobus, e.g. Cubasis, Garageband, I am getting noise issues. Why?
- iOS/iPadOS: How can I play via AirPlay to HomePods, use the "Now Playing" audio card and control Wotja with Siri?
- iOS/iPadOS: How do I copy files (e.g. mix, Zip, SF2, WAV, MID etc.) into the Wotja Folder from some other folder?
- iOS/iPadOS: Accessibility - How do I use VoiceOver?
- iOS/iPadOS: How do I turn off App auto-updates?
iOS/iPadOS: How do I copy out my Wotja Files and Audio, MIDI & Video recordings?
You may be wondering how to copy our Wotja mixes and albums. You may also be in the Record screen and have selected the Action (cog) icon next to the recording you want to copy out it, selected where you want it to be copied to, and sometimes it does not work (it seems it won't work if you are not using iCloud with Wotja).
If you are using iCloud with Wotja here follows a foolproof way to copy out your files and recordings. NB: If you are not using iCloud, see Apple's docs on iTunes App File Transfer.
- Find the Wotja folder in the Apple Files App, and visually locate your file(s) or recording(s).
- In Files, tap the top "Select" menu item and select the files/recordings you want to copy out
- In Files, use the bottom toolbar Action button and then select where you want to copy them to (e.g. Dropbox, Mail, Message, WhatsApp etc. depending on what apps you have installed)
iOS/iPadOS: I am using Wotja with Audiobus/Inter-App Audio and getting a lot of glitches. Why?
See this FAQ on Audio Issues wrt Settings required.
iOS/iPadOS: When using Wotja with some apps via Inter-App Audio/Audiobus, e.g. Cubasis, GarageBand, I am getting noise issues. Why?
This is likely because of an Audio Block size mismatch.
Wotja has a default Audio Block size of 1024. Some apps do not specify what they are using under the hood for this, instead referring obliquely to it as something like "Hardware Latency" (Cubasis; default value is "Medium"). Other apps (like GarageBand) seem to make no reference to it at all, having it hard-coded somewhere. From our testing there is a good chance that the default or hard-coded value actually being used by such an app is actually 512. If it is, and you have Wotja using an Audio Block size of 1024, then you will get noise/glitching/artefacts.
Solution: Change the Wotja Audio Block size to 512 and restart it (to apply it) and then reconnect Wotja as an IAA. It is then likely to work just fine (provided that your Audio Sample rate settings ALSO match - see this FAQ).
Tip: If you still cannot figure out how to get it to work, try instead using Wotja in AUM and that sending the Wotja Audio output from AUM to your audio app.
iOS/iPadOS: How can I play via AirPlay to HomePods, use the "Now Playing" audio card and control Wotja with Siri?
Note: These instructions assume you have already set up your AirPlay output device (e.g. HomePod) to work with your iOS device and that both devices are on the same network. See also the Apple Docs on setting up a HomePod and Apple docs on Using AirPlay.
Note: If you get audio artefacts when streaming it can be related to your network connection, or you may need to increase the value of the Wotja Audio Block Size and/or Audio Block Count.
- With Wotja playing swipe your screen to launch the Control Centre. See Apple Docs.
- Tap on the audio card to see further details (you can skip this if you want).
- Tap the Play/Stop button to Play/Stop, or the Next button if you have a Flow playing and you want to generate a new mix or if you have a Playlist or Album playing and want to move to the next mix (or tap the Previous button to go back to the previous one).
- Tap the AirPlay button to show your AirPlay output options
- Tap the one you want, e.g. HomePod. Tip: You can then use the on screen Volume control, too.
- Siri (step not shown): As Wotja for iOS is a "Now Playing" app (which is how it can be controlled in Control Centre, as above) it means you can use the following two voice instructions after "Hey Siri" for hands free control (as per step 3):
- "Next" (in Flows and Playlists/Albums)
- "Previous" (in Playlists/Albums)
iOS/iPadOS: Accessibility - How do I use VoiceOver?
See: Turn on and practice VoiceOver on iPhone.
Exception: we don't support any special gestures.
Note: Accessibility support in Wotja for iOS is classed as "initial". To let us know of any issues, please select "Accessibility Issues" in the Contact Form.
iOS/iPadOS: How do I turn off App auto-updates?
There is no auto-update setting in the Wotja App itself. So, if you prefer to manually update the Wotja App rather than have it auto-update when an update is available, you can do that as below.
See Apple's own FAQ on this: How to update apps manually on your Apple device
OS: macOS specific
- See other general FAQ items in the FAQ Contents Table
macOS: How do I quit?
Before you can quit the app you need to save or discard changes to any Wotja files that are open, be they mix files (.wotja), albums (.wotjabox) or playlists (.wotjalist) [as relevant].
To do that, close each open file one at a time, saving or not as you wish via the pop-up menu. Once you have thus closed all files you can Quit the app.
Alternatively, Force Quit the app. None of your unsaved file changes will be saved.
Note: Lite mode has limitations on saving of changes.
macOS: How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In?
Wotja as a Plug-in
If you are using Wotja as a Plug-in in a DAW see How do I route MIDI from the Wotja Plug-in (AUv3/VST3) in a DAW?
Wotja as a Standalone App
Refer also to the MIDI Out and MIDI In sections of the Wotja User Guide.
On macOS this is via Apple's Core MIDI Framework.
Apps that are Core MIDI enabled can take advantage of this. Refer to Apple's information, e.g.: "Set up audio devices on iMac (Mid 2014) and later", "Audio Midi Setup: Set up your MIDI devices" and "Audio MIDI Setup: How to test for MIDI function".
See also Apple's knowledge base article on Combine multiple audio interfaces by creating an Aggregate Device.
The following article on the Ableton website also gives some useful pointers on how to use Audio MIDI Setup on macOS: Sending and receiving MIDI messages using a virtual MIDI network.
macOS: How do I record Wotja MIDI out in Logic Pro X?
For details on how to make recording in Logic Pro X refer to Apple's own knowledge base article: Logic Pro X: Get started with software instrument tracks. See also the FAQ links on How do I use Wotja MIDI Out on macOS?
That said, here is a quick set of steps to try:
- In Wotja operating in Pro mode, go to Settings > MIDI Output and select a MIDI Output from the list, e.g. 'IAC Driver Bus 1' .
- In Logic, create a new project using a Software Instrument template.
- Start Wotja playing your mix (Tip: start out simple, perhaps a single cell mix using something busy like Settings > Templates > BP0 Arps > Busy Marimba) and ensure you have Settings > Audio Output > WAE for Sounds & FX toggled on so you can hear it in Wotja (you can turn it off once you have figured out your MIDI recording workflow).
- In Logic, arm your track and then press the record button (you need to do BOTH) to start the recording. You should see something like that below (tap for larger image), which indicates that you are recording the MIDI in Logic.
macOS: Accessibility - How do I use VoiceOver
General Comments:
- System Preferences → Accessibility
- Select "VoiceOver" in left-hand panel
- Select "Enable VoiceOver" checkbox in right-hand panel
- Voice over is now working, but you don't have voice over tell you when then mouse pointer is "over" text labels for example (which is basically how iOS VoiceOver works).
You can enable this behavior really easily, as follows:
- Press "Open VoiceOver Utility…" button in bottom right
- Select Navigation
- Change "Mouse pointer:" dropbox to "Moves VoiceOver cursor"
- Pop-up menu items – when the menu appears, you must then use the keyboard up/down keys to have VoiceOver tell you what each item says. Seems to be a feature of VoiceOver!
- If you don't start the app when VoiceOver already enabled, the playlist/album screen won't work with VoiceOver as expected.
macOS: How do I turn off App auto-updates?
There is no auto-update setting in the Wotja App itself. So, if you prefer to manually update the Wotja App rather than have it auto-update when an update is available, you can do that as below.
See Apple's own FAQ on this: How to update apps manually on your Apple device
Tip: To back up a particular version of the Wotja App on macOS, use Finder to locate it in the Applications folder. Right click the Wotja App and from the pop-up menu select 'Compress "Wotja.app"'. This will create a zip file which you can unzip later if ever you need to.
OS: Windows specific
- See other general FAQ items in the FAQ Contents Table
- Windows: Wotja is crashing when opened or run. What can I do?
- Windows: How do I exit Wotja?
- Windows: How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In?
- Windows: How to I route MIDI in the VST Plug-in?
- Windows: Can the Wotja App & VST3 Plug-in run on ARM64?
- Windows: I am getting audio glitching, what should I do?
- Windows: How can I play Wotja via Bluetooth (or other audio output device)?
- Windows: Accessibility - How do I use Narrator?
- Windows: How do I stop Narrator saying "showing screen, documents" or "showing screen, settings" etc.?
Windows: Wotja is crashing when opened or run. What can I do?
If this happens it is most likely that you do not have installed the latest version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170).
The link on the Microsoft website to download this can be found here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170#latest-microsoft-visual-c-redistributable-version
Windows: How do I exit Wotja?
Tip: Before you exit the app it is generally good practice to save or discard changes to any Wotja files that are open, be they mix files (.wotja), albums (.wotjabox) or playlists (.wotjalist) [as relevant].
These are the options you have:
Manually save changes to open documents, one at a time, then exit:
- Close each open file one at a time, saving or not as you wish via the pop-up menu ("Save" or "Discard changes" buttons).
- Close Wotja (e.g. select the top right X on the Wotja window, or the top left Wotja window icon and select Close, or File > Exit, or Ctrl+ Q, or press Alt+F4
Manually save changes to open documents, each one in turn, then exit:
- Select the top right X on the Wotja window, or the top left Wotja window icon and select Close, or press Alt+F4.
- Save or not as you wish via the pop-up menu ("Save" or "Discard changes" buttons).
- Select the "Quit without Saving" button in the final popup dialog (you will see this whether or not you have saved changes in the above step).
Quit the app without first saving changes (and without saving any changes):
- Press Ctrl+Q or from the Wotja top menu select File > Exit.
- Select the "Quit without Saving" button in the next popup dialog.
- Wotja closes and no changes are saved.
Force close Wotja e.g. if it crashes or will not quit for some reason:
- Press Control + Alt + Delete at the same time (or Control + Shift + Escape depending on keyboard)
- Select Task Manager
- Select the open Wotja app in the Task Manager list
- Select the 'End task' button
Windows: How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In?
Wotja as a Plug-in
If you are using Wotja as a Plug-in in a DAW see How do I route MIDI from the Wotja Plug-in (AUv3/VST3) in a DAW?
Wotja as a Standalone App
Refer also to the MIDI Out and MIDI In sections of the Wotja User Guide.
Note: 'Lite Mode' will send/receive MIDI only on Channel 1; if you want to send/receive on multiple MIDI channels then you will need to get the Pro version of Wotja (see Wotja Downloads).
- We have found that loopMIDI is an easy to use virtual loopback MIDI cable. If you cannot seem to get MIDI Out working with your laptop Windows MIDI drivers, then give this a try! Alternatively, try LoopBe.
- Once you have installed it you may well need to restart Wotja and/or your DAW. Then, in Wotja > Settings > Mix tab select MIDI Out > Devices and ensure that loopMIDI is selected.
- If you need a Network MIDI driver for Windows you might also wish to check out rptMIDI.
- See also the rptMIDI tutorial.
Windows: Can the Wotja App & VST3 Plug-in run on ARM64?
If you use a x64 Windows machine, the Windows store installs the x64 version of the Wotja App. If you use a ARM64 Windows machine, the Windows store installs the ARM64 version of the Wotja App. However, both the x64 and ARM 64 versions of the Wotja VST3 Plug-in are also installed.
The x64 version of the Wotja App can scan/load x64 VST3, the ARM64 version of the Wotja App can scan/load ARM64 VST3.
Wotja App: If you are running Wotja on a ARM64 Windows machine and your VST3 Plug-in does not scan or is listed as blocked it likely means it is a x64 VST3, and not a ARM64 VST3. There are many less ARM64 VST in the market at the moment so if your Plug-in does not scan then ask your plug-in vendor to make an ARM64 version available.
Wotja Plug-in: If you are using a x64 DAW on ARM64 Windows (e.g. Reaper or Cakewalk) or on a M1/M2 Mac via Parallels VM then you'll be able to use the Wotja x64 VST3. However, as noted above, the Wotja App (which runs as native ARM64 in that case) won’t be able to use the x64 VST3 that your DAW can use.
See also this Microsoft FAQ: Windows Arm-based PCs FAQ
See also this Parallels FAQ: About Parallels Desktop for Mac with Apple M Series chip
Windows: I am getting audio glitching, what should I do?
Firstly, see this FAQ on Audio Issues. Have a look at the Windows default settings, the Desktop tips and also the general steps to follow. Also make sure that you do not inadvertently have multiple Wotja files open (these can all play at the same time and so really load the processor).
Tip: We always recommend that before purchasing a 'Pro' Unlock that you download Wotja and ensure that it works correctly for you. Partly for this reason we make available a full featured save version for free, albeit with a Lite mode feature set (but that does not stop you making the necessary checks).
To check that Wotja performs correctly on Windows 10 we have tested setting the Speaker output (Primary Sound Driver) up to 24 bit, 96 kHz and, even on a slowish machine, it seems to behave fine at that setting (note that you must restart Wotja after making any changes to Audio Output settings. See below and/or see this FAQ.
In our experience the most likely causes of any glitching is either because of an Audio Output Settings mismatch or that the Wotja content you are playing is simply working the processor too hard (less likely, but still possible especially if you are playing a simple one cell mix created from one template).
Tip: If you have the settings matched and are still experiencing glitching then we have had a customer report that they resolved it by going into the BIOS settings and "in the processor options turned off 'Hyperthreading' along with 'Intel Speedstep Technology' for good measure". They came across that by googling for an answer to "DAW crackling/popping issues". This is not advice from us, and only make changes like that if you know what you are doing - making changes is at your own risk!
Step by step on how to change the Wotja Audio Output Device on Windows 10:
- Go into the Wotja menu, select Options and then Output devices, you will see what is available to select. Our test machine shows two options, Speakers (Realtek) and Primary Sound Driver (selected), but yours may also show other audio device drivers you have installed.
- Next, go to Wotja Documents screen and tap the Settings icon. In the Settings screen, select the General tab and notice what the Audio Output is set to. This setting MUST match what your system and/or external audio device is set to run at. On our test system the Wotja Audio Sample is set to 48,000. NB: Wotja will generally auto select the audio output to match what your machine is set up to.
- Now go into Sound Control Panel, and select the Playback tab and then tap on Speakers (our test machine shows Realtek High Definition Audio Default Device).
- Select the bottom Properties button, which opens a Popup dialog called Speakers Properties.
- Select the Advanced tab and the look at the Default Format (which determines the sample rate and bit depth).
- We have our test machine set to 24 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality) so try that to start. You will likely need to restart Wotja once you have done it, but then check the device you have Wotja using in Option Devices (above) and also check that the Wotja Audio Sample rate is set to match, i.e. 48000.
- Try playing one of the Built-In albums, e.g. Calm and Relax - these are quite low processing overhead and so are good to use for checking.
- If you still get the issue on SOME content, but not all, it will likely be related to the complexity of the content vs the audio output rate of your computer. If you set the audio output rate to 44100, 16 bit, then that requires less computational resources.
Windows: Accessibility - How do I use Narrator?
See: Complete guide to Narrator.
Note: Accessibility support in Wotja for Windows is classed as "initial". To let us know of any issues, please select "Accessibility Issues" in the Contact Form.
Windows: How do I stop Narrator saying "showing screen, documents" or "showing screen, settings" etc.?
It would seem this is a fairly common issue on Windows and there are quite a few posts about how to disable Narrator. We suggest searching the web for e.g. 'windows 10 narrator won't turn off' etc. and you should find plenty of links /solutions to try.
Possible Further Tip: One Wotja user reported that they went through the list of running Windows processes to see if they could spot any potential culprits. Among them was a service as part of "Plantronics Hub" (software for controlling how bluetooth headsets work with applications). They found that after removing that (and some others that then did not specify) the unwanted narration was no longer present.
OS: Android specific
- See other general FAQ items in the FAQ Contents Table
- Android: What settings does Wotja need for App Permissions?
- Android: How do I copy files (Wotja, audio, MIDI, SF2 etc.) into the 'Documents/Wotja' folder for use in Wotja?
- Android: Wotja sounds great in the foreground, but why do I get glitches/crackles/pops etc. when it is backgrounded?
- Android: How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In?
- Android: Accessibility - How do I use TalkBack?
Android: What settings does Wotja need for App Permissions?
IMPORTANT: Wotja for Android can only load files from/save files to internal device memory (i.e not an SD Card), specifically a folder called /Documents/Wotja
.
To allow it to do this you need to give it the right App Permissions, as follows:
Wotja GP from Google Play
IMPORTANT: If Files and media permission is 'Don't allow' then Wotja will not save ANY files.
- Go to Android Settings > Apps > Wotja AZ > Permissions > Files and media.
- Set to 'Allow access to media only'.
- Restart Wotja.
Wotja AZ from Amazon Appstore on non-Amazon device
IMPORTANT: If Files and media permission is 'Don't allow' then Wotja will not save ANY files.
- Go to Android Settings > Apps > Wotja AZ > Permissions > Files and media.
- Set to 'Allow Management of all files'.
- Restart Wotja.
Wotja AZ from Amazon Appstore on Amazon device (e.g. FireHD)
Android: How do I copy files (Wotja, audio, MIDI, SF2 etc.) into the 'Documents/Wotja' folder for use in Wotja?
IMPORTANT for W23+: Wotja for Android can only load files from/save files to internal device memory (i.e not an SD Card), specifically a folder called <Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
('Internal Storage' might be referenced slightly differently on different devices).
IMPORTANT for earlier versions of Wotja (e.g. W19/W20/W21): Wotja for Android saved files to either <Internal Storage>/Music/Wotja
or to a hidden private folder <Internal Storage>/Wotja
(which can only be seen with an external Files app like Android File Transfer). Files from these folders can be recovered by steps similar to those in Hidden Files below (or via export to/import from clipboard) noting that files in private folders are deleted if the relevant App is deleted.
There are two different approaches to getting files (Wotja, audio, MIDI, SF2 etc.) into the <Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
folder on your Android device - Hidden Files or Other Files:
Files Hidden from Wotja
You want to recover files that are in the <Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
folder but that are hidden from Wotja Documents screens:
- These Files will be visible in the Android Files app but they are not displayed in Wotja due so some invisible Android file tagging to associate the files with the installed App.
- This file 'hiding' can happen if Android App permissions are set to 'Don't allow' (see What Android settings does Wotja need for App Permissions?) or if you delete and re-install Wotja as Android considers the re-installed App to be a different app, meaning it cannot access the previously saved files.
- IMPORTANT: If you do need to re-install Wotja you MUST again set its App Permissions BEFORE carrying out any steps below - see What Android settings does Wotja need for App Permissions?
To recover your required files
- You must first move/copy them into a temporary folder e.g.
<Internal Storage>/Documents/tempWotja
.- You can use the File manager of your choice to do this (e.g. Android File Transfer if you have a laptop, or the native Android Files app if you don't, shown below).
-
- Use the top left Menu button to expand the LHS panel (as required) and select
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
. - Select the files you want to move from here (use the top right ... Hamburger icon > Edit).
- In the pop-up bottom toolbar select "Move" then tap
<Internal Storage>/Documents
, then select 'tempWotja' so the<Internal Storage>/Documents/tempWotja
folder is selected and then 'Move here' (which appears in the bottom toolbar). - Your files are moved to the
<Internal Storage>/Documents/tempWotja
folder.
- Use the top left Menu button to expand the LHS panel (as required) and select
- You must then DELETE your required files in the
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
folder BEFORE you try to re-import them.- The files may well be hidden to Wotja, but they cannot be overwritten - they must first be deleted.
- You must use the Wotja Documents > Actions > "Import to Documents/Wotja" menu item to import them into the
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
folder.-
- Tap the Wotja Documents > Actions > Import to Documents/Wotja menu item and the OK button in the pop-up dialog.
- Select the
<Internal Storage>/Documents/tempWotja
folder (where files were moved to in step 1 above). - Select the files you want to import and tap the top right 'Select' button.
- Your files are imported to the
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
folder and should now be visible by Wotja.
-
Other Files
You want to use in Wotja files that have never been or are not physically present in your Android device's Documents/Wotja
folder (i.e. you are copying them in from a Desktop or from another folder on your Android device).
- You can copy them directly into the
<Internal Storage>/Documents/Wotja
folder using the File manager of your choice (e.g. Android File Transfer for moving files to Android device from a laptop, or the native Android Files app - see instructions in step 1 of Hidden Files).
Android: Wotja sounds great in the foreground, but why do I get glitches/crackles/pops etc. when it is backgrounded?
Heads up: This issue might be somewhat improved in Android 11.
Wotja requires a lot of CPU cycles (comparatively) to generate its live audio.
When apps are backgrounded on Android (including when the screen lock is on) the processing cycles they are allowed to use is greatly reduced. In the case of Wotja, that can lead to audio issues like glitches/crackles/pops etc.
To date we have not been able to find a way around that system limitation, sorry :(. If ever there was a way to do it, we would do it!
Android: How do I use Wotja MIDI Out/In?
Refer also to the MIDI Out and MIDI In sections of the Wotja User Guide.
Note: 'Free Mode' will send/receive MIDI only on Channel 1; if you want to send/receive on multiple MIDI channels then you will need to get the Pro version of Wotja (see Wotja Downloads).
- On Android devices we refer to Wotja MIDI Out as an experimental feature because we require it to be supported in the OS AND by the device manufacturer, but this is not always the case. We expect that most devices running Android 8+ should support MIDI Out in the OS, but some devices using Android 6+ may also support MIDI Out (e.g. some Samsung / Google devices). There seems to be no public list of such MIDI enabled Android devices but you can at least check that it works on your device in the free version of Wotja.
- When it is supported it will let you control external MIDI devices via a suitable USB MIDI Interface (e.g. Roland UM-One mk2). If you just want to make MIDI file recordings on Android, see this FAQ.
- Getting it working:
- BEFORE loading Wotja, plug into your Android device your USB MIDI Interface (e.g. Roland UM-One mk2; we know this works as we have tried it); you will likely also need a Micro USB Male to USB Female OTG Adapter cable to be able do that.
- Load the Wotja app, go into Wotja Settings: Audio MIDI+, find the MIDI Output section and tap the "Output Devices" selector.
- In the MIDI Output Devices screen that then displays, you should see your MIDI Interface in the MIDI Output Device List (e.g. Roland UM-ONE).
- Tap the checkbox to the left to select it (you will see the checkbox show a green dot).
- Create or load a Wotja mix and start it playing; you should see your MIDI Interface show that it is receiving MIDI notes.
- You should then be all set!
Android: Accessibility - How do I use TalkBack?
See: Get started on Android with TalkBack - Android accessibility Help.
Note: Accessibility support in Wotja for Android is classed as "initial". To let us know of any issues, please select "Accessibility Issues" in the Contact Form.