How to Play a Wotja URL

Wotja generates live generative music from Wotja Files, e.g. MyMix.wotja.

In the Share screen (Pro mode) the data in Wotja Mix Files and links to built-in content can be 'minified' for social sharing as a link for webpage embedding or for developer use. Note that although this screen allows easy sharing of Wotja Schema & Album Files for webpage embedding or developer use, they're not currently minified.

See also What are minified Wotja Files and how do they actually work?

Wotja URL (AKA 'WJURL') W26

• Use Case: Social Sharing
  • For social sharing of Wotja Mixes or links to "favourite" built-in Wotja Albums and Wotja Schemas.
  • E.g. BlueSky, FaceBook etc. or in e.g. a message.
• Format: Universal Link/App Link URL
  • https://wotja.com/play/#mix/data... (minified Mix File; note exclusions)
  • https://wotja.com/play/#flow/data... (minified link to built-in Schema)
  • https://wotja.com/play/#album/data... (minified link to built-in Album)
• Notes:
  • ALWAYS starts with https://wotja.com/play/#
  • Has a max supported export (and import) size of 2000 characters, but is typically between 43 & 500 characters.
  • Can be as small as ~5% of the original File size (content dependent).
  • Exclusions:
    • Does not include any background image, audio sample(s) or script used in the Mix File.
      • Use a WJURI if you need to include any of the above.
    • Does not include the document icon for the Mix File.

Wotja URI (AKA 'WJURI') W26

• Use Case: Webpage Embedding or Messages
  • For webpage embedding or use in any messaging app in which it displays as an active link (e.g. Apple Messages).
• Format: URI:
  • wotja://#mix/data... (minified Mix File; note inclusions) W26
  • wotja://flow/data... ('full fat' user Schema, or minified link to built-in Schema)
  • wotja://album/data... ('full fat' user Album, or minified link to built-in Album)
• Notes:
  • A Wotja URI will ALWAYS start with wotja://
  • It can be any size.
  • Example WJURI ( characters):
    • WJURI as the actual link -
    • WJURI above embedded in a href (link) tag -
  • Inclusions:
    • Can include a background image, audio sample(s) or script used in the Mix.
      • Note: It does not, however, include the document icon for the Mix File.
    • Tip: If you want to force your URI to open directly in the Player, then share it as an API URI below, as the &player=1 append will prevent display of the "Import Wotja" dialog and force it to open directly in the Player.

Wotja API URI (AKA 'WJAPI') W26

• Use Case: Developer Use
  • For Developer use only.
  • Please refer to the API.
• Format: API URI (similar to the URI above)
  • wotja://#mix/data...&player=1 (see URI) W26
  • wotja://flow/data...&player=1 (see URI)
  • wotja://album/data...&player=1 (see URI)
• Notes:
  • A Wotja API URI is the same as Wotja URI but has &player=1 appended to the end.
  • When a API URI is imported the &player=1 append prevents display of the "Import Wotja" dialog and forces it to open directly in the Player.

How to Create & Share a Wotja URL or Wotja URI

Older OTB Customer: Creating minified Wotja Mixes is a W26 New Feature and so is available only in Pro mode. Where they play in Pro mode, you can still however share User Albums/links to built-in Albums and User Schemas/links to built-in Schemas.

Wotja URLs and Wotja URIs are created in the Share screen (Pro mode required).

1. Open a Mix File, Album or Schema and edit it as you wish.
   • Alternative: Tap on a File Name in the Documents Screen and select "Share..." then go to step 3.
2. In the relevant Editor screen tap the Actions button and select "Share...".
3. Share Screen:
   • In the Share Purpose/Format select the option you want.
     • Note: User Albums and User Schemas are not minified at this time and therefore cannot therefore be shared as a Wotja URL.
   • In the Options For section select the option you want.
   • The result is of your selections is shown in the bottom panel.
   • Tap the top Copy button to copy it to clipboard.
4. Paste it where you want (and edit the text as you wish), and share it!
• If you have created a Wotja URL you can share it a social media post (e.g. BlueSky, FaceBook etc.).
• If you have created a Wotja URI you can embed it in a Web Page.
  • Important: Be aware that the latest versions of Edge/Chrome and Firefox on Windows can open URIs of ~32 kB chars max but older versions of Edge/Chrome support only 2 kB max
• If you have created a Wotja API URI then see the Wotja API on how to use it.

Tips for creating the smallest WJURLs in Wotja 26.1:

Creating Wotja URLs or Wotja URIs is easy, but creating Mixes that result in the smallest does require some skill and experimentation. And that's because URL size depends on Mix complexity and the degree of Mix customisation.

Important: If you wish Windows users to play your content then be aware that the latest versions of Edge/Chrome and Firefox on Windows can open URIs of ~32 kB chars max but older versions of Edge/Chrome support only 2 kB max. A workaround for embedding URIs > 32 kB is to allow the URI to be copied to clipboard where it can then be imported into Wotja e.g. Add File > Import from Clipboard. See this Recipe!

Note: For the release of Wotja 26.1 we haven't yet had time to optimise minification for e.g. SFX Networks, use of hosted Plug-ins, Cells with merged Templates or to support minified Albums. We will continue to work on those things and other improvements in the coming months.

• Make sure that the Optimise for Mix Sharing Setting is checked ON before you create an auto-mix or Flow, or use in-mix Randomisation.
• Keep your mixes simple, and preferably 1 Cell or 1 Column only.
• In your mixes:
  • Change only the values of things you really need to.
  • Do not use Cell merge for Templates.
  • Do not modify the structure of any SFX Networks.
  • Do not add or edit SFX Presets (instead, change values only of WAE units already in the Templates you use in your Mix).
  • Do not add Custom Templates to S&G Units (use only included Templates).
  • Use only the minimum Mix Text required.
  • Do not use Plug-in hosting, unless it is essential (it might be you can only use one anyhow).

How to play or import a Wotja URL

E.g. shared in a BlueSky/Facebook post or in a message. W26.1+ is required

NB: Your import will autoplay if this Wotja Setting is on otherwise you may need to tap the Play button.

• A) iOS/macOS :
  • Play WJURL (Using Safari browser):
    1. Simply tap on the Wotja URL!
    2. The Wotja App is then loaded (if not already open), the parametric data in the URL is 'reconstituted' by Wotja in memory and is then played exactly as the author intended.
  • Import WJURL (Alternative, or if not using Safari browser):
    1. Copy the WJURL (or entire message) to the clipboard.
    2. Import it into Wotja via an Add file button.
    3. The parametric data in the URL is 'reconstituted' by Wotja in memory and is then played exactly as the author intended.
• B) Android:
  • Play WJURL: Tap on the Wotja URL having FIRST ensured you have configured the following
    1. Android Settings: > Apps > Choose default apps > Opening links > Wotja GP > Supported web addresses > enable "wotja.com"
    2. Additionally, if using Samsung browser: Settings: > Apps > Samsung app settings > Samsung Internet > Privacy Dashboard > uncheck "Block opening external apps"
  • Import WJURL:
    1. Copy the WJURL (or entire message) to the clipboard.
    2. Import it into Wotja via an Add file button.
    3. The parametric data in the URL is 'reconstituted' by Wotja in memory and is then played exactly as the author intended.
• C) Windows:
  • Import WJURL:
    1. Copy the WJURL (or entire message) to the clipboard.
    2. Import it into Wotja via an Add file button.
    3. The parametric data in the URL is 'reconstituted' by Wotja in memory and is then played exactly as the author intended.
• Notes:
  • A Wotja URL will not be imported if it is larger than 2000 chars.
  • Go Pro to be able to save it as a Wotja file.
  • Desktop Tip: Once loaded, minimise the Wotja App if you wish.

How to play or import a Wotja URI

E.g. in a message or embedded in a link in a webpage. W26.1+ is required. Also be aware that the latest versions of Edge/Chrome and Firefox on Windows can open URIs of ~32 kB chars max but older versions of Edge/Chrome support only 2 kB max

NB: Your import will autoplay if this Wotja Setting is on otherwise you may need to tap the Play button.

• Play WJURI i.e. in a Webpage link or Message where it shows as an active link (e.g. Apple Messages):
  1. Tap on the WJURI active link.
     • You'll see a pop-up dialog such as "Open in Wotja" or "Do you want to allow this website to open in "Wotja.app"?" or "Open in another app?" (or similar) with options "Always Allow", "Cancel" or "Allow".
     • This is your browser is asking if you want to allow the Wotja URI to be played in Wotja.
     • If Wotja is not installed you might see "Browser cannot open the page because the address is invalid" (or similar).
  2. Select "Always Allow" or "Allow" according to your preference.
     • How to reset "Always Allow":
       • Safari: Just clear history for the last hour.
       • Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear History (make sure that Site settings is checked).
       • Chrome: Clear Browsing Data > Clear data (make sure that Site settings is checked).
  3. The Wotja App is then loaded (if not already open), the parametric data in the URL is 'reconstituted' by Wotja in memory and is then played exactly as the author intended.
• Import WJURI i.e. in a Message where it does not show as an active link, or as an alternative to Play URI above (i.e. if that does not work or where the URI is > 32 kB):
  1. Copy the WJURI link (or entire message) to the clipboard.
  2. Import it into Wotja via an Add file button.
  3. The parametric data in the URL is 'reconstituted' by Wotja in memory and is then played exactly as the author intended.
• Notes:
  • Go Pro to be able to save it as a Wotja file.
  • Desktop Tip: Once loaded, minimise the Wotja App if you wish.

You can find our built-in recipes here, and additional recipes here.

Wotja Mixes

Wotja Mixes are constructed from various built-in Templates, SFX Networks, user text and many other settings. The values used in all of these can be user modified as required, resulting in a truly unique & personal work of generative music (the number of possible permutations is in effect infinite).

Wotja Mix Format - Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)

Wotja Mix Files (MyWotjaMix.wotja) themselves have an underlying text format. If you open one in a text editor you'll see it's a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), formatted as wotja://mix/data....

The Wotja Mix file format uses a "full fat" URI. This means that the data... part of that URI contains the values of everything needed by Wotja to generate the music, as well as e.g. the file name, version number, any user samples used, script, document icon and/or background image etc.

Depending on the Wotja Mix complexity the data... part will be somewhere between 1 kB & 30 kB. If the Mix file uses/includes samples, script and/or an image it can be much larger.

Minified Wotja File ('WJm')

A minified Wotja File refers to Wotja Mix File that has been exported via the Wotja Share screen as a Wotja URL, Wotja URI or Wotja API URI.

In a minified Wotja File and in respect of A) the Templates used, B) the Cell and Mix related settings and C) user modifications to any of the forgoing, the data... part of a Wotja URI includes only small look-up references or "delta" values.

Such a minified Wotja File can be as little as ~5% of the size of the original Mix file (Mix dependent) and when opened in Wotja it can be completely 'reconstituted' or 'restored'.

Note: When exporting URLs any background image, audio sample(s) or script used by the Mix, or its document icon, are not included, and nor are any word locks. When exporting URIs then all of the foregoing are included, except the document icon.

How does a minified Wotja File actually work?

URIs (i.e. as used in the Wotja file format) do not open like a URL when tapped on in a post, and instead have to be selected and manually imported.

Utilising minification, and provided that images, audio and script etc. are stripped, the URI data can be be small enough to be included in a 'Universal Link' (iOS/macOS using Safari browser) or 'App Link' (Android), both of which are web browser technologies initially developed for mobile use.

When tapping a weblink that is formatted as a Universal Link/App Link, it allows (on iOS/macOS, Android) the relevant App (if installed) to be launched and then do something with what is included in the link. If the App is not installed it otherwise displays a web page in the browser.

Windows...

Windows supports URLs with a max size of around 2000 chars. Microsoft unfortunately decided to drop support for Universal URLs :(. AND, on top of that, Microsoft Edge is based on Chromium which supports a maximum URI size of < 2048 chars max (albiet Firefox supports up to 32 kB).

For X-Platform compatibility we therefore only export (or import) of WJURLs that are 2000 chars or less. Those can still be shared on social media (and thus tapped on). However, to load them in Wotja for Windows you must copy the URL to the clipboard and then import it into Wotja (sorry :()).

The alternative solution is to embed a Wotja URI in webpage as a weblink, where if you tap on that link it can then load into Wotja just fine. However, please note the URI size limation above.

The only solution for Windows therefore is to import a WJURL or WJURI from clipboard.

Yes, of course you can!

It is easy to share a Wotja URL for a Wotja Mix that hosts your Plug-in (providing your Plug-in state data is small enough). Anyone can then hear it in the context of 'AI-free' live generative music. You can also easily embed a Wotja URI in a Webpage where there are not such tight constraints.

All someone needs to experience the above is to have is Wotja installed and your Plug-in installed (and that is where your business model kicks in).

What do I need to do?

We believe that the smaller a Wotja URL is, the more likely it is to be shared.

To maximise the chances of someone creating and sharing such a small Wotja URL featuring use of your Plug-in then all you need to do is to figure out a way to save your Plug-in state using as little space as possible!

The first thing to do, if a Preset was selected, would be to save only the selected Preset name to the Plug-in state. That in turn would mean that only a few bytes need to be added to the Wotja URL.

If you wanted to, you could then go further and look at other things to minify!