1
Text pipeline
In the Text tab, type a description such as "bluesy crunch with warm mids and light reverb" and click Generate. The AI uses a text-to-tone model (MLP with CLAP embeddings) to predict 16 parameter values.
🎸ToneCraft User Guide
How to use ToneCraft
ToneCraft is an AI-powered guitar tone generator. Describe a sound in words or upload a reference audio file, and the AI maps your input to 16 real-time effect parameters. Play through effects in the browser or inside your DAW with the ToneCraft VST3 plugin.
✍️
Text-to-Tone
Describe a tone in plain English and the AI generates all 16 parameters.
🎵
Audio-to-Tone
Upload a reference clip and the AI matches the tone automatically.
🔌
VST3 Plugin
Same AI engine inside your DAW — for advanced production workflows.
A.1 — AI PARAMETER PREDICTION
Generate tone parameters with AI
The first step in any ToneCraft session: describe a sound or upload a reference clip, and the AI predicts all 16 effect parameters.
2
Audio pipeline
In the Audio tab, upload a WAV or MP3 reference clip and click Generate. The AI uses an audio classification model (CRNN) to analyse the clip and produce 16 matching parameters.
What you can do with the predicted parameters
Once the AI returns its 16-parameter prediction, you have two paths.
📋
Export as JSON
Download the predicted parameters as a JSON file. Use the values to configure your physical amp, pedalboard, or any external effects processor manually. This path requires no further interaction with ToneCraft.
🎛️
Enter the ToneCraft Simulator
Stay in ToneCraft to audition, edit, personalise, and save presets — keeping full creative control. The predicted parameters load into the interactive multi-effect guitar simulator automatically.
The effects signal chain
Whether you use the website simulator or the VST3 plugin, your guitar signal flows through the same seven-stage FAUST DSP chain.
Overdrive→
Distortion→
EQ (Bass / Mid / Treble)→
Chorus→
Delay→
Reverb→
Master Volume
A.2 — SIMULATOR: FILE MODE (No Physical Guitar)
Audition tones with a clean DI recording
Use a built-in DI sample or upload your own clean guitar recording. The DI signal plays through the FAUST effects chain so you can hear the AI-predicted tone instantly — no physical guitar required.
1
Select a DI file
Choose from three built-in guitar riff samples (Lick 1, 2, 3) in the DI selector dropdown, or click "Upload your own DI…" to use your own clean recording.
2
Press Play
Click Play to hear the DI file processed through all 16 parameters. On the first press, the FAUST DSP engine loads (takes a moment). Subsequent presses are instant.
3
Fine-tune sliders
Drag any of the 16 vertical sliders. Orange tick marks show the AI-predicted position; a "changed" badge appears when you move more than 2% away. Press ↺ AI to revert to AI values at any time.
4
Record the output
Press Rec while playing to capture the processed audio. Press Stop Rec to finish — a .wav file downloads automatically.
A.3 — SIMULATOR: LIVE MODE (Physical Guitar)
Play your guitar through the browser in real time
Connect your guitar via an audio interface and perform through ToneCraft's effects chain live.
🎸
What you need for Live mode
- An audio interface (e.g. Focusrite Scarlett Solo, Behringer UM2, or any USB interface with an instrument input).
- A guitar cable from your guitar to the interface's instrument input.
- Headphones or monitors connected to the interface's output (headphones recommended to avoid feedback).
- Google Chrome (recommended — required for output device selection).
1
Connect your audio interface
Plug your guitar into the interface and connect the interface to your computer via USB. Ensure it is powered on and recognised by the OS.
2
Switch to Live mode
In the simulator, click the 🎸 Live button (next to 📁 File). The waveform display is replaced with live signal meters.
3
Press Connect
Click 🎸 Connect. Allow browser microphone/audio input permission. ToneCraft disables echo cancellation, noise suppression, and auto-gain for the cleanest signal.
4
Configure input settings
Click ⚙ Settings to open the live panel. Select your interface from the Input Device dropdown. Choose Ch 1 or Ch 2 to match the jack your guitar is plugged into. Optionally select an output device.
5
Play your guitar
Strum or pick — hear your guitar processed through all 16 effects in real time. Level meters show signal strength. Adjust sliders and hear changes immediately.
6
Record your performance
Press ● Rec to record. Press ⏹ Stop Rec to finish — a .wav downloads. Press ⏹ Disconnect when done.
Live settings reference
| Setting | What it does | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Input Device | Selects your audio interface as the input source. | If not listed, reconnect USB and allow browser permissions. |
| Channel (Ch 1 / Ch 2) | Picks the physical input channel. Most solo interfaces use Ch 1 for the instrument jack. | If you hear no signal, try the other channel. |
| Output Device | Where processed audio is sent (headphones, speakers). | Requires Chrome 110+ for setSinkId. Other browsers use system default. |
| Apply / Close | Apply saves settings and rewires audio. Close hides the panel. | Changes take effect immediately if already connected. |
Simulator features (File + Live modes)
These features are available in both File and Live modes within the website simulator.
Preset bank — instant tone switching
1
Save a preset
Dial in your tone, click Save, name it (up to 28 chars). Fills the next empty slot — up to 5 presets.
2
Switch instantly
Click any filled slot. All 16 sliders update; audio never stops. Active slot highlights in orange.
3
Export the bank
Click Bank to export all presets as a single .txt file.
4
Load a saved bank
Click Load and select a bank file. All slots populate instantly.
Export and import settings
⬇️
Export
Opens a table with AI and Final values for all 16 parameters. Download as .txt to save your tone.
⬆️
Import
Load a .txt file to restore AI references + final slider positions. Safe to edit manually (uses normalised values).
Reading a slider
| Element | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Label + ⓘ | Parameter name. Hover ⓘ for a description. |
| AI ref box | AI-predicted value: (r) raw, (n) normalised. Shows -- in Preset mode. |
| Orange tick mark | AI-predicted position on the slider track. |
| (r) / (n) values | Current raw value (dB, s, Hz) and normalised value (0–1). |
| "changed" badge | Appears when current value differs from AI by >2%. |
B — VST3 PLUGIN
ToneCraft All-in-One Audio Plugin
Download the plugin from the Download VST3 button on the website. Load it in your DAW and use the same AI-driven tone generation workflow — directly inside your production environment.
1
Download and install
Click Download VST3 on the ToneCraft website. Place the .vst3 file in your DAW's plugin folder and scan for new plugins.
2
Load in your DAW
Insert ToneCraft as an effect on a guitar track. The plugin exposes all 16 effect parameters as interactive controls: a Master Volume rotary knob, and sliders grouped into Gain, EQ, Modulation, and Spatial.
3
Generate with AI
Type a description in the text box and click Craft From Text, or upload audio and click Analyze Audio. The AI predicts 16 parameters and instantly updates the corresponding control knobs in the plugin.
4
Audition and refine
Hit play in your DAW to hear the tone applied to your track. Drag any slider to fine-tune. Use the Preset dropdown to save and recall settings — just like any other plugin.
5
Live guitar through the plugin
Connect a guitar via an audio interface, set the DAW track to monitor input, and perform through the plugin in real time. The same 16-parameter effects chain processes your live signal with ultra-low latency.
6
Integrate into production
Automate any parameter, stack ToneCraft with other plugins, and render the final mix — all within your existing DAW workflow.
Plugin interface reference
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Preset dropdown | Select, save, and recall named presets within the plugin. |
| Text description box | Enter a tone description for AI prediction (e.g. "warm jazz tone with chorus"). |
| Craft From Text | Sends the text to the AI model and updates all sliders with predicted values. |
| Analyze Audio | Sends audio to the AI model for classification and parameter prediction. |
| Master Volume knob | Rotary control for overall output level (-20 to +20 dB). |
| Gain group | Overdrive, Distortion, and Tone sliders. |
| EQ group | Bass, Mid, and Treble sliders (-12 to +12 dB). |
| Modulation group | Delay Time, Delay FBack, Delay Mix, Chorus Rate, Chorus Depth, Chorus Mix. |
| Spatial group | T60, Damp, Size, Wet (reverb parameters). |
The 16 effect parameters
Shared across both the website simulator and the VST3 plugin.
| Group | Parameter | Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master | Volume | -20 to +20 dB | Overall output level. Set last. |
| Gain | Overdrive | 0 – 1 | Warm grit. 0 = clean, 1 = max. |
| Distortion | 0 – 1 | Heavy drive. 0 = none, 1 = max. | |
| Tone | 0 – 1 | Distortion brightness. | |
| EQ | Bass | -12 to +12 dB | Low frequency boost/cut. |
| Mid | -12 to +12 dB | Mid frequency boost/cut. | |
| Treble | -12 to +12 dB | High frequency boost/cut. | |
| Modulation | Delay Time | 0.01 – 2.0 s | Time between echoes. |
| Delay Feedback | 0 – 0.95 | Echo repeats. | |
| Delay Mix | 0 – 1 | Echo volume blend. | |
| Chorus Rate | 0.1 – 5.0 Hz | Chorus modulation speed. | |
| Chorus Depth | 0 – 0.02 s | Chorus depth. | |
| Chorus Mix | 0 – 1 | Chorus blend. | |
| Reverb / Spatial | T60 | 0.1 – 60 s | Reverb decay time. |
| Damp | 0 – 1 | HF damping in reverb. | |
| Size | 0 – 5 | Virtual room size. | |
| Wet | 0 – 1 | Reverb blend. 0 = dry. |
Best practices
- Start with the AI prediction and adjust only 2–3 sliders.
- Set Master Volume last — it doesn't affect tone character.
- Keep Delay Mix and Chorus Mix at 0 until core tone is right.
- Reverb Wet above 0.3 can muddy a mix. Shape with T60 and Damp first.
- Use a clean DI recording for the most accurate preview.
Live performance tips
- Build your preset bank at home. Export and load at the venue.
- Name presets after songs (e.g. "Verse Clean", "Solo Crunch").
- Pre-load FAUST by pressing Play once before the show.
- In Live mode, set interface gain so meters peak at 70–80%.
- Use headphones to avoid feedback loops.
⚠️
Important notes
- First Play press loads the FAUST engine — takes a moment. After that, switching is instant.
- The ScriptProcessorNode deprecated console warning is expected and safe to ignore.
- Live mode requires browser permission for audio input. Check site permissions if Connect fails.
- The VST3 plugin requires a DAW that supports VST3 format (Ableton, Logic via wrapper, Reaper, FL Studio, etc.).
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| No sound on Play | Check browser tab isn't muted. Click the page first (browsers require interaction before audio). |
| Live — no signal | Open ⚙ Settings. Check input device and channel. Try Ch 1 ↔ Ch 2. Check interface gain. |
| Interface not listed | Reconnect USB, refresh page, allow microphone permission. |
| Feedback in Live mode | Use headphones. Reduce Master Volume. Move guitar away from speakers. |
| Plugin not showing in DAW | Ensure the .vst3 file is in the correct plugin folder. Rescan plugins in your DAW's settings. |
| Plugin AI buttons unresponsive | Check that the ToneCraft server is running and accessible. The plugin communicates with the same AI backend. |