Manual

Interface Structure

• Top Bar: logo, about
• Plugin Bar: load plugin, GUI, bypass, Fast/Sanity
• XY Morph Pad: 2D morphing
• Morph 1D: linear interpolation
• Snapshots: 12 recall/save slots
• Macros: 8 assignable controls
• Breeding: A/B blend + mutation
• AI Chat: natural-language commands
• Bottom Bar: MCP, drift, presets, target map

Load a Plugin (Mode B)

1. Click [+] Load Plugin.
2. Scan VST3/AU paths if needed.
3. Load a plugin.
4. Enable Show GUI for the native interface.

Controls:

• Bypass: audio bypass
• Fast: direct 0.0-1.0 control
• Sanity: sensitive-control protection

Snapshots and Morphing

Snapshots

• Left click: recall
• Right click: save, rename, clear, AI generate

Morphing

• XY Pad: 2D interpolation
• 1D Fader: linear sweep
• Drift: constrained autonomous evolution

AI Chat

Workflow:

1. Write a concise intent.
2. Review proposed modifications.
3. Save a useful snapshot.
4. Create a variation (mutator, breeding, drift).
5. Save the final preset.

Example prompts:

• Make this pad darker and wider
• Add movement without touching output volume
• Propose 3 more percussive variations

Target Map (Mode A)

Allows control of session plugins:

• Add plugin targets
• Parameter mapping
• DAW/MIDI/OSC/MCP routing
• MIDI Learn and MCP auto-discovery

.synapse Presets

Can include:

• Hosted plugin identity
• Plugin state
• 12 snapshots
• AI settings

Macros M1-M8

8 assignable knobs in the MacroBar.

Assigning a Macro

1. Right-click a macro knob → Learn.
2. Move a parameter in the hosted plugin.
3. The macro is automatically bound.

Usage

• Turn the knob: the plugin parameter follows in real time.
• If the plugin changes the parameter (LFO, DAW automation), the knob updates.
• Right-click → Unbind: removes the binding.

Note: Macro bindings are persisted in the DAW project state. They are restored automatically when the project is reopened.

Resize and Scale

Drag the lower-right corner to resize SYNAPSE.

• Ratio is fixed (900 × 680) — the full UI scales proportionally.
• No S/M/L buttons: free resize replaces the old discrete scaling.

About

Click the info icon (top bar) to open the About panel:

• GoRoCoPo version (e.g. G0R11C2P0)
• System info (OS, CPU, RAM)
• Documentation and support links

MCP Server (§14)

SYNAPSE exposes a local MCP server on 127.0.0.1:52100 for external control (Claude Desktop, scripts, DAW integrations).

Connection

1. Retrieve token from ~/Library/SYNAPSE/mcp_token.txt.
2. Configure your MCP client:
   • URL: http://127.0.0.1:52100/mcp
   • Header: Authorization: Bearer <token>

Main Tools

Principle: use set_param / set_params_batch for deterministic control. Use trigger_ai only when explicit AI assistance is needed.

Audio Brain

Real-time audio analysis is available through MCP get_spectral_context or internally for Reactive Drift.

Provided data:

• rms: average level
• peak: peak level
• centroid_hz: spectral centroid
• f0_hz: estimated fundamental frequency
• transient: transient detection
• Bands: sub, bass, mid, high, air

Breeding (Genetic Cross)

The Breeding panel merges two parent snapshots into one child:

• Slot A / Slot B: choose the two parents (snapshots 1-12)
• Crossover: 0 = pure A, 1 = pure B, 0.5 = balanced mix
• Mutation: Gaussian noise applied after crossover (0 = none, 1 = maximum)
• Breed: generates child and applies it immediately

Use Breeding to explore the space between two reference sounds.

Best Practices

• Keep Sanity Mode enabled while exploring
• Save snapshots frequently
• Use Fast Mode first, then State Chunk only if needed
• For MCP control: always use set_param/set_params_batch over trigger_ai
• For ambiguous hosted params, reuse the selector returned by list_hosted_params, e.g. [381] Cutoff