thr-tone-generator

name

thr-tone-generator

description

Generate Yamaha THR-II guitar tones and export them as .thrl6p preset files that load onto the THR-II via THR Remote. Use whenever the user wants a THR/THR-II/THRII tone, amp patch, or .thrl6p preset — from a natural-language description ("warm SRV blues lead", "tight modern djent rhythm"), an artist/genre reference, or explicit amp/cab/EQ/FX values. Also use to tweak, batch-generate, or fix existing THR presets.

THR-II Tone Generator

Turn a musical request into a correct, importable .thrl6p file for the Yamaha THR-II.

How the format really works (important)

A .thrl6p is JSON. The amp and every effect are selected by named asset strings (e.g. "@asset": "THR10X_Brown2"), not numeric IDs. The cabinet is an integer SpkSimType. Every knob is a normalized float 0.0–1.0 (the THR Remote UI shows 0–100, so divide by 100). All eight tone groups are always present; effects toggle with @enabled.

The full mapping (amp grid, cabinets, FX assets + exact per-type params) lives in reference/thr_models.json. Read it when you need the authoritative list. Don't invent asset names or params — the device rejects unknown keys.

Workflow

1. Interpret the request into a tone spec: pick an amp category (Classic / Boutique / Modern) + model (Clean / Crunch / Lead / Hi Gain / Special), a cabinet, EQ/gain (0–100), and which FX to enable.
2. Generate the file with the CLI (preferred) or by writing a spec JSON.
3. Tell the user what amp/cab/settings you chose and where the file landed, and remind them to import it in THR Remote (or copy to the device).

Generate from natural language

python3 -m thr_architect --describe "warm boutique blues lead with spring reverb" \
    --name "Blues Lead" -o output

Generate from explicit choices (full control)

python3 -m thr_architect --name "Djent Rhythm" --amp "Modern/Hi Gain" --cab "Fuel 4x12" \
    --gain 75 --bass 55 --mid 35 --treble 60 --gate \
    --reverb "plate:mix=20" --echo "tape:mix=22,time=35" -o output

FX mini-syntax is type:key=val,key=val with 0–100 values, e.g. chorus:mix=40,depth=30, hall:mix=34,decay=50, spring:mix=28,tone=55.

Generate from a spec file (best for fine-tuned or batch)

Write a JSON spec (0–100 values) and pass --spec. Schema:

{
  "name": "My Tone",
  "amp": {"category": "Boutique", "model": "Crunch"},
  "cab": "Boutique 2x12",
  "eq": {"gain": 55, "bass": 50, "mid": 60, "treble": 48, "master": 70},
  "tempo": 110,
  "compressor": {"enabled": false, "sustain": 30, "level": 80},
  "gate":       {"enabled": false, "thresh": 54, "decay": 20},
  "modulation": {"enabled": false, "type": "Chorus", "mix": 35, "depth": 25, "freq": 12, "feedback": 15, "pre": 50},
  "echo":       {"enabled": true,  "type": "Tape",   "mix": 25, "time": 38, "feedback": 22},
  "reverb":     {"enabled": true,  "type": "Spring", "mix": 28, "time": 22, "tone": 52}
}

For batches, build the specs in Python and call thr_architect.write_thrl6p(spec, "output").

Run python3 -m thr_architect --list to print the live amp grid, cabinets, and FX types.

Amp grid (category × model → @asset)

(verbatim from the app's AssetDefs.plist — the engine's own engineID↔display-name catalog)

	Classic	Boutique	Modern
Clean	THR10C_Deluxe	THR10C_BJunior2	THR30_Carmen
Crunch	THR10C_DC30	THR30_SR101	THR10C_Mini
Lead	THR10_Lead	THR30_Blondie	THR10X_Brown1
Hi Gain	THR10_Modern	THR30_FLead	THR10X_Brown2
Special	THR10_Brit	THR10X_South	THR30_Stealth

Also: Bass (Classic/Boutique/Modern), Acoustic (Condenser/Dynamic/Tube/Nylon), Flat. Cabs: British/American/Brown/Vintage/Fuel/Juicy 4x12, American/British/Boutique/ Yamaha 2x12, California/American/Boutique 1x12, or None (flat). cab may be a name, an int SpkSimType, or null.

Picking a tone — quick heuristics

• Metal / djent: Modern Hi Gain (THR10X_Brown2) + Fuel/Brown 4x12, gain 75–85, mids scooped (~35), gate on (tight). Add tight delay/plate sparingly.
• Hard rock / shred / "brown sound": Modern Lead (THR10X_Brown1), American/Vintage 4x12, gain ~68, plate/hall + a little delay.
• Blues / SRV / Gilmour: Boutique Crunch (THR30_SR101) + Boutique 2x12, gain ~52, pushed mids, light spring reverb.
• Classic rock: Classic Crunch (THR10C_DC30) + British 4x12, moderate gain.
• Clean / ambient / chime: Modern Clean (THR30_Carmen) or Classic Clean, chorus + hall reverb, low gain.
• Funk / country: Classic Clean + compressor; country adds bright treble + spring.
• Jazz: Classic Clean + small room reverb, rolled-off treble.
• Acoustic: Acoustic amp, no cab, gentle hall reverb.

Tone words → EQ: warm/dark lower treble; bright/crisp raise treble; scooped lower mid; fat/thick raise mid+bass; tight lower bass (+gate); boomy raise bass.

Notes

• The THR-II device id defaults to 2359296 (this user's amp). It must match the connected amp — on a mismatch THR Remote ignores the amp & cabinet on import (EQ/FX still apply). Override with --device. Output defaults to output/.
• The noise-gate threshold is dB, not 0–1; the builder converts a 0–100 value via dB = (ui − 100) × 0.95 automatically. Don't write raw 0–1 into gate Thresh.
• A few amp-grid cells (Classic Lead/Hi Gain, Modern Lead, Boutique Special) were each reverse-engineered from a single factory preset — if a generated amp sounds off, check reference/thr_models.json and the README's verification note.
• The user's older ~/Downloads/THR_presets_generated batch was all silently locked to one amp (THR10C_Mini); this generator fixes that by always writing the correct amp asset.