Keyboard: Difference between revisions

Pianos, harpsichords and organs are suited for microtonal music insofar as the strings/pipes can, within limits, be tuned to anything desired. The probability that tuning issues arise with these instruments is even slightly higher than average since there is often "old" music (baroque and older, from the pre-well-tempered age) being played on them.

For electronic instruments (synthesizers), there is, in theory, absolute freedom for the pitches anyway — not in practice, though. But nowadays, many synthesizers have a built-in retuning functionality.

A potential source for troubles is the traditional keyboard design, the [[Halberstadt keyboard]], which is optimized for diatonic scales and 12 tones per octave. For microtonal music with not more than 12 tones per octave, this is not such a problem — fingerings for non-standard scales can be learned. But it can become a problem if you need more than 12 tones per octave, or even want a [[nonoctave]] tuning, such as [[Bohlen–Pierce]] or one of [[Wendy Carlos]]'s equal-step scales. Fortunately, there exist several solutions to this problem.

One solution is to use several keyboards whose keys are slightly detuned against each other. This solution was namely used by several classical composers in the 20th century, including [[Alois Hába]], [[Charles Ives]] and [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]], usually with a [[12edo]] tuning on each keyboard, but with different reference pitches. [[24edo]] can be achieved by tuning two keyboards a quarter tone apart from each other, [[36edo]] by tuning three keyboards separated by sixth tones, and so on.

Of course, each keyboard's tuning does not have to be 12edo, but choosing a 12-tone octave-repeating scale has its advantages. The keyboard layout keeps the familiar property that 12 key steps span one octave, and the pitches typically need only minor retuning. This is not unimportant for acoustical instruments, where we usually have physical limits to the amount a pitch can be retuned. For this reason, this approach is widely used, especially in the field of contemporary classical music. As for synthesizers, a compatibility list for various models can be found at [http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com Microtonal Synthesis].

The main disadvantage of this solution is, of course, that you need several keyboards. In the case of acoustic pianos, this means in practice that the maximal number of pitches per octave you can obtain is limited - to the number of pianos you can put on the stage together... [http://www.allmusic.com/composition/arc-en-ciel-for-6-grand-pianos-in-12-tone-tuning-mc0002707751 ''Arc-en-ciel''] by [[Ivan Wyschnegradsky]], for example, a piece in [[72edo]], is written for six (!) pianos, and [http://www.universaledition.com/Georg-Friedrich-Haas/komponisten-und-werke/komponist/278/werk/13386 "Limited approximations" by [[Georg Friedrich Haas]], in 72edo as well, needs the same number of pianos and moreover a whole orchestra...

 

* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuning/message/74155 12 note octave scales piano tuning instructions for 41edo]{{dead link}}

 

Tune each key of the keyboard to a different pitch. The pitches of the keys keep the property of being arranged in ascending order, but the octave pattern will be different, and there are larger amounts of retuning required. In addition, this method usually reduces the interval size you can play with a single hand, because pitches are more spaced out.

 

Some synthesizers support full keyboard retuning, but not all. A compatibility list for various models can be found at [http://www.microtonal-synthesis.com Microtonal Synthesis]. Synthesizers supporting only 12-tone octave-repeating scales can be brought to support full keyboard scales with the help of the [https://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/integrator Midi Integrator] software, or the [http://www.tallkite.com/alt-tuner.html alt-tuner] software. Some virtual instruments, such as PianoTeq, also provide support for full keyboard retuning regardless of the physical controller used with it.

 

A possible "full keyboard scales" piano tuning for [[22edo]], mapping two keyboard octaves to one acoustic octave, is described in [http://lumma.org/tuning/erlich/erlich-decatonic.pdf Paul Erlich's paper on 22edo], on page 11.

 

In the case of acoustic instruments such as pianos, tuning full keyboard scales may even require major changes in construction. It has been done, however, to build instruments such as [[96edo#History|96edo]] pianos.

 

* [http://www.timomusic.ch/video_Spiros_Kottis.htm ''Spiros Kottis'' by timomusic]{{dead link}}

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gusUyO1Ts Piano cover of ''In the Bleak Midwinter''] by [[Stephen Weigel]] (based on Jacob Collier's cover)

=== Dynamic tunings ===

Some instruments allows their tuning to be changed "on the fly", allowing access to more than 12 notes, although not all at once. The main advantage is that the keyboard layout keeps the familiar property that 12 key steps span one octave. The main disadvantages is that certain melodies will be unplayable, such as a rapid passage using more than 12 notes.

For example, the Turkish kanun is a diatonic instrument like a hammer dulcimer, but plucked, not struck. Each set of strings has a set of mandals, a tiny lever which when flipped changes the length of the string and microtonally changes the pitch. It's analogous to the sharpening levers on the celtic harp, but there are mote than one lever per string, and they sharpen considerably less than a semitone.

The easiest way to experiment with dynamic tunings is with midi keyboards and software. [http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/ Scala] and [http://www.nonoctave.com/tuning/LilMissScaleOven/ Lil' Miss Scale Oven] have limited dynamic tuning ability. [http://www.tallkite.com/alt-tuner.html Alt-tuner] allows retuning of individual notes (choosing among various ratios or among various EDO degrees), modulating to different keys (either by a specific interval, or to a specific note, or to the current bass note), and switching to completely different tunings. All this can be done via keyswitches, foot pedals, the mod wheel, or any control that generates a midi signal. These midi signals can come from any midi device, such as a 2nd keyboard, or even the computer's QWERTY keyboard. Technique-wise, using keyswitches would be similar to using mandals or sharpening levers, and using footpedals would be similar to using the classical harp's pedals.

This is actually quite an old idea, since in many [[historical temperaments]], there was a demand for differing between flats and sharps. Minor variations to the common [[Halberstadt layout]], sometimes known as an [[Wikipedia:Enharmonic keyboard|enharmonic keyboard]], have been used to accommodate extra keys for such purposes, such as [[Wikipedia:Split sharp|split sharp]] keys. [http://www.denzilwraight.com Denzil Wraight's website] has some beautiful examples of historical harpsichords with up to 24 keys per octave. A list of existing church organs all over the world with split semitone keys can be found on [https://sites.google.com/site/iboortgies/tableoforganswithsubsemitones Ibo Ortgies' homepage].

In modern times, the idea of alternative keyboards has come up again. Most alternative keyboard layouts can host the same fingering for multiple tunings, since most of them have been designed with 12edo in mind and can be generalized using the corresponding diatonic intervals. Many alternative keyboards are isomorphic keyboards, which allow layouts where each interval or chord has the same shape in every key. Any layout may be arranged in multiple ways on an actual instrument by changing the orientation of the layout, the number of keys, the angle between the axes, the key colors, etc.

| [[Wikipedia:Generalized keyboard|Bosanquet]]/[[Wikipedia:Jankó keyboard|Jankó]]

| [[Wikipedia:Harmonic table note layout|Harmonic table]]

| [[Wikipedia:Wicki-Hayden note layout|Wicki-Hayden]]

| [[Wikipedia:Chromatic button accordion|Chromatic accordion (types B/C)]]

| [[Wikipedia:Array mbira|Array mbira]]

Another way to generalize the Halberstadt layout is to use a different [[MOS scale]] to determine the layout of white and black keys. [[Stephen Weigel]] has used such layouts in several of his YouTube videos, including [[hanson]] ([[4L 3s]]) and [[porcupine]] ([[7L 1s]]) layout for [[15edo]], [[mavila]] ([[7L 2s]]) layout for [[16edo]], etc.

For electronic music, there is meanwhile a number of generalized keyboards that are available or are soon to be available, see following list.

== List of synthesizers with alternative keyboards ==

| Various (hexagonal, rectangular, 1-dimensional et al.) XXX

| Metatonal Music (Ron Sword)

| 1-dimensional, 2 tiers of keys (black/white), with customizable black/white pattern

| [https://www.lumatone.io/ Lumatone] / [http://www.terpstrakeyboard.com Terpstra keyboard]

|-

| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/zboard2424/ ZBoard 24×24]

| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/zboard/ ZBoard 12x24]

|-

| [https://dualo.com/en/dualo Dualo Du-Touch S]

| [https://www.striso.org/ Striso board]

| Wicki-Hayden (but the tiling angle is not 60°)

| [https://dualo.com/en/exquis/ Exquis]

!No. of "keys"

| [http://www.hakenaudio.com Continuum Fingerboard]

| [http://www.doepfer.de/R2M.htm R2M Ribbon Controller]

| [https://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument LinnStrument]

|-

| [http://madronalabs.com/hardware SoundPlane A]

|

* [https://global.novationmusic.com/en/launch/launchpad-pro Novation Launchpad pro]

* [https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=P0AJD Behringer CMD LC-1]

== External links ==

* [http://sites.google.com/site/altkeyboards/ Alternative Keyboards group (on Google groups)]

* [https://www.facebook.com/notes/john-starrett/completely-generalized-keyboard/426265927629 John Starrett on Completely Generalized Keyboards] (Facebook Notes)

* [https://www.reddit.com/r/isomorphickeyboards/ Isomorphic keyboards on Reddit]

* [https://monome.org/docs/grid/kits/gridkit/ Monome Gridkit]: Monome DIY kit slashes price of pre-built one.

* [http://www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/~andrewm/touchkeys.html TouchKeys Website]: There's a mapping in the TouchKeys software which splits each key into multiple regions specifically for microtonal music.

* [http://youtu.be/CHWVeQd0bYs?list=UUad1IRAVR2klHEtNoS4TsaA TouchKeys video demo in standalone mode (without a physical keyboard)]

Touchscreens in general:

* Finally this one: http://www.cammaxlimited.co.uk/what-are-the-different-types-of-touchscreen/

* [http://cs.nyu.edu/~jhan/ftirtouch/ Multi-Touch Interaction Research] (Jeff Han, New York University)

Touchscreen approaches:

* You could make something like this yourself (costs 15.000 dollars): http://youtu.be/UP9zt_JbrHI

* Acoustic Touch Demo: http://youtu.be/ZoAslMiukAQ

* Peau Productions sells affordable custom size infrared frames for diy solutions: http://youtu.be/C-R8PmaIy-w

* IR frames are pretty cool: http://youtu.be/ZOYDERT-p_g

* You can use Kinect to make a "virtual keyboard" that only exists in "kinect space": http://youtu.be/ZqtrH5nQjFc

* [http://www.airpiano.de Airpiano]

* What about the Apple Magic Trackpad? http://youtu.be/m9KdWuOTpMQ

* String a number of Trackpads together with this: http://store.apple.com/us/product/H3443ZM/A/twelve-south-magicwand

* Add a keyboard layout layer using something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Mobee-Technology-Magic-Numpad-Transparent/dp/B005M1777G#productDescription_secondary_view_pageState_1417265682123

* The software is already there for one Trackpad, so why not for more than one? http://createdigitalmusic.com/2011/07/track-master-makes-your-trackpad-a-midi-controller-a-must-download-for-mac/

Mechanical keyboard switches:

* Lemur Canvas Object lets you script custom widgets with full multitouch support: https://liine.net/en/products/lemur/

Hardware:

Other MIDI controllers:

* [http://synthzone.com/ctrlr.htm List of MIDI controllers on Synth Zone]

=== Keyboard concepts ===

[[Category:Keyboards| ]] <!-- main article -->

[[Category:Instruments]]

[[Category:Lists]]