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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.
'''Keyboard''' instruments such as [[piano]]s, 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.
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.
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.


== Strategies for more than 12 tones per octave ==
== Strategies for more than 12 tones per octave ==
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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].
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...
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'']{{dead link}} by [[Georg Friedrich Haas]], in 72edo as well, needs the same number of pianos and moreover a whole orchestra…


Electronic keyboards sometimes have the possibility to play in "split" mode, i.e. the upper and the lower half of the keyboard can send to different midi channels. Some keyboards offer up to 4 split areas. In this case, you need only one keyboard - but you still have the disadvantage of having to jump between the areas.
Electronic keyboards sometimes have the possibility to play in "split" mode, i.e. the upper and the lower half of the keyboard can send to different midi channels. Some keyboards offer up to 4 split areas. In this case, you need only one keyboard – but you still have the disadvantage of having to jump between the areas.


* [[SeventeenTonePianoProject#pianotuningdetails|12 note octave scales piano tuning instructions for 17edo]]
* [[SeventeenTonePianoProject#pianotuningdetails|12 note octave scales piano tuning instructions for 17edo]]
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gusUyO1Ts Piano cover of ''In the Bleak Midwinter''] by [[Stephen Weigel]] (based on Jacob Collier's cover)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8gusUyO1Ts Piano cover of ''In the Bleak Midwinter''] by [[Stephen Weigel]] (based on Jacob Collier's cover)


This is, however, not a particularly easy way to do it...
This is, however, not a particularly easy way to do it…


=== Dynamic tunings ===
=== Dynamic tunings ===
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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.
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.
For electronic music, there is meanwhile a number of generalized keyboards, see following list.
 
== List of alternative keyboards ==
''See also this giant [https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=594460 List of MPE Hardware Controllers (www.kvraudio.com/forum)]''.  


== List of synthesizers with alternative keyboards ==
=== Generalized keyboards ===
=== Generalized keyboards ===
{| class="wikitable sortable center-4"
{| class="wikitable sortable center-4"
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! Price
! Price
|-
|-
| [http://web.archive.org/web/20060101074917/http://www.thummer.com/ Thummer]
| [https://www.lumatone.io/ Lumatone] / [http://www.terpstrakeyboard.com Terpstra Keyboard]
| Thumtronics
| Lumatone Inc. / Cortex Design
| Wicki-Hayden
| Hexagonal tiling, customizable layout (default: Bosanquet)
| 114
| 280
| Never produced
| In production
|
| $4,250 USD
|-
|-
| [https://hpi.zentral.zone/tonalplexus Tonal Plexus U-PLEX, TPX2, TPX2s]
| [https://deltarational.com/product/ts41-midi-keyboard/ TS41]
| [http://hpi.zentral.zone/index Hπ Instruments]
| Delta Rational / [[Tristan Bay]]
| Square tiling, 17\205 × 1\205
| Bosanquet
| 422
| 126
| No longer produced (as of 2014)
| In production
|
| $139 USD
|-
|-
| [https://hpi.zentral.zone/tonalplexus Tonal Plexus TPX4]
| [https://richiegreene.com/instruments/ Cimbalo Cromatico]
| Hπ Instruments
| Richie Greene
| Square tiling, 17\205 × 1\205
| Split-key Halberstadt (two layouts, 17-tone and 19-tone)
| 844
| 32
| No longer produced (as of 2014)
| In production
|
| $120 USD<br>$40 USD (Build Kit)
|-
|-
| [https://hpi.zentral.zone/tonalplexus Tonal Plexus TPX6, TPX6s]
| [https://www.striso.org/ Striso board]
| Hπ Instruments
| Striso
| Square tiling, 17\205 × 1\205
| Wicki-Hayden (but the tiling angle is not 60°)
| 1266
| 61
| No longer produced (as of 2014)
| In production
|
| €544 (EU + VAT)<br>€449 (Worldwide)
|-
|-
| [http://web.archive.org/web/20120216074838/http://www.h-pi.com/protoMiniMOD.html MiniMod]
| [https://dualo.com/en/exquis/ Exquis]
| Hπ Instruments
| Intuitive Instruments
| Various (hexagonal, rectangular, 1-dimensional et al.) XXX
| Hexagonal tiling, Dualo layout (major 3rd × semitone)
| XXX
| 61
|
| In production
|
| €299
|-
|-
| [http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=prod_axis-49 AXiS-49]
| [http://monome.org/ monome grid one]
| C-Thru Music
| monome
| Harmonic table
| 16×8 square tiling, mapping by coordinates (no default mapping)
| 98
| 128
| No longer produced
| In production
|
| $800
|-
| [http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=prod_axis-64 AXiS-64]
| C-Thru Music
| Harmonic table
| 192
| No longer produced
|
|-
| [http://www.shapeofmusic.com/ Opal Chameleon, Opal Gekko]
| Opal
| Harmonic table
| 192
|
|
|-
|-
| [http://monome.org/ monome grid]
| [http://monome.org/ monome grid zero]
| monome
| monome
| Square tiling, mapping by coordinates (no default mapping)
| 16×16 square tiling, mapping by coordinates (no default mapping)
| 128 (formerly 64, 128 or 256)
| 256
| In production
| In production
| $600
| $1500
|-
|-
| [http://www.lippenskeyboard.com/ Lippens Keyboard]
| [http://verticalkeyboards.com/keyboardoptions/microtonalkeyboards/index.html Vertical keyboard (Elaine Walker)]
| Lippens
| Elaine Walker
| Jankó
| 1-dimensional, 2 tiers of keys (black/white), with customizable black/white pattern
| 198
| 61, 76 or 88
| Prototype
| In production
|
|
|-
|-
Line 179: Line 167:
| Jankó
| Jankó
| 203
| 203
|
| In production
|
|
|-
|-
Line 186: Line 174:
| Jankó
| Jankó
| 243
| 243
|
| In production
|
|
|-
|-
| [http://verticalkeyboards.com/keyboardoptions/microtonalkeyboards/index.html Vertical keyboard (Elaine Walker)]
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/zboard1224/ ZBoard 12x24]
| Elaine Walker
| Starr Labs
| 1-dimensional, 2 tiers of keys (black/white), with customizable black/white pattern
| Square tiling, customizable layout (default: perfect 4th × semitone)
| 61, 76 or 88
| 288
|
|
|-
| [http://metatonalmusic.com/ Metatonal Keyboard]
| Metatonal Music (Ron Sword)
| 1-dimensional, 2 tiers of keys (black/white), with customizable black/white pattern
|
| Never produced
|
|-
| [https://www.lumatone.io/ Lumatone] / [http://www.terpstrakeyboard.com Terpstra keyboard]
| Cortex design
| Hexagonal tiling, customizable layout (default: Bosanquet)
| 280
| In production
| In production
| $3,999
| $3,995 USD
|-
|-
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/zboard2424/ ZBoard 24×24]
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/zboard2424/ ZBoard 24×24]
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| 576
| 576
| In production
| In production
| $7,995
| $9,495 USD
|-
|-
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/zboard/ ZBoard 12x24]
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/microzone-u648/ MicroZone U-648]
| Starr Labs
| Starr Labs
| Square tiling, customizable layout (default: perfect 4th × semitone)
| Bosanquet
| 288
| 288
| In production
| In production
| $3,495
| $3,495 USD
|-
|-
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/microzone-u648/ Microzone U-648]
| [https://www.starrlabs.com/product/microzone-u990/ MicroZone U-990]
| Starr Labs
| Starr Labs
| Bosanquet
| Bosanquet
| 288
| 810
| In production
| In production
| $3,495
| $9,895 USD
|-
|-
| [http://www.starrlabs.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=69/microzone-u-648&product_id=67 Microzone U-990]
| [http://www.shapeofmusic.com/ Opal Chameleon, Opal Gekko]
| Starr Labs
| Opal
| Bosanquet
| Harmonic table
| 810
| 192
| Bosanquet
| In production
|
|
|-
|-
| [https://dualo.com/en/dualo Dualo Du-Touch S]
| [https://dualo.com/en/dualo Dualo Du-Touch S]
| Dualo
| Intuitive Instruments
| Hexagonal tiling, multiple layouts: dualo (major 3rd × semitone), diatonic dualo, Jankó, chromatic accordion
| Hexagonal tiling, multiple layouts: dualo (major 3rd × semitone), diatonic dualo, Jankó, chromatic accordion
| 52
| 52
Line 245: Line 219:
| €499
| €499
|-
|-
| [https://www.striso.org/ Striso board]
| [https://hpi.zentral.zone/tonalplexus Tonal Plexus U-PLEX, TPX2, TPX2s]
| Striso
| [http://hpi.zentral.zone/index Hπ Instruments]
| Wicki-Hayden (but the tiling angle is not 60°)
| Square tiling, 17\205 × 1\205
| 61
| 422
| In production
| No longer produced
| €480
|
|-
| [https://hpi.zentral.zone/tonalplexus Tonal Plexus TPX4]
| Hπ Instruments
| Square tiling, 17\205 × 1\205
| 844
| No longer produced
|
|-
| [https://hpi.zentral.zone/tonalplexus Tonal Plexus TPX6, TPX6s]
| Hπ Instruments
| Square tiling, 17\205 × 1\205
| 1266
| No longer produced
|
|-
| [http://web.archive.org/web/20120216074838/http://www.h-pi.com/protoMiniMOD.html MiniMod]
| Hπ Instruments
| Various (hexagonal, rectangular, 1-dimensional et al.) XXX
| XXX
| No longer produced
|
|-
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20200223142426/http://www.lippenskeyboard.com/ Lippens Keyboard]
| Lippens
| Jankó
| 198
| No longer produced
|
|-
| [http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=prod_axis-49 AXiS-49]
| C-Thru Music
| Harmonic table
| 98
| No longer produced
| $495 USD
|-
| [http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=prod_axis-64 AXiS-64]
| C-Thru Music
| Harmonic table
| 192
| No longer produced
|
|-
| [http://web.archive.org/web/20060101074917/http://www.thummer.com/ Thummer]
| Thumtronics
| Wicki-Hayden
| 114
| Never produced
| N/A
|-
|-
| [https://dualo.com/en/exquis/ Exquis]
| [http://metatonalmusic.com/ Metatonal Keyboard]
| Dualo
| Metatonal Music (Ron Sword)
| Hexagonal tiling, dualo layout (major 3rd × semitone)
| 1-dimensional, 2 tiers of keys (black/white), with customizable black/white pattern
| 61
|  
| Taking preorders, announced for end of summer 2023
| Never produced
| €269
| N/A
|}
|}


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! Product
! Product
! Manufacturer
! Manufacturer
!layout
! No. of "keys"
! Price
|-
| [https://www.hakenaudio.com/continuum-introduction Continuum Fingerboard]
| rowspan="2" | Haken Audio
| rowspan="2" | Halberstadt
| 45 or 69
| $4910 or $6510 USD
|-
|[https://www.hakenaudio.com/continuumini-introduction ContinuuMini]
| 45
| $999 USD
|-
|-
| [http://www.hakenaudio.com Continuum Fingerboard]
| [https://roli.com/us/product/seaboard-2 Seaboard 2]
| Haken Audio
| rowspan="2" |ROLI
| rowspan="2" |Halberstadt
| 49
| $1399 USD
|-
|-
| [http://www.doepfer.de/R2M.htm R2M Ribbon Controller]
| [https://roli.com/us/experience/seaboard-m Seaboard M]
| Doepfer
| 24
| $349 USD
|-
|-
| [https://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument LinnStrument]
| [https://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument LinnStrument]
| Roger Linn Design
| Roger Linn Design
| Square layout, 8 rows
| 128 or 200
| $1149 or $1649 USD
|-
|-
| [http://madronalabs.com/hardware SoundPlane A]
| [http://madronalabs.com/hardware Soundplane Model A]
| Madrona Labs
| Madrona Labs
| Rectangular layout
| 150
| $1895 CAD
|-
| [http://www.doepfer.de/R2M.htm R2M Ribbon Controller]
| Doepfer
| One-dimensional
| N/A
| €320
|}
|}


=== Pad controllers ===
=== Pad controllers ===
* [https://global.novationmusic.com/en/launch/launchpad-pro Novation Launchpad pro]
{| class="wikitable"
* [https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=P0AJD Behringer CMD LC-1]
|+
! Product
! Manufacturer
! Layout
! No. of "keys"
! Price
|-
| [https://desideratasystems.com/mosaichord.html Seven Limit Mosaichord]
| Desiderata Systems
| Voronoi
| 113 (4 octaves)
| $800 USD
|-
| [https://global.novationmusic.com/en/launch/launchpad-pro Launchpad Pro]
| Novation
| 8×8
| 64 + 17 control keys
| $389 USD
|-
| [https://www.behringer.com/behringer/product?modelCode=P0AJD CMD LC-1]
| Behringer
| 4×8
| 32 + 20 control keys
| $99 USD
|}


== External links ==
== External links ==
Line 298: Line 374:
Touchscreens in general:
Touchscreens in general:


* [[Wikipedia: Touchscreen#Technologies]]
* [[Wikipedia: Touchscreen #Technologies]]
* Here's an article discussing available touch screen technologies per 2010: http://www.eizoglobal.com/library/basics/basic_understanding_of_touch_panel/
* Here's an article discussing available touch screen technologies per 2010: http://www.eizoglobal.com/library/basics/basic_understanding_of_touch_panel/
* Some more overview: http://www.elotouch.com/Products/detech2.asp
* Some more overview: http://www.elotouch.com/Products/detech2.asp
Retrieved from "https://en.xen.wiki/w/Keyboard"