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'''Instructions''' | '''Instructions''' | ||
#Launch the Reaper application, create a [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Set up an instrument track in the Reaper DAW|new instrument track in Reaper]], and add Surge XT as a plugin on that instrument track. Note: If you are not using a DAW, but [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Tuning Surge XT without a DAW in standalone mode|using Surge XT in standalone mode]] instead, replace this step with: Launch the Surge XT standalone application. | #Launch the Reaper application, create a [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Set up an instrument track in the Reaper DAW|new instrument track in Reaper]], and add Surge XT as a plugin on that instrument track. Note: If you are not using a DAW, but [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Tuning Surge XT without a DAW in standalone mode|using Surge XT in standalone mode]] instead, replace this step with: Launch the Surge XT standalone application. | ||
#Load a [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala scale file|Scala scale file]] (.scl) into Surge XT as follows: | #Load a [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala scale file|Scala scale file]] (.scl) into Surge XT as follows, to establish the tuning system with relative intervals: | ||
## In Surge XT's Menu (found in the bottom right corner) select the Tuning option, then choose "Load .scl tuning..." | ## In Surge XT's Menu (found in the bottom right corner) select the Tuning option, then choose "Load .scl tuning..." | ||
##Use the resulting file selection popup to choose one of the [ideally 12-tone for keyboard mapping simplicity] Scala scale files that come with Surge XT, e.g. [something beginners might have read about and would recognize,] like just intonation's Ptolemy_intense_diatonic.scl or meantone's WerckmeisterIII_equal_beating.scl, or instead choose [something named in condensed code like] ED3-12.scl. [I realize Scala XT at this moment only comes with two tuning files beginners are likely to recognize by name, and one is 12-EDO. Also, the more commonly known JI and meantone scale files are 7-note not 12-note so they won't map properly by themselves. Ptolex is a 12-tone Ptolemeic JI tuning, but not widely known. Also, many people will be unable to distinguish Ptolex by ear from 12-EDO. So what example to use?] | ##Use the resulting file selection popup to choose one of the [ideally 12-tone for keyboard mapping simplicity] Scala scale files that come with Surge XT, e.g. [something beginners might have read about and would recognize,] like just intonation's Ptolemy_intense_diatonic.scl or meantone's WerckmeisterIII_equal_beating.scl, or instead choose [something named in condensed code like] ED3-12.scl. [I realize Scala XT at this moment only comes with two tuning files beginners are likely to recognize by name, and one is 12-EDO. Also, the more commonly known JI and meantone scale files are 7-note not 12-note so they won't map properly by themselves. Ptolex is a 12-tone Ptolemeic JI tuning, but not widely known. Also, many people will be unable to distinguish Ptolex by ear from 12-EDO. So what example to use?] | ||
#Load a [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala keyboard mapping file|Scala keyboard mapping file]] (.kbm), for example the "Halberstadt 60-440-69.kbm" file, which on a standard piano-style keyboard will set the scale to the ISO tuning standard ([https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/3601/3e7b175fdcae4a2aa09f9d0db4ac099d/ISO-16-1975.pdf ISO 16:1975]) of A4 = 440 Hz. | #Load a [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala keyboard mapping file|Scala keyboard mapping file]] (.kbm), to anchor the scale file data to a tuning base and set the tuning reference note and pitch. A good choice for example is the "Halberstadt 60-440-69.kbm" file, which on a standard piano-style keyboard will set the scale to the ISO tuning standard ([https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/3601/3e7b175fdcae4a2aa09f9d0db4ac099d/ISO-16-1975.pdf ISO 16:1975]) of A4 = 440 Hz. See "Scala scale and keyboard mapping files" below to learn a little more about these tuning files. | ||
#Optionally, if you understand Scala scale and keyboard mapping data, you may wish to open Surge XT's tuning editor at this time (Menu > Tuning > Open tuning editor...) to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files. | #Optionally, if you understand Scala scale and keyboard mapping data, you may wish to open Surge XT's tuning editor at this time (Menu > Tuning > Open tuning editor...) to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files. | ||
#Optionally, [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#How to test the tuning|test the tuning]] to ensure it's correct. | #Optionally, [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#How to test the tuning|test the tuning]] to ensure it's correct. | ||
'''Notes''' | '''Notes''' | ||
[This whole section needs extensive review with regard to what should be moved out to the [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Appendix|Appendix on this page]], or the [[User:Mousemambo/Tuning methods#Tuning files|Tuning methods]] article, what belongs in the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]] article, or perhaps is best rendered in duplicate for reading simplicity. Also, I need to settle on a consistent terminology and apply it to all three articles.I am removing as much as possible from the Instructions section, but to where? For example, the complexity of the relationship between the Scala scale file's base note, the tuning's tuning center, and the music's tonic (if it has one) makes this a very difficult topic for beginners but it's critical for JI so something needs to be said in this article. But this doesn't seem to be the right place to explain it in great detail — the [[User:Mousemambo/ | [This whole section needs extensive review with regard to what should be moved out to the [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Appendix|Appendix on this page]], or the [[User:Mousemambo/Tuning methods#Tuning files|Tuning methods]] article, what belongs in the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]] article, or perhaps is best rendered in duplicate for reading simplicity. Also, I need to settle on a consistent terminology and apply it to all three articles.I am removing as much as possible from the Instructions section, but to where? For example, the complexity of the relationship between the Scala scale file's base note, the tuning's tuning center, and the music's tonic (if it has one) makes this a very difficult topic for beginners but it's critical for JI so something needs to be said in this article. But this doesn't seem to be the right place to explain it in great detail — the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]] article is probably a good choice.] | ||
'''''More about Surge XT''''' | '''''More about Surge XT''''' | ||
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* Surge XT also provides a button "Tune" under the label "Status" along the top of its window. If a custom tuning has not yet been added during the current session, clicking the button will reveal the same list of options as Menu > Tuning. If a custom tuning has been loaded, the Tune button will be lit (bright not dark), and clicking it will turn that tuning off (back to the software's default [[12edo|12-EDO tuning]]) or back on. | * Surge XT also provides a button "Tune" under the label "Status" along the top of its window. If a custom tuning has not yet been added during the current session, clicking the button will reveal the same list of options as Menu > Tuning. If a custom tuning has been loaded, the Tune button will be lit (bright not dark), and clicking it will turn that tuning off (back to the software's default [[12edo|12-EDO tuning]]) or back on. | ||
'''''Scala scale | '''''Scala scale and keyboard mapping files''''' | ||
* [Say something about tuning files and what they do, along with that they use various methods to establish tunings. Mostly refer to the info located in the "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]" article.] | * [Say something about tuning files and what they do, along with that they use various methods to establish tunings. Mostly refer to the info located in the "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]" article.] | ||
*Note that without a Scala keyboard mapping file (.kbm) also loaded, the resulting tuning may not be what you expect. Surge XT like most synths will assume a default tuning center frequency and keyboard mapping that sets the first (implied) note of the tuning file -- the tuning base -- as MIDI Note C.60 and the tuning center (diapason, reference pitch) as international ISO standard pitch (MIDI A.69=440.000Hz). [Or will it? Seems undocumented. In fact, it '''does not'''. Default in Surge XT 1.2.3 is a tuning base note of C.60 and the reference pitch is C.60=261.626Hz, which is very close to but not exactly international standard because it uses three-digit precision. I've read that this (at 2-4 digit precision) is the most common default for retunable synths when you don't load a keyboard mapping file.] However, if for example we are using a just intonation scale and music with a tonic of F (F4, MIDI note 65, 349.23 Hz), it becomes critical that that tuning base note is set to the tonic F. Ideally we use a keyboard mapping file to do that, but if keyboard mapping files are not supported see the section "Alternative for setting the tuning base note and tuning reference." | *Note that without a Scala keyboard mapping file (.kbm) also loaded, the resulting tuning may not be what you expect. Surge XT like most synths will assume a default tuning center frequency and keyboard mapping that sets the first (implied) note of the tuning file -- the tuning base -- as MIDI Note C.60 and the tuning center (diapason, reference pitch) as international ISO standard pitch (MIDI A.69=440.000Hz). [Or will it? Seems undocumented. In fact, it '''does not'''. Default in Surge XT 1.2.3 is a tuning base note of C.60 and the reference pitch is C.60=261.626Hz, which is very close to but not exactly international standard because it uses three-digit precision. I've read that this (at 2-4 digit precision) is the most common default for retunable synths when you don't load a keyboard mapping file.] However, if for example we are using a just intonation scale and music with a tonic of F (F4, MIDI note 65, 349.23 Hz), it becomes critical that that tuning base note is set to the tonic F. Ideally we use a keyboard mapping file to do that, but if keyboard mapping files are not supported see the section "Alternative for setting the tuning base note and tuning reference." | ||
*For more detailed information about Scala keyboard mapping files, see [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]. | *For more detailed information about Scala scale and keyboard mapping files, see the article "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]." | ||
'''''Alternatives for setting the tuning's base note and tuning center''''' | '''''Alternatives for setting the tuning's base note and tuning center''''' | ||
* Some popular music software, like Arturia's [https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/pigments/overview Pigments 3] synth, Garritan's [https://www.garritan.com/products/personal-orchestra-5/aria-player/ Aria Player] sampler system, and Applied Acoustic System's [https://www.applied-acoustics.com/chromaphone-3/ Chromaphone 3] synth support importing Scala scale files but not Scala keyboard mapping files. However, they will typically instead allow you to set the tuning base note of the Scala scale file and a reference tuning pitch. This fulfills | * Some popular music software, like Arturia's [https://www.arturia.com/products/software-instruments/pigments/overview Pigments 3] synth, Garritan's [https://www.garritan.com/products/personal-orchestra-5/aria-player/ Aria Player] sampler system, and Applied Acoustic System's [https://www.applied-acoustics.com/chromaphone-3/ Chromaphone 3] synth support importing Scala scale files but not Scala keyboard mapping files. However, they will typically instead allow you to set the tuning base note of the Scala scale file and a reference tuning pitch. This fulfills some of the functions of the keyboard mapping file and you should use this method if it's all your instrument allows. If you are using a just intonation, for example, then anchoring the Scala scale file's tuning base to the music's tonic is essential. In the same way, instead of using a keyboard mapping file in Surge XT, you could instead set the tuning base note and the reference note and pitch for your scale using Surge XT's tuning editor as described in [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Method 1: Set a tuning directly in the synth itself|Method 1]]. | ||
'''''Vital synth''''' | '''''Vital synth''''' | ||
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==Appendix== | ==Appendix== | ||
===Set up an instrument track in the Reaper DAW=== | ===Set up an instrument track in the Reaper DAW=== | ||