User:Mousemambo/Document draft: Difference between revisions

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===Method 2: Set a tuning in the synth using a Scala scale file and keyboard mapping file===

[Briefly: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING GOES IN AN INTRO IN THIS SPACE, SOME IN THE NOTES, SOME ELSEWHERE UNDER METHOD 2, SOME IN THE APPENDIX. A Scala scale file is used to establish a tuning's [[period]] (octave or [[equave]]), its interval relationships, and other properties. A Scala keyboard mapping file is used to set the tuning's base note or tonic, tuning center, and keyboard map. The Scala format scale files and keyboard mapping files together work to .... If you omit using a keyboard mapping file the consequences may be.... For more about Scala scale and keyboard mapping files, see the [[User:Mousemambo/Tuning methods#Tuning files|Tuning methods]] article. Ultimately, there should be articles that are companions to the existing "[[Anamark tuning file format]]" page (which almost certainly should be renamed "Anamark tuning file"; the existing page title should redirect to a section of the new page), named "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala scale file|Scala scale file]]" and "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala keyboard mapping file|Scala keyboard mapping file]]" or a single "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]" article might incorporate both those as sections at least initially.]

Probably the most common method people choose to retune a synth in a DAW by loading prepared tuning files. Tuning files provide all or most of the specification for a scale or tuning, and might be loaded using a drop-down selector or a file loading dialog. For this method, we use the example of a Scala scale file and keyboard mapping file, since the Surge XT synth supports the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]. Very briefly, the scale file sets the intervals of the scale and the keyboard mapping file places the tuning base of the scale file on a specific MIDI note, sets the tuning reference note and pitch, and maps the notes to a keyboard or other controller. See the section "[[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Scala scale and keyboard mapping files|Scala scale and keyboard mapping files]]" below for more about these tuning files.

Probably the most common method people choose to retune a synth in a DAW by loading prepared tuning files. For this method, we use the example of a Scala scale file and keyboard mapping file, since the Surge XT synth supports the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]. Very briefly, the scale file sets the intervals of the scale and the keyboard mapping file places the tuning base of the scale file on a specific MIDI note, sets the tuning reference note and pitch, and maps the notes to a keyboard or other controller. See the ~~sections~~ "Scala scale ~~file"~~ and "Scala keyboard mapping ~~file~~" below for more about these tuning files.

'''Scenarios'''

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'''''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.]

* [This section needs extensive reconsideration and revision given the creation of a separate [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]] article. Keep only what needs to be here. -> This work is in progress.]

* [Say something brief about tuning files and what they do. 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."

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 ===Method 2: Set a tuning in the synth using a Scala scale file and keyboard mapping file===
-[Briefly: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING GOES IN AN INTRO IN THIS SPACE, SOME IN THE NOTES, SOME ELSEWHERE UNDER METHOD 2, SOME IN THE APPENDIX. A Scala scale file is used to establish a tuning's [[period]] (octave or [[equave]]), its interval relationships, and other properties. A Scala keyboard mapping file is used to set the tuning's base note or tonic, tuning center, and keyboard map. The Scala format scale files and keyboard mapping files together work to .... If you omit using a keyboard mapping file the consequences may be.... For more about Scala scale and keyboard mapping files, see the [[User:Mousemambo/Tuning methods#Tuning files|Tuning methods]] article. Ultimately, there should be articles that are companions to the existing "[[Anamark tuning file format]]" page (which almost certainly should be renamed "Anamark tuning file"; the existing page title should redirect to a section of the new page), named "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala scale file|Scala scale file]]" and "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala keyboard mapping file|Scala keyboard mapping file]]" or a single "[[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]" article might incorporate both those as sections at least initially.]
+Probably the most common method people choose to retune a synth in a DAW by loading prepared tuning files. Tuning files provide all or most of the specification for a scale or tuning, and might be loaded using a drop-down selector or a file loading dialog. For this method, we use the example of a Scala scale file and keyboard mapping file, since the Surge XT synth supports the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]. Very briefly, the scale file sets the intervals of the scale and the keyboard mapping file places the tuning base of the scale file on a specific MIDI note, sets the tuning reference note and pitch, and maps the notes to a keyboard or other controller. See the section "[[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Scala scale and keyboard mapping files|Scala scale and keyboard mapping files]]" below for more about these tuning files.
-Probably the most common method people choose to retune a synth in a DAW by loading prepared tuning files. For this method, we use the example of a Scala scale file and keyboard mapping file, since the Surge XT synth supports the [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]]. Very briefly, the scale file sets the intervals of the scale and the keyboard mapping file places the tuning base of the scale file on a specific MIDI note, sets the tuning reference note and pitch, and maps the notes to a keyboard or other controller. See the sections "Scala scale file" and "Scala keyboard mapping file" below for more about these tuning files.
 '''Scenarios'''
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 '''''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.]
+* [This section needs extensive reconsideration and revision given the creation of a separate [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system|Scala tuning system]] article. Keep only what needs to be here. -> This work is in progress.]
+* [Say something brief about tuning files and what they do. 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."