DAWs: Difference between revisions
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This page discusses the relative merits of various '''Digital Audio Workstations''' ('''DAW'''s - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation Wikipedia article]) from a microtonal perspective. Since many keyboards and a few softsynths are retunable via sysex, and most keyboards and softsynths are only retunable via multiple-midi-channels-with-pitch-bends, special focus is given to how each DAW handles channels and sysexes. | This page discusses the relative merits of various '''Digital Audio Workstations''' ('''DAW'''s - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation Wikipedia article]) from a microtonal perspective. Since many keyboards and a few softsynths are retunable via sysex, and most keyboards and softsynths are only retunable via multiple-midi-channels-with-pitch-bends, special focus is given to how each DAW handles channels and sysexes. | ||
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Advantages and didadvantages of various DAWs: | |||
== '''ProTools''' == | |||
Midi tracks in ProTools can't contain multiple channels of midi data. | |||
== '''Reaper''' == | |||
- Extremely flexible midi and audio routing. No built-in softsynths except ReaSynth. No problems with sysexes or multiple midi channels. | - Extremely flexible midi and audio routing. No built-in softsynths except ReaSynth. No problems with sysexes or multiple midi channels. | ||
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The appearance of the piano roll on the midi editor can be completely customized, e.g. more than 12 notes per octave. | The appearance of the piano roll on the midi editor can be completely customized, e.g. more than 12 notes per octave. | ||
[[File:ReaperMidi1.jpg|alt=ReaperMidi1.jpg|800x483px|ReaperMidi1.jpg]] | |||
A less cluttered example: | A less cluttered example: | ||
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[[File:ReaperMidi3.jpg|alt=ReaperMidi3.jpg|800x483px|ReaperMidi3.jpg]] | [[File:ReaperMidi3.jpg|alt=ReaperMidi3.jpg|800x483px|ReaperMidi3.jpg]] | ||
How to do it: Click on a midi item to pull up the built-in midi-editor. The Reaper menu on top should change. For example the 3rd option should change from View to Navigate. In the new menu, go to View and choose Mode: Named Notes. Then double-right-click a note on the far left of the edit window (where the black and white keys were) to rename it. Type in anything. Hit tab to go on to | How to do it: Click on a midi item to pull up the built-in midi-editor. The Reaper menu on top should change. For example the 3rd option should change from View to Navigate. In the new menu, go to View and choose Mode: Named Notes. Then double-right-click a note on the far left of the edit window (where the black and white keys were) to rename it. Type in anything. Hit tab to go on to the next key. Then go to File and choose Customize Note Names / Save Note Names To File. That makes a little text file that you can even edit directly. In your next project you can load this file, using Customize Note Names / Load Note Names From File. There's also Customize Note Names / Merge Note Names From File, and Customize Note Names / Clear All Note Names. | ||
You can put in any text. You can put in "5/4" or "3\19" or "green C" or "D^" or "E+". You might even be able to control the font with Reaper themes. To make a black key, you put in a special character. This example uses unicode 2588, "full block", but you coud use anything. Here's how to do special characters on a mac, don't know about a PC: | You can put in any text. You can put in "5/4" or "3\19" or "green C" or "D^" or "E+". You might even be able to control the font with Reaper themes. To make a black key, you put in a special character. This example uses unicode 2588, "full block", but you coud use anything. Here's how to do special characters on a mac, don't know about a PC: | ||
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You can use actual accidentals like ♯ and ♭. You could use gray block characters to get three colors or more. Many possibilities! The text files containing the note names used for the screenshots are here: [http://www.TallKite.com/misc_files/19-tonePianoRolls.zip www.TallKite.com/misc_files/19-tonePianoRolls.zip] | You can use actual accidentals like ♯ and ♭. You could use gray block characters to get three colors or more. Many possibilities! The text files containing the note names used for the screenshots are here: [http://www.TallKite.com/misc_files/19-tonePianoRolls.zip www.TallKite.com/misc_files/19-tonePianoRolls.zip] | ||
== | == Logic Pro == | ||
- Logic's built-in instruments are of very high quality. There's a global setting for tuning them, and you can also import a .scl file. But they accept only 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. Logic only understands .scl files with this limitation. Logic is also incapable of changing the tuning via midi or automation, and you can only have one tuning per song. | - Logic's built-in instruments are of very high quality. There's a global setting for tuning them, and you can also import a .scl file. But they accept only 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. Logic only understands .scl files with this limitation. Logic is also incapable of changing the tuning via midi or automation, and you can only have one tuning per song. | ||
== | == GarageBand == | ||
- won't let you export its midi to any other DAW except Logic Pro. In other words it is a "midi trap". GarageBand won't load VST effects, only AU effects. | - won't let you export its midi to any other DAW except Logic Pro. In other words it is a "midi trap". GarageBand won't load VST effects, only AU effects. | ||
== | == '''Ableton Live''' == | ||
AL merges all midi channels in track sends, effect outputs and max4Live outputs into channel 1, and filters out all sysex messages and all polyphonic aftertouch messages. Midi effects, except for built-in midi effects and max4live midi effects, must be put in the audio effects section of the track. Receiving midi output from an effect requires creating an additional track and setting its input to that effect. | |||
== | == '''FL Studio (Fruity Loops)''' == | ||
FL filters out sysex messages (undocumented, see below). | |||
- all softsynths require only a single instance to be retunable via the pitch bend method! | |||
[http://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic.php?p=824112 http://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic.php?p=824112] | [http://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic.php?p=824112 http://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic.php?p=824112] | ||
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Reflex: "They already can. But they can't receive them. And that's not planned." | Reflex: "They already can. But they can't receive them. And that's not planned." | ||
== | == Cubase == | ||
- has a midi insert plug-in for tuning. But it only accepts 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. However you can change the tuning in the course of a song, and have multiple tunings simultaneously (on several midi channels). However, the plug-in only works with two or three older VSTi's and not with the new, better instruments that come with Cubase 7, so in effect, it has been discontinued. | - has a midi insert plug-in for tuning. But it only accepts 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. However you can change the tuning in the course of a song, and have multiple tunings simultaneously (on several midi channels). However, the plug-in only works with two or three older VSTi's and not with the new, better instruments that come with Cubase 7, so in effect, it has been discontinued. | ||
Cubase has a pitch key tracking setting for all the synths, and if that's set to .50 you get 24 keys per octave, etc., so various EDOs are possible or can be approximated. | Cubase has a pitch key tracking setting for all the synths, and if that's set to .50 you get 24 keys per octave, etc., so various EDOs are possible or can be approximated. | ||
== | == Studio One == | ||
- doesn't allow recording or playback of sysexes. Apparently Studio One also doesn't allow multi-channel midi files (see link). [http://forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page] | - doesn't allow recording or playback of sysexes. Apparently Studio One also doesn't allow multi-channel midi files (see link). [http://forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page] | ||
=Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW= | = Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW = | ||
==Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)== | == Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.) == | ||
Many DAWs can load instrument plugins. A plugin is a software synthesizer which can be accessed within the DAW, affording the user more sounds. Usually the plugin is loaded on a MIDI track. Some instrument plugins are capable of being microtuned. By using such a plugin, it is possible to make microtonal music within a DAW that otherwise cannot be microtuned. | Many DAWs can load instrument plugins. A plugin is a software synthesizer which can be accessed within the DAW, affording the user more sounds. Usually the plugin is loaded on a MIDI track. Some instrument plugins are capable of being microtuned. By using such a plugin, it is possible to make microtonal music within a DAW that otherwise cannot be microtuned. | ||
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View a [[List_of_Microtonal_Software_Plugins|list of microtonal software plugins]]. | View a [[List_of_Microtonal_Software_Plugins|list of microtonal software plugins]]. | ||
===Plugin Microtuning Methods=== | === Plugin Microtuning Methods === | ||
Instrument plugins can be developed by anybody. As such, there is no standard way to set the tuning/scale of a plugin via user input. Navigating these competing methods of inputting microtonal scales can be rather messy. But generally we can group the methods like so: | Instrument plugins can be developed by anybody. As such, there is no standard way to set the tuning/scale of a plugin via user input. Navigating these competing methods of inputting microtonal scales can be rather messy. But generally we can group the methods like so: | ||
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One workaround is to use pitch-bend to microtune a monophonic MIDI part. Polyphonic MIDI parts require multiple instances of the plugin. | One workaround is to use pitch-bend to microtune a monophonic MIDI part. Polyphonic MIDI parts require multiple instances of the plugin. | ||
[[Category:todo:add_definition]] | [[Category:todo:add_definition]] | ||