Keyboard: Difference between revisions
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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 | 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. | ||