User:Mousemambo/Workbench: Difference between revisions

Note that although much of the info will be in the Tuning Methods page itself, some other info might best be split out into its own page (e.g. there is already an [[Anamark tuning file format]] page). Also, any how-to [[:Category:Guides]] pages would be separate, and links could be provided to existing outside how-to instructions that have text or video format (urgh...link maintenance sucks).

This writing needs to use descriptions that apply to both hardware (integrated synth & component systems) and software (standalone and plugin) instruments. Because this would probably grow unwieldy if the writing went into to much depth about *how* the provided information applies to each those types of instruments, it would be wiser to split out into separate pages any how-to details or implementation-specific info, beyond very general ones (e.g. that there is a drop-down menu selector or the ability to load an outside file). Those additional pages might be instrument-specific (e.g. how to implement the various tuning methods in the Kontakt sampler system) or method-specific (how to use SCL/KBM files in several popular electronic or virtual instruments. I defer deciding which of those two is preferable.

I'm inventing a distinction between "Tuning plugins" (operate within a plugin chain) and "Retuners" (are standalone apps) even though tuning plugins have been understood as a subset of retuners. People are calling them "tuning plugins" and not using the term retuners so this makes sense to me.

The description of each component that has an alternative, e.g. tuning files vs. direct tuning, Kontakt scripts vs. Scala tuning, needs to state the advantages and disadvantages of that component compared to the common alternatives.

* Intro

** What? Either the instrument itself, or an intermediary component dedicated to tuning, needs to be provided either with direct tuning data entry or a data loaded from a tuning file. You may need to specify what tuning mechanism(s) the instrument supports or should use, and sometimes also additional information about how to use that tuning data.

** How? Components of a tuning system. At the time of this writing, there are three general components of tuning systems that you'll encounter: direct tuning information, tuning files, and tuning plugins or retuners. These are in addition, of course, to a controller (e.g. keyboard) and a musical instrument, which may be integrated in a hardware synth for example.

** Addressing the complexity. There are many different types of hardware and software musical instruments, each of which will have a specific method or set of methods for tuning that it supports. This page will summarize what methods are being or have been used, and the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives. But you'll need to consult the manual for the specific instrument you are using to learn what tuning method (or methods) it actually supports, and you may need to choose components able to implement that method. This writing is intended to ensure that when you read that manual, you understand what it's saying and can make informed decisions.

* Direct tuning information. Some musical instruments have a built-in system for tuning information, via dropdown menu selection or custom tuning settings. Note: I don't like the expression "direct tuning" but can't think of something better right now.

* Tuning files

* Retuners or tuning plugins

* Other tuning methods

** Other SysEx-based tuning methods (?)

* Deprecated and obsolete tuning methods

Existing pages addressing microtonality in various branches of Indian music (e.g. Hindustani classical, Carnatic classical, Sikh, etc.):

I note that under [[:Category:Traditions|Category:Traditions]] all the cultural traditions (not just Indian) are named with strange and somewhat dismaying names that omit the word "music" that should follow. E.g. Indian, Arabic and Greek should sensibly be Indian music, Arabic music, and Greek music. The words "Indian,"  "Arabic," and "Greek" by themselves can mean a people, a culture, or (except for Indian) a language. These page names and category names should specify "music" or "microtonality" or something else specific. Otherwise they feel very much like they are exoticizing and generalizing traditional cultural musics, much like how 20th century academic Western music theory tends to treat all music outside those by dead Germans as somehow lesser.