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'''DRAFT''' ==== Microtuning Surge XT synth in the Reaper DAW ==== '''DRAFT''' | '''DRAFT''' ==== Microtuning Surge XT synth in the Reaper DAW ==== '''DRAFT''' | ||
[''This is a thinking-out-loud sketch of what a guide might look like for | [''This is a thinking-out-loud sketch of what a guide might look like for detailing how to use Surge XT with alternative (non-12-EDO) tunings in Reaper. It might be part of a larger document also describing how other popular but less full-featured synths or samplers can be used for microtonal music in Reaper. Or it might be part of a larger document also describing how Surge XT can be used for microtonal music in other DAWs.''] | ||
----'''Temporary Outline''' | ----'''Temporary Outline''' | ||
* Intro | * Intro | ||
* Usage cases | * Usage cases | ||
* How to test the tuning | |||
---- | ---- | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Surge XT can be used within the Reaper DAW to create music set in microtonal or other uncommon tuning systems using several methods. Which method you use will depend on the larger context in which you're working and your specific needs, which will be explored below. | Surge XT can be used within the Reaper DAW to create music set in microtonal or other uncommon tuning systems using several methods. Which method you use will depend on the larger context in which you're working and your specific needs, which will be explored below. Reaper is a popular and inexpensive DAW that fully supports all of Surge XT's requirements for using alternative tuning systems. This tutorial was last verified using Surge XT version ???? and Reaper version ???? in August 2023. | ||
Reaper | This tutorial assumes you already have Surge XT and Reaper installed on your computer, and that you know how to create an instrument track in Reaper and load an plugin instrument onto it. | ||
Note | Note that Surge XT can also be run in standalone mode, without any DAW, but you won't be able to record your playing as MIDI notes unless you have some additional component doing the recording. The common use cases for running Surge XT in standalone mode are for live performance where you don't want the extra complexity of running a DAW, or when you're just playing casually and don't need to record MIDI. In standalone mode, the first two usage cases below [be specific once section titles are settled] can be used to tune Surge XT. | ||
== Usage cases == | == Usage cases | Methods | Scenarios == | ||
[I need to think about how I want to name these usage cases. I might prefer something that says more about why rather than how.] | [I need to think about how I want to name these usage cases. I might prefer something that says more about why rather than what or how.] | ||
=== Create a tuning in Surge XT itself === | === Create a tuning in Surge XT itself === | ||
[Use Surge's tuning editor to recreate a | [Briefly: Use Surge's tuning editor to recreate a custom tuning, using the example of a Ptolemy's Intense Diatonic.] | ||
=== Load a tuning file in Surge XT === | === Load a tuning file in Surge XT === | ||
... | Why you would choose this method: ... | ||
Disadvantages of this method: ... | |||
... | |||
=== Control | Briefly: '''Create''' a new instrument track in Reaper. Add Surge XT as a plugin on that instrument track. '''Load''' a Scala tuning file into Surge XT as follows: In the Menu select the Tuning option, then choose "Load .scl tuning..." Use the resulting file selection popup to choose one of the 12-note Scala tuning files that come with Surge XT, e.g. something beginners might have read about and would recognize like just intonation Ptolemy_intense_diatonic.scl or meantone WerckmeisterIII_equal_beating.scl, or instead choose something named in condensed code like ED3-12.scl. '''Note''' that without a Scala keyboard mapping file (.kbm) also loaded, Surge XT might assume a default tonic frequency and keyboard mapping that sets the first note specified in the tuning file as MIDI Note C.60 and the reference pitch as international standard pitch (MIDI A.69=440.000Hz). [Or will it? Seems undocumented. In fact, it does not. Default is a tonic of C.60 and the reference pitch is C.60=261.626Hz, which is close but not international standard.] However, if we are using a just intonation scale and music with a tonic of F (F4, MIDI 65, 349.23 Hz), we need to use a keyboard mapping file to ensure the tuning is correct. When you load a Scala tuning file you should always load a keyboard mapping file to prevent mistuned surprises. To learn more about how to use Scala tuning and keyboard mapping files, see <this awesome document that doesn't exist yet>. '''Load''' a keyboard mapping file, for example the "Halberstadt 60-440-69.kbm" file [which *is* international standard]. '''Optionally''', open Surge XT's Tuning editor to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files. '''Test''' the tuning to ensure it is correct. | ||
... | |||
=== Control Surge XT's tuning with a tuning plugin === | |||
Briefly: There is no case for this version AFAIK. If you want to set a custom tuning, or load a tuning file, or respond to MTS-ESP control, you can do all those in Surge XT without any need for an additional plugin to provide those functionalities. | |||
=== Control Surge XT's tuning using MTS-ESP without a tuning plugin === | |||
Briefly: Add an MTS-ESP source plugin on one track, and Surge XT on another. Load a tuning file into the MTS-ESP source plugin. Set Surge XT to listen to MTS-ESP. | |||
== How to test the tuning == | |||
[Test using the tuner that comes with Reaper, or an external (e.g. phone-based tuner.] | |||
Revision as of 23:45, 4 August 2023
DRAFT ==== Microtuning Surge XT synth in the Reaper DAW ==== DRAFT
[This is a thinking-out-loud sketch of what a guide might look like for detailing how to use Surge XT with alternative (non-12-EDO) tunings in Reaper. It might be part of a larger document also describing how other popular but less full-featured synths or samplers can be used for microtonal music in Reaper. Or it might be part of a larger document also describing how Surge XT can be used for microtonal music in other DAWs.]
Temporary Outline
- Intro
- Usage cases
- How to test the tuning
Introduction
Surge XT can be used within the Reaper DAW to create music set in microtonal or other uncommon tuning systems using several methods. Which method you use will depend on the larger context in which you're working and your specific needs, which will be explored below. Reaper is a popular and inexpensive DAW that fully supports all of Surge XT's requirements for using alternative tuning systems. This tutorial was last verified using Surge XT version ???? and Reaper version ???? in August 2023.
This tutorial assumes you already have Surge XT and Reaper installed on your computer, and that you know how to create an instrument track in Reaper and load an plugin instrument onto it.
Note that Surge XT can also be run in standalone mode, without any DAW, but you won't be able to record your playing as MIDI notes unless you have some additional component doing the recording. The common use cases for running Surge XT in standalone mode are for live performance where you don't want the extra complexity of running a DAW, or when you're just playing casually and don't need to record MIDI. In standalone mode, the first two usage cases below [be specific once section titles are settled] can be used to tune Surge XT.
Usage cases | Methods | Scenarios
[I need to think about how I want to name these usage cases. I might prefer something that says more about why rather than what or how.]
Create a tuning in Surge XT itself
[Briefly: Use Surge's tuning editor to recreate a custom tuning, using the example of a Ptolemy's Intense Diatonic.]
Load a tuning file in Surge XT
Why you would choose this method: ...
Disadvantages of this method: ...
Briefly: Create a new instrument track in Reaper. Add Surge XT as a plugin on that instrument track. Load a Scala tuning file into Surge XT as follows: In the Menu select the Tuning option, then choose "Load .scl tuning..." Use the resulting file selection popup to choose one of the 12-note Scala tuning files that come with Surge XT, e.g. something beginners might have read about and would recognize like just intonation Ptolemy_intense_diatonic.scl or meantone WerckmeisterIII_equal_beating.scl, or instead choose something named in condensed code like ED3-12.scl. Note that without a Scala keyboard mapping file (.kbm) also loaded, Surge XT might assume a default tonic frequency and keyboard mapping that sets the first note specified in the tuning file as MIDI Note C.60 and the reference pitch as international standard pitch (MIDI A.69=440.000Hz). [Or will it? Seems undocumented. In fact, it does not. Default is a tonic of C.60 and the reference pitch is C.60=261.626Hz, which is close but not international standard.] However, if we are using a just intonation scale and music with a tonic of F (F4, MIDI 65, 349.23 Hz), we need to use a keyboard mapping file to ensure the tuning is correct. When you load a Scala tuning file you should always load a keyboard mapping file to prevent mistuned surprises. To learn more about how to use Scala tuning and keyboard mapping files, see <this awesome document that doesn't exist yet>. Load a keyboard mapping file, for example the "Halberstadt 60-440-69.kbm" file [which *is* international standard]. Optionally, open Surge XT's Tuning editor to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files. Test the tuning to ensure it is correct.
Control Surge XT's tuning with a tuning plugin
Briefly: There is no case for this version AFAIK. If you want to set a custom tuning, or load a tuning file, or respond to MTS-ESP control, you can do all those in Surge XT without any need for an additional plugin to provide those functionalities.
Control Surge XT's tuning using MTS-ESP without a tuning plugin
Briefly: Add an MTS-ESP source plugin on one track, and Surge XT on another. Load a tuning file into the MTS-ESP source plugin. Set Surge XT to listen to MTS-ESP.
How to test the tuning
[Test using the tuner that comes with Reaper, or an external (e.g. phone-based tuner.]