User:Mousemambo/Document draft: Difference between revisions

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Four common instrument-DAW configurations for alternative tunings, here called "methods," are presented below. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, given the scenarios described. There are also other less common methods that might be appropriate or necessary for other instruments and DAWs and for special cases. If none of the offered scenarios describe your own situation, then you're invited to review the extensive "[[User:Mousemambo/Tuning methods|Tuning methods]]" article to explore more possibilities.

There are several references below to scale designers and tuning editors, which are software tools that allow you to create custom scales and tuning systems, or modify existing ones. To learn more about them, and some distinctions between scales and tuning systems, see "[[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Scale designers and tuning editors|Scale designers and tuning editors]]" in the Appendix.

To use this Methods section, you can choose just to read the "Scenarios" section of each method to find something that is close to the actual scenario in which you plan to use Surge XT and Reaper. Then follow the "Instructions" for that method. Or you may want to read all the "Scenarios," "Advantages," and "Disadvantages" of every method to gain a strong understanding of all these possibilities and be prepared for many scenarios.

=== Method 1: Set a tuning directly in the synth itself ===

[''Briefly: What is a tuning editor?'']

[''Briefly: What is a scale designer or tuning editor?'']

'''Scenarios'''

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'''Disadvantages'''

*Very few synths include a ~~tuning editor~~.

*Very few synths include a scale designer.

*Can be time consuming with an unfamiliar or complex tuning, compared to using a tuning file.

*Needs to be redone for each new instrument instance.

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'''Instructions'''

[''Use Surge's ~~tuning editor~~ to recreate a custom tuning, perhaps using the example of Ptolemy's Intense Diatonic or something more unusual.'']

[''Use Surge's scale designer to recreate a custom tuning, perhaps using the example of Ptolemy's Intense Diatonic or something more unusual.'']

'''Notes'''

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## Use the resulting file selection popup to choose one of the [''ideally 12-tone for keyboard mapping simplicity''] Scala scale files that come with Surge XT, e.g. [''something beginners might have read about and would recognize,''] like just intonation's Ptolemy_intense_diatonic.scl or meantone's WerckmeisterIII_equal_beating.scl, or instead choose [''something named in condensed code like''] ED3-12.scl. [''I realize Scala XT at this moment only comes with two tuning files beginners are likely to recognize by name, and one is 12-EDO. Also, the more commonly known JI and meantone scale files are 7-note not 12-note so they won't map properly by themselves. Ptolex is a 12-tone Ptolemeic JI tuning, but not widely known. Also, many people will be unable to distinguish Ptolex by ear from 12-EDO. So what example to use?'']

# Load a [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala keyboard mapping file|Scala keyboard mapping file]] (.kbm), to anchor the scale file data to a tuning base and set the tuning reference note and pitch. A good choice for example is the "Halberstadt 60-440-69.kbm" file, which on a standard piano-style keyboard will set the scale to the ISO tuning standard ([https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/3601/3e7b175fdcae4a2aa09f9d0db4ac099d/ISO-16-1975.pdf ISO 16:1975]) of A4 = 440 Hz. See "Scala scale and keyboard mapping files" below to learn a little more about these tuning files.

#Optionally, if you understand Scala scale and keyboard mapping data, you may wish to open Surge XT's ~~tuning editor~~ at this time (Menu > Tuning > Open tuning editor...) to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files.

#Optionally, if you understand Scala scale and keyboard mapping data, you may wish to open Surge XT's built-in scale designer at this time (Menu > Tuning > Open tuning editor...) to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files.

#Optionally, [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#How to test the tuning|test the tuning]] to ensure it's correct.

'''Notes'''

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==Appendix==

=== Scale designers and tuning editors ===

[''Once again, this whole section should probably be moved to the recently created article "Scale design software."'']

It's important to realize that the words "scale" and "tuning" have very different meanings in different contexts. In the context of scale design software (aka scale designers) and tuning editors, scales can be understood abstractly as roughly demarcated notes and intervals with a general structure, determined either by music cultural traditions or based on one of many possible patterns. Tuning systems can be understood as mathematical specifications for the exact pitch frequencies upon which those scale notes may be positioned. Tuning systems may define a large number of possible pitch locations, but a scale may include all or only a subset of them.

For example, the 12edo tuning system offers 12 possible frequencies per period for placing notes upon, all of which are used by the 12edo Chromatic scale, but only some of which are used by the 12edo Major pentatonic scale. These examples also point to the fact that an unambiguous, concrete scale description also names the tuning being used. The "12edo Major" scale and "Ptolemy's intense diatonic Major" scale are both Major scales. They are both diatonic (have five large and two maximally separated small intervals per period) and follow the Major mode pattern (L L s L L L s). But they place all their notes besides the tonic on slightly different frequencies, because they follow two different tuning systems -- a just intonation in the Ptolemy case and an equal temperament in the 12edo case. They sound roughly the same when each is played as a sequential scale, but some strong harmonic differences are audible in dyads and chords.

Therefore, we define a scale designer as a software tool for indicating the notes of a scale and their exact pitch frequencies. Given that definition, a tuning editor could be understood as a more general tool for exploring the various mathematical patterns from which tuning systems are developed. However, you will encounter software that uses these terms differently, as well as many other names that point toward the various functions being fulfilled. And software in this category frequently combines at least some of the functions of a scale designer and tuning editor. Just keep in mind that ultimately to play music you will need both to indicate the notes of your scale and the exact frequencies on which they are placed.

===Set up an instrument track in the Reaper DAW===

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 Four common instrument-DAW configurations for alternative tunings, here called "methods," are presented below. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, given the scenarios described. There are also other less common methods that might be appropriate or necessary for other instruments and DAWs and for special cases. If none of the offered scenarios describe your own situation, then you're invited to review the extensive "[[User:Mousemambo/Tuning methods|Tuning methods]]" article to explore more possibilities.
+There are several references below to scale designers and tuning editors, which are software tools that allow you to create custom scales and tuning systems, or modify existing ones. To learn more about them, and some distinctions between scales and tuning systems, see "[[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#Scale designers and tuning editors|Scale designers and tuning editors]]" in the Appendix.
 To use this Methods section, you can choose just to read the "Scenarios" section of each method to find something that is close to the actual scenario in which you plan to use Surge XT and Reaper. Then follow the "Instructions" for that method. Or you may want to read all the "Scenarios," "Advantages," and "Disadvantages" of every method to gain a strong understanding of all these possibilities and be prepared for many scenarios.
 === Method 1: Set a tuning directly in the synth itself ===
-[''Briefly: What is a tuning editor?'']
+[''Briefly: What is a scale designer or tuning editor?'']
 '''Scenarios'''
@@ Line 46: / Line 48: @@
 '''Disadvantages'''
-*Very few synths include a tuning editor.
+*Very few synths include a scale designer.
 *Can be time consuming with an unfamiliar or complex tuning, compared to using a tuning file.
 *Needs to be redone for each new instrument instance.
@@ Line 54: / Line 56: @@
 '''Instructions'''
-[''Use Surge's tuning editor to recreate a custom tuning, perhaps using the example of Ptolemy's Intense Diatonic or something more unusual.'']
+[''Use Surge's scale designer to recreate a custom tuning, perhaps using the example of Ptolemy's Intense Diatonic or something more unusual.'']
 '''Notes'''
@@ Line 98: / Line 100: @@
 ## Use the resulting file selection popup to choose one of the [''ideally 12-tone for keyboard mapping simplicity''] Scala scale files that come with Surge XT, e.g. [''something beginners might have read about and would recognize,''] like just intonation's Ptolemy_intense_diatonic.scl or meantone's WerckmeisterIII_equal_beating.scl, or instead choose [''something named in condensed code like''] ED3-12.scl. [''I realize Scala XT at this moment only comes with two tuning files beginners are likely to recognize by name, and one is 12-EDO. Also, the more commonly known JI and meantone scale files are 7-note not 12-note so they won't map properly by themselves. Ptolex is a 12-tone Ptolemeic JI tuning, but not widely known. Also, many people will be unable to distinguish Ptolex by ear from 12-EDO. So what example to use?'']
 # Load a [[User:Mousemambo/Scala tuning system#Scala keyboard mapping file|Scala keyboard mapping file]] (.kbm), to anchor the scale file data to a tuning base and set the tuning reference note and pitch.  A good choice for example is the "Halberstadt 60-440-69.kbm" file, which on a standard piano-style keyboard will set the scale to the ISO tuning standard ([https://cdn.standards.iteh.ai/samples/3601/3e7b175fdcae4a2aa09f9d0db4ac099d/ISO-16-1975.pdf ISO 16:1975]) of A4 = 440 Hz. See "Scala scale and keyboard mapping files" below to learn a little more about these tuning files.
-#Optionally, if you understand Scala scale and keyboard mapping data, you may wish to open Surge XT's tuning editor at this time (Menu > Tuning > Open tuning editor...) to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files.
+#Optionally, if you understand Scala scale and keyboard mapping data, you may wish to open Surge XT's built-in scale designer at this time (Menu > Tuning > Open tuning editor...) to confirm the correct data was loaded from the files.
 #Optionally, [[User:Mousemambo/Document draft#How to test the tuning|test the tuning]] to ensure it's correct.
 '''Notes'''
@@ Line 187: / Line 189: @@
 ==Appendix==
+=== Scale designers and tuning editors ===
+[''Once again, this whole section should probably be moved to the recently created article "Scale design software."'']
+It's important to realize that the words "scale" and "tuning" have very different meanings in different contexts. In the context of scale design software (aka scale designers) and tuning editors, scales can be understood abstractly as roughly demarcated notes and intervals with a general structure, determined either by music cultural traditions or based on one of many possible patterns. Tuning systems can be understood as mathematical specifications for the exact pitch frequencies upon which those scale notes may be positioned. Tuning systems may define a large number of possible pitch locations, but a scale may include all or only a subset of them.
+For example, the 12edo tuning system offers 12 possible frequencies per period for placing notes upon, all of which are used by the 12edo Chromatic scale, but only some of which are used by the 12edo Major pentatonic scale. These examples also point to the fact that an unambiguous, concrete scale description also names the tuning being used. The "12edo Major" scale and "Ptolemy's intense diatonic Major" scale are both Major scales. They are both diatonic (have five large and two maximally separated small intervals per period) and follow the Major mode pattern (L L s L L L s). But they place all their notes besides the tonic on slightly different frequencies, because they follow two different tuning systems -- a just intonation in the Ptolemy case and an equal temperament in the 12edo case. They sound roughly the same when each is played as a sequential scale, but some strong harmonic differences are audible in dyads and chords.
+Therefore, we define a scale designer as a software tool for indicating the notes of a scale and their exact pitch frequencies. Given that definition, a tuning editor could be understood as a more general tool for exploring the various mathematical patterns from which tuning systems are developed. However, you will encounter software that uses these terms differently, as well as many other names that point toward the various functions being fulfilled. And software in this category frequently combines at least some of the functions of a scale designer and tuning editor. Just keep in mind that ultimately to play music you will need both to indicate the notes of your scale and the exact frequencies on which they are placed.
 ===Set up an instrument track in the Reaper DAW===