User:Mousemambo/Document draft: Difference between revisions

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[''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.

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 an ordered set of notes, whose roughly demarcated structure of intervals is determined by cultural music traditions or based on one of many possible patterns. Tuning systems can be understood as mathematical specifications for the set of exact pitch frequencies upon which those scale notes may be positioned. Tuning systems can define a large number of possible pitch locations, and 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.

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.

Therefore, we can 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 these same 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===

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 [''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.
+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 an ordered set of notes, whose roughly demarcated structure of intervals is determined by cultural music traditions or based on one of many possible patterns. Tuning systems can be understood as mathematical specifications for the set of exact pitch frequencies upon which those scale notes may be positioned. Tuning systems can define a large number of possible pitch locations, and 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.
+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.
+Therefore, we can 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 these same 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===