DAWs: Difference between revisions
Wikispaces>Sean_Archibald **Imported revision 482883476 - Original comment: ** |
Wikispaces>TallKite **Imported revision 483367186 - Original comment: ** |
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<h2>IMPORTED REVISION FROM WIKISPACES</h2> | <h2>IMPORTED REVISION FROM WIKISPACES</h2> | ||
This is an imported revision from Wikispaces. The revision metadata is included below for reference:<br> | This is an imported revision from Wikispaces. The revision metadata is included below for reference:<br> | ||
: This revision was by author [[User: | : This revision was by author [[User:TallKite|TallKite]] and made on <tt>2014-01-16 17:21:07 UTC</tt>.<br> | ||
: The original revision id was <tt> | : The original revision id was <tt>483367186</tt>.<br> | ||
: The revision comment was: <tt></tt><br> | : The revision comment was: <tt></tt><br> | ||
The revision contents are below, presented both in the original Wikispaces Wikitext format, and in HTML exactly as Wikispaces rendered it.<br> | The revision contents are below, presented both in the original Wikispaces Wikitext format, and in HTML exactly as Wikispaces rendered it.<br> | ||
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<div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html">This page discusses the relative merits of various **Digital Audio Workstations** (**DAW**s - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation|Wikipedia article]]) from a microtonal perspective. Since many keyboards and a few softsynths are retunable via sysex, and most keyboards and softsynths are only retunable via multiple-midi-channels-with-pitch-bends, special focus is given to how each DAW handles channels and sysexes. | <div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html">This page discusses the relative merits of various **Digital Audio Workstations** (**DAW**s - [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation|Wikipedia article]]) from a microtonal perspective. Since many keyboards and a few softsynths are retunable via sysex, and most keyboards and softsynths are only retunable via multiple-midi-channels-with-pitch-bends, special focus is given to how each DAW handles channels and sysexes. | ||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">[[toc]] | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;">[[toc]] | ||
</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">__**DAWs covered:**__ | </span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">__**DAWs covered:**__ | ||
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---- | ---- | ||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Relative Merits of Various DAWs</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">ProTools</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- Midi tracks in ProTools can't contain multiple channels of midi data. | |||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- Midi tracks in ProTools can't contain multiple channels of midi data. | |||
</span> | </span> | ||
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<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Ableton Live</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- merges all midi channels in track sends, effect outputs and max4Live outputs into channel 1, and filters out all sysex messages and all polyphonic aftertouch messages. Midi effects, except for built-in midi effects and max4live midi effects, must be put in the audio effects section of the track. Receiving midi output from an effect requires creating an additional track and setting its input to that effect. | |||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- merges all midi channels in track sends, effect outputs and max4Live outputs into channel 1, and filters out all sysex messages and all polyphonic aftertouch messages. Midi effects, except for built-in midi effects and max4live midi effects, must be put in the audio effects section of the track. Receiving midi output from an effect requires creating an additional track and setting its input to that effect. | |||
</span> | </span> | ||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">FL Studio (Fruity Loops)</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- filters out sysex messages. | |||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- filters out sysex messages. | |||
</span> | </span> | ||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Preliminary study indicates that all softsynths require only a single instance to be retunable via the pitch bend method! | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Preliminary study indicates that all softsynths require only a single instance to be retunable via the pitch bend method! | ||
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|| [[http://www.u-he.com/cms/ace|u-he ACE]] || Virtual modular analog synthesizer || Windows and Mac, VST/AU || Full-keyboard microtuning || Import a tun file || ~$69 || | || [[http://www.u-he.com/cms/ace|u-he ACE]] || Virtual modular analog synthesizer || Windows and Mac, VST/AU || Full-keyboard microtuning || Import a tun file || ~$69 || | ||
|| [[http://www.xen-arts.com/p/download-vsti.html|Xen-Arts IVOR]] || Virtual analog synthesizer || Windows only, VST || Full-keyboard microtuning || MTS messages, or import MIDI tuning dump || Free || | || [[http://www.xen-arts.com/p/download-vsti.html|Xen-Arts IVOR]] || Virtual analog synthesizer || Windows only, VST || Full-keyboard microtuning || MTS messages, or import MIDI tuning dump || Free || | ||
|| [[http://www.xen-arts.com/p/download-vsti.html|Xen-Arts Xen-FMTS]] || FM/spectral synthesizer || Windows only, VST || Full-keyboard microtuning || MTS messages, or | || [[http://www.xen-arts.com/p/download-vsti.html|Xen-Arts Xen-FMTS]] || FM/spectral synthesizer || Windows only, VST || Full-keyboard microtuning || MTS messages, or | ||
import | import | ||
MIDI tuning dump || Free || | MIDI tuning dump || Free || | ||
|| [[http://www.xen-arts.com/p/download-vsti.html|Xen-Arts XenFont]] || Soundfont (sf2) player || Windows only, VST || Full-keyboard microtuning || MTS messages, or | || [[http://www.xen-arts.com/p/download-vsti.html|Xen-Arts XenFont]] || Soundfont (sf2) player || Windows only, VST || Full-keyboard microtuning || MTS messages, or | ||
import | import | ||
MIDI tuning dump || Free || | MIDI tuning dump || Free || | ||
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You can know which type of tuning file is supported by your plugin by reading its manual or supporting documentation. | You can know which type of tuning file is supported by your plugin by reading its manual or supporting documentation. | ||
Tuning files can be created by using software. The | Tuning files can be created by using software. The three options are [[http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/|Scala]] [[@http://www.TallKite.com/alt-tuner.html|alt-tuner]] or [[http://nonoctave.com|LMSO]]. If your plugin supports the scl/kbm format, then you can [[http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/downloads.html|download a large database]] (scroll to the bottom of the page) of these files to start with. | ||
**Plugins which are microtuned via MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard).** | **Plugins which are microtuned via MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard).** | ||
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<h4>Original HTML content:</h4> | <h4>Original HTML content:</h4> | ||
<div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;width:200%;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html"><html><head><title>DAWs</title></head><body>This page discusses the relative merits of various <strong>Digital Audio Workstations</strong> (<strong>DAW</strong>s - <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia article</a>) from a microtonal perspective. Since many keyboards and a few softsynths are retunable via sysex, and most keyboards and softsynths are only retunable via multiple-midi-channels-with-pitch-bends, special focus is given to how each DAW handles channels and sysexes.<br /> | <div style="width:100%; max-height:400pt; overflow:auto; background-color:#f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #eaecf0; padding:0em"><pre style="margin:0px;border:none;background:none;word-wrap:break-word;width:200%;white-space: pre-wrap ! important" class="old-revision-html"><html><head><title>DAWs</title></head><body>This page discusses the relative merits of various <strong>Digital Audio Workstations</strong> (<strong>DAW</strong>s - <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audio_workstation" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia article</a>) from a microtonal perspective. Since many keyboards and a few softsynths are retunable via sysex, and most keyboards and softsynths are only retunable via multiple-midi-channels-with-pitch-bends, special focus is given to how each DAW handles channels and sysexes.<br /> | ||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;"><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule: | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;"><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:18:&lt;img id=&quot;wikitext@@toc@@normal&quot; class=&quot;WikiMedia WikiMediaToc&quot; title=&quot;Table of Contents&quot; src=&quot;/site/embedthumbnail/toc/normal?w=225&amp;h=100&quot;/&gt; --><div id="toc"><h1 class="nopad">Table of Contents</h1><!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:18 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:19: --><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#x-Reaper">Reaper</a></div> | ||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:19 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:20: --><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#x-Logic Pro">Logic Pro</a></div> | |||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:20 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:21: --><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#x-GarageBand">GarageBand</a></div> | |||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule: | <!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:21 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:22: --><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#x-Cubase">Cubase</a></div> | ||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule: | <!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:22 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:23: --><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#x-Studio One">Studio One</a></div> | ||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule: | <!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:23 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:24: --><div style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW">Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW</a></div> | ||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:24 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:25: --><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><a href="#Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW-Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)">Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)</a></div> | |||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:25 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:26: --><div style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href="#Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW-Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)-List of microtunable instrument plugins">List of microtunable instrument plugins</a></div> | |||
<!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule: | <!-- ws:end:WikiTextTocRule:26 --><!-- ws:start:WikiTextTocRule:27: --><div style="margin-left: 3em;"><a href="#Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW-Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)-Plugin Microtuning Methods">Plugin Microtuning Methods</a></div> | ||
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</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;"><u><strong>DAWs covered:</strong></u><br /> | </span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;"><u><strong>DAWs covered:</strong></u><br /> | ||
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<hr /> | <hr /> | ||
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< | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Relative Merits of Various DAWs</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">ProTools</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- Midi tracks in ProTools can't contain multiple channels of midi data.<br /> | ||
</span><br /> | </span><br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:0:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc0"><a name="x-Reaper"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:0 -->Reaper</h2> | ||
- Extremely flexible midi and audio routing. No built-in softsynths except ReaSynth. The piano roll on the midi editor can be completely customized, e.g. more than 12 notes per octave.<br /> | - Extremely flexible midi and audio routing. No built-in softsynths except ReaSynth. The piano roll on the midi editor can be completely customized, e.g. more than 12 notes per octave.<br /> | ||
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<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:2:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc1"><a name="x-Logic Pro"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:2 -->Logic Pro</h2> | ||
- Logic's built-in instruments are of very high quality. There's a global setting for tuning them, and you can also import a .scl file. But they accept only 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. Logic only understands .scl files with this limitation. Logic is also incapable of changing the tuning via midi or automation, and you can only have one tuning per song.<br /> | - Logic's built-in instruments are of very high quality. There's a global setting for tuning them, and you can also import a .scl file. But they accept only 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. Logic only understands .scl files with this limitation. Logic is also incapable of changing the tuning via midi or automation, and you can only have one tuning per song.<br /> | ||
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<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:4:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc2"><a name="x-GarageBand"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:4 -->GarageBand</h2> | ||
- won't let you export its midi to any other DAW except Logic Pro. In other words it is a &quot;midi trap&quot;. GarageBand won't load VST effects, only AU effects.<br /> | - won't let you export its midi to any other DAW except Logic Pro. In other words it is a &quot;midi trap&quot;. GarageBand won't load VST effects, only AU effects.<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
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< | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Ableton Live</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- merges all midi channels in track sends, effect outputs and max4Live outputs into channel 1, and filters out all sysex messages and all polyphonic aftertouch messages. Midi effects, except for built-in midi effects and max4live midi effects, must be put in the audio effects section of the track. Receiving midi output from an effect requires creating an additional track and setting its input to that effect.<br /> | ||
</span><br /> | </span><br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
< | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;">FL Studio (Fruity Loops)</span><span style="display: block; text-align: left;">- filters out sysex messages.<br /> | ||
</span><br /> | </span><br /> | ||
<span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Preliminary study indicates that all softsynths require only a single instance to be retunable via the pitch bend method!<br /> | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;">Preliminary study indicates that all softsynths require only a single instance to be retunable via the pitch bend method!<br /> | ||
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<span style="display: block; text-align: left;"><br /> | <span style="display: block; text-align: left;"><br /> | ||
</span><br /> | </span><br /> | ||
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:6:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc3"><a name="x-Cubase"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:6 -->Cubase</h2> | ||
- has a midi insert plug-in for tuning. But it only accepts 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. However you can change the tuning in the course of a song, and have multiple tunings simultaneously (on several midi channels). However, the plug-in only works with two or three older VSTi's and not with the new, better instruments that come with Cubase 7, so in effect, it has been discontinued.<br /> | - has a midi insert plug-in for tuning. But it only accepts 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. However you can change the tuning in the course of a song, and have multiple tunings simultaneously (on several midi channels). However, the plug-in only works with two or three older VSTi's and not with the new, better instruments that come with Cubase 7, so in effect, it has been discontinued.<br /> | ||
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<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:8:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc4"><a name="x-Studio One"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:8 -->Studio One</h2> | ||
- doesn't allow recording or playback of sysexes. Apparently Studio One also doesn't allow multi-channel midi files (see link). <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page</a><br /> | - doesn't allow recording or playback of sysexes. Apparently Studio One also doesn't allow multi-channel midi files (see link). <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page</a><br /> | ||
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<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:10:&lt;h1&gt; --><h1 id="toc5"><a name="Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:10 -->Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW</h1> | ||
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:12:&lt;h2&gt; --><h2 id="toc6"><a name="Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW-Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:12 -->Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)</h2> | ||
Many DAWs can load instrument plugins. A plugin is a software synthesizer which can be accessed within the DAW, affording the user more sounds. Usually the plugin is loaded on a MIDI track. Some instrument plugins are capable of being microtuned. By using such a plugin, it is possible to make microtonal music within a DAW that otherwise cannot be microtuned.<br /> | Many DAWs can load instrument plugins. A plugin is a software synthesizer which can be accessed within the DAW, affording the user more sounds. Usually the plugin is loaded on a MIDI track. Some instrument plugins are capable of being microtuned. By using such a plugin, it is possible to make microtonal music within a DAW that otherwise cannot be microtuned.<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
Instrument plugins interface with your DAW through one of a handful of standards. Steinberg's VST is a standard supported by many DAWs. AudioUnit (AU) is widely supported on Mac computers. RTAS is used by ProTools. Put simply, you should check the above list of DAWs to see what kind of plugins are supported by your system.<br /> | Instrument plugins interface with your DAW through one of a handful of standards. Steinberg's VST is a standard supported by many DAWs. AudioUnit (AU) is widely supported on Mac computers. RTAS is used by ProTools. Put simply, you should check the above list of DAWs to see what kind of plugins are supported by your system.<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:14:&lt;h3&gt; --><h3 id="toc7"><a name="Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW-Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)-List of microtunable instrument plugins"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:14 -->List of microtunable instrument plugins</h3> | ||
The following table of software can be used within a DAW to make microtonal music. The table is woefully incomplete - there are many more plugins out there!<br /> | The following table of software can be used within a DAW to make microtonal music. The table is woefully incomplete - there are many more plugins out there!<br /> | ||
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<td>Full-keyboard microtuning<br /> | <td>Full-keyboard microtuning<br /> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
<td>MTS messages, or <br /> | <td>MTS messages, or<br /> | ||
import<br /> | import<br /> | ||
MIDI tuning dump<br /> | MIDI tuning dump<br /> | ||
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<td>Full-keyboard microtuning<br /> | <td>Full-keyboard microtuning<br /> | ||
</td> | </td> | ||
<td>MTS messages, or <br /> | <td>MTS messages, or<br /> | ||
import<br /> | import<br /> | ||
MIDI tuning dump<br /> | MIDI tuning dump<br /> | ||
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<br /> | <br /> | ||
<!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule: | <!-- ws:start:WikiTextHeadingRule:16:&lt;h3&gt; --><h3 id="toc8"><a name="Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW-Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)-Plugin Microtuning Methods"></a><!-- ws:end:WikiTextHeadingRule:16 -->Plugin Microtuning Methods</h3> | ||
Instrument plugins can be developed by anybody. As such, there is no standard way to set the tuning/scale of a plugin via user input. Navigating these competing methods of inputting microtonal scales can be rather messy. But generally we can group the methods like so:<br /> | Instrument plugins can be developed by anybody. As such, there is no standard way to set the tuning/scale of a plugin via user input. Navigating these competing methods of inputting microtonal scales can be rather messy. But generally we can group the methods like so:<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
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You can know which type of tuning file is supported by your plugin by reading its manual or supporting documentation.<br /> | You can know which type of tuning file is supported by your plugin by reading its manual or supporting documentation.<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
Tuning files can be created by using software. The | Tuning files can be created by using software. The three options are <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/" rel="nofollow">Scala</a> <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.TallKite.com/alt-tuner.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">alt-tuner</a> or <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://nonoctave.com" rel="nofollow">LMSO</a>. If your plugin supports the scl/kbm format, then you can <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/downloads.html" rel="nofollow">download a large database</a> (scroll to the bottom of the page) of these files to start with.<br /> | ||
<br /> | <br /> | ||
<strong>Plugins which are microtuned via MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard).</strong><br /> | <strong>Plugins which are microtuned via MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard).</strong><br /> | ||