User:Contribution/Chanopif Project

Chanopif (short for Channel-Note-Pitch-Fractional pitch) is a proposed file format and specification designed to enable precise microtonal tuning for electronic and software-based musical instruments under the MIDI 2.0 standard. The format uses the .cnpf file extension and leverages the 7.25 pitch attribute (Registered Per-Note Controller #3) defined in MIDI 2.0 to achieve extremely fine pitch resolution—specifically 402,653,184 subdivisions per octave (402,653,184-EDO).

Etymology

The name Chanopif is derived from its four core elements:

Cha-: Channel
-no-: Note
-pi-: Pitch
-f: Fractional pitch

These components underscore the file format’s focus on assigning precise pitch data to specific MIDI channels and note numbers.

Background: MIDI 2.0 Pitch 7.25

In MIDI 2.0, Registered Per-Note Controller #3: Pitch 7.25 provides a high-resolution method for defining pitch beyond standard 12-tone equal temperament (12-EDO). The 32-bit data field for Pitch 7.25 is split into:

7 bits for the integer part (the “traditional” note number in semitones).
25 bits for the fractional part of a semitone.

This gives 2^7 = 128 distinct note values (as in MIDI 1.0), each further divided into 2^25 microsteps, resulting in a total of 402,653,184 equal divisions per octave (12 semitones × 2^25). This extreme resolution allows for microtonal tunings with a precision of 1.49 × 10^-6 cents.

File Format

A Chanopif (.cnpf) file is a plain-text file containing a series of lines. Each line follows the pattern:

channel_base10 noteNumber_base16 pitch_base16.fractionalPitch_base32

Where:

channel_base10

MIDI channel index, ranging from 1 to 256 in MIDI 2.0 (or 1 to 16 in MIDI 1.0).

noteNumber_base16

The MIDI note number expressed in hexadecimal, ranging from 00 to 7F.

pitch_base16

The 7-bit integer part (in hexadecimal) for semitone pitch, ranging from 00 to 7F.

fractionalPitch_base32

A 25-bit fractional part for microtonal precision, expressed in base 32 using the characters 0–9 and A–V. This base-32 representation spans values from 00000 (zero fraction) up to a maximum of VVVVV, that encodes all 2^25 subdivisions of a semitone. Each of the five characters encodes a 5-bit segment of the 25-bit word, with the total being 5×5=25 bits.

Exemple

An example line might be:

16 7F 7F.VVVVV

16 = MIDI channel 16

7F = MIDI note number in hex (127 in decimal)

7F.VVVVV :

7F = pitch part in hex (127 in decimal)
VVVVV = fractional part in base 32 (33554431 in decimal)

Syntax

File identification and version declaration

The first line of a Chanopif file must declare the format and version to ensure compatibility:

chanopif version ?.?.?

Metadata support

Metadata is optional but, if included, should appear on the second line for quick identification without needing to scan the entire file. YAML is used, and fields are open-ended.

<meta>
YAML content
</meta>

Comments

Use # to insert a comment. Comments are ignored by the parser and do not affect the file's execution. They can be used to provide explanations or annotations within the file.

Nota bene: YAML metadata only supports inline comment.

# Inline comment

Tuning control

As described above:

channel_base10  noteNumber_base16  pitch_base16.fractionalPitch_base32

Upon loading a Chanopif file, all notes start in an inactive state. As each line is read, the specified note on the given channel becomes active (or is updated if already active) with its assigned pitch and fractional pitch. After the entire file is processed, any notes that have not been defined remain inactive.

To calculate frequencies, the parser uses this formula:

frequency = 440 * 2^(((pitch_decimal - 69) + (fractional_pitch_decimal / (2^25))) / 12)

pitch_decimal is the 7-bit pitch portion, represented in hexadecimal within Chanopif, and converted internally to a value between 0 and 127.
fractional_pitch_decimal is the 25-bit fractional portion, represented in base 32 within Chanopif, and converted internally to a value between 0 and 2^25 - 1.

Purpose and Implementation

Chanopif’s primary objective is to facilitate unambiguous, universal microtonal tunings within the MIDI 2.0 ecosystem. By standardizing on tuning per channel and 402,653,184-EDO, Chanopif ensures that any tuning, any note pitch, can be represented consistently in .cnpf files. Key goals and benefits include:

Overcoming 128-Note Limitations: By combining multiple channels (up to 256 in MIDI 2.0), each with fully customized tuning for every note, composers can effectively bypass the traditional 128-note limitation of MIDI. This is especially beneficial for large-scale works requiring extensive microtonal ranges.
Flexibility: By assigning independant tuning configurations per channel, it becomes possible to create scales with a large number of notes, even those that do not rely on octave equivalences.
High Precision: At around 1.49 × 10^-6 cents per step, the resolution far exceeds what the human ear can typically discern, making it suitable for studio recording, live performance, or any scenario requiring advanced microtonal control. At 20000 Hz, the phase difference between two adjacent pitches is approximately 16 hours.
Data Efficiency: By using the most concise syntax possible, compressing 7-bit words in hexadecimal and 25-bit words into 5 letters of 5-bit (base 32), it ensures optimal space savings in storage and transmission.
Compatibility: The format complies with the MIDI 2.0 standard, fully supporting the 7.25 pitch attribute for enhanced musical expression and precision.

Significance

Standardized Microtonal Implementation: By adopting a consistent 402,653,184-EDO approach, Chanopif eliminates ambiguity over how fractional pitches are interpreted.
Widespread Applications: Chanopif can be used to compose music that extends beyond the standard 128-note limit, allowing for large tuning systems, such as a full eight-octave 72-EDO scale (576 notes required) with optimal Riemann Zeta stretch (no-octave equivalence multi-channel required). It also enables the development of new instruments, encourages experimentation with alternative scales, and supports hyper-accurate tuning for classical, jazz, electronic, and many other musical styles.
Future-Proof: Chanopif is designed to scale with evolving MIDI technology, leveraging the expanded channel range (up to 256) and high-definition capabilities of MIDI 2.0.

Development and Adoption

Integration into Open-Source Virtual Synthesizers To promote broad accessibility, Chanopif aims for direct support in open-source and free virtual synthesizers such as Surge XT. This would allow users worldwide to experiment with advanced tunings in a no-cost, community-driven environment.

Implementation in Free Tuning Generation Platforms Encouraging tools like Scale Workshop to incorporate Chanopif would enable users to create, edit, and export complex tuning files effortlessly. By making this functionality available in a freely accessible platform, the community can explore and share custom scales more readily.

Collaboration with Oddsound Working with Oddsound to include Chanopif compatibility in both the free MTS-ESP Mini plugin and the premium MTS-ESP Suite would significantly expand the format’s reach. Musicians could load Chanopif files directly into Oddsound’s microtuning ecosystem, fostering seamless integration across diverse digital audio workstations.

Adoption by Commercial Virtual Instrument Developers Proprietary software synthesizers and samplers are a significant part of the modern music production landscape. Inviting commercial developers to adopt Chanopif in their products would bring high-resolution microtonal flexibility to a wide audience, ensuring robust industry support and consistent user experiences.

Partnerships with Hardware Manufacturers Finally, collaborating with companies that produce MIDI controllers and synthesizer hardware would open the door to advanced, real-time microtonal control. By incorporating Chanopif into hardware devices, musicians can harness ultra-precise tunings and extended note ranges in both studio and live performance contexts.

Examples

Here is a Chanopif file coding for a 380zpi scale (72-EDO Zeta stretch) spanning eight pseudo-octaves:

Here is another Chanopif file describing a Carlos Alpha scale covering fourteen fifth-equivalences:

Todo: Generate both files

Upload the files and insert their respective links here.