Import microtonal tuning tables (scala)

danilosan

Hi, recently I discovered the beauty of microtonal tuning and did experiments with the Colundi and other scales.

Some software synth (Asturia Pigments or Reveal Spire), Eurorack modules (µTune) and DAWs (Bitwig) can import tuning tables made with Scala (scl-files). http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/

Thus, I thought I ask you guys if you ever thought about to add an import features for SCL scale files for additional tunings? It would be magic to use microtonal tuning and analog synths with OXI.

Manuel

danilosan Hi Danilo, firstly say it’s not a trivial task at all what you request.
Can you explain if the microtonal tuning is done in conjunction with pitch bend messages in case of MIDI devices?
For CV stuff seems more reasonable to implement 🙂

danilosan

Hi Manuel

Thanks, that you are open to the topic. I know it is stuff at the edge and asked by experimental musicians…

As far as I understand it, standard pitch variations can be transmitted relatively finely with the MIDI Tuning Standard
Besides the first byte which specifies the equal-tempered semitones two bytes (14 bits) specify the fraction of 100 cents above the semitone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIDI_tuning_standard

That should allow a very fine resolution: “(approximately 0.0061 cents) in size, which is far below the threshold of human pitch perception and which therefore allows a very accurate representation of pitch.”

However, there could be more complications which I am just not aware. But I think that is how Bitwig integrated it in their micro-pitch device.
https://www.bitwig.com/learnings/microtuning-in-bitwig-studio-77/

I think it would be an additional feature that would make Oxi stand out from most other hardware sequencers.

Manuel

danilosan thanks for the info. We still need to figure out which messages are used for this purpose. I think the specification only talks about MIDI files. Maybe MIDI 2.0?

echorose

Seconding my support of MTS and/or Scala implementation. I honestly consider this (or an equivalent) a must w the gear that I use (anecdotally - it’s why I use a lot of Korg gear!)

verstaerker

echorose it’s why I use a lot of Korg gear!

are you saying Korg synths understand MTS? How do you use it ? I mean how do you sequence/play them in microtonality?

verstaerker

Manuel

interestingly this is indeed part of Midi 1.0 and uses Sysex to transfer the MTS-data.
I have to admit that i never heard about MTS and the only way i knew to play synth microtonal was using some Max devices that send out pitchbend, wich creates several issues

It would be really interesting to investigate into this once the Oxi is on the market .. for a 2.0 release of the Firmware

Gwengolo

+1 for microtonals scales.
It’s possible to do it with tubbutec utune but it will be amazing to implement it directly in the sequencer

stephen

+1 more.

DriesG

Hi, I’m about to order an Oxi: can’t wait to get my hands on it!

I’m using microtuning in my music, mainly Just Intonation temperaments but sometimes more experimental, non 12-EDO temperaments). Just wanted to add to the discussion that microtuning over midi - don’t know about 2.0 - works with pitchbend messages. When playing a chord on a single midi channel, all notes will be transposed using the same pitchbend deviation, dropping the purpose of that certain microtonal tuning temperament.
In my setup I’m using VCV Rack or an external midi device like the Blokas Midihub for microtuning over midi. Midihub can split chords into several midi channels and set pitchbend per note/channel, using scala files. For instance, I’m using my Elektron Digitone as a 4 voice poly synth with microtonal tuning per voice.
In Eurorack it’s a different story, since it uses mostly the 1V/oct standard. My main modular sequencer is the Frap Tools Usta, which I choose specifically for it’s microtonal capabilities.
Anyhow, I think adding microtonal and custom scales to Oxi One would be amazing!

solipsvs

cant midi be interpreted by the sound maker and a micro scaled imparted there? im not sure micro tuning needs to happen in midi. cv on the other hand is a bit more direct although there are modules that quantize pitch too

DriesG

solipsvs Well that’s exactly what a microtonal quantizer does (or a tuning temperament). In midi this works with pitchbend because midi note numbers standard is in 12EDO, same as standard western classical music. So you need to implement microtuning after note generation - in the sequencer or with another module/midibox - before sending those pitches to the instrument/vco.