1

I'd like to know if it's possible to modify the tuning of every single note with a given frequency on a keyboard and store it in a specific "scale set". Is that possible? The idea would be to play temperaments in a live execution without too much effort (ideally press a button and you switch temperament).

Improve this question
10
  • Multiply all the temperaments by 12, to find number of combinations, and 'press a button' starts to get very expensive - especially regarding the very limited market for such an instrument. That apart - recommending products isn't part of this site's remit. Vtc.
    – Tim
    Aug 14, 2021 at 8:00
  • @Tim could just be something that stores 10 "scale sets" and press a button to switch in between one of them, I don't nee to have stored all possible combinations...
    – Dac0
    Aug 14, 2021 at 8:05
  • @Tim why multiply all the temperaments by 12? That's not how temperaments were used in the days before equal temperament.
    – phoog
    Aug 14, 2021 at 13:43
  • @phoog - each key would need slightly different tuning for its notes - that's 12 different tunings for one key, or 7 minimum for diatonics. I felt OP wanted to cover loads of different temperaments, so would need loads of different tunings - one for each key at least.
    – Tim
    Aug 14, 2021 at 13:53
  • 1
    Logic Pro has such a feature, comes bundled with loads of historical tuning methods and allows the user to design their own, too.
    – OwenM
    Aug 16, 2021 at 11:36

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

It sounds like you want Scala:

Scala is a freeware software application with versions supporting Windows, OS X, and Linux. It allows users to create and archive musical scales, analyze and transform them with built-in theoretical tools, play them with an on-screen keyboard or from an external MIDI keyboard, and export them to hardware and software synthesizers. (Wikipedia)

Scala is a powerful software tool for experimentation with musical tunings, such as just intonation scales, equal and historical temperaments, microtonal and macrotonal scales, and non-Western scales. It supports scale creation, editing, comparison, analysis, storage, tuning of electronic instruments, and MIDI file generation and tuning conversion. All this is integrated into a single application with a wide variety of mathematical routines and scale creation methods. Scala is ideal for the exploration of tunings and becoming familiar with the concepts involved. In addition, a very large library of scales is freely available for Scala and can be used for analysis or music creation. (Scala Homepage)

You might also find useful information in the following posts on this site:

And a bit indirectly...

Improve this answer
1
  • And there certainly are keyboard models that switch temperaments "at the touch of a button," though I don't know that the Roland C-30 lets you save custom ones... roland.com/us/products/c-30/features
    – Andy Bonner
    Aug 16, 2021 at 14:33

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.