Re: MIDI engine spec

Hi there,

If anyone wants early look at how the new section is shaping up,
see the beta preview page, and the Scales for Voice Channels help
on this page, also has the download url.

http://members.tripod.com/~robertinventor/ftsbeta.htm

More to come over the next few days. I'm sure there are things
left out in the explanations in the help - so keep asking
until I've explained everything you need to know, and / or made
any extra additions or changes needed.

It implements a version of the retuning side of Carl Lumma's spec.

Assumption is that any sequencing work is done in your sequencer
/ score editor, and that you relay it from there to FTS for retuning,
e.g. using Midi Yoke, or whatever method you use for midi relaying.

For example, for root control, you'll set the root by playing a midi
note in one of the midi channels in your sequencer (say, channel 1),
and relaying it to FTS, while relaying the notes for actually playing
in the other channels.

Alternatively, you can split your midi keyboard into regions and
set the root by playing a note in appropriate region of the midi
keyboard. Or use a foot pedal, slider, wheel etc. to change the
root control.

Has multiple simultaneous root control, and retuning either
with comma shifts, or comma drift.

Also has a method for selection of triads, tetrads, hexanies etc. from CPS
sets, and more generally, select notes from any scale according to the
factors, and number of factors.

One important thing isn't implemented yet. When you change the root,
it applies only to notes played after it. All notes still in play
keep whatever tuning they have (Keenan Pepper's "crunchy").

Retuning notes already in play will need a little extra thought.
That's because they will be all shifting in varying directions.
E.g. change root by a major third, then each note needs to
be retuned to the nearest note in the new scale, rather than
just shift them all up by a major third, which would be
easy to do.

It will be straightforward to do this, but not done yet.
Also plan to add a sostenuto like effect too, where you
can use a pedal to select which of the notes you want to
keep in the old tuning before change of root, and which
ones you want to retune.

Some more coding is needed to take account of compound factors
such as 9 in CPS sets.

I hope that the format is close enough to the final version
to not need very major changes. However, there could be
some changes I expect, so the next few days is prob. a time for
experimentation (unless it's a once off, or you want to be tied
down to always using this particular beta preview when you edit
your piece!)

Also, a few bugs would be expected at this stage. None known
as of writing.

Have fun with it!

I plan to take a day or two off and have a go at playing with it too...

:-)

Robert