JI Intervals in FTS

Good day everyone,

Can someone please tell me how to make Fractal Tune Smithy play two
tones at the same time (intervals). I want to hear the intervals of
the Harmonic Series.

Thanks
Wally

Hi Wally

> Can someone please tell me how to make Fractal Tune Smithy play two
> tones at the same time (intervals). I want to hear the intervals of
> the Harmonic Series.

First, you can play from midi keyboard via FTS. To do that, tick In | Open Now,
or if regularly using FTS when playing from midi keyboard, tick In | Open at
start of session. Then play as many notes simultaneously as you like up to limits
of polyphony of soundcard / synth.

You can play from p.c. keyboard using, e.g. the Seed window, move mouse over
the picture of the keyboard, and play using the keys in the top row of the p.c.
keyboard, 1, 2, 3, ... There are some limitations on which three notes chords
you can play in this way, because design of p.c. keyboard is not set up particularly
for playing chords (seems to be mechanical, at any rate, nothing to do with FTS,
or even Windows, and varies from one keyboard to another).

Also, can show the arpeggio window, click whichever notes you want to include
in the chord, and then use Ctrl + click on the play button to bring up the
Arpeggio / Scale playback config window (which you can also get from the main window)
and choose chord as the play method. This can also be used to play a chord sequence
by showing arpeggio windows for each chord and then using the option to play them
all one after another in the order visited (before clicking the play button, click
on the captions of the arpeggio windows for all the chords you want to hear in the
order in which you want to hear them).

On subject of harmonic series notes played together, I wonder if you've found
Help | Help | Other pages | Harmonic series notes sound well together
yet. This plays the notes as overlapping notes with sustain.

So that's a brief intro to some of the ways of playing notes simultaneously in FTS as it is set
up at present. Another one that may be worth mentioning is to make a custom voice consisiting
of several harmonics, and you can set the strength of each harmonic as you like.
See Voices | Custom voices for some examples, such as Marimba playing harpsichord partials
- if that isn't showing yet, click "Make all presets plus free any not in use".

Say if interested in following any of these up further, or something else.

Robert

Hello Robert!

You've been quiet lately, but I know you were enjoying the holidays. Two tiny things for you:

1. This one is just a funny colloquism (sp?): when you say "To do that, tick In | Open Now..." - note that many people using American English might not know the use of 'tick', as the expression over here is usually 'check'. I learned this the opposite way developing some software for a UK contract...

2. Would you post a link to the latest 'stable' version of FTS, along with either pointers (if they aren't on the same page) to a description, or supply a description of the program? I'd like to include it as one of the first links on the resources page at microtonal.org.

I also need to contact Jeff Scott, Graham Breed, and Manuel Op de Coul regarding listing their programs as well, but if they are listening/reading...

Cheers,
Jon

In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.2.20020107195004.00a85470@...>
Jon Szanto wrote:

> I also need to contact Jeff Scott, Graham Breed, and Manuel Op de Coul
> regarding listing their programs as well, but if they are
> listening/reading...

Oh, yes. My programs are at <http://x31eq.com/software.htm>,
or <http://microtonal.co.uk/software.htm> if you want to be daring. I
haven't worked on either for a long time, but they still exist. I've also
got some CGI at <http://microtonal.co.uk/temper/>. You can add me to the
members page. I have plenty of file storage already, and can lend some
out. Robert can include me in his archive. Is that everything?

Graham

> I also need to contact Jeff Scott, Graham Breed, and Manuel
> Op de Coul regarding listing their programs as well, but if
> they are listening/reading...
>
> Cheers,
> Jon

Hi Jon,

Thanks; I really appreciate the opportunity.

I've had a 'secret' web site for some time with info,
but have been shy about showing it to anyone. I'm in
the middle right now of switching things around on the
web site a bit and trying to tone down a few of the
more outrageous rants I've got there that might upset
people who don't know me, then I'll be announcing its
location to the public in general in a few days.

For your site, is the idea that I should write a short
paragraph giving the basic idea, like Manuel's well
done synopsis he just posted? Would a little file icon
from the program be helpful too?

Let me think about the prose for LMSO. Thanks for
giving me an opportunity to focus on this.

--

Oh, and in the members section I would be honored to
have a link to my music links on the geocities site. I
guess it could be something like:

"X. J Scott, a farmer, goatsman, and designer who
dwells in the Appalachian foothills of East Tennessee,
enjoys working with a variety of tuning systems, but
has a special place in his heart for nonoctave tunings.
Some examples of his work may be found at
http://geocities.com/nonoctave/

Thanks again,

Jeff

Jeff,

{you wrote...}
>Thanks; I really appreciate the opportunity.

The very *least* we can all do for each other!

>... then I'll be announcing its location to the public in general in a few >days.

I'll look for the notice.

>For your site, is the idea that I should write a short paragraph giving >the basic idea, like Manuel's well done synopsis he just posted?

That would be good - gives people a heads-up on how it might be useful for them. Not being a Mac household I can only go by the glowing reviews I've heard.

>Would a little file icon from the program be helpful too?

To be honest, since not every link will have one I'll just keep the 'design' consistent and have text links.

>Let me think about the prose for LMSO. Thanks for giving me an opportunity >to focus on this.

Cool.

>Oh, and in the members section I would be honored to have a link to my >music links on the geocities site. I guess it could be something like:
>
>"X. J Scott, a farmer, goatsman, and designer who
>dwells in the Appalachian foothills of East Tennessee,
>enjoys working with a variety of tuning systems, but
>has a special place in his heart for nonoctave tunings.
>Some examples of his work may be found at
>http://geocities.com/nonoctave/

It'll be up in moments...

Cheers,
Jon

Hi Jon,

> 1. This one is just a funny colloquism (sp?): when you say "To do that,
> tick In | Open Now..." - note that many people using American English might
> not know the use of 'tick', as the expression over here is usually 'check'.
> I learned this the opposite way developing some software for a UK contract...

Never knew that! A bit of a puzzle that too.

Saying "Check In | Open Now..." will confuse some people using UK English.

Glossary of English terms (or American ones)?

for now prob. I'll do it as:
"tick (check) In | Open Now".

Any other thoughts?...

> 2. Would you post a link to the latest 'stable' version of FTS, along with
> either pointers (if they aren't on the same page) to a description, or
> supply a description of the program? I'd like to include it as one of the
> first links on the resources page at microtonal.org.

Last stable release is a year ago last summer and is very out of date, & not so much
of it is on midi relaying, mostly for fractal tunes. So that's a bit of a puzzle too.
I think best just to point to the beta until the next release. The beta
download page includes a link to the old release.
http://members.tripod.com/~robertinventor/ftsbeta.htm

This isn't a very satisfactory situation I know and I need to get cracking on
the next release.

Description, maybe:

Fractal Tune Smithy: Originally an algo-comp program; now often used for microtonal
composition / improvisation as well. Retunes to scale entered as cents, ratios or whatever. Uses
pitch bends and re-mapping of midi channels to do this rather than tuning tables -
so it will work with any GM compatible synth or soundcard. Includes many of the SCALA
scales and modes, and one can use it to make a searchable drop lists of all the SCALA
scales and all the SCALA modes.

For members page, maybe something like
Mathematician by training, inventor, programmer of Fractal Tune Smithy,
and amateur composer,
and could have home page as http://members.tripod.com/~robertinventor/tunes/tunes.htm
with mp3s at http://www.mp3.com.au/RobertWalker

Robert

Hi Graham,

Okay, added you to the list, thanks.

Robert

Robert,

{you wrote...}
>Never knew that! A bit of a puzzle that too. Saying "Check In | Open >Now..." will confuse some people using UK English. Glossary of English >terms (or American ones)?
>
>for now prob. I'll do it as:
>"tick (check) In | Open Now".

Well, I'm sure people will figure it out, just wanted you to know (it's a wide world, as I found out in doing software...)

>Any other thoughts?...

None at the moment, my head is too full!

And I'll add the info to the resource and members pages, you've supplied all that I need - thanks!

Cheers,
Jon

Graham,

{you wrote...}
>You can add me to the members page.

I've done that, as well as put pointers to Midi Relay and MidiConv. If there is anything more specific about yourself you'd like known, you can let me know. :)

>I have plenty of file storage already, and can lend some out.

Definitely will keep that in mind!

>Is that everything?

You forgot to mail the check (or is it cheque?). You know, the big one with lots of zeros... <g>

Cheers,
Jon