Microtonal Soft Synths

Is anyone here currently using software synthesizers for microtonal music? What do you use? What have you found that works satisfactorily (and what not)?

I am looking to retire my old rack of TX802s, mixers, and processors, and the old PowerMac G4 that runs my obsolete MIDI software and migrate to some kind of soft synth setup that will run on my relatively new Intel Mac Mini. I am very much behind the curve on this technology, and trying to get up to speed so that I can make some sensible purchasing decisions. I understand that most or all software synthesizers, samplers, effects, etc., run as plugins in one or another of the big digital recording/sound editing applications: Logic, ProTools, Digital Performer, etc., and that there are conflicting/incompatible protocols for plugins, so that one must make sure that the plugins one wants to use will run on the platform one uses, or vice-versa.

I have harvested a long list of potentially microtonal soft synths from John Loffink's Microtonal Synthesis website and checked those instruments out on the web (of course, most of the vendors' sites say *noting* about the instruments' tunability), but those pages haven't been updated for nearly two years, and I'm sure that there have been many new developments since then.

(BTW, I have an old copy of Digital Performer, and a lot of work in DP files, so I'm inclined to stay with DP unless there's a compelling reason to move to some other platform else.)

--DBD

Hi David,

I like Logic on the Mac, but my favorite DAW/host/thing is
REAPER. It's primarily Windows, but I see they now have a
Mac beta
http://www.reaper.fm
which you might try. It's a lot cheaper than Logic.

For me, the holy grail of piano synths is Pianoteq. It's a
physical model and it knocks my socks off every time I use it.
http://www.pianoteq.com
It happens to load Scala .scl files directly, the tuning is
rock-solid, and it even supports non-octave tunings.

For orchestra, folks around here have had success with GPO 4
http://garritan.com/
which also loads Scala files.

For more synthy sounds, the gold standard is z3ta+
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/default.asp
but I see it's Windows-only. That would send me to Camel Audio
http://www.camelaudio.com/
I haven't tried their latest Alchemy synth, but it's been getting
rave reviews and it supports .tun files.

My favorite orchestral synth is Synful
http://synful.com/
but it doesn't support microtuning yet. Send an e-mail to the
developer requesting it if you have time. I've spoken with him
and he's agreed to do it, he's just procrastinating.

There is also dedicated microtonal software for the Mac.
http://www.nonoctave.com/tuning/LilMissScaleOven/
I've never used it, but Jeff's a smart cookie and he's done a
remarkable job keeping up with OS X over the years and energizing
his user community (they have their own forums).

You might also check out some of the beta software from H-Pi
http://www.h-pi.com/HPLFsoftware.html
http://www.h-pi.com/SCRDsoftware.html

Let us know how you make out!

-Carl

At 11:26 AM 2/1/2010, you wrote:
>Is anyone here currently using software synthesizers for microtonal
>music? What do you use? What have you found that works satisfactorily
>(and what not)?
>
>I am looking to retire my old rack of TX802s, mixers, and processors,
>and the old PowerMac G4 that runs my obsolete MIDI software and
>migrate to some kind of soft synth setup that will run on my
>relatively new Intel Mac Mini. I am very much behind the curve on this
>technology, and trying to get up to speed so that I can make some
>sensible purchasing decisions. I understand that most or all software
>synthesizers, samplers, effects, etc., run as plugins in one or
>another of the big digital recording/sound editing applications:
>Logic, ProTools, Digital Performer, etc., and that there are
>conflicting/incompatible protocols for plugins, so that one must make
>sure that the plugins one wants to use will run on the platform one
>uses, or vice-versa.
>
>I have harvested a long list of potentially microtonal soft synths
>from John Loffink's Microtonal Synthesis website and checked those
>instruments out on the web (of course, most of the vendors' sites say
>*noting* about the instruments' tunability), but those pages haven't
>been updated for nearly two years, and I'm sure that there have been
>many new developments since then.
>
>(BTW, I have an old copy of Digital Performer, and a lot of work in DP
>files, so I'm inclined to stay with DP unless there's a compelling
>reason to move to some other platform else.)
>
>--DBD

David,

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "dbdoty1950" <dbdoty1950@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone here currently using software synthesizers for microtonal music? What do you use? What have you found that works satisfactorily (and what not)?

I thought Carl did an excellent job of rounding-up some of the usual suspects. I didn't think I might be able to add anything, because I've got a PC-based platform. I did, however, have it in the back of my mind that some of my instruments might also support the Mac OS, and so I looked.

You might also check out Albino 3 and CronoX, from Linplug. The former is a very full-featured analog/digital hybrid, with a lot of libraries of sounds, the latter is a sample-based synth, easy to use with your own sampled sounds. Both support microtuning through the importing of .TUN files. Very well crafted software, and has been a stable company/product line for a number of years.

HTH,
Jon

P.S. Thanks to Carl for the Reaper mention. I'm planning on checking it out, possibly as an alternative to upgrading my Sonar investment...

I would add NI Absynth, UI Metasynth...

Daniel Forro

On 2 Feb 2010, at 5:16 AM, Carl Lumma wrote:

>
> Hi David,
>
> I like Logic on the Mac, but my favorite DAW/host/thing is
> REAPER. It's primarily Windows, but I see they now have a
> Mac beta
> http://www.reaper.fm
> which you might try. It's a lot cheaper than Logic.
>
> For me, the holy grail of piano synths is Pianoteq. It's a
> physical model and it knocks my socks off every time I use it.
> http://www.pianoteq.com
> It happens to load Scala .scl files directly, the tuning is
> rock-solid, and it even supports non-octave tunings.
>
> For orchestra, folks around here have had success with GPO 4
> http://garritan.com/
> which also loads Scala files.
>
> For more synthy sounds, the gold standard is z3ta+
> http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/default.asp
> but I see it's Windows-only. That would send me to Camel Audio
> http://www.camelaudio.com/
> I haven't tried their latest Alchemy synth, but it's been getting
> rave reviews and it supports .tun files.
>
> My favorite orchestral synth is Synful
> http://synful.com/
> but it doesn't support microtuning yet. Send an e-mail to the
> developer requesting it if you have time. I've spoken with him
> and he's agreed to do it, he's just procrastinating.
>
> There is also dedicated microtonal software for the Mac.
> http://www.nonoctave.com/tuning/LilMissScaleOven/
> I've never used it, but Jeff's a smart cookie and he's done a
> remarkable job keeping up with OS X over the years and energizing
> his user community (they have their own forums).
>
> You might also check out some of the beta software from H-Pi
> http://www.h-pi.com/HPLFsoftware.html
> http://www.h-pi.com/SCRDsoftware.html
>
> Let us know how you make out!
>
> -Carl
>

I can only suggest Scordatura by H-Pi instruments if you work with a
Mac.

Have you listened to my latest composition in 11-tET using Scordatura
called Icicle Caverns? Please tell me what you think!

Cordially,
Oz.

✩ ✩ ✩
www.ozanyarman.com

On Feb 1, 2010, at 9:26 PM, dbdoty1950 wrote:

> Is anyone here currently using software synthesizers for microtonal
> music? What do you use? What have you found that works
> satisfactorily (and what not)?
>
> I am looking to retire my old rack of TX802s, mixers, and
> processors, and the old PowerMac G4 that runs my obsolete MIDI
> software and migrate to some kind of soft synth setup that will run
> on my relatively new Intel Mac Mini. I am very much behind the curve
> on this technology, and trying to get up to speed so that I can make
> some sensible purchasing decisions. I understand that most or all> software synthesizers, samplers, effects, etc., run as plugins in
> one or another of the big digital recording/sound editing
> applications: Logic, ProTools, Digital Performer, etc., and that
> there are conflicting/incompatible protocols for plugins, so that
> one must make sure that the plugins one wants to use will run on the
> platform one uses, or vice-versa.
>
> I have harvested a long list of potentially microtonal soft synths
> from John Loffink's Microtonal Synthesis website and checked those > instruments out on the web (of course, most of the vendors' sites
> say *noting* about the instruments' tunability), but those pages
> haven't been updated for nearly two years, and I'm sure that there
> have been many new developments since then.
>
> (BTW, I have an old copy of Digital Performer, and a lot of work in
> DP files, so I'm inclined to stay with DP unless there's a
> compelling reason to move to some other platform else.)
>
> --DBD
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "dbdoty1950" <dbdoty1950@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone here currently using software synthesizers for microtonal music? What do you use? What have you found that works satisfactorily (and what not)?
>

zeta+
absynth
dimension pro
and the usuals
pianoteq, kontakt, grritan personal orchestra

I'll add the hauptwerk organ software. http://www.hauptwerk.com/
Sounds very good.
It supports alternative tunings, but only 12 notes per octave.
It does allow you to switch seemlessly between several different tunings
seemlessly by midi though.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I just happened to see this message and noticed H-Pi software
has been listed as being in Beta. It's not. I found a mistake on
one of the product pages that listed HPLF as Beta; sorry about that.
Both programs certainly have room to grow, but they are fully
functional on Mac, and licenses are available. Any further info
anyone might need, just send an email.

<http://www.h-pi.com/SCRDsoftware.html>
<http://www.h-pi.com/HPLFsoftware.html>

Cheers,
AAH
=====

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Carl Lumma <carl@...> wrote:
>
> Hi David,
>
> I like Logic on the Mac, but my favorite DAW/host/thing is
> REAPER. It's primarily Windows, but I see they now have a
> Mac beta
> http://www.reaper.fm
> which you might try. It's a lot cheaper than Logic.
>
> For me, the holy grail of piano synths is Pianoteq. It's a
> physical model and it knocks my socks off every time I use it.
> http://www.pianoteq.com
> It happens to load Scala .scl files directly, the tuning is
> rock-solid, and it even supports non-octave tunings.
>
> For orchestra, folks around here have had success with GPO 4
> http://garritan.com/
> which also loads Scala files.
>
> For more synthy sounds, the gold standard is z3ta+
> http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/Z3TA/default.asp
> but I see it's Windows-only. That would send me to Camel Audio
> http://www.camelaudio.com/
> I haven't tried their latest Alchemy synth, but it's been getting
> rave reviews and it supports .tun files.
>
> My favorite orchestral synth is Synful
> http://synful.com/
> but it doesn't support microtuning yet. Send an e-mail to the
> developer requesting it if you have time. I've spoken with him
> and he's agreed to do it, he's just procrastinating.
>
> There is also dedicated microtonal software for the Mac.
> http://www.nonoctave.com/tuning/LilMissScaleOven/
> I've never used it, but Jeff's a smart cookie and he's done a
> remarkable job keeping up with OS X over the years and energizing
> his user community (they have their own forums).
>
> You might also check out some of the beta software from H-Pi
> http://www.h-pi.com/HPLFsoftware.html
> http://www.h-pi.com/SCRDsoftware.html
>
> Let us know how you make out!
>
> -Carl
>
> At 11:26 AM 2/1/2010, you wrote:
> >Is anyone here currently using software synthesizers for microtonal
> >music? What do you use? What have you found that works satisfactorily
> >(and what not)?
> >
> >I am looking to retire my old rack of TX802s, mixers, and processors,
> >and the old PowerMac G4 that runs my obsolete MIDI software and
> >migrate to some kind of soft synth setup that will run on my
> >relatively new Intel Mac Mini. I am very much behind the curve on this
> >technology, and trying to get up to speed so that I can make some
> >sensible purchasing decisions. I understand that most or all software
> >synthesizers, samplers, effects, etc., run as plugins in one or
> >another of the big digital recording/sound editing applications:
> >Logic, ProTools, Digital Performer, etc., and that there are
> >conflicting/incompatible protocols for plugins, so that one must make
> >sure that the plugins one wants to use will run on the platform one
> >uses, or vice-versa.
> >
> >I have harvested a long list of potentially microtonal soft synths
> >from John Loffink's Microtonal Synthesis website and checked those
> >instruments out on the web (of course, most of the vendors' sites say
> >*noting* about the instruments' tunability), but those pages haven't
> >been updated for nearly two years, and I'm sure that there have been
> >many new developments since then.
> >
> >(BTW, I have an old copy of Digital Performer, and a lot of work in DP
> >files, so I'm inclined to stay with DP unless there's a compelling
> >reason to move to some other platform else.)
> >
> >--DBD
>

I see you've chosen to pollute this forum with your bile as well.
And from what I've seen, the LMSO forums too. The e-mails in
which you request to know the cost of purchasing a review for the
Tonal Plexus, and after being told no, whether buying an ad in
Keyboard would guarantee you a review, are here on my hard drive.
Contact me offlist if you'd like me to fwd them to you to restore
your lost backup. No content of your posts will be reviewed by me
or anyone else on the tuning list, except for the parts about
excrement. -Carl

At 01:18 AM 2/17/2010, Aaron Hunt wrote:
>In a personal message from Carl Lumma, I am told that I have
>been placed on 'moderated status' at the Tuning List, such
>that my messages are first reviewed by Carl himself, or another
>moderator, so that they may be approved before I am allowed
>to speak there. This is far more insulting than being banned.
>I would rather be banned than have my words approved or
>disapproved by the likes of Carl. I refuse to be so insulted
>by such fake and utterly unwarranted censorial
>superiority.
>
>it appears I can post here without issues, so that I will
>continue to do, and I will do so while ignoring Carl Lumma
>and his endless stream of inimitable rubbish which also
>unfortunately infects this forum. If he decides to wag his
>slanderous tongue at me again, I will simply leave.
>
>Yours,
>AAH
>=====

Rick>"I'm amazed by the amount of weird ad hominem stuff that happens here. What's wrong with people? :-)"
Apparently, often these lists are no longer about the enjoyment of tuning and/or micro-tonal music but, rather, about people knocking each other over the head for the sake of Academic ego...indirectly hinting those who don't have the academic prowess should leave. And when you get two people who obviously know a lot about music on academic grounds, they often sink to level of dissing each other on grounds of things completely unrelated to tuning (IE this time, over if someone wanted to 'pay' for a review or if the other person is a liar).

IMVHO if for whatever reason people who are supposedly on the top of their game of micro-tonality can't manage much respect to each other, let along us "lesser" musicians, should they really be running these lists?
I used to come to these lists for fun and interesting ideas for composing (whether they are "widely accepted as leading theories or not"), however now it seems much of everything I and many others I support put up seems to go to the court of musical fallacies (long criticisms, often off the original topic, of what 'could' be wrong with said new scale/theory/etc.) or, worse, leading to personal insults.
Many people are whining about lack of professional academic quality posts on the lists and few are posting possible solutions or just finding and enjoying things they find sound good...it feels like a homework help board nowadays with at many times short-tempered professors instructing it.

I have been in contact with way too many musicians who left these lists due to all the fighting rather than the "lack of professional-ity"..maybe we should consider just laying back, not worrying so much about slight imperfections and the fact musicians are by nature very opinionated/biased, & enjoying the art of micro-tuning for a change?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Michael <djtrancendance@...> wrote:
>
> Apparently, often these lists are no longer about the enjoyment
> of tuning and/or micro-tonal music but, rather, about people knocking
> each other over the head for the sake of Academic ego...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My suggestion not to post insults would apply to the last word above as well.
--
Hans Straub