Another microtonal softsynth

The new release of the z3ta+ Waveshaping Synthesizer is
now fully microtunable with Scala files.
More info: http://www.rgcaudio.com
The release notes say this about it:

Now it is possible to load native Scala .scl microtuning files in z3ta+ by
using the OPTIONS menu, or dragging the files over z3ta+ GUI.
The tuning definition file selected is remembered and reloaded in a
per-preset basis, or as global by selecting 'Global Tuning' in OPTIONS menu
(the files must be moved to the \tunings folder so the automatic reloading
option can find it).

z3ta+ microtuning is not limited to 12-tone scales, allowing for any amount
of notes including mean-tone and quarter-tone scales.
When a tuning with a different number of tones than 12 is loaded, the
OCTAVE control will add/subtract the selected scale number of tones to keep
the oscillators in unison when changing octaves. Arpeggiator will also skip
the number of tones to follow the scales correctly.

Manuel

Ambranadi wrote...

> Bought Big Tick's Rhino recently, and it's an unbelievably powerful
> piece of kit - totally blows away any hardware FM synth out there...

Yeah, I agree. I can almost retire my TX802s!

Here's a bit of in-progress stuff using Rhino. It's not finished. The
tuning is from one of the gamelan tunings that Sethares reports in "Tuning,
Timbre, Spectrum, Scale". This is 9 instances of Rhino with VAZ-Modular as
the VST host; and a little Freeverb tossed in. A couple of the patches are
(better sounding) re-creations from some of my old TX802 patches.

http://rm-and-jo.laughingsquid.org/temp/in-progress.mp3

Cheers,
Rick

Ambra Nadi wrote:

>This is indeed very exciting news, as it would seem that the devs are
>beginning to listen to those of us making requests for these vital
>features, but this release brings up a very important issue - that
>being that the Scala SCL format doesn't allow one to set the starting
>frequency for the tuning, whereas the TUN format does.

Yes, nor other keyboard mapping aspects for that matter.

We shouldn't forget about ZynAddSubFX, it's getting better all the
time, also supports Scala KBM files, even has a scale preview in
the open dialog, and is free!

>It's difficult to believe that with these
>new tools available, there are still microtuning beginners out there
>trying to struggle with GM and its unfortunate and limited palette of
>lumpy and looped waveforms.

I think you're confusing things, what would be wrong with a good
General MIDI soundfont set for example?

Manuel

on 24/4/03 10:09 pm, ambranadi at ambranadi@... wrote:

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Manuel Op de Coul" <manuel.op.
de.coul@e...> wrote:
>
> The new release of the z3ta+ Waveshaping Synthesizer is
> now fully microtunable with Scala files.
> More info: http://www.rgcaudio.com
> The release notes say this about it:
>
> Now it is possible to load native Scala .scl microtuning files in
z3ta+

Manuel,

This is indeed very exciting news, as it would seem that the devs are
beginning to listen to those of us making requests for these vital
features, but this release brings up a very important issue - that
being that the Scala SCL format doesn't allow one to set the starting
frequency for the tuning, whereas the TUN format does. One can only
hope that the z3ta+ will allow one to set the starting frequency of
the tuning as needed at the oscillator level, and in a simple and
convenient manner, which is so effortless with the TUN format.
Suppose it's about time to check the demo on this synth.

Bought Big Tick's Rhino recently, and it's an unbelievably powerful
piece of kit - totally blows away any hardware FM synth out there, and
does full arbitrary microtuning using the TUN format. Truth is, these
VSTi microtonal synths put so much hardware to shame - especially the
totally lame General Midi. It's difficult to believe that with these
new tools available, there are still microtuning beginners out there
trying to struggle with GM and its unfortunate and limited palette of
lumpy and looped waveforms. Microtonality, and the desired effects of
microtuned music, suffer dramatically from any presentation through
the lackluster GM sound-set, but of course any musician trying to do
serious professional work, or present tuning examples of any sonic
worth would have to at least be aware of how dated this has become of
late.

Regards,

A

This sounds interesting.

I haven't been following developments recently in new products but as I'm
about to upgrade my system I'd like some advice.

In addition to a Doepfer A-100 analogue system with limited microtuning
capabilities owing to the MAQ 16/3 hardware sequencer being tied to 12
equal, I have a midi system, with an ASR 10 and TX 802, running Cubase and
Jeff Scott's tuningsoftware on a Mac. I use it for modelling compositions
and auditioning tunings. Although I enjoy listening to some microtonal
music made with midi/hardware systems, I 've never been convinced enough by
the timbres to make 'serious' music. That's why I went the instrument
building route.

But I'm intrigued by these softsynths with microtuning capabilities,
especially if they lend themselves to "serious professional work". C sound I
know is excellent but the learning curve is too steep and I need the time to
write music. So I'm looking for a software product that won't take months to
master.

I like the idea of being able to use Scala (most microtonalists on both the
lists seem to use it) as well as reducing clutter in my studio. The
software products seem to be reasonably priced too.

I'd prefer to upgrade to a Mac however, probably an iBook (laptop) and I'd
like to know if any of the software that you're recommending is compatible
with Macs and OS X. I had a look at the z3ta+ Waveshaping Synthesizer
website but it's PC only. And can Scala be used with Macs? Is there a best
buy application?

If Macs are a problem and, then I'll ask later about PCs.

Thanks in anticipatipion.

Kind Regards
a.m.

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

I see what you mean. Though there are soundfont sets which
are much bigger than what you standard get with a soundcard.
I suppose that reduces the problem.

Alison, there's no way I can predict the moment when there
will be a better OSX version of Scala. But it's likely to
happen sometime. No intrinsic problem with Macs, but lack of
volunteers to develop it.

Manuel

on 25/4/03 10:01 pm, ambranadi at ambranadi@... wrote:

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Alison Monteith <alison.
monteith3@w...> wrote:
> This sounds interesting.
>
> I haven't been following developments recently in new products but
as I'm
> about to upgrade my system I'd like some advice.
Although I enjoy listening to some microtonal
> music made with midi/hardware systems, I 've never been convinced
enough by
> the timbres to make 'serious' music. That's why I went the
instrument
> building route.

Both electronic sound-design *and* acoustic instrument building are
integral parts of the work here as well. The big downfall of so much
GM is the aesthetic (or lack thereof) of trying to be an
"orchestra-in-a-box". Anyone who's tried the cheese-box flavors of
GM, would have to be full aware there's not an orchestra in there to
be found - not even a good shadow of one.

The lesser explored, although greater potential, is to use these
instruments for the things they're good at doing - creating new and
breathtakingly beautiful timbres. Orchestral emulation is pretty old
school, and nearly impossible to do well without gigs upon gigs of
real-time sampled timbres.

But - as an electronic sound-designer and instrument builder, allow to
input that all man-made musical instruments, whether acoustic or
electronic, are all kinds of machines and tools, which each are able
to contribute to the sonic palette in quite useful and diverse ways.
All machines, whether with hard-drive or Helmholtz-resonator...

>
> But I'm intrigued by these softsynths with microtuning capabilities,
> especially if they lend themselves to "serious professional work".

One must be "serious" to stay on "the bleeding edge"...

C sound I
> know is excellent but the learning curve is too steep and I need the
time to
> write music. So I'm looking for a software product that won't take
months to
> master.

VSTi/DXi synths are typically more like hardware emulations, with
buttons and knobs on screen, rather than the command language.

>
> I like the idea of being able to use Scala (most microtonalists on
both the
> lists seem to use it) as well as reducing clutter in my studio.

This is indeed a big part of the beauty of it.

The
> software products seem to be reasonably priced too.

There's little doubt.

>
> I'd prefer to upgrade to a Mac however, probably an iBook (laptop)
and I'd
> like to know if any of the software that you're recommending is
compatible
> with Macs and OS X. I had a look at the z3ta+ Waveshaping
Synthesizer
> website but it's PC only.

One can look for the Audio Units (AU) format to really take off in the
future. This is why Apple bought Logic. Not to much up on the status
of AU microtonal synths, but it wouldn't surprise if they eventually
begin to appear. The Bitheadz Unity DS-1 is very interesting, and
fully tuneable.

And can Scala be used with Macs? Is there a best
> buy application?

Believe there is a MACified Scala, but don't know about OSX.

>
> If Macs are a problem and, then I'll ask later about PCs.

Microtonality has never been richer than right now for Windows (and
promises to only get better), and with the hardware one can get for
this platform, it seems a good place to be. Not much into the
platform wars - just making music. Would like to have both one day.

Regards,

A

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to have to consult some more on this. I
bought some computer music mags this weekend and visited some sites. There's
so much on the market and it's difficult to tell what hardware/software
system would be suitable and flexible enough for both good sound sculpting
and microtonal applications.

Regards
a.m.

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

on 26/4/03 4:30 pm, Manuel Op de Coul at manuel.op.de.coul@...
wrote:

Alison, there's no way I can predict the moment when there
will be a better OSX version of Scala. But it's likely to
happen sometime. No intrinsic problem with Macs, but lack of
volunteers to develop it.

Manuel

Thanks Manuel. It seems wise to wait a little to see what happens with OSX
development.

Regards
a.m.

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

Alison wrote:

>The Bitheadz Unity DS-1 is very interesting, and
>fully tuneable.

I asked them the technical details a while ago, but got
no answer. If someone needs me to add support for it in Scala,
then I must be provided with the data format.

Manuel

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Alison Monteith

/makemicromusic/topicId_4571.html#4579

> Manuel,
>
> This is indeed very exciting news, as it would seem that the devs
are
> beginning to listen to those of us making requests for these vital
> features, but this release brings up a very important issue - that
> being that the Scala SCL format doesn't allow one to set the
starting frequency for the tuning,

***Are you absolutely certain about this, Alison? Seems to me I've
done this with Scala in the past...

J. Pehrson