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JI Tuning Resolution

🔗mr88cet@texas.net (Gary Morrison)

4/21/1998 6:03:55 PM
>>As someone who has been de-tuning digital synthesizers - Casios (CZ's&VZ's),
>>Yamahas (DX7II & TG77), and Kurzweil (K2000) - for twelve years, I am
>>constantly surprised by what is considered acceptable pitch resolution for
>>just tunings.

Another consideration that deserves some thought along these lines is
that very few acoustic instruments have their overtones within 1 cent of
exact harmonics. So, if the ideal is to realize the natural sound of real
acoustic instruments, within 1/2 cent of exact JI ratios, then that might
end up somewhat like painting a bullseye with a spray can: Your mark may
be centered right on the center of the target, but it might still cover a
quarter of the radius of the target.

I am of course exaggerating to illustrate the point. The mitigating
factor here is that most instruments have their lower partials closer to
harmonic than their higher ones, which are generally quieter.