classic TX81Z

Jacky Ligon asked, TD 686:

> I have a question about Scala. I've recently downloaded the most current version - 1.6. I am able to use it for analysis, but have been unable to get it to recognize my USB midi port, so that I can transmit the midi to my keyboard - which is supported - the venerable TX81Z. Looks like the 2 midi programs included, do not recognize this kind of port. I also tried to get it to create a .MID file to send with my sequencer - Cake Walk 9.0. Couldn't get it to work either. Do you know if Scala can "Send/File" as a Sysx format? Perhaps this is what the synth would like to have.
>

Darren Burgess should be able to help you out with everything here... as
he generously did with me. It's really easy. All you have to do, as he
mentioned, is PLAY the .mid file you make from Scala SEND/FILE at a low
tempo... 16 is recommended, as Darren says. If you use the map file
LOAD/MAP clinear.kbm you can use "middle C" as your "reference point."
Of course you are in single mode and press "utility" "Edit Micro Tune."
Then you go "Edit Full Kbd." of course. As Darren mentioned to me, you
see all the numbers run by as the .mid file changes the tuning of the
entire keyboard.

Then you're all set to use this with "Performance" mode which, if you
set "ed mictun=full" will mean the "altered" full keyboard scale is
available for any of the voices you set to "on." If somehow you don't
have a manual, you can download one on line as I did... I can find the
address... it's a Yamaha site.

This is, as Darren mentioned, all predicated on the fact that you can
actually PLAY simple midi files from your sequencer through your TX81Z.
The Soundblaster cards all have a MIDI OUT port that you can use for
this purpose. Then, of course, you can switch back and forth between
MIDI files played with the sound card with the AWE 64 MIDI SYNTH and the
TX81Z... in case you want to try out files that have more voices than
the 8 of the TX81Z. But, of course, you are dealing with altered files
that use "pitch bend" to make the tuning changes, not changing the
internal tuning of the sound card.

The synth seems like a great "classic" box to me. Sure, some of the FM
sounds are probably greatly improved upon today, but the tuning
possibilites are amazingly flexible (any pitch in the entire keyboard
can be tuned to ANYTHING-- since any of the set keyboard pitches can
become ANY OTHER pitch in the entire range, and then can be adjusted by
the TX81Z tuning units... The only limitation is the size of the tuning
unit 1.56 cents.

Actually, the bell sounds in FM boxes, this and others I have "played
with" are extraordinary. I doubt those have been much "improved upon."

Scala + a box like the TX81Z is indeed a powerful, even revolutionary
tool.

But I suppose you know almost all of what I have described in the
above..., but I enjoy talking about it...

___________ _____ __ __ _
Joseph Pehrson