Microtonal Analog Synthesizers

OK, so I'm interested in microtonal music. I'm learning about
the basics, interested in 22TET, Bohlen-Pierce, and learning a little
about Indian music. So, I'm talking to my brother tonight about
the modular analog synthesizers that he's started making and selling.
See his web page at:

http://www.synthesizers.com

I ask him what it would take to change to various equal tempered
tunings (24TET was the obvious first choice to play with). And he
has a module to allow you to modify voltages and such. So we retune
the synth in 5 minutes to 24TET. Great, quartertones! So, I play a
little and retune it to Bohlen-Pierce (13TET of the 3:1). Works
like a charm. Equal tempered tunings are simple with this one add-on
module in the system. His synth can also be MIDI driven and accepts
and uses pitch bend, so that's another way to do things. (BTW,
this is a monophonic analog synth; you can feed multiple voltages
per key so you can do constant chords and such, if you like.)

But what about unequal temperaments (historical temperaments,
just intonation, etc.)? Well, after we talk a while, we figure out
a way to do it. But he wonders who would be interested in such a
thing? It wouldn't be worth it if he only sold 1 a year or whatever.
There needs to be a market for this. The synths are available now,
but specific microtonal support isn't built in yet (except for the
Q125 Signal Processor, which is what we used to do the rough
version of the other equal temperaments).

So, are you interested in NEW, amazing analog synths? Are you a
microtonalist or interested in playing historical works in their
original tunings on a synthesizer? Check out his web page, and
see if you can give me some answers to these questions:

1) What tunings would you be specifically interested in for this
synthesizer system (maybe your top 10, if there are that many)?
2) Do you need unequal temperament support or will you only be
using equal temperaments?
3) If you play in historical temperaments, name which ones.
4) The microtonal addition to the system could add about US$100.00
to the price of the synth. Is this a problem?
5) Would programmability matter? If you were given something like
50 temperaments, equal and non-equal, would that be enough, or would
you need to create your own?

Any other information or suggestions you may have, please let me
know. Just drop me an e-mail at the address below!

Thanks!

Darin "Basil" Arrick
basil_arrick@yahoo.com

Catch 22! The 22TET Page
http://www.geocities.com/basil_arrick/22tet.html

Basil,

>So, are you interested in NEW, amazing analog synths? Are you a
>microtonalist or interested in playing historical works in their
>original tunings on a synthesizer? Check out his web page, and
>see if you can give me some answers to these questions:

I am interested in both, but there's one thing you've got to
realize -- the usefulness of the Halberstadt (7-white, 5-black)
keyboard for the former is about nil. You've simply got to
have something else available. A generalized keyboard, after
Bosanquet, might be best. Aside from that, I'll try to answer
the rest of your questions:

>1) What tunings would you be specifically interested in for this
>synthesizer system (maybe your top 10, if there are that many)?

41-, 37-, 31-, 22-, and 15-tone equal temperaments, along with
a variety of just tunings (including several different eikosanies
and stellated hexanies).

>2) Do you need unequal temperament support or will you only be
>using equal temperaments?

Unequal temperaments would be a plus.

>4) The microtonal addition to the system could add about US$100.00
>to the price of the synth. Is this a problem?

Not even remotely. But what's the cost of the synth?

>5) Would programmability matter? If you were given something like
>50 temperaments, equal and non-equal, would that be enough, or would
>you need to create your own?

I think I speak for most of us here when I say that programmability
is a must.

...that may sound like a tall order, but if you want to sell analog
synths to microtonalists, you've at least got to match what we can
already do with digital synths. A generalized keyboard controller
would easily put you over the top.

-Carl

--- In tuning@egroups.com, Carl Lumma <CLUMMA@N...> wrote:
> I am interested in both, but there's one thing you've got to
> realize -- the usefulness of the Halberstadt (7-white, 5-black)
> keyboard for the former is about nil. You've simply got to
> have something else available. A generalized keyboard, after
> Bosanquet, might be best. Aside from that, I'll try to answer
> the rest of your questions:

I agree about the keyboard, but currently only a standard 61 key
keyboard is available. If there was enough interest, another
controller product could be considered.

> >1) What tunings would you be specifically interested in for this
> >synthesizer system (maybe your top 10, if there are that many)?
>
> 41-, 37-, 31-, 22-, and 15-tone equal temperaments, along with
> a variety of just tunings (including several different eikosanies
> and stellated hexanies).

Many ETs can be accomplished with a currently available module
(the Q125 Signal Processor; allows you to "compress" or "expand" the
octave over a certain number of keys). We played around with 24TET
and Bohlen-Pierce the other night.

> >2) Do you need unequal temperament support or will you only be
> >using equal temperaments?
>
> Unequal temperaments would be a plus.

If my brother decides to do this microtonal support, unequal
and equal temperaments will be supported.

> >4) The microtonal addition to the system could add about US$100.00
> >to the price of the synth. Is this a problem?
>
> Not even remotely. But what's the cost of the synth?

It varies, of course, based on what you want; it is completely
modular, has multiple case options, etc. Pre-built systems in
cabinets range from $900 to $4000. Or you can buy modules
piecemeal and put together whatever you want; most module prices
are around the $80 area, with one much more expensive (the
sequencer, at $490) and some cheaper (the noise source, at $50).

> >5) Would programmability matter? If you were given something like
> >50 temperaments, equal and non-equal, would that be enough, or
> >would you need to create your own?
>
> I think I speak for most of us here when I say that programmability
> is a must.

This may be the tricky part. It would be pretty easy to sell a
special keyboard with microtonal support, including ETs up to some
arbitrary amount (haven't I heard of someone working in 131TET?) and
a bunch (50+?) of unequal and special (i.e. Bohlen-Pierce) tunings
which could be chosen and switched between quickly. This covers a lot
of ground, but I know there are people who want to create their own
tunings. This may be possible, but we need to talk about how to
implement the programmability.

> ...that may sound like a tall order, but if you want to sell analog
> synths to microtonalists, you've at least got to match what we can
> already do with digital synths. A generalized keyboard controller
> would easily put you over the top.

But some people don't want the "clean, digital" sound; they want
analog. Now, some of them want microtonality, too. We're trying to
figure out where the sets mix and how we can cover as much territory
as easily as possible. There are plenty of things a digital synth
will do that this won't (out of the box, that is). But this is an
analog synth, and for those who want that sound, nothing else will
do. :-)

Thank you very much for your suggestions. This is turning into an
interesting project. :-)

Darin "Basil" Arrick
basil_arrick@yahoo.com

Catch 22! The 22TET Page
http://www.geocities.com/basil_arrick/22tet.html

This week's prize for Most Vapid Cliche goes to Basil Darin Arrick:

> But some people don't want the "clean, digital" sound; they want
> analog.

As Woody Allen would have said if he'd been into digital synthesis, "if it
isn't dirty, you're not doing it right."

Graham

"I toss therefore I am" -- Sartre

> Subject: Re: Microtonal Analog Synthesizers
>
> Hi
> Can somebody interested in microtonal analog synths check the
> www.bigbriar.com page ? They have a Control processor that I think
> does the same with the synthesizers.com signal processor for getting
> equal-tempered tunings.
> Am I right?
> Thanks

Yes, it will do it assuming your analog synthesizer has the right interface.
You'll need an analog synth with Volts/Octave interface and both CV/Gate Ins
and Outs. Even this is no guarantee that it'll work, however. My old
Octave Cat SRM had control voltage outputs that were unsampled, whenever you
lifted the key the pitch dropped immediately. You had to put a Sample &
Hold in the path as well. I seem to recall having a problem with that, but
as it was fifteen years ago I can't recall the details. Best bet is to try
it before investing the money.

John Loffink
microtonal@worldnet.att.net
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
http://home.att.net/~microtonal