Newbie Question - What is Scala?

Hi,

Just joined this group. I've heard of Scala, but I don't know much about it.
(Like, almost nothing). Perhaps someone could indulge me by telling me:
1) What is it?
2) Where can I get it?
3) Will it run on Windows XP Professional?
4) Will it work for all MIDI synths, or just those that support some
particular feature?

Thankx

Jill

Hello Jill,

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Jill.Ramonsky@a... wrote:
> Just joined this group.

Welcome.

> I've heard of Scala, but I don't know much about it.

In a very short amount of time (just a hunch on my part), the author - Manuel Op de Coel - will probably come online and tell you everything you need to know. In the meantime...

> (Like, almost nothing). Perhaps someone could indulge me by telling me:
> 1) What is it?

Manuel's own description: "Scala is a very complete freeware editor/librarian/analysis tool for tunings. It allows scales to be created, manipulated and combined in many ways. There is a large library of scales available. Various different synthesizers and samplers can be tuned via standard MIDI-files."

> 2) Where can I get it?

http://www.xs4all.nl/~huygensf/software/Scala_Setup.exe

(I believe that link is still good)

> 3) Will it run on Windows XP Professional?

I believe so. Scala has been designed fairly platform-independent, and comes from a command-line type of history, not a GUI based pedigree. The GUI toolkit in use isn't the easiest or most native to Windows, but it does work.

> 4) Will it work for all MIDI synths, or just those that support
> some particular feature?

There are aspects of Scala that you can use with virtually any synth, it really depends on your 'needs'. Another program you might enjoy, which works very well together with Scala, is Robert Walker's Fractal Tune Smithy:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robertwalker/fts_download.htm

From Robert: "Originally an algo-comp program, Fractal Tune Smithy is now often used for microtonal composition / improvisation as well. Retunes to scale entered as cents, ratios or whatever. Uses pitch bends and re-mapping of midi channels to do this rather than tuning tables - so it will work with any GM compatible synth or soundcard. Includes many of the SCALA scales and modes, and one can use it to make a searchable drop lists of all the SCALA scales and all the SCALA modes. (Windows only)"

I'm just pissed neither program does a decent job of slicing cheeze. You know, real thin slices that don't get all mucked up.

Gad, it's late...

Cheers,
Jon (who is also putting in a plug for the Making Microtonal Music forum, where some of the dirty work goes on...)

>In a very short amount of time (just a hunch on my part), the author -
Manuel Op de Coul - will probably >come online and tell you everything you
need to know. In the meantime...

Right... Thanks Jon for saving me typing.
The homepage is here: http://www.xs4all.nl/~huygensf/scala

> 3) Will it run on Windows XP Professional?

Yes, everything should work, although I don't have it myself.
The GUI toolkit has a few quirks indeed, but a new Windows version of
it is coming, which will be better.

> 4) Will it work for all MIDI synths, or just those that support
> some particular feature?

If the synth supports microtuning that's an advantage, but otherwise
it's still usable for MIDI relaying where Scala adds pitch bends to
simulate a tuning table.

Manuel

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Jill.Ramonsky@a... wrote:

/tuning/topicId_42432.html#42432

> Hi,
>
> Just joined this group. I've heard of Scala, but I don't know much
about it.
> (Like, almost nothing). Perhaps someone could indulge me by telling
me:
> 1) What is it?
> 2) Where can I get it?
> 3) Will it run on Windows XP Professional?
> 4) Will it work for all MIDI synths, or just those that support some
> particular feature?
>
> Thankx
>
> Jill

***Hello Jill,

When you go over to the main website, which Manuel posted, don't
forget to take a look at my undoubtedly redoubtable "SCALA for
Dummies" which is on the site. It will give you a few beginning
commands with which to get started!

best,

Joseph Pehrson

Thank, I've got the link, and I'll look at it when I get the chance (i.e.
soon).

As a rule, I never read anything entitled "...for Dummies" because I
absolutely am not one! I will bend that rule a little in this case, however,
since you mentioned it so helpfully.

How about you retitle the article "Scala for highly intelligent people who
simply happen to be approaching the subject for the first time"? Then I
might have read it without prompting.

Cheers, and thank you,
Jill

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Pehrson <jpehrson@rcn.com> [mailto:jpehrson@rcn.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 2:51 PM
To: tuning@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [tuning] Re: Newbie Question - What is Scala?

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Jill.Ramonsky@a... wrote:

***Hello Jill,

When you go over to the main website, which Manuel posted, don't
forget to take a look at my undoubtedly redoubtable "SCALA for
Dummies" which is on the site. It will give you a few beginning
commands with which to get started!

best,

Joseph Pehrson

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Jill.Ramonsky@a... wrote:

/tuning/topicId_42432.html#42449

> Thank, I've got the link, and I'll look at it when I get the chance
(i.e.
> soon).
>
> As a rule, I never read anything entitled "...for Dummies" because I
> absolutely am not one! I will bend that rule a little in this case,
however,
> since you mentioned it so helpfully.
>
> How about you retitle the article "Scala for highly intelligent
people who
> simply happen to be approaching the subject for the first time"?
Then I
> might have read it without prompting.
>
> Cheers, and thank you,
> Jill
>

***Hi Jill,

Actually, I agree with you, and have, personally, never purchased a
*Dummies* computer book for myself, just for that reason.

However, the SCALA article title was decidedly "tongue in cheek" as
it were... so it was mostly just a "joke..." or a "parody" of that
book series...

Good luck with SCALA!

Joseph Pehrson

i like the concern with the psychology of things.
possibly this might be where the future of music might lie?

>
> From: Jill.Ramonsky@aculab.com
> Subject: RE: Re: Newbie Question - What is Scala?
>
> Thank, I've got the link, and I'll look at it when I get the chance (i.e.
> soon).
>
> As a rule, I never read anything entitled "...for Dummies" because I
> absolutely am not one! I will bend that rule a little in this case, however,
> since you mentioned it so helpfully.
>
> How about you retitle the article "Scala for highly intelligent people who
> simply happen to be approaching the subject for the first time"? Then I
> might have read it without prompting.
>
> Cheers, and thank you,
> Jill
>
>

-- -Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
http://www.anaphoria.com
The Wandering Medicine Show
KXLU 88.9 FM WED 8-9PM PST

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, manuel.op.de.coul@e... wrote:
> > 3) Will it run on Windows XP Professional?
>
> Yes, everything should work, although I don't have it myself.

Scala runs perfectly under WinXP Pro, with or without SP1. Doesn't
require fancy synthesizers; operates smoothly with SB Live!

FWIW,
Ertugrul

---
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