scale file search terms / parameters

I'm looking for input on what you would like to see in searchable database parameters for scale files. This is for both my TuningXML proposal <http://www.h-pi.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=87> and for the .tun update discussion <http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=237276>. Common to both of these, the following are suggested:

Editor = "SuperCoolEditor Version 1.0"
Name = "aName"
ID = "anID"
Description = "A description of the scale"
Author = "John Q. Public"
Location = "Podunk Nowhere"
Contact = "http://www.johnqpublic.com"
Date = "December 26, 2008"
History = "A scale of Archytas"
Geography = "Greece"
Instrument = "plucked string"
Composition = "My awesome piece"
Comments = "Archytas was a Greek"

I'm not sure if Location is needed because Contact is there. Additionally for TuningXML I have suggested these, which have more to do with theory or structure:

IsNonOctave = "False"
IsEqual = "True"
Period = "2"
Generator = "2^(1/12)"
Class or Type = "who knows"
HasTonic = "True"

Comments? Improvements? Other suggestions? I'm not sure about Period and Generator, as these only apply to a certain kind of scale construction.

I would like to have this discussion all in one place, but it seems destined to be going on in 3 different places, so wherever you want to comment is fine with me.

Thanks!
Aaron
=====

Hi Aaron;

I am pleased to see that you are tackling this problem, although I sometimes wonder whether we need to promote yet another microtuning format.

You asked for suggestions;-)

One of the difficulties with the scala-type files for meantone tunings is that they usually only provide one mapping for each different meantone value.

The way that I am proposing gives a variety of mappings and enables users to import any standard 12edo midi file, and then, by listening, select the meantone-type tuning/mapping which best suits the piece for them.

How about having a simple method for generating any meantone with octave ratio 2, and then laying the results onto a template of the various note assignments (say about 50 different templates for any meantone) ?

This would be similar to how I have done it on these pages:

http://www.lucytune.com/midi_and_keyboard/yamaha_02.html

http://www.lucytune.com/midi_and_keyboard/pitch_bend.html

You only need to define one variable; e.g. the size of the fifth, or of the Large interval. (i.e. difference between the fourth and fifth)

This method seems to work very well for those newbies coming to microtuning for the first time from a 12edo background, as they can experiment using their existing midi files and get a taste of a variety of microtonal possibilities.

The other advantage is that it builds upon their previous knowledge and experience, and hence becomes a natural evolution for their "tuning ears" without needing to get involved with arithmetic, calculators and integer frequency ratios.

I suggest that the reference pitch be set as A4=440Hz.

On 28 Dec 2008, at 09:02, Aaron Andrew Hunt wrote:

> I'm looking for input on what you would like to see in searchable
> database parameters for scale files. This is for both my TuningXML
> proposal <http://www.h-pi.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=87> and for
> the .tun update discussion <http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/
> viewtopic.php?t=237276>. Common to both of these, the following are
> suggested:
>
> Editor = "SuperCoolEditor Version 1.0"
> Name = "aName"
> ID = "anID"
> Description = "A description of the scale"
> Author = "John Q. Public"
> Location = "Podunk Nowhere"
> Contact = "http://www.johnqpublic.com"
> Date = "December 26, 2008"
> History = "A scale of Archytas"
> Geography = "Greece"
> Instrument = "plucked string"
> Composition = "My awesome piece"
> Comments = "Archytas was a Greek"
>
> I'm not sure if Location is needed because Contact is there.
> Additionally for TuningXML I have suggested these, which have more to
> do with theory or structure:
>
> IsNonOctave = "False"
> IsEqual = "True"
> Period = "2"
> Generator = "2^(1/12)"
> Class or Type = "who knows"
> HasTonic = "True"
>
> Comments? Improvements? Other suggestions? I'm not sure about Period
> and Generator, as these only apply to a certain kind of scale
> construction.
>
> I would like to have this discussion all in one place, but it seems
> destined to be going on in 3 different places, so wherever you want
> to comment is fine with me.
>
> Thanks!
> Aaron
> =====
>
>
>
Charles Lucy
lucy@...

- Promoting global harmony through LucyTuning -

for information on LucyTuning go to:
http://www.lucytune.com

For LucyTuned Lullabies go to:
http://www.lullabies.co.uk

Hi Charles.

Thanks for the response.
- The format is not designed to contain any algorithms, such as you
describe for constructing meantone scales. That type of thing is
left to scale editing software.
- The reference tone is set to default to A=440 Hz, both in this
format proposal and in my own software.
- The question I am asking is about *search terms* for scales.

Thanks!
Aaron H
=====

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, Charles Lucy <lucy@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Aaron;
>
> I am pleased to see that you are tackling this problem, although I
> sometimes wonder whether we need to promote yet another microtuning
> format.
>
> You asked for suggestions;-)
>
> One of the difficulties with the scala-type files for meantone tunings
> is that they usually only provide one mapping for each different
> meantone value.
>
> The way that I am proposing gives a variety of mappings and enables
> users to import any standard 12edo midi file, and then, by listening,
> select the meantone-type tuning/mapping which best suits the piece for
> them.
>
> How about having a simple method for generating any meantone with
> octave ratio 2, and then laying the results onto a template of the
> various note assignments (say about 50 different templates for any
> meantone) ?
>
> This would be similar to how I have done it on these pages:
>
> http://www.lucytune.com/midi_and_keyboard/yamaha_02.html
>
> http://www.lucytune.com/midi_and_keyboard/pitch_bend.html
>
> You only need to define one variable; e.g. the size of the fifth, or
> of the Large interval. (i.e. difference between the fourth and fifth)
>
> This method seems to work very well for those newbies coming to
> microtuning for the first time from a 12edo background, as they can
> experiment using their existing midi files and get a taste of a
> variety of microtonal possibilities.
>
> The other advantage is that it builds upon their previous knowledge
> and experience, and hence becomes a natural evolution for their
> "tuning ears" without needing to get involved with arithmetic,
> calculators and integer frequency ratios.
>
> I suggest that the reference pitch be set as A4=440Hz.
>
>
> On 28 Dec 2008, at 09:02, Aaron Andrew Hunt wrote:
>
> > I'm looking for input on what you would like to see in searchable
> > database parameters for scale files. This is for both my TuningXML
> > proposal <http://www.h-pi.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=87> and for
> > the .tun update discussion <http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/
> > viewtopic.php?t=237276>. Common to both of these, the following are
> > suggested:
> >
> > Editor = "SuperCoolEditor Version 1.0"
> > Name = "aName"
> > ID = "anID"
> > Description = "A description of the scale"
> > Author = "John Q. Public"
> > Location = "Podunk Nowhere"
> > Contact = "http://www.johnqpublic.com"
> > Date = "December 26, 2008"
> > History = "A scale of Archytas"
> > Geography = "Greece"
> > Instrument = "plucked string"
> > Composition = "My awesome piece"
> > Comments = "Archytas was a Greek"
> >
> > I'm not sure if Location is needed because Contact is there.
> > Additionally for TuningXML I have suggested these, which have more to
> > do with theory or structure:
> >
> > IsNonOctave = "False"
> > IsEqual = "True"
> > Period = "2"
> > Generator = "2^(1/12)"
> > Class or Type = "who knows"
> > HasTonic = "True"
> >
> > Comments? Improvements? Other suggestions? I'm not sure about Period
> > and Generator, as these only apply to a certain kind of scale
> > construction.
> >
> > I would like to have this discussion all in one place, but it seems
> > destined to be going on in 3 different places, so wherever you want
> > to comment is fine with me.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Aaron
> > =====
> >
> >
> >
>
> Charles Lucy
> lucy@...
>
> - Promoting global harmony through LucyTuning -
>
> for information on LucyTuning go to:
> http://www.lucytune.com
>
> For LucyTuned Lullabies go to:
> http://www.lullabies.co.uk
>