Re: [tuning] Combination tones

Michael!
strange. it sounds like something in the generator make up unless your chord is high
and/or loud. Try using lower octaves softer. Also try different inversions of the subharmonic
chords. This can make a big difference! Can you "filter" out the bass?

Michael T Pepper wrote:

> I have been using Addsyn32, an additive synthesis waveform generator, to
> play JI chords, and it's been very useful except for one thing: combination
> tones. For otonalities it's not that bad,it even reinforces the fundamental
> and gives it a richer sound, but for utonalities they are very dissonant and
> unwanted. I've tried turning some pitches out of phase and detuning them
> slightly and even turning off one speaker but nothing seems to work. Has
> anyone else had this same problem or does anyone else know of a soulution?
>
> Stay Tuned,
> Keenan P

-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria island
www.anaphoria.com

Keenan,

This is a very familiar problem. You probably need higher-fidelity sound
reproduction equipment, and/or to listen at a quieter volume. If you like, I
can try to produce .wav files of whatever chords you like with whatever
timbres you specify, so that you can make sure it isn't Addsyn32's fault.

-Paul

John Thaden wrote,

>If with a waveform generator your favorite tuning suffers dissonant
>combination tones (difference tones?), then isn't it likely to suffer them
>also to some extent through many microphone/PA combinations? Or even
>acoustically? With my instrument (diatonic harmonica), entire tuning
>schemes are devoted to the achievement of consonant, supportive difference
>tones.

The harmonica is notoriously rich in combination tones due to the nonlinear
response of the metallic elements in the instrument, creating in effect a
natural "fuzz box". So utonal harmonies are not likely to work too well on
the harmonica. However, if you base all your tuning systems on what happens
in a harmonica, you miss out on some beautiful, subtle harmonies that you
can get out of a set of sympathetically vibrating strings, for example.