source file: m1513.txt Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 12:06:19 +0530 Subject: Re: synth tuning From: Drew Skyfyre Hello Erich, Everyone, I'm happy to anounce I'm now the owner of a Yamaha PSR-530, XG compatible keyboard. It's limited to twelve note scales (-63 to +64), 1200/768 (100cent/64) resolution. The range and number of tweakable parameters is terrific, making it possible to obtain very professional results. Comes with a built in computer interface (Mac & PC). Also, a 5-octave keyboard (with one split point), pitch-wheel, & decent sounding 12 Watt stereo speaker system. You do however have to use a computer to do any tweaking, and turn off local control, run the keyboard through a MIDI thru (hardware or software, I use the little freeware "OMS thru" on my PowerMac) and back into the PSR-530. A bargain at the equivalent of $500. >yamaha and roland synths both have sysex messages for >scale tuning, which allows you to change the tuning of all >tones in one pitch class (all c's, all c#'s ..) in increments of 1 cent. Actually, I believe Yamaha has fudged the terminology in the manual for the PSR-530. The MIDI Master tuning can in fact be tuned -100 cent to -100 cent. But for microtonal tuning ("Scale Tuning" in Yamaha speak), they could potentially confuse users with little microtonal technical knowledge, because this is what they say : "...alows each individual note of the octave to be tuned over the range from -64 to +64 cents in 1 -cent increments (1 cent = 1/100th of a semitone)." These are actually 64ths of a semitone, aren't they ? >the sysex messages are vendor specific and therefore different. Yup, from what I've seen, Roland GS sysex microtuning messages consist of a single 22-byte message, while the Yamaha PSR's XG apparently requires 12 seperate 9-byte messages (one for each note). This is how I do it. I'm waiting for clarification on some things from Yamaha. >general midi has master channel tune in increments of >100/8192 cents (much finer) >so it is possible to tune each channel separately. Thanks for mentioning this possibility, Erich, it completely escaped my attention. Could someone clarify : There is a MIDI MULTIPART "Detune" parameter. It says : "-12.8..+12.7[Hz]" . So, what is the size of the increments ? And does anyone here know how to write the Sysex message ? The manual gives two "High-Mid-Low" Addresses, and says : "1st bit3..0-> bit7..4" & "2nd bit3..0-> bit3..0" There is also the RPN Parameter : "Fine Tune", which says "[00H,00H] - [40H,00H] - [7FH,7FH]", "(-8192*100/8192) - 0 - (+8192*100/8192)" Same questions, what size the increments, and how goes the Sysex ? If it's 0 to 8192, then I can figure out the Hex. Just using a keyboard with atleast one split point, it is possible to fool around with many equal temperaments. I've been giving it a bit of thought and it should handle equal temps of upto 24 notes per octave. All it entails is transposing both left & right sides to the same "octave" range, then tuning the both parts to the odd numbered pitches of an ET, and shifting the channel master tune so the pitches on the right hand become the even numbered pitches of the scale. I guess some of you do this already. Anyway, it's safer than impersonating Penn & Teller.It's more flexible than tuning individual channels, since you retain more polyphony. >since a midi keyboard (or any other midi instrument) >will produce notes only on one channel, you need a tool for >rechannelizing. there is a freeware program >midicable which allows you to do exactly that. Here we go again ! Is this a Power Mac application or Windows ? If it's Windows, can someone point to a Power Mac thingy for rechannelizing ? Ciao, Drew