Tuning note to specific frequency?

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chaz11
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Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:14 pm

Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by chaz11 » Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:18 pm

Ok, I've got myself really confused right now, trying to use Scala to create a .tun file to use in a VST synth. I can import and tune up a vst synth for a particular tuning, that works, but all I need are a few specific notes tuned to a specific Hz for a project I'm doing - but something I can reuse to get a noise at that Hz on any VST synth.

Which would be the easiest way to do this?

Any suggestions welcome.

beats me
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Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:39 pm

Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by beats me » Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:29 pm

You referencing a chart like this?



Image




That's about as helpful as I'm going to be in this thread. :x

chaz11
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Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:14 pm

Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by chaz11 » Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:27 pm

beats me wrote:You referencing a chart like this?



That's about as helpful as I'm going to be in this thread. :x
That's really useful for me to have for reference, so thanks for that - but no!

The frequencies I'm using are outside any of those associated with a normal midi note and/or key.

I've been using MicroTuner (vst plugin) inside ableton, which uses .tun files (converted from Scala inside Scala) for alternative tunings, which then feeds into a VST synth that can control pitch bend.

ie. Scala -> .scl -> .tun -> microtuner -> vst synth

But what I don't seem to be able to do and trying to find the neatest way possible to do, is have a handful of (midi) notes at distinct frequencies, not a full scale.

And I just can't get my head around Scala for now even though I know in theory it's possible. Apparently Scala is easy to use and implement to custom build scales. Yes and No to that, not for someone short on time.

Are there any utilities inside Ableton that allow retuning to a particular Hz?

yur2die4
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Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by yur2die4 » Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:33 pm

Okay, this is a quick attempt at advice even though I'm not super familiar with Scala.

What I'd suggest is using that chart and finding the frequencies on there closest to the frequencies you intend to use.

Then basically write those notes in a sheet of paper, and the frequencies they Should be after you retune them

After that either conceive a formula, or do the good old fashioned method of using sine waves and a tuner of some sort that can tell you the frequency of the notes you are playing.

Theoretically, the freqs you are referring to probably also work as octaves, so halves and doubles of those #'s may be easier to work with depending on the material etc.

So at the end of the day, you should have an octave's worth of notes that fit in your criteria which is duplicated up and down the keyboard due to the .tun configuration.


Out of curiosity, what are the frequencies?

chaz11
Posts: 6
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:14 pm

Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by chaz11 » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:40 pm

yur2diefor, thanks for that last question it got me thinking...

36Hz, 72Hz (the octave) & 108Hz as a couple of examples...
so it turns out the frequencies I was looking for are actually part of the Pythagorean tuning system :-) So that was weird, and easy for me to implement using ready created .tun files.

Well perhaps not so weird as the Hz I was looking for come from a geometry project and that links to Pythag obviously.

If this thread has been picked up by anyone interested in the subject, these things have helped a lot:
Tune Ableton to 432 tuning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHRxySynpNg
&
http://quadrophone.com/composition-tuto ... n-ableton/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_tuning

Actually, Max Live looks like something worth having for real DIY music making.

thanks again for input, discussion always shifts stuff eh?

cotdagoo
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Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by cotdagoo » Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:02 am

you might enjoy (or not) this discussion on 432 tuning - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=201573

chaz11
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Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2014 1:14 pm

Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by chaz11 » Sun Jun 29, 2014 7:41 am

cotdagoo wrote:you might enjoy (or not) this discussion on 432 tuning - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=201573

Thanks for that - interesting

cyclone975
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 31, 2015 7:22 am

Re: Tuning note to specific frequency?

Post by cyclone975 » Thu Nov 12, 2015 9:47 pm

Hey chaz11,

The custom .csv tuning feature of Retune for Live looks like it would do exactly what you're trying to do.

http://www.maxforlive.com/library/devic ... e-for-live

Youtube tutorial on how the .csv works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU5ZlJJGGLY

A general tutorial of Retune for Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLxzQpODVJg

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