$Page Microtuner $TargetName Microtuner AW_Microtuner.png *Welcome to Microtuner* Microtuner is a MIDI device that allows loading, editing and generating microtonal scales and tunings. You can play these scales polyphonically with any MPE-capable instrument, or monophonically with any instrument that can receive MIDI pitch bend information. Microtuner also allows you to blend two microtonal scales in real time. Divider.tif *Lesson contains:* -> $Link Operation modes -> $Link Loading and generating scales -> $Link Editor and blend -> $Link Credits Divider.tif More Packs available here: $Link www.ableton.com/packs $Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $Page Operation modes $TargetName Operation modes mode.png *Operation modes* *Mode* sets the operation mode of the device. When set to *Default* mode, Microtuner will operate independently and only affect the instrument loaded on the same track. When set to *Lead* mode, Microtuner will send tuning information to any instance of the device that has been set to *Follow.* This allows for global tuning systems across several instruments. When set to *MTS* (MIDI Tuning Standard — a specification of precise musical pitch), the device will act as an MTS-ESP client. For more info about MTS-ESP technology, click $Link here. The *MPE* button determines whether the device sends polyphonic pitch bend information (for use with MPE-enabled instruments like Wavetable) or monophonic pitch bend information (for use with non MPE-enabled instruments like Operator). Use Microtuner’s *Normal* mode with synths or single samples (e.g. Wavetable or Simpler). *Multisample* mode is optimized for multisampled instruments that use dedicated samples per pitch range (e.g. multisampler presets in Sampler). Please note that Microtuner should always be the last device in the MIDI effects chain. If it is placed before other MIDI effects that don’t support MPE and use note pitch or pitch bend data (e.g. Live’s MIDI Monitor, Note Echo, Pitch, etc.), its tuning won’t work correctly. Microtuner’s *Pitch Bend* range must comply with the pitch bend range of the instrument it is being used with. For example, Operator’s default pitch bend range is set to 5 semitones. In order for its tuning to work accurately, Microtuner’s Pitch Bend should be set to 5 as well. The *Base Freq* parameter will set the base frequency of the scale (in Hz). The *Transpose* parameter will transpose the scale in semitones. Divider.tif → $Link Loading and generating scales ↑ $Link Top $Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $Page Loading and generating scales $TargetName Loading and generating scales *Loading and generating scales* The device features two scale loaders and generators labeled *A* and *B.* Divider.tif load.png *Scale file loader* The upper section of the device can import *Scala tuning files.* The Scala archive is a large collection of over 5000 files and can be downloaded $Link here . Simply drag and drop single .scl files or folders anywhere onto the device. The files will then appear in the browser. Scales can be directly selected in the *File* dropdown menu or conveniently browsed through using the right and left arrows. Clicking on the *I* symbol will bring up any additional information on the scale. *Note:* Adding large folders of .scl files can slow down loading times for the device. Divider.tif gen.png *Scale generators* The *Generators* (A and B) can be activated by clicking the small yellow square. The *Pitches* section specifies how many tones the generated scale will contain, while *Octave* determines the spread of the pitches. Please note that the Pitches and Octave settings will only affect the scale after the Generate button has been clicked. In music, an octave is the exact doubling of the frequency between two pitches. Changing this frequency ratio will affect how pitches spread over an octave. -> Setting the *numerator* and *denominator* to equal values (e.g. 1/1 or 2/2) will result in pitches that spread over one full octave. -> Setting the *numerator* to a value bigger than the *denominator* (e.g. 16/15 or 30/20) will result in pitch spreading bigger than an octave. -> Setting the *numerator* to a value smaller than the *denominator* (e.g. 15/16 or 1/2) will result in pitch spreading smaller than an octave. By default, the device’s Generators will divide pitches across the defined octave range equally. Setting a *Random Amount* will randomly alter the pitch of each note in the scale. Divider.tif → $Link Editor and blend ↑ $Link Top $Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $Page Editor and blend $TargetName Editor and blend edit.png *Editor* Imported and generated scales can be tweaked using the *Editor* section. *Position* will select which pitch to edit and *Cent* will detune it. The cent range is always linked to the number of pitches in the scale: for example, the second pitch of a scale with 6 pitches can be detuned in a range of -100 to 500 cent – 600 cents in total. When *Follow* is activated, incoming MIDI notes will control the Position and *Revert* will bring the scale back to its original state. Divider.tif blend.png *Blend* *Blend* allows you to mix both scales. This can result in interesting effects like sliding between chords in real time (in MPE mode only) and morphing arpeggios. Divider.tif → $Link Credits ↑ $Link Top $Comment -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $Page Credits $TargetName Credits AW_Microtuner.png *Microtuner* is an Ableton device made in collaboration with $Link Iftah Gabbai . Divider.tif More Packs available here: $Link www.ableton.com/packs $Comment Status: Translate