Multisynth Scala Support

[E8_Heterotic]

I have an interesting request, allowing the Multisynth module to load Scala (and possible also MIDI Tuning Standard) files. It is possible to do microtonal music in SunVox, but it always requires some inconvenient trickery, either with the set pitch effect or with the "note off" command and polyphony with the Off-Key detuner (viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4431) iaon made. In addition, it is inconvenient to create scales with more than 12 notes per octave (you have to use multiple Off-Keys) and basically impossible to create non-octave repeating scales (like Bohlen-Pierce).

All of these could be solved easily if the Multisynth module could read Scala files and instantly retune itself to whatever scale is loaded in. Polyphony would work without a hitch, there would be no need to mess with sliders and do math to get the tuning right, and both non-octave repeating scales and scales with more than 12 notes per octave would be easy.

[E8_Heterotic]

P.S.: I should give a link to what Scala files are. They shouldn't be confused with the programing language. They're simply a file that explains the set of ratios (or cents) that each interval in a period has. The period is usually an octave, but it can be anything. Scala files are easy to understand and are almost plain text.

http://huygens-fokker.org/scala/

[philipbergwerf]

Had the same idea! I hope Nightradio will be in tha mood someday to add this to the Multisynth block!!!

[BitsNpieces]

I was going to post this myself but just found it here. I would seriously pay for this feature.

[AutumnCheney]

actually, there already is a tool to get weird scales and tunings like bohlen-pierce into sunvox: https://github.com/metrasynth/gallery/t ... microtonal it works by playing a metamodule outputting a set pitch command corresponding to a frequency in the scale for every midi note you press.

you can specify your own scales using the ultrasonic tool, which requires solar sails to be installed (it's on the author's github too: https://github.com/metrasynth/solar-sails)

now someone just needs to find a way to convert the information in the scala files into input for ultrasonic...

[philipbergwerf]

Hi Autumncheney! Thanks for noticing this project! I looked at this project. I see it is a nice project and you can import scales but like the page says:

Please note that these scales are large, and contain hundreds of MetaModules. As such, just having one of these scales loaded can use a significant amount of CPU!

When testing it did stop every note after a few seconds. maybe because of CPU, don't know. It is not a full solution for those who want to work with non-actave tunings. But currently, I don't have the answer to non-octave tunings.

Would build it kind of the same way using 88 multisynths(or glides?) to set every tone independently, create a spreadsheet that converts cents to sunvox XXYY, and making templates inside the module which you can play to load them. But that many multisynths can be quite heavy...

[BitsNpieces]

I would assume a good solution would essentially work like Off-Key but by retuning each individual note separately, rather than tuning all notes of the same current pitch class the same.

Ideally, such a solution would involve allowing custom input of note names à la OpenMPT, but that would probably be a lot more difficult and require tinkering well outside of Sunvox's current modular paradigm.

[philipbergwerf]

In 1.9.6 there will be a sunvox style note-to-pitch-curve in multisynth so you can create custom curves/tunings which is awesome! Looking forward to the next update...