http://xenharmonic.wikispaces.com/DAWs
Reaper seems to be the best so far?
Reaper
Extremely flexible midi and audio routing. No built-in softsynths except ReaSynth. No problems with sysexes or multiple midi channels.
The QWERTY keyboard can be used as a midi keyboard, like most DAWs. But in Reaper, you can assign any midi note to any key. So you aren't stuck with 7 white & 5 black keys. Here's how: http://stash.reaper.fm/v/8772/reaper-vkbmap.txt
The appearance of the piano roll on the midi editor can be completely customized, e.g. more than 12 notes per octave.
ProTools
Midi tracks in ProTools can't contain multiple channels of midi data.
Logic
Logic's built-in instruments are of very high quality. There's a global setting for tuning them, and you can also import a .scl file. But they accept only 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. Logic only understands .scl files with this limitation. Logic is also incapable of changing the tuning via midi or automation, and you can only have one tuning per song.
Ableton Live
AL merges all midi channels in track sends, effect outputs and max4Live outputs into channel 1, and filters out all sysex messages and all polyphonic aftertouch messages. Midi effects, except for built-in midi effects and max4live midi effects, must be put in the audio effects section of the track. Receiving midi output from an effect requires creating an additional track and setting its input to that effect.
FL Studio
FL filters out sysex messages (undocumented, see below).
- all softsynths require only a single instance to be retunable via the pitch bend method!
http://forum.image-line.com/viewtopic.php?p=824112
(official FL Studio forum, must register to view the full thread)
Excerpted from a July 2013 conversation with "Reflex", a site admin:
user: "The Voyager PlugSE (VST plugin) from Moog... doesn't work [in FL studio]."
Reflex: "VST plugins can send sysex out of FL, but can't receive it."
user: "Yes I guess it also receives Sysex, and so a bidirectional communication can't be established."
Reflex: "Then I don't know of any way to make it work in FL."
user: "Is it planned to add support for VST plugin to send Sysex?"
Reflex: "They already can. But they can't receive them. And that's not planned."
Cubase
has a midi insert plug-in for tuning. But it only accepts 12-note-octave-repeating scales with max. +/-100 cent deviations from 12tet pitches. However you can change the tuning in the course of a song, and have multiple tunings simultaneously (on several midi channels). However, the plug-in only works with two or three older VSTi's and not with the new, better instruments that come with Cubase 7, so in effect, it has been discontinued.
Cubase has a pitch key tracking setting for all the synths, and if that's set to .50 you get 24 keys per octave, etc., so various EDOs are possible or can be approximated.
Studio One
doesn't allow recording or playback of sysexes. Apparently Studio One also doesn't allow multi-channel midi files (see link). forums.presonus.com/posts/list/31118.page
Approaches to microtonal composition in a DAW
Software: Instrument plugins (VST/AU/etc.)
Many DAWs can load instrument plugins. A plugin is a software synthesizer which can be accessed within the DAW, affording the user more sounds. Usually the plugin is loaded on a MIDI track. Some instrument plugins are capable of being microtuned. By using such a plugin, it is possible to make microtonal music within a DAW that otherwise cannot be microtuned.
Instrument plugins interface with your DAW through one of a handful of standards. Steinberg's VST is a standard supported by many DAWs. AudioUnit (AU) is widely supported on Mac computers. RTAS is used by ProTools. Put simply, you should check your DAW's user manual to see what kind of plugins you can run.
List of microtonal software plugins
http://xenharmonic.wikispaces.com/List+ ... re+Plugins
Plugin Microtuning Methods
Instrument plugins can be developed by anybody. As such, there is no standard way to set the tuning/scale of a plugin via user input. Navigating these competing methods of inputting microtonal scales can be rather messy. But generally we can group the methods like so:
Plugins which are microtuned by reading a 'tuning file' from hard disk.
A very common method. These plugins ask the user to import a file from their hard disk, which we'll call a tuning file. Within the tuning file is the data for tuning the plugin. Such tuning files come in a variety of formats:
scl/kbm (in this case, the data is stored in 2 files not 1)
TUN
MIDI tuning dump (sysex)
You can know which type of tuning file is supported by your plugin by reading its manual or supporting documentation.
Tuning files can be created by using software. The two options are Scala or LMSO. If your plugin supports the scl/kbm format, then you can download a large database (scroll to the bottom of the page) of these files to start with.
Plugins which are microtuned via MTS (MIDI Tuning Standard).
Some plugins can accept MIDI data in the form of SysEx messages. These messages contain the tuning data. The issue with this method, is that many DAWs filter out SysEx messages. However some plugins, such as those created by Xen-Arts, allow the user to load a MIDI file (containing the SysEx messages within) directly into the plugin, thus bypassing the restriction from the DAW. (Such MIDI files can be generated by Scala).
One benefit of using MTS is that tunings can be changed during the course of a piece. This gives much flexibility in tuning for the composer. MIDI Tuning is also highly accurate. Furthermore, the user can send one set of MTS messages to several plugins/hardware synthesizers at once, thereby making the tuning process relatively convenient. However since many DAWs filter out these messages, the real benefit of MTS can not be realized by everybody.
Plugins which are microtuned by user's direct inputting of values.
ZynAddSubFX will accept user inputted values. No need to generate a tuning file (though it ZynAddSubFX can also read scl files).
Plugins which are microtuned via other methods.
Native Instruments Kontakt - write a script to retune each note (or use Scala to generate one)
Plugins which have no support for microtuning.
One workaround is to use pitch-bend to microtune a monophonic MIDI part. Polyphonic MIDI parts require multiple instances of the plugin.
Here is a list of intervals. Including a huge amount of notes you cannot play on a standard instrument.
http://www.huygens-fokker.org/docs/intervals.html
List of English interval names
1/1 unison, perfect prime
2/1 octave
3/2 perfect fifth
4/3 perfect fourth
5/3 major sixth, BP sixth
5/4 major third
6/5 minor third
7/3 minimal tenth, BP tenth
7/4 harmonic seventh
7/5 septimal or Huygens' tritone, BP fourth
7/6 septimal minor third
8/5 minor sixth
8/7 septimal whole tone
9/4 major ninth
9/5 just minor seventh, BP seventh
9/7 septimal major third, BP third
9/8 major whole tone
10/7 Euler's tritone
10/9 minor whole tone
11/5 neutral ninth
11/6 21/4-tone, undecimal neutral seventh
11/7 undecimal augmented fifth
11/8 undecimal semi-augmented fourth
11/9 undecimal neutral third
11/10 4/5-tone, Ptolemy's second
12/7 septimal major sixth
12/11 3/4-tone, undecimal neutral second
13/7 16/3-tone
13/8 tridecimal neutral sixth
13/9 tridecimal diminished fifth
13/10 tridecimal semi-diminished fourth
13/11 tridecimal minor third
13/12 tridecimal 2/3-tone
14/9 septimal minor sixth
14/11 undecimal diminished fourth or major third
14/13 2/3-tone
15/7 septimal minor ninth, BP ninth
15/8 classic major seventh
15/11 undecimal augmented fourth
15/13 tridecimal 5/4-tone
15/14 major diatonic semitone
16/7 septimal major ninth
16/9 Pythagorean minor seventh
16/11 undecimal semi-diminished fifth
16/13 tridecimal neutral third
16/15 minor diatonic semitone
17/8 septendecimal minor ninth
17/9 septendecimal major seventh
17/10 septendecimal diminished seventh
17/12 2nd septendecimal tritone
17/14 supraminor third
17/15 septendecimal whole tone
17/16 17th harmonic
18/11 undecimal neutral sixth
18/13 tridecimal augmented fourth
18/17 Arabic lute index finger
19/10 undevicesimal major seventh
19/12 undevicesimal minor sixth
19/15 undevicesimal ditone
19/16 19th harmonic
19/17 quasi-meantone
19/18 undevicesimal semitone
20/9 small ninth
20/11 large minor seventh
20/13 tridecimal semi-augmented fifth
20/17 septendecimal augmented second
20/19 small undevicesimal semitone
21/11 undecimal major seventh
21/16 narrow fourth
21/17 submajor third
21/20 minor semitone
22/13 tridecimal major sixth
22/15 undecimal diminished fifth
22/21 undecimal minor semitone
23/12 vicesimotertial major seventh
23/16 23rd harmonic
23/18 vicesimotertial major third
24/13 tridecimal neutral seventh
24/17 1st septendecimal tritone
24/19 smaller undevicesimal major third
24/23 vicesimotertial minor semitone
25/9 classic augmented eleventh, BP twelfth
25/12 classic augmented octave
25/14 middle minor seventh
25/16 classic augmented fifth
25/18 classic augmented fourth
25/21 BP second, quasi-tempered minor third
25/22 undecimal acute whole tone
25/24 classic chromatic semitone, minor chroma
26/15 tridecimal semi-augmented sixth
26/25 tridecimal 1/3-tone
27/14 septimal major seventh
27/16 Pythagorean major sixth
27/17 septendecimal minor sixth
27/20 acute fourth
27/22 neutral third, Zalzal wosta of al-Farabi
27/23 vicesimotertial minor third
27/25 large limma, BP small semitone
27/26 tridecimal comma
28/15 grave major seventh
28/17 submajor sixth
28/25 middle second
28/27 Archytas' 1/3-tone
29/16 29th harmonic
30/17 septendecimal minor seventh
30/19 smaller undevicesimal minor sixth
31/16 31st harmonic
31/30 31st-partial chroma
32/15 minor ninth
32/17 17th subharmonic
32/19 19th subharmonic
32/21 wide fifth
32/23 23rd subharmonic
32/25 classic diminished fourth
32/27 Pythagorean minor third
32/29 29th subharmonic
32/31 Greek enharmonic 1/4-tone
33/25 2 pentatones
33/26 tridecimal major third
33/28 undecimal minor third
33/32 undecimal comma, al-Farabi's 1/4-tone
34/21 supraminor sixth
34/27 septendecimal major third
35/18 septimal semi-diminished octave
35/24 septimal semi-diminished fifth
35/27 9/4-tone, septimal semi-diminished fourth
35/32 septimal neutral second
35/34 septendecimal 1/4-tone
36/19 smaller undevicesimal major seventh
36/25 classic diminished fifth
36/35 septimal diesis, 1/4-tone
37/32 37th harmonic
39/32 39th harmonic, Zalzal wosta of Ibn Sina
40/21 acute major seventh
40/27 grave fifth
40/39 tridecimal minor diesis
41/29 quasi-tempered tritone
42/25 quasi-tempered major sixth
44/25 undecimal grave minor seventh
44/27 neutral sixth
45/32 diatonic tritone
45/44 1/5-tone
46/45 23rd-partial chroma
48/25 classic diminished octave
48/35 septimal semi-augmented fourth
49/25 BP eighth
49/30 larger approximation to neutral sixth
49/36 Arabic lute acute fourth
49/40 larger approximation to neutral third
49/45 BP minor semitone
49/48 slendro diesis, septimal 1/6-tone
50/27 grave major seventh
50/33 3 pentatones
50/49 Erlich's decatonic comma, tritonic diesis
51/50 17th-partial chroma
52/33 tridecimal minor sixth
54/35 septimal semi-augmented fifth
54/49 Zalzal's mujannab
55/36 undecimal semi-augmented fifth
55/48 undecimal semi-augmented whole tone
55/49 quasi-equal major second
56/55 undecimal diesis
57/56 Hendrix comma
60/49 smaller approximation to neutral third
63/25 quasi-equal major tenth, BP eleventh
63/32 octave - septimal comma
63/34 submajor seventh
63/40 narrow minor sixth
63/50 quasi-equal major third
64/33 33rd subharmonic
64/35 septimal neutral seventh
64/37 37th subharmonic
64/39 39th subharmonic
64/45 2nd tritone
64/49 2 septatones or septatonic major third
64/63 septimal comma, Archytas' comma
65/64 13th-partial chroma
68/35 23/4-tone
68/63 supraminor second
72/49 Arabic lute grave fifth
72/55 undecimal semi-diminished fourth
72/59 Ibn Sina's neutral third
74/73 approximation to Pythagorean comma
75/49 BP fifth
75/64 classic augmented second
77/76 approximation to 53-tone comma
80/49 smaller approximation to neutral sixth
80/63 wide major third
81/44 2nd undecimal neutral seventh
81/50 acute minor sixth
81/64 Pythagorean major third
81/68 Persian wosta
81/70 Al-Hwarizmi's lute middle finger
81/80 syntonic comma, Didymus comma
88/81 2nd undecimal neutral second
89/84 quasi-equal semitone
91/59 15/4-tone
91/90 medium tridecimal comma
96/95 19th-partial chroma
98/55 quasi-equal minor seventh
99/70 2nd quasi-equal tritone
99/98 small undecimal comma
100/63 quasi-equal minor sixth
100/81 grave major third
100/99 Ptolemy's comma
105/64 septimal neutral sixth
105/104 small tridecimal comma
121/120 undecimal seconds comma
125/64 classic augmented seventh, octave - minor diesis
125/72 classic augmented sixth
125/96 classic augmented third
125/108 semi-augmented whole tone
125/112 classic augmented semitone
126/125 small septimal comma, Starling comma
128/75 diminished seventh
128/81 Pythagorean minor sixth
128/105 septimal neutral third
128/121 undecimal semitone
128/125 minor diesis, diesis
131/90 13/4-tone
135/128 major chroma, major limma
140/99 quasi-equal tritone
144/125 classic diminished third
144/143 Grossma
145/144 29th-partial chroma
153/125 7/4-tone
153/152 Ganassi's comma
160/81 octave - syntonic comma
161/93 19/4-tone
162/149 Persian neutral second
168/89 quasi-equal major seventh
169/168 Schulter's comma
176/175 valinorsma
192/125 classic diminished sixth
196/195 mynucuma
216/125 semi-augmented sixth
225/128 augmented sixth
225/224 septimal kleisma
231/200 5/4-tone
241/221 Meshaqah's 3/4-tone
243/125 octave - maximal diesis
243/128 Pythagorean major seventh
243/160 acute fifth
243/200 acute minor third
243/224 Archytas' 2/3-tone
243/242 neutral third comma
245/243 minor BP diesis, Sensamagic comma
246/239 Meshaqah's 1/4-tone
248/243 tricesoprimal comma
250/153 17/4-tone
250/243 maximal diesis
256/135 octave - major chroma
256/225 diminished third
256/243 limma, Pythagorean minor second
256/245 septimal minor semitone
256/255 septendecimal kleisma
261/256 vicesimononal comma
270/161 Kirnberger's sixth
272/243 Persian whole tone
273/256 Ibn Sina's minor second
275/273 Garibert comma
320/243 grave fourth
325/324 marveltwin
351/350 ratwolf comma
352/351 minthma
361/360 Dudon comma
364/363 gentle comma
375/256 double augmented fourth
375/343 BP major semitone, minor BP chroma
385/384 undecimal kleisma
400/243 grave major sixth
405/256 wide augmented fifth
405/392 greenwoodma
441/440 Werckmeister's undecimal septenarian schisma
512/343 3 septatones or septatonic fifth
512/375 double diminished fifth
512/405 narrow diminished fourth
513/512 undevicesimal comma, Boethius' comma
525/512 Avicenna enharmonic diesis
540/539 Swets' comma
625/324 octave - major diesis
625/567 BP great semitone, major BP chroma
640/637 huntma
648/625 major diesis
675/512 wide augmented third
676/675 island comma
686/675 senga
687/500 11/4-tone
715/714 septendecimal bridge comma
729/400 acute minor seventh
729/512 Pythagorean tritone
729/640 acute major second
729/704 undecimal major diesis
729/728 squbema
736/729 vicesimotertial comma
749/500 ancient Chinese quasi-equal fifth
750/749 ancient Chinese tempering
800/729 grave whole tone
847/845 Cuthbert comma
875/864 keema
896/891 undecimal semicomma
1001/1000 fairytale comma
1024/675 narrow diminished sixth
1024/729 Pythagorean diminished fifth
1029/1000 keega
1029/1024 gamelan residue
1053/1024 tridecimal major diesis
1125/1024 double augmented prime
1188/1183 kestrel comma
1215/1024 wide augmented second
1216/1215 Eratosthenes' comma
1280/729 grave minor seventh
1288/1287 triaphonisma
1344/1331 hemimin
1575/1573 Nicola
1728/1715 Orwell comma
1732/1731 approximation to 1 cent
1875/1024 double augmented sixth
2025/1024 2 tritones
2048/1125 double diminished octave
2048/1215 narrow diminished seventh
2048/1875 double diminished third
2048/2025 diaschisma
2058/2057 xenisma
2080/2079 ibnsinma
2187/1280 acute major sixth
2187/2000 Gorgo limma
2187/2048 apotome
2187/2176 septendecimal comma
2200/2197 Parizek comma
2401/2400 Breedsma
2430/2401 nuwell comma
2560/2187 grave minor third
3025/3024 Lehmerisma
3125/3072 small diesis, magic comma
3125/3087 major BP diesis
3136/3125 middle second comma
3375/2048 double augmented fifth
3645/2048 wide augmented sixth
4000/3969 septimal semicomma
4000/3993 undecimal schisma
4096/2187 Pythagorean diminished octave
4096/2401 4 septatones or septatonic major sixth
4096/3375 double diminished fourth
4096/3645 narrow diminished third
4096/4095 tridecimal schisma, Sagittal schismina
4225/4224 leprechaun comma
4375/4374 ragisma
4608/4235 Arabic neutral second
5120/5103 Beta 5, Garibaldi comma
5625/4096 double augmented third
6144/3125 octave - small diesis
6144/6125 porwell comma
6561/4096 Pythagorean augmented fifth
6561/5120 acute major third
6561/6125 BP major link
6561/6400 Mathieu superdiesis
6655/6561 Triple BP comma
8192/5625 double diminished sixth
8192/6561 Pythagorean diminished fourth
8192/8019 undecimal minor diesis
9801/9800 kalisma, Gauss' comma
10125/8192 double augmented second
10240/6561 grave minor sixth
10648/10647 harmonisma
10935/8192 fourth + schisma, 5-limit approximation to ET fourth
10976/10935 hemimage
10985/10976 cantonisma
15625/15309 great BP diesis
15625/15552 kleisma, semicomma majeur
16384/10125 double diminished seventh
16384/10935 fifth - schisma, 5-limit approximation to ET fifth
16875/16384 double augmentation diesis, Negri comma
16875/16807 small BP diesis
17496/16807 septimal major diesis
18225/16807 minimal BP chroma
19657/19656 greater harmonisma
19683/10000 octave - minimal diesis
19683/10240 acute major seventh
19683/16384 Pythagorean augmented second
19683/19600 cataharry comma
20000/19683 minimal diesis
20480/19683 grave minor second
21875/19683 maximal BP chroma
23232/23231 lesser harmonisma
28672/28431 Secorian
32768/16875 octave - double augmentation diesis
32768/19683 Pythagorean diminished seventh
32768/16807 5 septatones or septatonic diminished octave
32805/32768 schisma
33075/32768 mirwomo comma
43923/43904 hemigail
50421/50000 trimyna
52973/50000 Mersenne's quasi-equal semitone
59049/32768 Pythagorean augmented sixth
59049/57344 Harrison's comma
64827/64000 Squalentine
65536/32805 octave - schisma
65536/59049 Pythagorean diminished third
65536/65219 orgonisma
65625/65536 horwell comma
78125/73728 Woolhouse semitone
78732/78125 medium semicomma, Sensi comma
83349/78125 BP minor link
118098/117649 stearnsma
123201/123200 chalmersia
147456/78125 Woolhouse major seventh
151263/151250 odiheim
177147/131072 Pythagorean augmented third
179200/177147 tolerma
194481/194480 supraminor scintillisma
234375/234256 sesdecal
250047/250000 Landscape comma
262144/177147 Pythagorean diminished sixth
321489/320000 varunisma
390625/196608 octave - Würschmidt's comma
390625/388962 dimcomp comma
393216/390625 Würschmidt's comma
413343/390625 BP small link
420175/419904 wizma
531441/262144 Pythagorean augmented seventh
531441/524288 Pythagorean comma, ditonic comma
823543/819200 quince
823543/820125 complementary BP diesis
1048576/531441 Pythagorean diminished ninth
1594323/1048576 Pythagorean double augmented fourth
1594323/1562500 Unicorn comma
1600000/1594323 Amity comma, kleisma - schisma
1638400/1594323 Immunity comma
2097152/1594323 Pythagorean double diminished fifth
2109375/2097152 semicomma, Fokker's comma
4782969/4194304 Pythagorean double augmented prime
8388608/4782969 Pythagorean double diminished octave
9765625/9565938 Fifives comma
14348907/8388608 Pythagorean double augmented fifth
16777216/14348907 Pythagorean double diminished fourth
29360128/29296875 Freivald comma
33554432/33480783 Beta 2, septimal schisma
34171875/33554432 Ampersand's comma
43046721/33554432 Pythagorean double augmented second
48828125/47775744 Sycamore comma
67108864/43046721 Pythagorean double diminished seventh
67108864/66430125 Misty comma, diaschisma - schisma
129140163/67108864 Pythagorean double augmented sixth
129140163/128000000 gravity comma
131072000/129140163 roda
134217728/119574225 whole tone - 2 schismas, 5-limit approximation to ET whole tone
134217728/129140163 Pythagorean double diminished third
201768035/201326592 wadisma
387420489/268435456 Pythagorean double augmented third
536870912/387420489 Pythagorean double diminished sixth
854296875/843308032 Blackjack comma
1162261467/536870912 Pythagorean double augmented seventh
1162261467/1073741824 Pythagorean-19 comma
1220703125/1162261467 Trithagorean comma
1220703125/1207959552 ditonma
1224440064/1220703125 parakleisma
6115295232/6103515625 Vishnu comma
274877906944/274658203125 semithirds comma
7629394531250/7625597484987 ennealimmal comma
19073486328125/19042491875328 '19-tone' comma
450359962737049600/450283905890997363 monzisma
36893488147419103232/36472996377170786403 '41-tone' comma
19383245667680019896796723/19342813113834066795298816 Mercator's comma
http://www.huygens-fokker.org/docs/intervals.html
but..
