pure chords

[ocmtime]

pure chords
can a microtuned scale really provide pure chords?

[Manc Chris]

pure chords
can a microtuned scale really provide pure chords?

Yes, of course.

[Meffy]

Read up on "just intonation."

P.S.: TET cannot provide pure chords.

[Peel]

... unless of course you mean, "is there a microtuned scale that will allow whatever chord I play to be pure?" -- in that case the answer is no; that's why tempered scales were developed.

[contrast]

The Q and I think also the Virus beginning with the C have a tuning feature that automatically adjusting the tuning based on the notes you are playing to get you "pure" chords. You can adjust the strength of it also and control how far in that direction it moves the tuning. I don't know if there is any software out there with the same feature.

[MacQ]

I think Z3ta+ had that ability, if I recall. It makes for pure (and harmonically uninteresting) tones. Great for reinforcement of harmonics in a live setting (like with a choir), but not really useful in the synth world (in my opinion). Everyone wants things fatter ... and this makes things decidedly thinner. Crank up the "detune" knob!!

~Stu

[tamahome]

Yes. For example, a major third is 14 cents sharper than the harmonic over the 4th & 9th frets of a guitar (5th harmonic). And there's a nice harmonic minor 7th, 31 cents flatter than a regular minor 7th (above the 2.6th fret of a guitar or the 7th harmonic). 5ths are pretty much the same though (3rd harmonic).

Here's a nice page about it:
http://kylegann.com/tuning.html

Btw, I believe Firebird also does some kind of dynamic just tuning.

There's some sound comparisons here, but comparing 4ths & 5ths is ridiculous, since they're only 2 cents apart from their just counterparts:
http://justintonation.net/whatsound.html

[Mitch I.]

The feature in z3ta+ and the Virus (including the B-series rack) is called Hermode tuning. I love the sweet sound of the chords I can get with it, and I wish more synths had it.

Mitch I.