Simon Wascher wrote:
>I now use Barfly for some time and found that the implemented "Just
>intonation" choisse in the menue does (on my computer) not produce the
>scale I expected, so I would like to know what scale is this (a natural
>scale?).
Yes, it's a scale based on simple ratios, like the one which was posted
here recently.
>On the other hand it made me dream about a menue feature: A
>dialog field is opened which gives the opportunity to customize the
>scale. The user can define the intonation for each of the twelve notes
>for example by entering a number between 1.0000 and 2.0000 Two
>alternatives should be given: 1) Absolut pitch: in this mode like in an
>tempered system these numbers aply fixed to the note (name) in question.
>So if the tonal center is moved (the K: field changes) you get a
>different coulor within the scale. 2) Relative pitch: in this mode the
>basic note allways moves to the tonal center, meaning according to the
>K:field.
>I do understand nothing about programming so I cannot even get an idea
>how complicate it is to implement such a feature but I love to dream.
>
Recent discussions here have made me think about adding an intonation
editor to BarFly, so watch this space...
In the mean time, if you know how to use ResEdit you can add new intonation
settings to the menu. The calculations are a bit complex though. BarFly
stores intonations in resources of type "Into". Each Into resource
consists of eleven 16-bit numbers, each of which specifies the amount
of pitch bend to be applied to the equal temperament note to get it to
the pitch you want, in units of 1/256 of an (equally tempered) semitone.
ResEdit will show you the numbers in hexadecimal only, so 0000 would mean
'play the equally- tempered pitch', 0005 would mean 'play it 5/256 semitone
sharp' and FFFE would mean 'play it 2/256 semitone flat'. (FFFE is minus
two in decimal.) So to add a new intonation, you first have to calculate
your pitches as ratios relative to the equally-tempered pitch, then express
this in units of 1/256 of a semitone, then convert to twos complement
hexadecimal.
Open the program with ResEdit, open the Into resources and add a new one.
Type in your eleven numbers, give the new resource a suitable name and save.
When you start up BarFly, the name you gave your new intonation will appear
in the intonation menu. BarFly uses the second of your two options: it
shifts the intonation settings to match the tonal centre given in the K:
field.
(Or you could just wait for me to write an intonation editor with a friendlier
user interface:-)
Phil Taylor
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