App last revised 14 Mar 93

InTune enables real time playing of the DSP with a choice of three different temperaments. The three temperaments are Equal, Meantone, and Pythagorean.

Equal Temperament is well-known: the frequency of the fundamental of each semitone is higher than its neighbour by a factor equal to the twelfth root of two.  By this means, we achieve an octave after twelve notes.  However, except for the octaves, none of the intervals is pure; though the impurity is the same for all intervals in all keys.

Meantone Temperament is based on a pure major third ratio of 5/4.  The octaves and minor sixths are also pure, the fifths are a little flatter even than equally tempered fifths and other intervals are somewhat out of tune.

In Pythagorean  Temperament the octaves and the fifths are all pure. Hence all the other intervals are out of tune.

Unlike Equal Temperament, in Meantone and Pythagorean tunings F-sharp is not the same as G-flat. With only twelve keys to the octave,  it is therefore necessary to decide how the sharps and flats will be tuned.  

When InTune is launched, the keys are set as indicated in the Main Window. To toggle between F-sharp and G-flat, etc, click on the appropriate key.  Select the temperament using the radio buttons, and decide the basic pitch with the slider. 

The DSP should then be "fired up".

A midi keyboard connected to the NeXT Serial Port B will now play the DSP in the tuning you have set. This tuning can be changed at any time by clicking the appropriate buttons.

The "Show Freqs" button sends a list of the frequencies to the console (beginning with middle C). [Open this in the Workspace with Cmd-C.]

At present there is no provision for changing the synth patch on the fly; but I am working on this and future versions will incorporate this.

               Please send any fanmail, bug reports, or 
                    suggestions for improvements to:

                              pickett@indiana.edu


               Have fun: cave lupos!