More scales/modes for sequencers?

[Bryan T]

We have the modes of the major scale, but what about the modes of the harmonic minor and melodic minor? How about some more exotic scales, such as 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 7?

Is there a way for a user to add scales to the library?

Thanks,
Bryan

[jim]

On Sun, Apr 5, 2009 at 8:51 PM, Bryan T <> wrote:

> We have the modes of the major scale, but what about the modes of the harmonic minor and melodic minor? *How about some more exotic scales, such as 1 b2 3 4 5 b6 7?
>
> Is there a way for a user to add scales to the library?


I'm working on some items in that area, stay tuned... ;)

Jim

[bagger288]

I'm also interested in this feature!

[stubbsonic]

Me too. I think it would be possible to create preset scale/mode "packs" so folks who really don't want to have a giant pop-list, could keep it simple, but those of us who like lots of variety can have more selections. And of course, user scales.

[jim]

The current design is like this:

- There will be a dedicated module for designing/building scales. All params will be automatable so you could have actively changing scales.

- Via a file-based module preset system, you'll be able to create, collect and share sets of scales. You will be able to group scales into directories.

- Other modules that use scales (for quantization) will be able to look into the module preset system to find scales created by the dedicated scale module and use them.

All that will all be part of a larger system that encompasses tunings and other goodies... ;)

Cheers,
Jim

[stubbsonic]

Cool! That sounds very flexible!

Will scales have associated sets of chords that go with them?

[jim]

Hmm, a highly appropriate question, I'll have to think about that.... I plan to add custom chords to the ChordSeq, but attaching a chord library to specific scale families might have some benefits.

Jim

[Mathias Tornqvist]

Let me add to that - if you're adding a tie between chords and scales, this is what I'd also wish for: Chord recognition.
I'd love to be able to play chords in real time, and have the the key and scale of sequences quantized accordingly. Perhaps a module that has two MIDI inputs, one for the chord to be recognized, the other for the stream to be quantized into the matching scale.
This could also be handy for feeding the signal from the ChordSeq, to make a MonoNote change key and scale accordingly.
Does that make any sense?

[jim]

Let me add to that - if you're adding a tie between chords and scales, this is what I'd also wish for: Chord recognition.
I'd love to be able to play chords in real time, and have the the key and scale of sequences quantized accordingly. Perhaps a module that has two MIDI inputs, one for the chord to be recognized, the other for the stream to be quantized into the matching scale.
This could also be handy for feeding the signal from the ChordSeq, to make a MonoNote change key and scale accordingly.
Does that make any sense?

Yes. It is an interesting idea, but I'm concerned about response time and ambiguity. In most cases I would expect it to take 2 or 3 chords to detect a change in key, and by that time, you may have already wanted the other sequencer to change. -- or am I missing something?

One little example I need to put together is splitting a keyboard in two and using 1 octave to pick the key and another octave to pick a chord. That would essentially be the manual version of what you describe above.

Cheers,
Jim

[Mathias Tornqvist]

Yes. It is an interesting idea, but I'm concerned about response time and ambiguity. In most cases I would expect it to take 2 or 3 chords to detect a change in key, and by that time, you may have already wanted the other sequencer to change. -- or am I missing something?

One little example I need to put together is splitting a keyboard in two and using 1 octave to pick the key and another octave to pick a chord. That would essentially be the manual version of what you describe above.

Cheers,
Jim

The split keyboard idea is a good one, but what I'm hoping to achieve (I'm ashamed to admit) is what you might get with an auto-chord home keyboard. So the played chord would not necessarily dictate the base key, but instead choose the lookup table for the notes to quantize the input stream to.

Home keyboards (and some other machines, like the Yamaha QY series) can instantly recognize the chord played (within reason), and transpose the accompaniment to that chord. In those cases it's typically a cheesy cha-cha, but in Numerology it could be awesome for live improvisations.

Thanks!
Mathias

[jim]

The split keyboard idea is a good one, but what I'm hoping to achieve (I'm ashamed to admit) is what you might get with an auto-chord home keyboard. So the played chord would not necessarily dictate the base key, but instead choose the lookup table for the notes to quantize the input stream to.

Home keyboards (and some other machines, like the Yamaha QY series) can instantly recognize the chord played (within reason), and transpose the accompaniment to that chord. In those cases it's typically a cheesy cha-cha, but in Numerology it could be awesome for live improvisations.


I got it -- could be interesting....

Jim

[Mathias Tornqvist]

I got it -- could be interesting....

Jim

I think it would be!
For us slightly traditional keyboard players, it would very cool to be able to trigger different sequences with major and minor chords. Maybe activate an LFO only on m7 chords, etc.

If you get a working chord recognition, you can also use it to enable a record function in your chord sequencer.