Hi Robert,
Icarus2 already supports a massive number of dynamic microtuning-modes.
To select one click below the HELP Button.
Micro-tuning Modes
Icarus probably comes with the most advanced microtuning section, which is currently available on the market.
Microtuning is a subtle effect which enhances chords. It does not have an effect on mono or legato sounds. When microtuning is active, certain notes are slightly pitched up or down to achieve a more harmonic sounding chord.
Piano tuners and organists did experiment for more than one hundred years to find good settings. We have analyzed and enhanced their results further.
With classic instruments like organs it is not possible to change the tuning of the voices during playback, however this is possible in Icarus. The 'Dynamic' modes analyze your chords in realtime and detune the voices in a subtle way.
How is the difference audible?
The most easy way to hear the difference is that you initialize a patch which uses only a single sawtooth. Select 'FILE->Init patch' and click on 'SETUP'. The default patch already is initialized with the 'Dynamic Silky' as microtuning mode.
Press two keys on the keyboard and play a minor third (3 halftones) and mayor third (4 halftones) as chord. You will hear a beating with slow modulation. Now press two keys on the keyboard an play an octave (12 halftones). Again you will hear a beating with a very slow modulation.
Now switch off the microtuning by selecting 'Standard tuning', which is used by conventional synthesizers. Press two keys on the keyboard and play a minor third (3 halftones) and mayor third (4 halftones) as chord. You will hear more disharmonic sound with a very fast beating. Now press two keys on the keyboard and play an octave (12 halftones). You will hear a static and thin sound with no modulation at all.
The following Microtuning modes are available:
Standard Tuning – No microtuning is used. This mode is used by most conventional synthesizers. Use this mode for monophonic and legato sounds.
Dynamic Thirds – A subtle improvement of the standard tuning. Minor thirds (3 halftones) and mayor thirds (4 halftones) are slightly enhanced.
Dynamic Thirds+ – An improvement of the standard tuning. Minor thirds (3 halftones) and mayor thirds (4 halftones) are moderately enhanced.
Dynamic Just – Minor thirds (3 halftones), mayor thirds (4 halftones) and fifths (7 halftones) are heavily processed. The frequency of the beating is minimized. This mode is extreme and can sound 'out of tune', but it can be useful for organs.
Dynamic Silky – Minor thirds (3 halftones), mayor thirds (4 halftones) and octaves (12 halftones) are moderately enhanced. This mode has a warm an silky sound with a slower beating and is a great choice for chords and sounds with slightly detuned oscillators. This innovative mode is exclusive and not available in other synthesizers.
Dynamic Valotti – We extended the famous Valotti tuning with dynamic octave spreading. This mode has a very lively sound. The beating speed of chords varies. It is a good choice for sounds with moderately detuned oscillators and for analog emulation. This mode is exclusive and not available in other synthesizers.
Dynamic Subtle – Like 'Dynamic Silky' but with less extreme settings.
Dynamic Octaves – Standard tuning with dynamic octave spreading. Thirds and Fifths are not affected.
Valotti – The classic Valotti tuning one of the most popular modes for classic music and organs. This mode has a lively sound. The beating speed of chords varies.
Valotti Fat – We extended classic Valotti tuning with a subtle octave spreading. Maybe someone else already did this before.
Young – The Young tuning is quite popular.
Werckmeister 3 – Many Organists prefer Werkmeister 3. It is popular for classic music.
Young-Sorge, Kirnberger 3,Neidhardt & Hammer – These historical modes are well known. We think that Valotti and Werkmeister 3 sound better, but feel free to use them if you like them. There are a lot more microtuning modes and variations out there, but we think that quality is more important than quantity.
Sinus 7cent, 5cent– These modes are not well known, but we think that they sound good and really deserve to get some attention. They sound similar to Valotti.
Stretch Light – Standard tuning with subtle octave stretching. Some pianos are tuned this way.
Stretch Medium – Standard tuning with octave stretching. Many pianos are tuned this way.
Stretch Heavy – Standard tuning with heavy octave stretching.
Stretch Valotti – Valotti tuning with octave spreading. If we would own a real grand piano we'd tune it this way.
