[linux-audio-dev] XAP status : incomplete draft

[Steve Harris]

On Sun, Dec 15, 2002 at 09:12:55 +0100, David Olofson wrote:
> > > I don't get it. If you're supposed to place the scale converter
> > > *first*, then how are you supposed to be able to apply anything
> > > like traditional music theory, rather than pure, continous pitch
> > > based theory? You will have to know the *exact* temperament of
> > > the scale (to decode the input, and to generate output in the
> > > same scale), even if you're only worried about notes.
> >
> > That holds true for per-note descriptions too. The only way you can
> > improve in it is with *extensive* scale metadata. Which we dont
> > have and dont plan to have.
> 
> You're still missing the point. Note pitch is <something>/note, which 
> is a linear scale. With 12t, it's identical to 12tET. This is very 
> easy to process.

No, you're still missing the point ;)

What you said is only true of 12tET, and (as we know) 12tET<->octave
conversion is trivial and reversable.

As soon as you have not ET scales you will have to either:

1) include lots of standardised scale metadata
2) use pitch anyway (or no other processor will understand your 'note' data)

- Steve