13 Using Tuning Systems
By default Live uses 12TET tuning, this means note pitches are divided equally into
twelve parts per octave. However, there are numerous ways that pitches can be
distributed across an octave or pseudo-octave (which uses a different interval), and
tuning systems can be used to specify these variations.
Live 12 supports Scala files, which you can load into a Live Set to use a custom tuning
for MIDI notes.
The Core Library also comes with a set of tuning systems, which can be found in the
Tunings label of the browser. Tuning files from the Core Library use an Ableton-
specific extension to the SCL (Scala) file format called ASCL.
The Tunings Label in the Browser.
When hovering over or selecting tuning systems in the browser, a short description
of the tuning, including the number of notes per octave, is shown in the Info View.
The Tunings Label in the Browser.
You can add your own .scl or .ascl files to any folder in Live’s Places so that they show
up in the Tunings label of the browser under the User tag.
User-saved Tunings in the Browser.
13.1 Loading a Tuning System
To load a tuning system into a Set, you can double-click on a tuning file in the
browser, or select the file and press Enter. These methods will automatically open the
Tuning section of the browser, which is hidden by default.
The Tuning section in the Browser.
You can also open the Tuning section using the browser’s view control menu.
The Browser View Control Menu.
External ASCL or SCL files on your computer can be dragged and dropped into the
Tuning section as well. As long as the file is loaded in the Tuning section (see ‘The
Tuning Section’), the tuning will be saved with the Live Set.
When a tuning system is added to a Live Set, the notes in the piano roll of the MIDI
Note Editor will show the corresponding notes of the tuning.
Updated Notes in the MIDI Note Editor.
The “Retune Set On Loading Tuning Systems” entry in the Options menu can be
enabled so that existing MIDI notes are retuned to match the new notes that are
designated by the tuning file in the MIDI Note Editor automatically. You will see a
dialog appear to confirm this process when loading a tuning system.
Existing MIDI Clips Will Be Modified when Loading a Tuning System.
When automatic note retuning is enabled, deleting or switching between tuning
systems can cause original notes to be changed or lost. This can happen when two
notes which overlap in time and originally had different pitches both get mapped to
the same pitch in the new tuning system, as that new pitch is closest to both original
pitches. In that case, one of the notes may be deleted or shortened.
Note that the Scale Mode choosers in Clip View and the Control Bar are no longer
visible when a tuning system is loaded.
13.2 The Tuning Section
Various pitch settings for a tuning system are accessible via the Tuning section.
The Tuning Section Expanded.
You can toggle the triangle next to the name of the tuning file to expand the section
and access additional settings for the lowest and highest notes for the reference pitch.
• Tuning displays the name of the tuning system.
• Octave sets the octave of the note used for the reference pitch.
• Note sets the note in the octave used for the reference pitch.
• Ref. Pitch/Freq sets the frequency of the reference pitch. The pitch of all MIDI
notes in the Set can be raised or lowered by changing the frequency.
• Lowest Note sets what the lowest MIDI note plays by assigning it to an octave
and pitch class. Changing the lowest note also changes the highest note,
preserving the number of notes in between.
• Highest Note sets what the highest MIDI note plays, and will also change the
lowest note when changed.
Note that the reference pitch is only audibly affected by the Ref. Pitch/Freq value.
Changing the Octave or Note values will update the frequency displayed in the Ref.
Pitch/Freq slider to match the newly specified notes, however, no audible change is
produced until the reference pitch frequency value itself is adjusted. This is to prevent
any sudden pitch changes when setting the Octave or Note values.
The floppy disk button to the right of the reference pitch frequency can be used to
save the currently loaded tuning as an .ascl file to the Tunings label in the browser.
Pressing the arrow button next to the Save Tuning System button opens a link
to Ableton’s Tuning website that contains more information about the loaded tuning
system, as well as an interactive editor for trying out variations of the associated
pitches. You can also export any custom tuning systems you create there. Note that
not all tuning systems have external webpages, and the arrow button will be greyed
out if no relevant link is available.
You can select a file in the Tuning section and press the Delete key to remove it and
return to 12TET tuning.
13.3 Note Retuning
Notes are retuned to match a loaded tuning system using MPE pitch bend.
All of Live’s built-in instruments as well as MPE-enabled plug-ins or external Max for
Live instruments are supported for use with tuning systems, provided that the pitch
bend range is set to 48 semitones.
Note that instruments that are not MPE-enabled or use different pitch bend ranges
will play out of tune.
13.4 MIDI Track Options for Tuning Systems
You will see a few tuning-specific options appear in the I/O section of MIDI tracks
when a tuning system is loaded that let you customize your track and controller
setups.
13.4.1 Bypass Tuning
The Bypass Tuning toggle can be used to ignore a tuning system for a specific MIDI
track.
The Bypass Tuning Toggle.
When enabled, the MIDI Note Editor will display 12TET tuning notes in the piano roll
for any clips in that track.
Note that MIDI tracks containing Drum Racks automatically bypass any loaded tuning
file.
13.4.2 MIDI Controller Layouts
The Track Tuning MIDI Controller Layout settings allow you to specify which keys a
controller can be mapped to, as well as create a custom layout if needed.
The Track Tuning MIDI Controller Layout Options.
• All Keys maps notes in the tuning system to all keys on the controller.
• Black Keys Only maps notes to the black keys only. This layout is centered
around C#3.
• White Keys Only maps notes to the white keys only. This layout is centered
around C3.
• Closest in Pitch to Keyboard maps notes to the closest pitch on the keys.
• Custom Controller Layout lets you define a specific layout for the controller.
When Custom Controller Layout is selected in the chooser, you can press the …
button to the right to access the Configure MIDI Layout dialog and adjust the layout
settings.
The Configure MIDI Layout Dialog.
Custom controller layouts will be saved and recalled with the Live Set.
13.5 Learn More About Tuning Systems
You can visit Ableton’s Tuning website to read more about Live’s built-in tuning
systems, as well as create and export your own custom tunings using interactive
widgets.
Using the ASCL format, you can also create and import your own tuning systems for
Live by following the designated specifications.
