<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2">Lurker blundering in:<BR>
<BR>
I wondered what anyone knows about Gamelan tuning in relation to linear detuning. <BR>
<BR>
Frankly, my knowledge is little and my thinking is muddled, but below is my understanding about what comparisons can be drawn between linear detuning and the kind used in Gamelan instruments. An understanding that might improve given anyone's comments, suggestions, input.<BR>
<BR>
Where I'm starting from: My scant experience of Balinese gamelan is there are pairs of instruments played simultaneously. A given metallic tine or whatever on one instrument is tuned a beat frequency away from the "same" tine on the other. Stuck together they create a shimmering tone (or maybe more of a wobble in the lower register). Point is the tuning of paired instruments might be linear (as least within the given pair of instruments--other instrument pairs may have other beat freq tunings) to get a consistent beat freq., or perhaps the skewed linear JH and others have discussed.<BR>
<BR>
In a basic synth patch, using two oscillators in the same way would mean a similarly linear or skewed linear detuning. Or getting more complicated with the timbral issues (w/o getting into full-on acoustical modeling), two independents sets of FM generated clang tones sounding more like the original Gamelan would be tuned apart from one another in linear or skewed linear fashion.<BR>
<BR>
Does this sound correct?<BR>
<BR>
It's a weird area for comparison, I realize. Gamelan scales don't exactly correspond to equal temp. Western scales. Instruments don't generally span more than a couple of octaves; many span less than than. Lots of differences. But trying to get a concept of how the subtle mechanics of one might relate to the electronics of the other, esp. detuning for beat freq shimmer or wobble. <BR>
<BR>
Relurking on the hobby horse he rode in on,<BR>
Kevin Seward<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Geneva" FAMILY="SANSSERIF" SIZE="2"></FONT></HTML>