Originally published in Transoniq Hacker
Issue #26 (August 1987, p.9)

DICK LORD/UPWARD CONCEPTS MICRO-TONAL SCALES DISK

By Kenn Lowy

FOR: Mirage PRODUCT: Micro-Tonal Scales Disk PRICE: $39.95 FROM: Upward Concepts

It seems like just yesterday that I was asking for a Mirage operating system that would allow me to create my own scales. Either Dick Lord [of Upward Concepts] is a very fast worker, or he was working on this before I reviewed his "Equal Temperament disk". This new [revised Mirage 3.2] operating system is a little more complex than the equal temperament system reviewed a few months ago. Dick has included several new tunings on the disk as well as three samples. You might recall that I wasn't really thrilled with the three samples on the equal temperament disk [2 were ok], but Dick had informed me that he was more concerned with getting the disk out the door and that he wasn't very happy with the all of the samples either. And besides, no one [to my knowledge] was buying this for samples anyway. There are three samples on this disk as well and all of them are quite good - a harpsichord sample, an organ flute [interesting] and a good steel drum.

But again, back to the real reason why you plunked down your cash for this disk. Once again Dick has been forced to remove sampling from the operating system to make room for the new scales option, and once again, you won't miss it because you are supposed to use MASOS for sampling. He has also removed parameter #66 [Wavetable Rotate] which apparently took up quite a bit of space in the operating system. You won't miss it while you're constructing new scales.

There's a bit of hard technical information to pour through while creating new scales. This is not the kind of thing you sit down and do in a few minutes. For those of you who are happy with what you have now and are not really interested in alternate tunings and scales, I would say, don't bother with this. It's my opinion that most people are offended by weird sounds, and these different tunings can indeed be quite odd. I think they have a very important place in modern music, and intend to use this new information. But when I play music by Wendy Carlos or The Residents [they're compared to each other all the time] most people ask if I have any "other records". So the thing to remember here is that alternate tunings are not for everyone. But if you're still reading this then I have to imagine that you have some real interest in it.

The specifics: the manual that comes with this disk is 11 pages long, double sided. That should tell you that there's quite a bit to this system. Some of the new parameters on the disk include #73 - Alternate Scale On/Off - you can actually have two different scales loaded at one time and alternate between the two using the sustain pedal. This is a great feature and very useful. Parameter #89 controls the sustain pedal's four options: start and stop sequencer, normal sustain, and switch scales. The only problem with this is that you have to hold the sustain pedal down for the alternate scale. Once you take your foot off, it's back to scale one. Not a serious problem. I can deal with it. The fourth option controls both sustain and scale select. Parameter #90 is used to transpose the keyboard. Parameter #91 is the "scale length" parameter. It accepts values from 1 to 61 [for those long whole-keyboard octave scales].

There are also a few new buttons, sort of. The Sample Upper button is now used to Load Scale. By the way, loading a new scale takes about a second. It is very fast! Sample Upper now Saves a Scale that you have presumably designed and might want to use again some day. As I mentioned earlier, Dick has included some scales to give you a starting point. Some of these scales are quite useful and you may find that you don't need to create any scales of your own - for now. There are 8 scales [A & B - using the sustain pedal to switch between A & B] on the disk. I won't describe all of them as there should be a few surprises left in the world, but here's a sample of what's available: 12 Tone Equal Temperament, 1/4 Tone Temperament (24 notes to an octave), Ascending Pure Thirds (and fifths), and a 21-note octave scale. A few of the scales included on the disk sound a lot like the scales Wendy Carlos used on "Beauty In The Beast", and for good reason - they are those same scales! In fact, Wendy Carlos would like people to use them. For those who haven't heard about Beauty in the Beast, Carlos spent a bit of time playing with alternate scales and tunings and Dick Lord has put them on the disk for your use! These scales are referred to as "Alpha", "Beta", and "Gamma". Many Mirage owners may find themselves using these scales quite a bit instead of creating their own. That would make people like Wendy Carlos very happy and probably make the music business open an eye [or maybe two].

But the real crux of the matter is this: how do you create scales of your own and how easy is it? These are not easy questions to answer. Some people find sampling on the Mirage to be a huge time consuming job, while others look at it as a simple series of routines. In essence, if you really want to program your own scales, you can do it, but it will take time, energy, patience and some knowledge of how the Mirage and Dick Lord's system operates [not to mention some basics on how scales are constructed]. Dick has included all the information you'll need in his manual as well as a BASIC program listing you'll find useful when setting up the parameters for a new scale. Wait - don't stop reading yet - I imagine about half of you have just tossed this article into the air and walked away saying "I need a BASIC program to set up a scale?" No, you don't NEED it, it's included because it can be helpful and the real scale freaks out there will use it. Personally, I won't, and most of you won't. But the point is that this is a very complete package.

To adequately explain how to program your own scale from scratch would take up a bit of space. If you really are interested in this, then you should invest the time [and a little money] and get this package and dive in! I really don't think I'll program more than two or three scales in the immediate future, but somewhere down the road I may want something that I don't have [i.e., a 14 note scale], and I'll be able to get it! Or I may get really lazy and just use the scales on the disk. Let's face it, no sane person would bother to use more than a few different scales. You'll experiment and find a few that suit you and your music, and go from there. There is one little problem, however, these scales will work great on the Mirage, but what you do with your DX7 or ESQ is sort of up in the air. My advice is to be patient. With people like Dick Lord out there, you never know what's going to show up next.

Bio: Kenn Lowy is an e-bowist/guitarist/stick player who uses various synthesizers. His first album is due out in the fall on the October label. For pure relaxation he runs road races and competes in triathlons.

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