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Historical Tuning (Scala files) and stretch tuning

What it does

Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Lite uses Scala files (SCL) to achieve many scales and temperaments. Scala files are a commonly used standard for defining scales and temperaments, and a number of common and historical tunings are already included with your installation. The common tuning standard of Equal Temperament is selected by default.

Stretch tuning subtly flattens the low pitches of the piano and sharpens the high pitches. The lower or higher the pitch on the keyboard, the more the pitch is flattened or sharpened respectively. Stretch tuning is a standard piano tuning practice that helps keep the instrument more in tune with itself.

When the Stretch Tuning knob is in the center, you are hearing the natural intonation given to CFX Lite by Yamaha's piano technician. Turn the Stretch Tuning knob to the right of center to exaggerate the amount of stretch tuning, and turn it left of center to decrease the amount of stretch tuning.

If you need only to uniformly raise or lower the pitch of the piano, use the Pitch Standard menu or Fine Pitch box.

ClosedTo use a different scale or temperament
  1. Click the Advanced button. The Advanced view appears.
  2. Next to the Historical Tuning box, click the Set button . The Please select Scala file dialog box appears.
    • Scala files on Windows can be found in C:\Program Files\Garritan\CFX Lite\Scales.
    • Scala files on Mac can be found in Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Garritan/CFX Lite/Scales.
  3. Select the desired Scala file (SCL), and then click Open.
  4. Click the Tuning Center menu, and then select the base note for your selected temperament or scale.

    Just intonation with C5 as a center will sound different than just intonation with E4 as a center. The octave designation that follows the pitch name is important when there are either more than 12 or less than 12 pitches within an octave.

    5. Experiment with stretch tuning in conjunction with the selected Scala file to maximize the effect.

ClosedTo use stretch tuning
  1. Click the Advanced button. The Advanced view appears.
  2. AdjustClick and drag the knob up or right to increase and down or left to decrease. the Stretch Tuning knob until you achieve the desired piano intonation.

Scala file reference

Scala is a standard file format for defining musical temperaments and tunings. The ARIA Player includes sixteen Scala files that can be used as preset tunings. Scala files are editable and you can create your own; more information can be found at http://www.huygens-fokker.org/scala/scl_format.html.

Filename Description Scale degrees Tuning
01 - equal.scl Twelve-tone equal temperament 12
ClosedEqual Temperament
100.0
200.0
300.0
400.0
500.0
600.0
700.0
800.0
900.0
1000.0
1100.0
2/1
broadwood_best.scl Form of Victorian temperament (1885), Broadwood's Best (Ellis tuner number 4) 12
ClosedBroadwood Best
96.0
198.0
298.0
393.0
500.0
595.0
700.0
797.0
895.0
999.0
1094.0
2/1
carlos_alpha24.scl Wendy Carlos' Alpha scale with perfect fifth divided in nine, in two octaves 24
ClosedCarlos Alpha
78.0
156.0
234.0
312.0
390.0
468.0
546.0
624.0
702.0
780.0
858.0
936.0
1014.0
1092.0
1170.0
1248.0
1326.0
1404.0
1482.0
1560.0
1638.0
1716.0
1794.0
1200.0
carlos_circular.scl Wendy Carlos' optimized Werkmeister-style "Circular" temperament 12
ClosedCarlos Circular
92.0
197.0
297.0
392.0
500.0
591.0
699.0
794.0
894.0
999.0
1091.0
2/1
fifth_comma_meantone.scl 1/5-comma meantone scale 12
ClosedFifth-Comma Meantone
83.576
195.307
307.039
390.615
502.346
585.922
697.654
781.230
892.961
1004.693
1088.269
2/1
just_intonation.scl Basic just intonation with 7-limit tritone 12
ClosedJust Intonation
16/15
9/8
6/5
5/4
4/3
7/5
3/2
8/5
5/3
9/5
15/8
2/1
kellner_bach.scl Kellner's temperament, modified Werckmeister III 12
ClosedKellner
90.0
194.4
294.0
388.8
498.0
588.0
697.2
792.0
891.6
996.0
1090.8
2/1
kirnbergerIII.scl Kirnberger III 12
ClosedKirnberger III
90.0
193.0
294.0
386.0
498.0
588.0
697.0
792.0
890.0
996.0
1088.0
2/1
lehman-bach.scl Brad Lehman's Bach keyboard temperament 12
ClosedLehman Bach
98.045
196.090
298.045
392.180
501.955
596.090
698.045
798.045
894.135
998.045
1094.135
2/1
pythagorean.scl 12-tone Pythagorean scale 12
ClosedPythagorean
2187/2048
9/8
32/27
81/64
4/3
729/512
3/2
6561/4096
27/16
16/9
243/128
2/1
quarter_comma_meantone.scl 1/4-comma meantone scale. Pietro Aaron's temperament (1523). 6/5 beats twice 3/2 12
ClosedQuarter-Comma Meantone
76.04900
193.15686
310.26471
5/4
503.42157
579.47057
696.57843
25/16
889.73529
1006.84314
1082.89214
2/1
rameau.scl Standard French temperament, Rameau version (1726), C. di Veroli, 2002 12
ClosedRameau
88.33435
193.15686
297.97936
5/4
503.42157
584.84714
696.57843
792.15686
889.73529
1001.46657
1082.89214
2/1
sixth_comma_meantone.scl 1/6-comma meantone scale (tritonic temperament of Salinas) 12
ClosedSixth-Comma Meantone
88.594
196.741
304.888
393.482
501.629
590.224
698.371
786.965
892.112
1003.259
1091.853
2/1
temperament_ordinaire_II.scl French 18th century temperament ordinaire II (1/6) 12
ClosedTemperament Ordinaire II
86.0
196.0
292.0
392.0
498.0
588.0
698.0
788.0
894.0
996.0
1092.0
2/1
werckmeisterIII.scl Andreas Werckmeister's temperament III (1681) 12
ClosedWerckmeister III
90.225
192.180
294.135
390.225
498.045
588.270
696.090
792.180
888.270
996.090
1092.180
2/1
young_1799.scl Thomas Young well temperament (1799) 12
ClosedYoung
93.9
195.8
297.8
391.7
499.9
591.9
697.9
795.8
893.8
999.8
1091.8
2/1

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CFX Lite User Manual

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