Apple Logic Pro 7 - Manual (Page 633)

Chapter 21 Song Settings and Preferences 633
Hermode Tuning can help with this problem: it retains the pitch relationship between
keys and notes, while using a controlled program to correct the individual notes of
electronic instruments—ensuring a high degree of purity. This process makes up to 50
finely graded frequencies available per note, while retaining compatibility with the
fixed tuning system of 12 notes per octave.
How Hermode Tuning Works
Frequency correction takes place on the basis of analyzed chord structures.
The position of individual notes in each chord are analyzed and the sum of each note’s
distance to the tempered tuning scale is “zero”. In critical cases, different compensatory
functions help to keep the degree of re-tuning small, if necessary at the expense of
absolute purity.
As an example:
• The notes C, E, and G form a C Major chord.
• To harmonically tune these, the third (the E) needs to be tuned 14 cents (a “cent” is 1/
100th of a tempered semitone) and the fifth (the G), needs to be 2 cents higher.
It should be noted that Hermode Tuning is not static, but rather dynamic. It adjusts
itself continuously to the content of the music. This is done for the following reason:
As an alternative to “tempered” or normal tuning, fifth, and third intervals can also be
tuned to certain ideal frequency ratios: the fifth to a ratio of 3:2, the major third to 5:4.
Major triads will then sound very strong and convincing.
With clean (that is scaled) tuning, Hermode Tuning changes the frequencies to values
that are partly higher or partly lower.
Software Instrument Pitch
Tune
This parameter determines the global tuning of all software instruments. The default is
concert pitch A=440 Hz. To adjust, simply grab the slider and move it to the left or
right. Detuning is in cent (1/100th of a semitone) steps.
Scale
Activation of alternate tuning scales is achieved by clicking the appropriate radio
button in the File > Song Settings > Tuning pane. The selected tuning scale will be saved
when the song is saved, and reloaded the next time the song is opened.
Equal Tempered
This mode disables any tuning, and uses an equal tempered scale—just like earlier
Logic versions.
Fixed Tuning
This option activates a number of fixed tuning Scales and Keys. The Type pull-down
menu provides you with the most important historic tuning scales, amongst others.