SEI Tuning is a breakthrough in tuning all electronic, computer and MIDI files. It is a dynamic melodic tuning in which tones are given small specific pitch increments to their equal temperament values, depending on context. Until now those files were all tuned to equal temperatment, the tuning of the piano - a compromise in which all keys are slightly and equally out of tune. For example all intervals of the fifths are tuned 2 cents flat and all intervals of the fourth are two cents sharp. Equal temperament is a static tuning in which all notes keep their pitch constant duiring any song. No longer. SEI gives life to music in a natural way that anyone can hear. The music springs to life, as if a slight fog that was there before were lifted, a fog that people had become used to expect. SEI lifts the fog and lets the sunshine in. For all music - of our culture. The music "grabs you more" and has " more heart", as a piano tuner has said. If Dolby eliminated noise from music, SEI restores natural life eliminated by equal temperament tuning, natural life that only first rate musicians can at best provide.
It is the first real improvement of tuning in 200 years. And it is made possible only through computer technology, and applies only to modern technology.lt was first realized in SuperConductor II, and can no\v be instantly applied to all computer, synthesizer, and MIDI files.
All traditional tunings are static tunings. They include (besides equal temperament) Meantone, Pythagorean, Well Tempered, Werkmeister, Kirnberger, and Just Intonation tunings. All these tunings are static harmonic tunings and need to be transposed to accommodate different keys. They work well for some keys at the expense of others. Developed over four hundred years they have been little used in modern tunes as equal temperament tuning has overtaken them for the last two hundred years. Attempts have neen made to make such tunings available to computer files but the need for transposition has made such attempts quite akward.
In addition, all these harmonic tunings ignore Expressive Intonation. For example, the need that musicians such as string players and singers have to sharpen the leading tone of a melody when it goes to the tonic. And certain other adjustments of pitch depending on context. Quantification of these highly valued intonation incremenets does not exist: they are done by and judged by ear. It is clear when such adjustments are too much, but no text book gives any quantification, nor could a player follow such quantification if it were given. Pablo Casals was a great master who taught Expressive Intontation, but of course, gave no quantification other than judgment "by ear". It is remarkable and exciting that SEI tuning benefits popular music as much as jazz and classical music.
Self TuningExpressive Intonation is a dynamic tuning. No transposition is required, because it is a melodic tuning. It is not random humanizing but on the contrary highly specific to the melodies and to all voices. Every note receives attention. Every note receives its own pitch increment added to or subtracted from equal temperament depending on the melodic interval of which it is part.
Intervals can be ascending or descending. There are twelve intervals ascending and twelve descending: that makes 24 intervals, and each get a different pitch increment. Moreover there are two ways to increase an interval: increase the pitch of the second note, or decrease the pitch of the first note of the interval.. That makes 48 choices. The discovery of SEI is that music benefits from and requires that each interval be given a small positive or negative pitch increment depending on its melodic function. And a descending interval needs a different increment from the same interval ascending. The SEI algorithm has provided the quantification that makes it universal, giving to every song the benefit of Expressive Intonation (as can a master musician). To every song that before played in equal temperament.
Casals taught that the faster the notes the more pronounced are the tuning increments. This important property is also included in the algorithm.
Life Tuning needs to be applied to a music file before it is made into a mp3 or .wav file.
Now every MIDI file in the world can be played with SEI instantly giving it life. Either through a MIDI player which incorporates the .dll SEI module, or by downloading a small SEI app, that works with existing MIDI players and computers. Tuned files retain their timing. Both Windows and Mac.
All mp3, .wav and CDs made from tuned MIDI and computer files retain the tuning.