Antares autotune4 Manual Do Utilizador
7
Some pitch terminology
The pitch of a periodic waveform is defined as the number of times the
periodic element repeats in one second. This is measured in Hertz (abbrevi-
ated Hz.). For example, the pitch of A3 (the A above middle C on a piano) is
traditionally 440Hz (although that standard varies by a few Hz. in various
parts of the world).
periodic element repeats in one second. This is measured in Hertz (abbrevi-
ated Hz.). For example, the pitch of A3 (the A above middle C on a piano) is
traditionally 440Hz (although that standard varies by a few Hz. in various
parts of the world).
Pitches are often described relative to one another as intervals, or ratios of
frequency. For example, two pitches are said to be one octave apart if their
frequencies differ by a factor of two. Pitch ratios are measured in units
called cents. There are 1200 cents per octave. For example, two tones that
are 2400 cents apart are two octaves apart. The traditional twelve-tone
Equal Tempered Scale that is used (or rather approximated) in 99.9% of all
Western tonal music consists of tones that are, by definition, 100 cents
apart. This interval of 100 cents is called a semitone.
frequency. For example, two pitches are said to be one octave apart if their
frequencies differ by a factor of two. Pitch ratios are measured in units
called cents. There are 1200 cents per octave. For example, two tones that
are 2400 cents apart are two octaves apart. The traditional twelve-tone
Equal Tempered Scale that is used (or rather approximated) in 99.9% of all
Western tonal music consists of tones that are, by definition, 100 cents
apart. This interval of 100 cents is called a semitone.
The twelve equally-spaced tones of the Equal Tempered Scale happen to
contain a number of intervals that approximate integer ratios in pitch.
The following table shows these approximations:
contain a number of intervals that approximate integer ratios in pitch.
The following table shows these approximations:
INTERVAL
CENTS
NEARBY
RATIO IN
RATIO
CENTS
minor second
100
16/15
111.75
major second
200
9/8
203.91
minor third
300
6/5
315.64
major third
400
5/4
386.31
perfect fourth
500
4/3
498.04
tritone
600
perfect fifth
700
3/2
701.65
minor sixth
800
8/5
813.69
major sixth
900
5/3
884.36
minor seventh
1000
16/9
996.09
major seventh
1100
15/8
1088.27
octave
1200
2
1200.00
As you can see, the intervals in the Equal Tempered Scale are NOT equal to
the harmonious integer ratios. Rather, the Equal Tempered Scale is a
compromise. It became widely used because once a harpsichord or piano is
tuned to that scale, any composition in any key could be played and no one
chord would sound better or worse than that same chord in another key.
the harmonious integer ratios. Rather, the Equal Tempered Scale is a
compromise. It became widely used because once a harpsichord or piano is
tuned to that scale, any composition in any key could be played and no one
chord would sound better or worse than that same chord in another key.