Synthesizers, samplers and sound cards with microtonal capabilities A-F
* Instruments currently in production are highlighted and marked with an asterisk "*".
| Manufacturer | Model(s) | Instrument Type | 12 note Octave Scales | Full Keyboard Scales | Scale resolution | Tuning range per note | Scales user interface | Other Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Virus C, Virus KC, Indigo 2, Virus Rack
XL, Virus TI Desktop*,
Virus TI Keyboard*, Virus TI Polar*, Virus TI2 Desktop*, Virus TI2 Dark
Star*, Virus TI2 Polar*, Virus TI2 Keyboard*, Virus
TI2 Snow* |
virtual analog modeling synthesizer | - | - | - | - | automated | Hermode tuning, PureSemitones |
| Akai | S5000, S6000 | sampler | 1 global | - | 1 cent | +/-99 cents | LCD panel | - |
| Akai | Z4, Z8 | sampler | 1 global | - | 1 cent | +/-99 cents | LCD panel | - |
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| Analogue Systems | RS Integrator* | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1+ global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
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| Aries | 300 Music System, System III | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1 global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
| Arp | 2600 with Model 3601 or 3604 keyboard | semi-modular analog synthesizer | 0 | 1 global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
| Arp | 2500 | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1 global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
| Audio Compositor | Audio Compositor | MIDI file renderer and realtime software synthesizer | unlimited | unlimited, per MIDI channel | ? | full MIDI for keyboard scales | text file (12 note scales), MIDI Tuning Standard (full keyboard scales) | Windows, no real-time MTS |
| Big Briar (Moog) |
Theremin Series 91A, Etherwave theremin* | analog synthesizer and controller | 0 | continuous pitch instrument | continuous | not applicable | body capacitance | - |
| Big Briar (Moog) |
Ethervox MIDI Theremin* | analog synthesizer and analog/MIDI controller | 0 | continuous pitch instrument | continuous | not applicable | body capacitance | 14 bit MIDI pitch bend resolution |
| Big Tick Audio Software | Angelinia*, Rainbow* | realtime software synthesizer | 0 | unlimited, per MIDI channel | 1 cent | full MIDI | Windows OS, .tun file format | Windows, standalone or VST, supports Micro-tuning Map |
| Big Tick Audio Software | Rhino* | realtime software synthesizer | 0 | unlimited, per MIDI channel | > 0.1 cent | full MIDI | Windows OS, .tun file format plus Anamark extension | Windows, standalone or VST, supports Micro-tuning Map |
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0 | ?, per program | ? | ? | Windows or Mac |
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| Black Cat Products | Theremin* | analog synthesizer and controller | 0 | continuous pitch instrument | continuous | not applicable | body capacitance | - |
| Boss | Dr. Synth DS-330 | wavetable synthesizer | 1 per part (16 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| Buchla | 100, Series 200, Electric Music Box (System 200), 300 | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1 global per touch plate keyboard |
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not applicable | knob | - |
| Buchla | Touche, 400 | hybrid digital FM/analog synthesizer | 0 | 4 globally defined, assigned per voice |
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7 octaves | digital touchpad/ CRT | individual voices can be transposed by tuning table values |
| Buchla | 700 | hybrid digital FM/analog synthesizer | 0 | ? |
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7 octaves | digital touchpad/ CRT | - |
| Buchla | Thunder | MIDI controller | ? | ? |
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? | Touchpad and LCD panel | - |
| Buchla | 200e* | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1+ global, equal tempered only? |
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- | knob, LCD panel | - |
| Cakewalk | Rapture*, Dimension Pro 1.2* | realtime software synthesizer | 0 | ? | ? | full MIDI | Mac OS or Windows, .scl file format | VSTi, DXi, Audio Unit, RTAS or standalone |
| Camel Audio | Cameleon 5000 | realtime software synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | 1 cent | full MIDI | Mac OS or Windows, .tun file format | VSTi, Audio Unit, RTAS or standalone |
| Celemony | Melodyne 3* | computer based pitch shifting tool | ? | ? | ? | full MIDI | Mac OS or Windows XP | ReWire, VST, RTAS, AU, standalone |
| Creative Labs | Wave Blaster | wavetable sound card expander | 0 | 1 global | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | sysex only? | - |
| C-Thru Music | AXiS-64 Natural Keyboard |
MIDI controller | - | - | - | - | - | 192 keys mapped to 64 MIDI notes |
C-Thru Music |
AXIS-49 Keyboard |
USB controller |
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98 keys mapped to 49 MIDI
notes |
| Cycling 74 | MSP* | realtime software synthesizer | 0 | unlimited | 0.000001 Hz | full MIDI | Mac OS, Windows XP | - |
| Dave Smith
Instruments |
Prophet 12* | keyboard synthesizer |
0 |
16 |
? |
full MIDI |
sysex |
with OS 1.3 version or higher, global
setting |
| Digital Keyboards | Synergy, Synergy II+ | additive synthesizer | ? | ? | 1.5 to 2 cents | ? | Kaypro computer | - |
| Doepfer | A-100* | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1+ global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
| Doepfer | A-178 Theremin module* | analog controller (no builtin synthesizer) | 0 | continuous pitch instrument | continuous | not applicable | body capacitance | - |
| Edirol | SC-88Pro, SC-88STPro, SC-88VL, SC88ST, SK-88Pro, SC-8850 | wavetable synthesizer | 1 per part (32 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| Edirol | SC-8850 | wavetable syntheiszer | 1 per part (64 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| Edirol | SC-55ST, SK-50 | wavetable synthesizer | 1 per part (16 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| Edirol | SCD-15 | wavetable sound card expander | 1 per part (16 parts) | 0 | 1 cent |
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sysex only? | - |
| Edirol | SCP-55 | PCMCIA wavetable sound card | 1 per part (16 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| Edirol | VSC-550W | wavetable sound card emulation software | 1 per part (16 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| Edirol | VSC-88ME, VSC-88H | wavetable sound card emulation software | 1 per part (32 parts) | 0 | 1 cent | -64, +63 cents | sysex only? | - |
| EML | Electrocomp 101 | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1 global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
| EML | Electrocomp 300 | analog synthesizer controller | 0 | 1 global (4x4 calculator style keypad) | continuous | ? | knob per note | controller for Electrocomp 200 with 1 extra VCO |
| E-mu | Modular | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1+ global, equal tempered only | continuous | not applicable | knob | - |
| E-mu | Modular with 4060 Microprocessor Keyboard and Intervals Program | analog modular synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | 1.5 cent | full audio range | - | scales stored to tape |
| E-mu | Proteus 1, Proteus 1/XR, Proteus 2, Proteus/2 XR | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, sysex | Maps samples to 12 note per octave scale, not tuning keymap. |
| E-mu | Proteus 3, Proteus FX, Classic Keys, Vintage Keys, Morpheus, Ultra Proteus, Orbit, Orbit V2, Planet Phatt, Carnaval | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, MIDI Tuning Dump Standard (no realtime) | Maps samples to 12 note per octave scale, not tuning keymap. |
| E-mu | Audity 2000, Proteus 1000, Proteus 2000, Proteus 2500, B-3, Xtreme Lead-1, Virtuoso 2000, Orbit 3, Planet Earth, Mo'Phatt, Vintage Pro, Custom Proteus | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 12 defined globally, assigned per patch | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, MIDI Tuning Dump Standard (no realtime) | Tunings can be selected realtime with MIDI continuous controllers. Maps samples to 12 note per octave scale, not tuning keymap. |
| E-mu | MP-7, PX-7, XL-7 | wavetable synthesizer, controller | 0 | 12 defined globally, assigned per patch | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, MIDI Tuning Dump Standard (no realtime) | Tunings can be selected realtime with MIDI continuous controllers. Maps samples to 12 note per octave scale, not tuning keymap. |
| E-mu | PK-6, XK-6, MK-6, Halo, Vintage Keys | wavetable synthesizer, controller | 0 | 12 defined globally, assigned per patch | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, MIDI Tuning Dump Standard (no realtime) | Tunings can be selected realtime with MIDI continuous controllers. Maps samples to 12 note per octave scale, not tuning keymap. |
| E-mu | Proteus MPS | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 4, assigned per patch | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, sysex | Maps samples to 12 note per octave scale, not tuning keymap. |
| E-mu | Sound Engine | wavetable sound card | 0 | 1 global | 1.56 cent | full MIDI | sysex only? | - |
| Ensoniq & Triton (OS) | Mirage + SoundProcess operating system upgrade* | sampler | 0 | 1 global | 4.69 cents | full MIDI | numeric front panel | - |
| Ensoniq & Upward Concepts (OS) | Mirage + UD-1 operating system upgrade* | sampler | 0 | 2 global | 0.17 cents, .449 Hz | full MIDI | numeric front panel | switch scales using sustain pedal |
| Ensoniq | VFX, VFX-SD, VFX-SD II, SD-1 | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 12 per program (60 programs) | 1 cent parameter, 2.34 cent actual | full MIDI | digital front panel, sysex | tuning table extrapolation function, nTET function, tuning tables cannot be stored by sysex or copied to other programs |
| Ensoniq | EPS, EPS-M, EPS-16 Plus, EPS-16 Plus Rack, ASR-10, ASR-10R, ASR-88 | sampler | 0 | 8 per program, only 4 accessible realtime (8 programs max) | 1 cent parameter, 1.56 cent actual | A0 to C8 | digital front panel, sysex (table dump only, individual note sysex doesn't work) | tuning table extrapolation function |
| Ensoniq | ASR-X, ASR-X Pro | sampler, wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | .39 cent | full MIDI | MIDI Tuning Dump Standard (no realtime) | - |
| Ensoniq | E-Prime, KT-76, KT-88 | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | 1 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, sysex | - |
| Ensoniq | MR Rack, MR-61, MR-76, ZR-76 | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 1 global | 0.39 cent | full MIDI | MIDI Tuning Dump Standard (no realtime) | - |
| Ensoniq | TS-10, TS-12 | wavetable synthesizer | 0 | 1 per program | 1 cent | full MIDI | digital front panel, sysex | - |
| Fairlight | CMI I, II, IIx, III | sampler, additive synthesizer | 0 | 1 equal tempered only | ? | not applicable | computer screen | - |
| FluidSynth | FluidSynth* | real time software synthesizer | 0 | ? | ? | ? | Mac OS, Windows, others? | based upon Soundfont 2 specification |
Updated January 3, 2016. Please send additions, corrections and questions to: microtonal@wavemakers-synth.com