Introduction

Welcome to MicroToner by TAQSIM. MicroToner allows you to easily play Microtones with your plugins and virtual instruments. Modeled after Oriental Scale Converters, MicroToner modifies incoming MIDI Pitch Bend information to allow most virtual instruments and plugins to easily play microtones.

MicroToner comes packaged with following:

Standalone App: A plugin host where you can load and play your virtual instruments through MicroToner

Instrument Plugin: A plugin that can be used in your DAW to allow plugins and virtual instruments to play Microtonal scales

MIDI Effect Plugin: A MIDI plugin that can be used as an insert effect to allow your instruments to play Microtonal Scales (For Logic Pro, Ableton Live and Reaper)

Getting Started

Download

You will receive a download link in your email when purchasing MicroToner or requesting the Demo. You can also download the installer files here:

Version 2.0

Version 1.0

Mac Installation & Setup

To install MicroToner on the Mac complete the following steps:

  1. Download the current MicroToner MAC Installer HERE
  2. Unzip the File on your local machine
  3. Run the MicroToner-MacInstaller.pkg file
  4. Open the standalone application
  5. When MicroToner opens for the first time, select either the trial or to enter your purchased license key information that was emailed to you upon purchase
  6. If it is the first time you are opening MicroToner, you will be prompted to scan for plugins. Please do so – or go to Manage Plugins, Options, and scan for new and updated AudioUnit and/or VST plugins
  7. Go to I/O and ensure the settings are set properly for your system

Windows Installation & Setup

To install MicroToner on Windows, complete the following steps:

  1. Download the current MicroToner Windows Installer HERE
  2. Unzip the File on your local machine
  3. Run the MicroToner-WindowsInstaller.exe file to install the software
  4. Open the standalone application
  5. When MicroToner opens for the first time, select either the trial or to enter your purchased license key information that was emailed to you upon purchase
  6. f it is the first time you are opening MicroToner, you will be prompted to scan for plugins. Please do so – or go to Manage Plugins, Options, and scan for new and updated AudioUnit and/or VST plugins
  7. Go to I/O and ensure the settings are set properly for your system

Using MicroToner

Below are the key elements of the user interface:

User Interface

  • Pitch Bend: Set the range of this pitch bend to match the pitch bend of the virtual instrument you are playing MicroToner with. The Pitch bend defaults to +- 2 in mono mode and +-48 in MPE mode (when set to “STD”)
  • Mono / MPE: Set whether MicroToner works by forcing the virtual instrument in Mono mode (works with all virtual instruments) or in MPE (Poly) mode (works only with MPE compatible virtual instruments 
  • Guide: Access the built-in guides on how to use the MicroToner
  • I/O: Select the output, active output channel, sample rate, audio buffer size and active MIDI inputs for the standalone application
  • Settings (Gear Icon): Select the legato type (Low, High, Last), Forced Mono and activation information
  • Piano Keys: Turn the micro-tuning off and on by key. When the key is colored orange that means that microtuning is on for the key
  • Detune Knob: Select the amount of micro-tuning per key (+- 64)
  • Select Scale: Select from the default user scales within the application
  • Reset: Clearing any changes that have been made to a selected scale
  • Manage Plugins: View the plugins listed within the app, along with scanning for VST and AU plugins
  • Select Plugins: Select the plugin the micro-tuning will be applied to
  • Open Plugin: Open the instance of the plugin
  • Gain: Adjust the gain of the plugin

Standalone App

The standalone app is a plugin host where you can select the plugin to apply microtuning to. To use the standalone plugin follow these steps:

  1. Open up the standalone MicroToner app
  2. Click on the “Select Plugin” button
  3. Select the Manufacturer and specific plugin you would like to apply microtuning to (Note: If there are no plugins listed, please go back to “Manage Plugins” and click “Options”, “Scan for new or updated Audio Unit Plugins” and/or “Scan for new or updated VST3 Plugins”
  4. Either select a predefined scale, or manually set the microtuning you would like
  5. Click Open plugin to select the sound from the plugin (ensuring that the pitch bend range is the same as in the MicroToner app)

MIDI Insert Effect

The MIDI Insert Effect is a MIDI plugin that can be used within Logic Pro and Reaper to allow your instruments to play Microtonal Scales.

To use the MIDI Insert Effect plugin in Logic Pro follow these steps:

  1. In your Project, go to a Software Instrument Track
  2. Go to MIDI FX on the channel
  3. Select Audio Units -> Taqs.im -> MicroToner Filter
  4. Start tweaking the microtuning

To use the MIDI Insert Effect plugin in Reaper follow these steps:

  1. In your Project, go to a Software Instrument Track
  2. Go to FX on the channel
  3. Search for “MicroToner Filter”
  4. Add before the Virtual Instrument and start tweaking the microtuning

Plugin

The plugin is a plugin host where you can select the plugin to apply microtuning to. To use the standalone plugin follow these steps:

  1. Open up your DAW
  2. Add the “MicroToner” virtual instrument on a channel
  3. Click on the “Select Plugin” button
  4. Select the Manufacturer and specific plugin you would like to apply microtuning to (Note: If there are no plugins listed, please close your DAW, go back to the standalone app, and click “Manage Plugins” and click “Options”, “Scan for new or updated Audio Unit Plugins” and/or “Scan for new or updated VST3 Plugins”
  5. Either select a predefined scale, or manually set the microtuning you would like
  6. Click Open plugin to select the sound from the plugin (ensuring that the pitch bend range is the same as in the MicroToner plugin)

Compatability

DAW's

All DAW’s can run MicroToner as an Instrument Plugin. Logic Pro, Ableton Live and Reaper can run MicroToner as a Midi Effect plugin.

  • Cubase: Instrument Plugin
  • Logic Pro: Midi Effect Plugin
  • Ableton Live: Midi Effect Plugin
  • FL Studio: Instrument Plugin
  • Reaper: Midi Effect Plugin
  • Pro Tools: Instrument Plugin
  • Presonus Studio One: Instrument Plugin

Virtual Instruments

MicroToner will work with any virtual instrument that receives pitch bend information including, but not limited to:

  • Native Instruments Plugins
  • Spectrasonics Plugins
  • reFX Nexus
  • Xfer Records Serum
  • Arturia Plugins
  • Audio Modelling Plugins

However, it may not function correctly if pitch bend is assigned to another parameter (e.g. a different sample) or in the case of sampled legato patches. Also, please ensure that the pitch bend range within MicroToner matches the pitch bend range of the app

Release Notes

Below is the list of release notes for each major version of MicroToner:

MicroToner 2.0 - November 2023

  • New UI
  • Ability to transpose
  • Ability to save plugin state
  • Ability to save scale presets
  • Improved plugin scanning
  • Set key trigger to change microtuned notes through MIDI
  • MIDI learn tuning and toggling of notes
  • New license management system
  • Mazeeka Toys MAQAM controller support
  • Stability improvements

MicroToner 1.0 - September 2021

  • The initial release of MICROTONER