Owt: a Real-Time Optimal Tuning Application

This paper presents the Optimal Well-tempered Tuning system (OWT), a software application for computing optimal tuning systems in real-time. The optimal tuning systems are created from a framework, proposed by us, that formalizes historical and cross-cultural criteria. The parameters of the system are a fixed number of pitches, a repeat factor, an ideal tuning set, and weights for keys and intervals. This framework allows for an efficient leastsquares solution to a tuning problem, thus enabling realtime control of the parameters. With this software, a user can visualize, modify, and hear optimal tuning systems while the music is playing.