Add Scala & MTS Microtuning Support to DMNO

UDO Audio Gear Feature Wish List
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I would love to see support for custom microtuning scales added to the UDO DMNO.

Ideally, the DMNO could import non-equal-tempered scales using the widely adopted Scala (.SCL) file format. This would open the platform to a much broader range of musical traditions and creative workflows, including African, Middle Eastern, Asian, and other world music cultures that rely on alternative tuning systems.

In addition, support for custom tunings would make the DMNO far more attractive for composers working with Just Intonation, historical temperaments, and contemporary experimental music. These tuning systems are frequently used in film, television, and game scoring to create unique emotional and sonic landscapes that are difficult or impossible to achieve with standard 12-tone equal temperament.

Microtuning and alternative tuning systems are becoming increasingly important in modern music production. With the growing adoption of MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression), support for custom tuning standards is no longer a niche feature but an essential part of many contemporary workflows.

Most major DAWs now offer some form of microtonal support, either through direct Scala (.SCL) import, MTS-ESP (MIDI Tuning Standard), MPE-based tuning, or user-definable scales. Examples include Ableton Live, Bitwig Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, FL Studio, and numerous software instruments from companies such as u-he, Arturia, Spectrasonics, Native Instruments, and Xfer Records.

Many hardware manufacturers have also embraced microtuning. Korg has long supported user-definable scales and alternative tuning systems across a wide range of products, including the Kronos, Nautilus, OASYS, Pa-Series arrangers, and many of their synthesizers and workstation instruments. Yamaha workstations such as the Montage and MODX series also provide extensive microtuning capabilities.

Other notable hardware examples include:

Waldorf Quantum and Iridium (Scala import and extensive microtuning support)
Sequential Prophet X, Prophet-12, and Pro 3 (user tuning tables)
Novation Summit and Peak (microtuning support via components and tuning tables)
ASM Hydrasynth (user-definable scales and microtonal support)
Modal Electronics Argon8, Cobalt8, and Carbon8
Haken Continuum Fingerboard
Expressive E Osmose
Roger Linn LinnStrument
ROLI Seaboard instruments
Melbourne Instruments Nina
Various Elektron instruments through MIDI Tuning Standard workflows
Many Eurorack oscillators and digital synthesis modules supporting custom tuning systems

The widespread adoption of Scala (.SCL), MIDI Tuning Standard (MTS), MTS-ESP, and user-definable tuning tables demonstrates that alternative tuning is no longer limited to experimental music. It is actively used in electronic music, film scoring, game audio, contemporary classical composition, world music, jazz, and sound design.

Adding Scala and MTS-compatible microtuning support to the UDO DMNO would align the synth with current industry standards and modern creative workflows. It would also make the DMNO more attractive to composers, sound designers, and musicians working with African, Middle Eastern, Asian, Just Intonation, and other non-12TET musical traditions.

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Am I correct in thinking you used AI to write this post?

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I’ve been using microtonal scales and tuning systems extensively in my work in recent years, and I’m very interested in the subject. I recently added a DMNO to my studio and was surprised that none of the UDO synthesizers support this feature, especially considering that even small companies have been adding microtonal tuning support to their instruments for years.

I also use modern operating system with built-in spell correction (macOS with Apple Intelligence) to help make my posts well-structured and easy to read for everyone, especially when discussing complex topics like this, if that’s relevant.

Do you have any questions related to microtonality or tuning systems in vintage or modern synthesizers and why i think adding this to the DMNO would be very beneficial for us?

Cheers,
Anscorm

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No, I don’t have any questions on microtonality or tuning - I think you’ll generally find most of the audience here is familiar with the concepts. There’s another thread here:

And glancing at it, I see one obstacle raised was how different tunings might be navigated/represented on synths without screens - so it might be worth reminding UDO that the DMNO doesn’t have that limitation.

You might additionally try emailing them (and mentioning the screen advantage) - I’ve also brought feature requests to these forums but it’s not clear to me UDO is doing much perusal of the forums at all, so email might be more productive. I’d also like to see support for alternate tunings; I’m not sure how responsive they are to user requests in general.