Lambdoma - small view with the most essential options for its use in music therapy
Screen shot only - to play notes you need to download the program first
Use this setup program if you will be using FTS with Barbara Hero's Lambdoma keyboard, as used in music therapy - either on screen or hardware version. You can read about the keyboard on her site Lambdoma. It only has the Lambdoma features of Tune Smithy.
Please note that I often make changes without updating the version number. So to check to see if anything has been changed that affects the lambdoma view since your last update, check the date shown at the head of this page. You can find the date for your current version of FTS from Help | About .
For the other Tune Smithy tasks, use the general purpose setup program on the main download page.
If you already have an unlock key for FTS, note that it is valid for all future updates. If you install it again on the same comptuer, you will find that your new FTS is already unlocked. You can install on top of your existing version of FTS, or to a new folder, as you please, and there is no need to uninstall the old one first.
Please now get it from: : Setup FTS Midi Lambdoma [9.3 MB] - Windows 2K / XP / Vista / Windows 7, 8.
Sorry no longer supported for Windows 95 or 98.
This is the new release candidate, but it is better than the previous release so I now recommend you use it although I do plan to do more work on it - I have got a new version in beta hopefully available soon.
After the download completes, run the installer to install the program.
At this point you will probably be asked whether to save it or run from its present location. Usually one chooses Save . Take a note of where you save it.
When the download is complete, the setup program may run immediately.If not then look for FTS_Setup in the place where you saved it, and run it to start the setup process.(Usually you run it with a double click, or possibly a single click depending on your windows settings).
The first page shows various choices.
Press Next .
The next page install directory to see if that is where you want to install it - the standard setting will be suitable for most. On Vista or later it installs into: C:\Programs\Tune Smithy Lambdoma 4 This is for techy reasons (n Vista or later then Windows sets up a "virtual store" for programs installed into the Program Files folder if they save files into their own folder, and this causes many support confusions as this store is hidden, not visible to the user).
Then click Install . Finally click Close , and the installation is complete. Fractal Tune Smithy will run straight away.
To run it again in the future, look for the red snowflake icon on your desktop, or go to Start |All Programs | Tune Smithy Lambdoma 4 | Tune Smithy Lambdoma 4 . For its help, see Help | Overview . Click on the ? icons for help for a particular window.
On the first page you can choose what to install.
The MFX plug in is for users of Sonar, and possibly Cakewalk, and Cubase SX. You don't need it for the lambdoma.
This installer is very system friendly. It doesn't change any system files or settings. All it does is to install Fractal Tune Smithy into its own folder, add shortcuts if you want them, and add a file association for Tune Smithy files (*.ts) so that you can run the example fractal tunes in the help by clicking on the links to them.
Once FTS is installed, you can delete the installer if you wish - the installation is complete. Or keep it for possible future use.
Extras
- you may be interested in some of the extras on the Extras page - particularly the installers to add extra sound formats - and possibly the CSound installer too if that option interests you. It also has advice about how to transfer Tune Smithy to an old computer if you need to split the installer into small pieces to fit it onto floppy disks
When you use FTS the Lambdoma keyboard, you need to go to Com Ports , and select the appropriate Com port - Com 1 or Com 2. Try both until you find the one that lets you play notes.
To see the Welcome to the Lambdoma help, click on the ? icon in the main window once FTS starts. Click on this icon in any of the other windows for help for a particular window.
See also Help | FAQ . There is no printed manual - the help is installed with the program itself.
If you have a new computer or laptop with no Com Port connection, then you can get a USB to Serial adaptor for computers without a serial port (for instance, modern laptops). It will add an extra com port to your system. In FTS, you will need to choose Com Ports | Custom in FTS, and set the com port number appropriately.
You can find out your new USB com port number from Start | Control Panel | System - in XP you may need to select Classic view to see this. Then go to Device Manager - and scroll down the list and you will see the com ports listed. Try the numbers of those ports in FTS.
Or do the Com Ports | Find Open Ports or and try any of the Com ports FTS finds on your system until you find the right one (if it finds more than one).
To show the on screen keyboard to see the notes on the Lambdoma, highlighted as you play, click the coloured squares Lambdoma keyboard icon in the program.
Users of the Midi Lambdoma keyboard can use a USB midi adaptor to connect it to computers without a midi port - such as the UM1-SX.
To show the on screen keyboard to see the notes on the Lambdoma, highlighted as you play, click the coloured squares Lambdoma keyboard icon in the program.
If you have bought a Lambdoma keyboard from Barbara Hero, or are considering purchasing one, you don't need to purchase an unlock key here. You will be sent an unlock key to accompany your keyboard.
However, if you want to use the Lambdoma view in FTS without Barbara's keyboard, to use it with the mouse and p.c. keyboard only, you need to purchase a key to unlock it.
If you want to use the fractal tunes as well or the polyrhythm metronome, get the complete unlock key. You can get it here: Click here then choose the Complete order type.
If you use that method, then I won't know that you bought it for the Lambdoma. So, please send an e-mail to let me know that you got it for the Lambdoma task, so that Barbara Hero can be credited for the wonderful work she has done. If you have the task set to the Lambdoma when you enter the unlock key then Tune Smithy will show a reminder and ask if you want to e-mail me to credit her for her work as part of your purchase. Thanks - e-mail to Robert Walker ( fts_lambdoma@robertinventor.com ).
You will receive an unlock key code instantly when you complete the order. This is valid for all future releases of Fractal Tune Smithy.
You use this key to unlock the program. There is no need to re-download the program to buy it. This means you have the opportunity to evaluate it before you buy it, and make sure it is suitable for your needs.
If you haven't downloaded it yet, or to get the most recent update, see Download Now .
When you get the key, enter it into the Unlock window you see at the start of the session, or use File | Unlock .
For other questions about the purchase, and other order methods, see the Tune Smithy Purchase page. Be sure to use the Lambdoma purchase link, or send me an e-mail to say that you are purchasing the program mainly for use with the Lambdoma task.
New "Super Simple" version with many of the windows and options hidden. Change to Advanced mode or back to Super Simple via the Opts menu.
Removed the bounce feature from Super Simple. You can show it again if you go to Advanced mode, then to Opts >>Options and select "Show Bounce - EXPERIMENTAL".
May remove the bounce completely in a future update. Let me know if you particularly need it. It is a bit buggy at present so may fix the bounce bugs first so it can be evaluated properly.
Switched off edge smoothing for the Lambdoma on-screen keyboard. The reason is that it made the playing action sluggish on some machines because the smooth lines were slower to draw (tested on a netbook with Windows 7 starter and integrated graphics chip).
If you want the smooth lines back for the Lambdoma on-screen keyboard, switch on edge smoothing for "Other 2D Graphics" in the Opts >> Options window.
Still preset to edge smoothing for the Lissajous curve. If this is too slow, you can switch it off in the Opts >> Options window.
Fixed some bugs in the way the sustain and sostenuto pedals worked.
Made it so the default is to process sostenuto in FTS (configured from In >> Midi In Options >> Opts 2 (Ctrl + 207). The reason is that many synths and soft synths don't support sostenuto. Also at present the sostenuto for the Rhythms Lambdoma only works correctly if you process sostenuto in FTS.
Added new option "Treat sustain as sostenuto" in In >> Midi In Options >> Opts 2 (Ctrl + 207). This is useful if you don't have a sostenuto pedal - sostenuto may be more useful than sustain for the Lambdoma sometimes as it lets you selectively sustain a few notes as a kind of a drone and play other notes on top of them normally. (Sostenuto pedal sustains only the notes that are currently held down at the moment when you press the pedal).
New icon for Lissajous 3D and new default for Lissajous 3D using a tube instead of a ribbon to show the curves, which looks better, gives a clearer idea of the 3D shape - and computers are now fast enough for it. Be sure to download latest version of Lissajous 3D and choose File >> New in Lissajous 3D. The curves should then look like this:
Added a warning message if user attempts to start up a second copy of FTS Lambdoma when it is already running - e.g. because of double click on desktop icon - something that could lead to confusion if first copy has monopolised the Midi In and Out.
With the rhythms Lambdoma the drone should sound for a second after the end of the last note played - just as for the drone for the Basic Lambdoma. But instead it was playing the drone endlessly- fixed.
As for the Basic Lambdoma you can configure this in the Drone window. So if you want the drone to continue endlessly, you still have that as an option.
Lots of minor fixes and improvements.
6th June upload
Adds new "Beeps" drop menu to wave shape player.
Fixes a newly introduced bug in last upload, you can only select one instrument per session from the Wave Shape Player - fixed
Other very minor fixes and improvements.
3rd June Upload
Added a new option in the Lissajous Pattern Options window (More twice version of it): "Display frequencies alternately horizontally and vertically (so show 1st note played horizontal, 2nd note vertical, ...) rather than by pan position". This gives many ways to display the same chord depending on the order you play the notes. E.g. play 1/1 5/4 3/2 or 1/1 3/2 5/4 in that order and you get a different Lissajous pattern.
Here are a few examples:
BTW could also do it so that the notes are stereo panned to match the patterns so not just drone on one side, but the frequencies also on either side in notes of three or more chords - can add that to wish list.
Other new features
Now you can change the instrument for the notes when the notes are already sounding - the sound changes instantly, no need to release the notes and play them again.
Shows whether the CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK etc. sustain pedal is ON or OFF in the title bar for the on-screen keyboard, also shows the amount of the mouse wheel controller
Highlights the quadrant button for the current quadrant.
Auto selects Midi In as Lambdoma Keyboard if only one midi in device.
The on-screen music keyboards are preset to a wide enough range in octaves to show all the Lambdoma notes of the 16 by 16 Lambdoma - 8 octave range for the single line keyboard and 5 rows each of 2 octaves, 10 octave range for multi-line keyboard.
A fair number of other minor changes and bug fixes, which make the experience of using the software smoother and easier.
11th May upload
Fixed issue - if you plug the USB midi in while the software is running, may not be able to play the notes right away even though the device is selected in the In Devices window (Ctrl + 249) (you may need to reselect the device or click Open Midi In in the same window).
10th May upload
Fixed an issue which lead to some builds of the release candidate not recognising some unlock keys.
Oboe instead of flute for preset instrument
woodgrain instead of shades of blue for preset skin.
Now automatically finds and detects the USB midi if you plug it in after the program starts - so no need to plug it in first before you start the program. Also if there is only one midi in device, auto selects that. And auto treats as the Lambdoma 8 by 8.
Added black on white skin and pale blue skin, also put these into the Visuals drop menu.
When you change to black on white skin via menu, auto sets the 3D bounce to obsidian uncoloured bouncing balls+ light grey for the sea to match the black on white style as best can do in 3D, on select another of the presets in the menu goes back to the normal blue sea and coloured bouncing balls.
Removed some Bounce menu items from the Basic Lambdoma menu (they don't do anything in the Basic Lambdoma without the rhythm and bounce)
Now preset to show conducting patterns (if selected) for all the parts instead of just one of them.
Fixed issue which meant that in some circumstances you find you can't switch on the buzz roll.
Now shows ratios instead of decimals in title of Bounce window.
Fixed issue of tempo dial shows wrong tempo for notes played below 1/1
Fixed issue of wrong bounce positions and incorrect numbers shown for some rhythms
Fixed issue of wrong icon for Show LIssajous in 3D in main window, and some skins not showing some of the custom icons
Fixed some error messages which are over technical and can confuse the user.
Disabled Shift + Click fast forward - this is a fractal tunes feature but is confusing if you press Shift + click on the play button by mistake and get notes played faster than expected.
Fixed a couple of access violation crashes that could occur in rare situations
Now automatically starts play when you select Lambdoma with Rhythm from the droplist (without this feature, user might get confused, since when not playing, is exactly same as the Basic Lambdoma).
Added viewcon to devices to hide in midi out, and to auto select in midi in.
On auto select input device, also automatically treat as Lambdoma keyboard as well.
Fixed issue that pc keyboard 'g' plays wrong note when you use PC keyboard to play the on-screen Lambdoma
Fixed issue: on-screen keyboard shows up blank when program starts up if Lissajous patterns set to show the curve as drawn and draw slowly.
Fixed issue: On click to stop play changes to Play icon (as it should ready to start play again) but then changes back to stop icon
Fixed issue: if you play some notes then click to change the quadrant, then continues to show the previous ratios for the notes already played until you play the new notes when the ratios update to show their new values.
That's a selection of the most important ones. Many other minor bug fixes and improvements.
August 2010
This is a very minor bug fixes upload.
For much earlier updates (2003) see FTS Lambdoma What's New. For general FTS updates, some of which apply to the FTS Lambdoma, see What's new.
In the near future:
I plan to do a multi-touch version of the Lambdoma software which will also be a "stand alone" version - easier to use as it will leave out all the things to do with the other Tune Smithy tasks, and I'll apply things I learnt during development of Bounce Metronome Pro to improve the interface.
