Thanks, Matthew.
Here's the documentation for that particular attribute (from the '
Design tools | View Custom Organ Design Module ... format documentation' menu function):
Samples_RankBasePitch64ftHarmNumIfAssumedTunedToConcertPitch: Hauptwerk must know the exact pitch of each sample so that the required amount of re-pitching can be calculated to play the organ with any user-selected temperament. The sample set creator can either have detected the exact pitch of the samples and saved them into the sample files, or have re-tuned the samples perfectly to concert pitch (A=440 Hz) and equal temperament.
In the former case, this parameter should be set to zero (in which case Hauptwerk will read the sample pitches from the samples themselves). In the latter case (samples tuned to A-440/equal) then this value gives the pitch of the samples by specifying the harmonic number that they represent, relative to the fundamental of a 64' stop. For example, if the samples were recorded from a 4' rank, then the pitch of the samples is considered to be 4', which corresponds to the sixteenth harmonic of a 64' pipe, and thus 16 should be specified for this setting. Even if the samples start in the second octave, their theoretical pitch is still 4', and 16 should still be specified for this setting.
In general, divide 64 by the rank pitch of the samples in feet to give the 64' harmonic number. For example, for a set of samples from a 5 1/3' rank of pipes, this setting should be set to 64 / (5 1/3) = 12.
The following are some common rank pitches, and their corresponding 64' harmonic numbers:
32': 2
16': 4
8': 8
5 1/3': 12
4': 16
2 2/3': 24
2: 32
1 3/5': 40
1 1/3': 48
1': 64
1/2': 128
Note that this setting specifies the rank pitch of the samples. The output pitch of the rank has a separate setting, allowing samples to be played at pitches other than that at which they were recorded.
For example, assuming your real rank has an 8' pitch then you could either:
1. Set
RankSamples_RankBasePitch64ftHarmNumIfAssumedTunedToConcertPitch=8 and use your audio editor (or other tuning software) to detect the pitches accurately of your samples and to re-pitch them until the samples are precisely tuned to A=440/equal temperament. For example, as a test try doing that with just the 069-A.wav sample (A above middle C), tuning it manually until your audio editor's pitch detection function says that it's exactly 440.0 Hz. When played in Hauptwerk you should then hear that it plays at exactly 440.0 Hz (assuming that your other Rank pitch attributes are also set appropriately and that Hauptwerk's 'base pitch' and temperament user settings are set to A=440.0/equal on the '
Pitch' large control panel -- '
View | Large floating control panels ...). Or:
2. Set
Rank.Samples_RankBasePitch64ftHarmNumIfAssumedTunedToConcertPitch=0 and use your audio editor (or other tuning software) to detect the pitches accurately of your samples and to save the precise pitches into the .wav file themselves. (The RIFF WAV format 'SMPL' chunk is the specific part of a standard .wav file in which its pitch can be stored.)
Either way (assuming it's an 8' rank), make sure also that
Rank.Pitch_RankBaseOutputPitch64ftHarmonicNum=8, and that when you play middle C in Hauptwerk (for example), you do indeed hear specifically your 060-C.wav sample (i.e. that you haven't unintentionally configured the pitches to be shifted from different samples). Likewise, playing the A above middle C in Hauptwerk should cause your 069-A.wav sample to sound, and at exactly 440.0 Hz.
Best regards, Martin.
Hauptwerk software designer/developer, Milan Digital Audio.