Scale
Map a control range onto another with a curve, clamp and inversion. Depth and offset for any modulation.
- Control
- Since 0.2.0
- scale
- range
- curve
- map
Scale maps a control range onto another range, with a curve, a clamp and inversion. It is how you set depth and offset for any modulation.
What it does#
The input range (Input min to Input max) is mapped linearly onto the output range (Output min to Output max), then bent by Curve. Curve at 0 is a straight line; negative values ease in (slow start, fast finish) and positive values ease out. Clamp holds the result inside the output range; with Extrapolate, input beyond the input range continues past the output range. All four range values run from -10000 to 10000. To invert a signal, set Output min higher than Output max. The same mapping applies to every lane of the input.
When to use it#
Use it between any source and destination whose ranges differ: shrink an LFO to a small depth around a value, flip a sensor, or reshape a linear ramp. Pair it with Control LFO for modulation.
Ports#
| Port | Direction | Signal | Lanes |
|---|---|---|---|
control | Input | Control | Inferred from the cable |
control | Output | Control | Inferred from the cable |
Parameters#
| Parameter | Label | Range | Default | Unit | Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
in_min | Input min | -10000 to 10000 | 0 | linear | Input value that maps to Output min. | |
in_max | Input max | -10000 to 10000 | 1 | linear | Input value that maps to Output max. | |
out_min | Output min | -10000 to 10000 | 0 | linear | Output at Input min. | |
out_max | Output max | -10000 to 10000 | 1 | linear | Output at Input max. | |
curve | Curve | -1 to 1 | 0 | linear | Bend of the mapping: negative eases in, positive eases out, 0 is linear. | |
clamp | Clamp | 0 to 1 | 1 | linear | Hold the output inside its range instead of extrapolating. Choices: 0 Extrapolate, 1 Clamp. |
Input min (in_min) and Input max (in_max)#
The input values that map to Output min and Output max. Narrowing this range makes the mapping more sensitive.
Output min (out_min) and Output max (out_max)#
The output at Input min and at Input max. Swap them to invert.
Curve (curve)#
From -1 to 1. 0 is linear, negative values ease in and positive values ease out.
Clamp (clamp)#
Clamp holds the output inside Output min and Output max; Extrapolate lets it run past them.
Tips#
- The defaults map 0 to 1 onto 0 to 1 and change nothing.
- To use 1 - x, set Output min to 1 and Output max to 0.
- Scale one control lane or a whole bundle; every lane is treated the same.
See also#
Control LFO, Smooth, Math, Cables.
Help patches
Each help patch is an ordinary Toy that teaches one idea. The diagram shows the Patch; the preview shows its Frame. Open it in TuneToys to play and edit it.
1. Map one range to another
beginner Teaches: in_min, in_max, out_min, out_max
An LFO is remapped by input and output range knobs.
MIDI1 lane
Audio1ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Reset1 lane
Control1 lane
Cycle1 lane
Waveform of the oscillator. The random shapes draw a new value each cycle from a generator seeded by the node path, so every host and replay agrees. Range: 0–5. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycles per second when Beats is 0. Range: 0.01–40 Hz. Default: 1 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Beats per cycle, synced to the shared transport. 0 uses Rate instead. Range: 0–64 beats. Default: 0 beats. Linear scale. Units: beats.
beats
Peak-to-peak amount of the output swing. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Centre of the swing. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.5. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Starting phase of the cycle, and where a Reset edge restarts it. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Where the Triangle peaks, or how the Saw bends. 0.5 is the plain shape. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.5. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
ControlAuto
ControlAuto
Input value that maps to Output min. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Input value that maps to Output max. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Output at Input min. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Output at Input max. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Bend of the mapping: negative eases in, positive eases out, 0 is linear. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Hold the output inside its range instead of extrapolating. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio1ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- Control LFO control output connected to Scale control input
- The LFO sweeps 0 to 1. Scale maps Input min and Input max onto Output min and Output max.
- Set Output min above Output max to invert the signal.
2. Bend with a curve and choose clamping
intermediate Teaches: curve, clamp
A curve bends a ramp, and clamp decides what happens outside the range.
MIDI1 lane
Audio1ch
Fundamental pitch, capped below Nyquist; detune uses cents. Range: 20–20000 Hz. Default: 220 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Output gain. Range: 0–0.5 ×. Default: 0.12 ×. Linear scale. Units: linear gain.
×
Selects the implemented algorithm. Choices are discrete and are not LFO targets. Range: 0–7. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycle offset; Gate rising edges restart phase from this position. Range: 0–1 cycles. Default: 0 cycles. Linear scale. Units: cycles.
cycles
Pitch offset in cents. Range: -1200–1200 cents. Default: 0 cents. Linear scale. Units: cents.
cents
On or off. A rising edge retriggers; held on runs the oscillator or envelope. A control cable switches it at 0.5. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Semitones a full pitch bend on the MIDI input moves the note, up or down. Range: 0–48 st. Default: 2 st. Linear scale. Units: st.
st
Time constant of the slide from one MIDI note's pitch to the next; 0 jumps. Range: 0–2000 ms. Default: 0 ms. Linear scale. Units: ms.
ms
Reset1 lane
Control1 lane
Cycle1 lane
Waveform of the oscillator. The random shapes draw a new value each cycle from a generator seeded by the node path, so every host and replay agrees. Range: 0–5. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Cycles per second when Beats is 0. Range: 0.01–40 Hz. Default: 1 Hz. Logarithmic scale. Units: Hz.
Hz
Beats per cycle, synced to the shared transport. 0 uses Rate instead. Range: 0–64 beats. Default: 0 beats. Linear scale. Units: beats.
beats
Peak-to-peak amount of the output swing. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Centre of the swing. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.5. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Starting phase of the cycle, and where a Reset edge restarts it. Range: 0–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Where the Triangle peaks, or how the Saw bends. 0.5 is the plain shape. Range: 0–1. Default: 0.5. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
ControlAuto
ControlAuto
Input value that maps to Output min. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Input value that maps to Output max. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Output at Input min. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Output at Input max. Range: -10000–10000. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Bend of the mapping: negative eases in, positive eases out, 0 is linear. Range: -1–1. Default: 0. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Hold the output inside its range instead of extrapolating. Range: 0–1. Default: 1. Linear scale. Units: unitless.
Audio1ch
Connections as text
- Oscillator audio output connected to Patch outputs audio input
- Control LFO control output connected to Scale control input
- A saw LFO feeds an input range of 0.2 to 0.8, so the ends of the ramp fall outside it.
- Clamp holds those ends at 0 and 1. Extrapolate lets them continue past.
- Curve bends the middle of the mapping.
Related nodes
- Control LFO A free-running or tempo-synced low-frequency oscillator on a control lane, 0 to 1, with depth, offset, phase, skew, random shapes and a reset input.
- Smooth Slow a control lane down with separate rise and fall times so jumpy sensors and buttons stop clicking.
- Math Arithmetic on any signal, lane by lane: add, multiply, divide, power and more on audio or control operands. The output runs at the rate of its fastest input.