Overview
eikosany is an R package of tools for algorithmic composition with Erv Wilson’s Combination Product Sets (Narushima 2019, chap. 6; Grady 2026). It’s meant to complement other microtonal composition tools, not replace any of them. eikosany is part of the xen.assist project for xentonal algorithmic composition.
About the name: an Eikosany is a 20-note scale derived by Erv Wilson from six harmonic factors. Although any six factors can be used, the most commonly encountered Eikosany uses the first six odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11.
Other tools
Scala. Note: this is not the Scala multi-paradigm programming language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine. This is a specialized tool for working with musical scales.
Sevish’s Scale Workshop. This is a web-based tool for working with musical scales.
Leimma and Apotome. These tools, by Khyam Allami and Counterpoint, are browser-based applications for creating microtonal scales and making generative music with them.
ODDSound MTS-ESP. This is a plugin for digital audio workstations (DAWs) that facilitates production of microtonal music. I own a copy and if you’re making microtonal electronic music, you should too. The Eikosany and other scales Erv Wilson developed all ship with MTS-ESP, so you don’t really need my R package to compose with them.
Entonal Studio. Entonal Studio is a user interface package for microtonal composition. It can operate as a standalone application, a plugin host or a plugin. I own a copy of Entonal Studio and recommend it highly.
-
Infinitone DMT. From the Infinitone DMT FAQ: “Infinitone DMT is a DAW plugin and standalone that empowers musicians to easily use micro-tuning within their own workflow. …
“As a plugin, Infinitone DMT is inserted in your DAW as a MIDI effect. … The standalone can be used separately from a DAW, or it can be used in conjunction with a DAW by routing MIDI data from the DAW to the standalone (and back).”
Universal Tuning Editor. Universal Tuning Editor is an application for computing and visualizing microtonal scales and tunings, and includes tools to interface with hardware and software synthesizers.
-
Wilsonic. This is a free app that runs on iOS devices. I don’t have any iOS devices so I’ve never used this.
There is also a version of Wilsonic in development for use with ODDSound MTS-ESP. See https://wilsonic.co/downloads/downloads-mts-esp/ for the details.
Surge XT. Surge XT is an open source full featured software synthesizer. The Surge XT community has invested a significant level of effort into supporting alternate tuning systems.
See the Xenharmonic Wiki List of microtonal software plugins for more ways of making microtonal music.