Pitch Raises ... Multiple Passes?

[Farrell]

".....I almost always use two passes even with pianos close to pitch."

Let's say a piano is close to pitch (2 to 5 cents flat). You want a really nice tuning, so you will do two passes. Will you do the first pass in pitch raise (Coarse) mode? Or will you do both passes in Fine Tuning mode? As far as the tuning calculation process goes, is there any difference in the way the VT will calculate the tuning with either approach?

Let's say another piano is closer to pitch (0 to 3 cents flat). Still reason to do two passes for a really fine tuning. What modes will you use for this one and why?

What overpull percentages do you find work well with your VT? And when doing a pitch raise pass, in what order do you proceed across the keyboard (start at A0 and go up, or what)?

Thanks, thanks, and thanks.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Koval" <rontuner@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2002 9:35 AM
Subject: Re: Pitch Raises ... Multiple Passes?



Verituner stuff coming....

snip
Hi Terry, Thanks that works great!!!!
Tell me more about the auto step process.
Joe Goss
snip

Hey all-

Well, I'm not Terry, but I'll give it a try:

I think your use of the auto-step process will depend on your preferred 
tuning order.  The way the VT calculates a tuning works best from the middle 
out.  In other words, tune A4, A3, the octave between A3-A4, then either go 
up to the top, or down to the bottom.  I prefer going down first on pitch 
raises to get the tension right in the bass before going up.  I know some 
people like to get the treble done while their ears are less fatigued. 
(earplugs, earplugs, earplugs, people)  Since all of this tuning will be 
stepwise, I do most of the tuning in stepwise only mode.  I use the octave 
up or down key to jump between sections.  The jump to anywhere mode works 
pretty well when the piano is close to pitch, but if you are using other 
notes as checks along the way, it can get confused.  Hint: be quiet for a 
second, then strike the note, and it will usually find where you are. (The 
button labled "auto" will cycle through the different options.  If you've 
been tuning in stepwise for awhile, and push the button, it will jump to 
manual, otherwise you have to cruise through the options to reach it.)

For pitch raises (lowers, now)  even in step mode, it may jump to the next 
note and mess up your overpull calculation, especially in the treble.  That 
is the time to use manual mode and just advance each note with the note up 
button.  Also, the first 5 notes in the bass on smaller pianos benefit from 
a manual selection.

I guess to keep with the subject line, I'll chime in and say that I almost 
always use two passes even with pianos close to pitch.  I've always tuned 
with just mutes, and started to use a split mute this year to lessen the 
mute shifting. Take a peek at the display after the unison is tuned to make 
sure it didn't shift.

When using an electronic tuning calculator, it's hard for some people to 
trust the machine and just tune on the first pass.  Any interval playing 
just defeats the overpull process.  Save your ears for the fine work after 
the first pass is done.  It's not that unusual to do a third pass on the 
lowest plain-wire octave, just to make sure everything is solid in that 
area.  The important thing is to just keep moving, and you should be able to 
finish in an hour, or so.

Helpful?

Ron Koval
Chicagoland

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