OnlyPure - A revolutionary new tuning method

[Bernhard Stopper]

OnlyPure Tuning (Patent pend.)



A revolutionary method to tune and produce instruments allows a never heard 
purity and clarity



The OnlyPure method relates to instruments based on 12 notes per octave and 
nonlinear spectrum. (like piano, guitar, electronic instruments but also 
orchestras etc) Within this method it is possible to tune the entire 
instrument by using only pure intervals. For inharmonicity related 
instruments, pure means the state, where the sum of the beats is minimal.



The theory behind the OnlyPure method is based upon the "Stopper-Tuning" 
published in euro-piano 3/1988 by german master piano maker Bernhard 
Stopper. A pure twelfth is divided into 19 steps in this tuning, the factor 
is the 19th root of 3.



Bernhard Stopper has recently discovered, that only in this tuning solution, 
all beat ratios of octaves and fifths are symmetric to the interval ratios, 
that means they have also ratios of  1/1, 3/1, 2/1 and 3/2 and multiples of 
them like the interval ratios.



Beside the mathematical mysteries, this fact is responsible for the 
phenomene, that in every three-note interval combination consisting of an 
octave and a fifth, the beats are phased out to a pure state in the 
stopper-tuning (there are six such three-note combinations in a perfect 
twelfth who have all a pure state in the Stopper Tuning).



The new method works with the phenomen of the symmetric outphasing by 
finding the tones through efficient temperament step combinations of  pure 
three-note combinations of octaves and fifths.



To the artist, the instrument becomes extremly clean, transparent and 
powerful. The consequence for the aural tuner is, that he can be released by 
the out-of-tune intervals and tune the entire instrument with only pure 
intervals. That means much more plasure at work and much more precision of 
the tuning. Although in practice, intervals like major thirds or sixths and 
tenths etc. are still useful for control purposes.



It is not possible to reach this precision with the usual electronic tuning 
devices. Since those devices jugde the pitch and frequnency in the frequency 
domain, it is necessary, due to the Heisenberg uncertainity to analyze the 
signal over a relative long time. Tuning those three-note octaves and fifths 
combinations aural to pure state, aural pitch setting is as accurate as 
tuning unisons aural, what defintitvely does not work with nowadays ETDs.



The ear has the possibility to analyze pitch and beats nearly in realtime. 
Analogous to the function of the stereocilies and the hair cells of the 
cochlea, producing time delayed neuronal signals, Bernhard Stopper 
developped new electronic tuning devices for laptop and PDA. It is possible 
to visualize the beats and find the pitch in quasi realtime.



There will be also consequences for the understanding of the musical theory 
due the discovery of the fractal symmetry of the beat-relations to the 
interval relations in the "stopper-tuning". Since due to the extension of 
the tuning matter from two dimensions to three (and more) dimensions the 
octaves/fifths problem dissappears, the mighty octave must be asked in 
place.



The OnlyPure method is patent pending and registered as mark and will be 
licensed to professional tuners and instrument makers which will benefit 
from marketing this revolutionary tuning concept.



http://www.onlypure.info