In the temperament octave I see no advantage in tuning aurally. The ETDs do a fine job. Leaving the temperament octave is another story and the ear (at least a skilled one) probably does a better job of blending irregularities and choosing which type of octaves work the best. A combination of ETD, with use of direct interval tuning and aural techniques have proven, for me, to be the best and fastest. Standard tunings without a pitch raise should take about 45 minutes. Therefore the simplest, lightest, longest battery life and most straight forward machine is the best way to go, IMO. For me, that's a SAT III. For institutional, non demanding tuning, a straight ETD tuning is a stress free, easy way to get the job done quickly and with acceptable accuracy. David Love davidlovepianos at comcast.net -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of John M. Formsma Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 12:55 PM To: 'Pianotech List' Subject: RE: How To Choose an ETD was ... something else David, I like the way you think! In my time of using two ETDs, I found that it did become a substitute for listening. When you have a visual device in front of you with blinking lights, or multi-partial measuring, all the razzamatazz makes you start to wonder if your little ol' ears are good enough. So you start trusting it more and more, 'til you're bowed down in near-reverence to the thing. (Slavery 'twas for me.) In my last tryst with my Verituner 100, I was tuning a Steinway D to compare my work with what it calculated. (This was a new piano I'd tuned about 5 times since January, and had recalculated each time, so it should have been the best tuning already. And, I'd just done it a week before this, so it was pretty decent to begin with.) The aural tuning method I chose was open unisons. The temperament was not that much different, but aural was smoother. The treble would have been too flat (and I was tuning in the Expanded Style already). I used every applicable aural test to verify what my ears were hearing. The low tenor would have been just a tad flat in places, and parts of the bass a bit too sharp. It was the best tuning that I've done on that piano, and it "sang" as never before. It was the most fun I've had tuning in a long time. Too busy watching rotating displays before, I guess. So I kissed the little machine good-bye, and said thanks for the memories, babe, but I'm moving on. ;-) The bottom line is, as I see it, one still must be highly skilled in aural ability to achieve the best results. After all, don't ETD manuals recommend using the ear to verify, and that the ear is the final authority? So, if you're using an ETD, but constantly checking with aural tests, why not just tune aurally to begin with? Just my one little opinion. John Formsma P.S. I liked this quote so much, David, that I thought I'd just quote it again. "If you're a young (or young at heart) passionate, committed student if piano technology, why wouldn't you want to learn how to use your ears in the most taxing, intimate, and focused way? You would, if you wanted to wring the maximum benefit from your learning. That's why I believe every serious student of piano technology who wants to be a working, every-day Pianotech will be best served by learning how to tune a piano with ears only." -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Andersen Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2006 1:10 PM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: How To Choose an ETD was ... something else Folks---note the difference; Don says "if used properly," Ed says "who starts relying on" the ubiquitous ETD. And there's the rub: I believe it's up to the individual, and his/her mentor, the degree to which the student, from the beginning, replaces or augments the function of the ear with the machine. If the machine is actually used as a teaching tool---to SHOW somebody visually how close or far they are from ideal, and let their body note that info---then I say what an incredible tool; what an ear and perception enhancer. If, however, the machine is used as a substitute for listening, as something like paint-by-the-numbers, where you're just filling in where you're told to, I believe it can hurt an essential learning function of the students' body and being; further, I think it can---CAN---lead to a steady lessening of the students' ability to truly listen with the whole body in a relaxed way, which, to me, is the fundamental component of doing world-class piano work. If you're a young (or young at heart) passionate, committed student if piano technology, why wouldn't you want to learn how to use your ears in the most taxing, intimate, and focused way? You would, if you wanted to wring the maximum benefit from your learning. That's why I believe every serious student of piano technology who wants to be a working, every-day pianotech will be best served by learning how to tune a piano with ears only. I think it's better from a self-esteem or confidence POV as well; you know you can go anywhere in the world, with just you and a lever and a tone source, and tune any piano. It means something psychologically. The idea is to build your skillset, and the sense of power and accomplishment that comes with that, until you "feel" like a total pro to the world at large, and you can, by telling the truth, hold the reins of most every work situation you find yourself in. Just some thoughts on a gorgeous Sunday AM in SoCal..... My best to everyone.... David Andersen P.S. I'M GETTING EXCITED ABOUT ROCHESTER ....OOOHHHHH.....
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