Accu-tuner

[John Formsma]

On Feb 1, 2008 3:23 PM, <A440A at aol.com> wrote:

> John writes:
> << Oh, that's so outre´ these days.  I'd recommend the AuraTuner 1.0.  No
>
> batteries to recharge, no updates to download. No equipment to replace.
>  It
>
> automatically updates on site as new information is processed. >>
>
> Hmm,  Ok,
> 1.   Can it raise the pitch and fine tune to a different temperament in 1
> 1/4
> hours?  Right in the middle of a bad cold, at the end of a long week,
> while
> there is a lot of noise in the background?
> 2.  Can it guarantee accuracy to within 1 cent on 10 successive tunings,
> (like in a studio where they are overdubbing 3 month old tracks?)
> 3.  Can it remember, to within .1 cent, the last tuning; so that one can
> cumulatively refine one's tuning?
>
>           Anybody that thinks they can provide a superior tuning with
> their
> ears, against my tuning with my ears AND my machine will have to prove
> that
> that is so!
> Regards,
> Ed Foote RPT



Aw, Ed ... I was just trying to start something.  :-)

Sure, if your criteria are as you state above, an ETD would definitely be
handy.  I would use a device to record my aural tunings for repeat work.  If
there was a program that would only record pitches, that would be great for
me. I wouldn't want to spend many $XXXX.00 on it -- it's not worth that to
me for what I do.  Maybe it is for others, and that's certainly fine.

I think we piano techs are in danger of losing valuable skills by relying on
machines.  Just like we are in danger of relying on "37-steps" rather than
understanding the process.  And I think we should be given more respect than
to be expected to tune a piano in a noisy environment.  You wouldn't ask a
portrait artist to do his work in the rain.  Likewise, we should have an
environment that is conducive to our work.

Yes, I can do a good job with a pitch raise and tuning in 1.25 hours.  I
like to have more time than that usually.  But it can be done if need be.  I
can actually do it in 1 hour, but that's at top speed, and when everything
works perfectly.  Which seldom happens.

The main intent of my post, though, was just a friendly reminder that we
sometimes make it harder on ourselves by trying to make it easier on
ourselves.  We get all this high-falutin' equipment, then get dependent on
it.  Then gripe about how it doesn't do well on certain pianos.  And how we
know we can do better than the machine, etc.  (By proving it with
auraltests, incidentally.)  And we freak out when it suddenly won't
turn on, and
we have to slug through with a dull ear.  All the while our aural skills are
being minimized.  At least that was my experience.

Whereas we could just learn what makes a tuning good, relax, and get it
done.  (I'm not saying you can't do that, either, Ed.  I'm sure you can.
 Just speaking generally.)  I think I'm a better tuner without the ETD.  Do
I have hard days?  Yeah, the first piano today was one of 'em.  Did I want
to go buy an ETD?  Nah, just learned a bit more about the piano and myself.


Yes, I chose a road with a more difficult mountain at the beginning of the
journey.  But I like the view now, and the road isn't so steep anymore.

-- 
JF
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