Dear Rob, I was one of those fortunate people who was able to attend a piano technology school to learn my basic skills. (Thank goodness for PTG's continuing education that still enables me to discover better ways to become a better technician!) I learned to tune aurally. It was several years later that I learned to use a SAT. I now consider it an indepensible tool. When this thread was discussed several months ago, I put on a post saying that the use of a SAT, or any other ETD, should be deferred until after one learned to tune aurally. I received several private posts from long time technicians who quickly informed me that an ETD could be one of the very best teaching tools available to a beginner. They were right! The SAT has a quartz crystal that keeps A440 dead on. It does not vary with temperature, humidity, or any other factor (unless the battery dies). ( I have not used the Cyber Tuner, but I assume it is that stable also.) My experiences with a tuning fork demonstrated over and over again that the fork varied according to those factors. So, if our expectation is accuracy, then it seems to me that the SAT clearly would be the most dependable. Even though I always use the SAT as one of my tuning tools, it always is my ear that defines whether or not a note is tuned properly. I don't know how anyone can tune and not use checks. I think you and I are saying the same thing -- the end result must be a well tuned piano, whatever method or tool is used. Gina Carter << At the risk of offending *many* people on the list NEVER (shouting emphasis noted) sell your aural skills short. That includes accepting the judgement of an electronic tuning aid over your subjective judgement. You simply cannot know whether your aural skills are based on what a machine tells you is right. Too many tuners that I know have made the mistake of learning from a machine, refining their aural skills second, and then returning to the machine. This is a waste of time and effort, as you are essentially re-learning what your ear already knows. Get as firm a grip with your aural skills first (do the temperament and octaves without the machine) and check your work with a machine or mentor. Machines are useful tools when properly applied. Please learn why you are using them!!!! Remember, pianos are built for aural analysis. Rob Kiddell R.P.T., P.T.G. C.A.P.T. Student Edmonton, Canada http://www.planet.eon.net/~atonal/atonal.html >>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC