SOTvsSATI,II,III,vs RCT

[James Grebe]

Hi All,
    Speaking as a long time user of the SOT and SAT I and now the RCT for
almost a year now I would offer these observations.
     When the SOT came along there was a big jump in my accuracy of tuning.
Since that time with the SOT, I would say that my accuracy has not improved,
but, my interest in what I was doing improved many times over.  When the SAT
came out suddenly there was more to learn and to do in the PROCESS of
tuning.  When I switched to the RCT choices mushroomed in number.  I could
change things on the run, change them back, alter this and that and after a
year I still have not mastered all the things the RCT is capable of doing
with me, not for me.
    Certainly the small size of the new SAT III has much to like but size is
only one parameter.  My own belief is that tuning, in the future, will be
helped by software that can be changed to add new features and change things
as the designer becomes aware of the users preferences.  The ability to
change things, rather than a static machine and program seems archaic in
todays changing world.  I would have preferred that the Sandersons would
have switched to a software based tuner so it would be useful to carry your
customer records with you while you are out of the office.  I think those of
us who like to have as much info about our business with us are in the many.
    Early in my career I used to go out without carrying my appointment book
with me.  That changed.
  I used to leave my parts catalogs at home.  That changed.
I used to have to wait to call someone when I got to a land based phone,
then I got a cell phone.. That changed.
 I used to not want to be bothered by being able to be paged.  That changed.
  I used to wonder what the person who paged me wanted before I called them
back.  Then I got got voice mail on my pager. That changed.
  I got the RCT and said all I was going to have on the little Mac was the
tuning program, now I have Claris Scheduler, that changed.
 When this refurbished Mac gives out I will get a PC laptop and RCT for
Windows and then will be able to carry ALL my computer programs and info on
the laptop.  Yesterday we ordered a new Gateway laptop with a 4 gig HD for
my wife.  That is bigger storage than my 3.? GB HD here at home.  The future
forces us to keep stretching and those who don't stretch get left behind
which is kind of disconcerting if you are the one behind.  I don't like to
keep relearning  all the new stuff as it comes out, but if you don't you
are yesterdays news.
    My point is that all these tools work very well if you learn how to use
them properly.  It is the attitude of the user who determines the best
tuning the piano is capable of receiving.  It is good to have preferences
and hopefully we can go to accept new preferences as we change through the
years.
James Grebe
R.P.T. of the P.T.G
pianoman@inlink.com
Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups and Practical Piano Peripherals in
St. Louis, MO