SAT III vs. Reyburn CyberTuner

[Richard Brekne]

I agree completely with these two fine postings below. The fact is of course
that the picture is a bit more complicated then either Davids original post or
the fact that many have learned quickly and efficiently. David points out a very
real problem that is significant enough in magnitude that it warrants our
attention. Not the least should ETD tuners be acutely aware of the desirability
to avoid any such problems that would feed fuel to the fire surrounding the use
ETD's. But more importantly because most accomplished ETD tuners I know
personally are very dedicated individuals whom I am sure stand personally for a
serious minded professional attitude in the execution of their duties. Any such
serious minded individual cannot possibly look brightly on the use of such a
powerful tool in a fashion that is detrimental to the industry at large and
leads the prospective apprentice in the wrong direction.


And on a more humorous note:

I know the use of ETD's is still a hot issue in our time. That many ETD uses
seem to suffer a bit from chiropractors self abashing syndrome and feel a need
validate themselves through irrational and hysteric justification using isolated
examples that say nothing about the greater reality relative to this problem. I
think we as highly skilled artisans bare a responsibility to be mindful of these
tender feelings and try to avoid hurting them.  Only then can we someday hope to
welcome these fledgeling misguided individuals into the throngs of sensuous
creativity.

>From the planet Xenon I bid you well.

RSLB


David Ilvedson

I am going from my experience in the Bay Area with new tuners and their
lack of ability to pass the PTG tuning test if they go to the ETD before
learning the aural skills.  The fact is they can tune well enough to make a
living with the ETD and most don't use it to learn aural tuning.  They say
"why bother?".  Of course the ETD could be a great learning tool but I
don't think that's happening.  I'm Secretary/Treasurer for the Northern
California PTG Exam Board.  We are averaging about 1 tuning test a year.
Many more than that are entering the field here and our chapter continues
to grow.  Often it is lack of confidence in their aural skills that stops
tuners from upgrading...IMHO

David I.



David Love wrote:

> I think that regardless of how literally one takes Mr. Ilvedson's statement
> about "never" (I don't), he makes a good point.  I think that in the
> learning process it is, for most, too easy to allow the device to do the
> listening for you.  I think everyone would agree that the goal at the micro
> level is to learn to discern aurally small differences in beat variations,
> and at the macro level to hear the tuning as a whole and how similar types
> of chords in different keys relate in quality and character (at least in
> ET).  Tuning is art as well as science.  Thus, I think the focus of learning
> must be aural first.  The visual should serve to confirm.  Judgement calls
> are frequent in tuning and your ears should have the confidence to override
> what your eyes tell you if it is called for.  That being said, I think the
> ETD's can be useful for confirming what you are hearing, can get you in the
> ball park quickly, take some of the fatigue out of the process, and give you
> a second opinion when you are not sure what your ears are telling you.  Both
> machines are good.  The SAT is smaller and lighter and the battery last
> longer.  The CT has other computer features.  Neither one lets you turn off
> your ears.  If I were learning all over again, I would buy a machine, find a
> skilled tuner/tech who can teach to work with on a periodic basis (pay
> them), only use the machine while you are learning to check and confirm not
> only your aural judgement but your stability, and practice practice
> practice.
>
> David Love
>

--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway
mailto:Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no