PDA comments and pitch raise questions

[tompiano at bellsouth.net]

Rips said
 I've just recently discovered the joys of Tunelab pitch raising and developed some confidence in it. What is amazing to me is that pitch raises of 50-60 cents (with overpull) routinely leave me with a ready-to-tune piano with many notes actually right on or near the money already. This is an amazing capability and worth the price of admission alone. I've learned to be a little more precise in the pitch raising phase since it will pay off a few minutes later in the fine tuning phase. I've also learned to trust my ears a lot more with Tunelab...

ahhh, the feeling of (finally) understanding and controling pitch raises is a milestone in every technician's development.  Keep in mind that there are those who are able to do it aurally and be extremely close on the first past and then there are those who choose some sore of ETD to get them into the ballpark.  All  ETD's are capable of doing extremely accurate pitch raises. It just a matter of practice and understanding  the machine you are dealing with....be it your ears, SAT, Verituner, or Tunelab.
Congratulations.
Tom Servinsky
> 
> From: "Rip Lowman" <lehjr at qwest.net>
> Date: 2006/12/19 Tue PM 10:31:32 EST
> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Subject: PDA comments and pitch raise questions
> 
> I'm asking a few questions here, so I'll change the subject.
> 
> I have a 4 month old Dell Axim 624 mhz ppc running the latest Tunelab. And I'm delighted. I have used an SAT I for the last 14 years, and still love it. But the Tunelab functions seem to take me to a higher level.
> 
> With one exception. Speed... Even though i have the fastest ppc pretty much in the market, the SAT I is a faster box. I still consider getting an SAT III from time to time but Tunelab is so good I probably won't. By speed, what I mean is the time to respond to a change in pitch. SAT seems instantaneous. Ppc seems to have to think about it briefly. It's ok once you drop into the rhythm, but a bit disconcerting at first. But the spectrum display gives me more information I think than the rotating lights.
> 
> Another small exception which I've learned to work with is battery life. The SAT just goes on forever like the energizer bunny between chargings. The ppc runs about a full day using a spare battery when needed, and charging in the car when there's a long enough drive. I've learned, from hints on this list, to crank the display brightness down to the absolute minimum to extend the battery. 
> 
> I've also learned, from hints on this list, to kill off all those running background programs. There were a bunch on my ppc when I first read of this. I guess I had tried most of the programs provided and thought they were closed. Surprise!
> 
> I've just recently discovered the joys of Tunelab pitch raising and developed some confidence in it. What is amazing to me is that pitch raises of 50-60 cents (with overpull) routinely leave me with a ready-to-tune piano with many notes actually right on or near the money already. This is an amazing capability and worth the price of admission alone. I've learned to be a little more precise in the pitch raising phase since it will pay off a few minutes later in the fine tuning phase. I've also learned to trust my ears a lot more with Tunelab. For example, when moving up from the temperament area, I can get to the desired pitch quicker by tuning and listening to the octave and the fifth and fourth than by looking at the display. It is there to more or less confirm what I've just done. I'm trying to get ready for the RPT tuning test this coming year, and Tunelab seems to be helping me a lot.
> 
> My big question of the moment is regarding pitch raises. This is not specifically a Tunelab question, but I'll ask it in this context. In your experience, how stable is a piano that has just had a large pitch raise with overpull, say on the order of 50 cents or more, and then tuned immediately at A440? I've not had the chance to go back to such a piano since starting pitch raising with Tunelab. Has the piano pretty much stretched out and settled the extra tension in just the time to pitch raise and then tune? Should I be concerned about this or is the piano actually quite stable and happy at the new pitch?
> 
> I'll answer this question for myself by and by when I see these pianos again, but would like your perspective on the question.
> 
> I'm a toy freak, and one of these days will probably try pocket RCT as well. It's a lot of money, but I'm curious to know what it's like as well.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Rip Lowman
> 
> Tucson Chapter PTG
>