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<DIV><FONT size=2>I purchased the Verituner recently and have used it =
now for
about a dozen tunings. I cannot compare it to the RCT or Tunelab, =
as I
never used them, but I will say that the VT does a marvelous job =
when
compared to the SAT III. It's ability to measure (or =
premeasure) any
or all notes and up to eight partials of each note in order to =
calculate an
inharmonicity curve resolves many of the complaints I had about the SAT =
III
which, unless monitored very closely, sometimes delivered a less than
satisfactory tuning to my ear. Though I had learned to work with =
the SAT
III very effectively by use of the DOB, two page memory for one piano, =
and
direct interval tuning, I find the VT to be much easier with more
predictable results. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The complaints listed earlier I find largely
unwarranted. One suggestion was that the VT required a two pass
tuning. That is not true. You can premeasure any sequence of =
notes (
though it is suggested you always start with A4) including notes in =
troublesome
transition areas and the machine will use the data to create a curve =
with smooth
transitions. Or, as I believe Ron Koval mentioned, you can measure =
the
whole piano before you start tuning. Not necessary, but It takes =
about 5
minutes. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Another complaint was about the pitch raise =
function, or
coarse tuning mode as it is called. The coarse tuning system =
requires
lining up two arrows rather than stopping a spinner and is a bit awkward =
at
first. When used as a genuine first pass rough pitch raise, it =
does a
perfectly adequate job. Moreover, you can set up the display
with three different levels of overpull which can appear
simultaneously on the screen. As you progress through the scale =
and want
to change the degree of overpull depending on the section of the piano, =
you can
just aim for the appropriate indicator. These settings are preset =
to
10/30/36 % overpull but can be adjusted to your own preference. I =
set mine
at 15/30/36 which seems to work a little better for me. I pulled a =
small
Yamaha today which ranged from 30c flat in the bass to 80c flat in the
treble. One rough pass, one fine tuning and the fine tuning =
required very
small adjustments. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The display itself is perfectly readable and gives a =
lot of
data. The large flat or sharp sign that appears if the spinner is =
moving
too fast to see I found helpful. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>You can adjust the stretch "style" from clean =
(narrow) to
expanded as with the SAT III DOB, but unlike the SAT III, changing the =
stretch
style does not preclude the machine using the inharmonicity readings to
calculate an acceptable curve. My experience with the DOB is =
that you
can actually put the piano a bit out of tune by selecting an =
inappropriate
amount of stretch. I have not experimented fully with the "style" =
settings
in the VT, but my impression is that the machine seeks to find a balance =
between
style selections and what the piano dictates. I think that is a =
better
system.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The 300 page memory can be upgraded to 1000 pages =
for an
additional cost (as Paul L mentioned). There are presently a few =
glitches
that are being worked out with the upgraded memory, but I wonder just =
how
important the extra memory is. If you believe that =
inharmonicity
changes with weather, then you would want to recalculate at each tuning
anyway. If you don't, then since you can premeasure and a full 2 =
pass
tuning is <U>not </U>required to get excellent results, I don't consider =
it
critical. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>It comes fully loaded with a variety of HT's and as =
difficult
as it is to admit, I actually like the way it tunes ET. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The simple fact that it measures multiple partials =
(rather
than one targeted partial) on a given note simultaneously and uses that =
data
collectively and progressively to project a curve, puts it above any of =
the
machines that I'm familiar with. There are other features =
that I
haven't mentioned, but I think it is truly state of the =
art. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>