Strings & Circuits

[Ron Koval]

I've crossed-posted this to both lists.

Last night I gave a presentation: Strings & Circuits, to the Chicago 
Chapter.  The subtitle, Investigating Electronic Tuning Devices, set the 
tone for our 3 part evening.

First, using a slinky to demonstrate string motion, we looked at how the 
string can resonate at the different partial levels.  Keeping an eye out for 
our two main themes, (accuracy doesn't equal precision, and making 
assumptions can cause problems.)  We investigated why a piano can be so 
difficult to tune.  On display were tuning devices from the last few 
decades; simple, template enhanced, and measuring equipment.  Our subjects 
for the evening were the Baldwin Hamilton upright pianos from the Arts High 
school where I work during the day.  Using graphs to demonstrate tunings 
rounded out the first portion of the evening, as calculations from RCT, 
Tunelab, SAT and Verituner were compared.

Second, having had tuning help during the day, (thanks, Steve P) I sent 
every one off to play 4 different pianos, each tuned with one of the 
machines.  The "rules" for tuning, were to just follow the directions from 
the manual, calculate a tuning and set it on the piano.  So, these were not 
the "best", tweaked tunings available using the machines, but tunings right 
out of the box in the default tuning mode.  I heard people playing 
music,checking octaves, overall stretch, and specific interval tests.   In 
addition, just for fun, I also had one piano that I had tuned "flat-lined", 
that is the fundamental tuned to zero from end to end.  You can imagine what 
that one sounded like!  The pianos were numbered, without any information 
available about the tuning.

I'll let others give their impressions,(Ok everyone, send something in!) but 
I heard these comments:

I hear beats in  the octaves on all these pianos
Wow, I was surprised to hear that much difference.
This one, the thirds are real even, but the 4ths and 5ths.....
Number 4 was the best,  just more even and resonant? (yup, Verituner...my 
shameless VT plug for today)
This just shows that tuning by ear is the only way to get a good tuning.

A discussion followed, with references back to some graphs helping to 
explain how the 4:2 and the 6:3 octaves near the break cannot be reconciled 
on these pianos.  The best we can hope for, is "less bad", trying to balance 
the differences out.  We finished with loading the same tuning onto all the 
machines and tuning random notes across the scale to see what the displays 
look like with a note that is moved from in tune, to out of tune, and back.

My goal was to show where and how some troubles can crop up with Electronic 
tuning.  I made an appeal for someone to volunteer to give a presentation on 
"tweaking and tuning"; hopefully someone will step forward in the 
future.....

I had our 7' SF10 tuned and ready to go for a student that had to cancel, so 
Frank M consented to play for us.  Full custom "balancing" mode with the VT, 
using my own "mini" temperament that I listed a few weeks back.

Always an enjoyable evening; thanks Chicago Chapter!

Ron Koval




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