Accu-True or False

[A440A@aol.com]

Greetings;

On Fri, 26 Jul 1996, Barrie Heaton wrote:

> There has been a growing debate in some of the trade magazines in the
> UK. Regarding the accuracy of electronic tuners.  Could the list
> possibly clear up some of the points raised in these discussions

        Jim Coleman's response (snip below),  is right on target, the
machines maintain tolerances beyond human ability.

>> Our experience has shown that the problem is not in the accuracy of the
>>machines, whether they be the Yamaha PT100, the AccuTuner II or the
>>Reyburn-Macintosh systems, but in the ability of any Tuner to tune
>>within .2 to .3 cents of the standards set up.

Then you ask;

> Before you point me to Mr. Sandersons home page, I would rather get the
> information from end users and from none biased tuners (those who do
> not have a commercial interest in promoting this product.)

Greetings Barrie,
      That is me, among many others.  I would like to add the following
points about Dr. Al's magic box.  (Sanderson Accu-tuner)

    1.  A particular aspect of the machine's use needs to be considered.
 That is the cumulative aspect made possible by the combination of memory and
programability.  If you achieve a really fine aural tuning on a particular
piano,  that tuning can be recorded, ( to within .1 cent) in the Accu-Tuners
memory.  The next tuning on that same model will allow you to use and
critique your previous tuning, and allow changing it if you find something
you could have done better. ( If your first tuning was perfect, all of this
is a moot point, of course!)
     It is in this manner that the machine will allow you to gradually "mold"
 a tuning to your idea of perfection, each succeeding use allowing further
refinement.  This is not a process that is available to the strictly aural
tuner. Also, once formed, this tuning can be used with the great pitch raise
function in the Accu-tuner. Concert-level tunings in 90 minutes, from 20
cents away are possible with one of these machines.

    2.  The interpretive nature of the non-equal temperaments can be a
problem if you are looking for feedback on the sounds of these tunings.
 Without the strict mathematical framework that Equal Temperament provides,
aural Well tempering  often makes for approximations of previous work.  The
memory of an Accutuner replays exactly the same tuning each time, thus
providing a standard for all of the comparisons.  This can also be critical
in recording studio use, where the well tempering has to maintain  1 cent
consistancy from session to session.

    3.  Don't trust any machine to tune a unison.  Often, when all three
strings have the lights perfectly stopped, there will be a pure, clear
unison.  However, many times, a unison will sound better even when the
 machine says there is some descrepancy between the strings. Phase
relationships have a lot to do with the clarity of a unison, and the machine
is often no match for the human ear making that kind of decision.
     You cannot properly tune a piano if you do not listen. The machine is a
tool, nothing more.

Regards,
Ed Foote
Precision Piano Works
Nashville, Tn.