[pianotech] re: the true properties of EBVT

[Ron Koval]

Hello, to anyone still with us :)

Bill wrote:
I'm never going to go around tuning the EBVT by using correction figures but 
I do understand nevertheless, the importance of coming up with them.  This 
will come about as soon as I am sure of them and I hope you'll try them out.
>From what I can see so far, however, both the FAC program and any 
>correction figures applied to them will yield slightly different results 
>from piano to piano.

<snip>

Only as each instrument has its own voice.  The thing to remember at this 
point, is that you are a beginner when it comes to using a machine to 
calculate a tuning.  There has been a lot written about the SAT on how to 
adjust for a better matching tunings, but success comes with 
experimentation, and experience.  The payoff for those that choose to use 
the machines is consistancy.  Once you know how to adjust your machine,(It 
pays to select a flexible one.) a Broadwood will be a Broadwood, no matter 
on which piano it is set.

Using both the bearing plans, and any published numbers, (old, or on your 
website)techs have come up with many different sets of offsets.  This points 
to a lack of consistancy of setting this temperament on differing 
instruments.  It may turn out that the EBVT is not a temperament at all, but 
a process you go through to reach a certain sound that you are listening 
for.  If you find in your research that you can't come up with consistant 
offsets from piano to piano, I'd look into developing a new vocabulary to 
communicate what is going on when you tune.  It may be one of those things 
that is more art than science, and therefore harder to pass on to others.

A first step might be to nail down how close your range is for equal 
beating. (yes, checked against a machine) Paul Bailey has been quietly 
making waves in his community tuning Well temperaments with *true* equal 
beating tendancies. (spreadsheet born, aurally tested)  Just like ET, (if 
it's not equal it ain't ET)it really does make a difference in the 
'resonance' to really 'nail' some equal beating intervals. Especially 
because he's working with "stronger" temperaments.  In addition, he's using 
a Verituner, which makes it easier to get the tuning to match almost any 
piano.




Yes, maybe a 'tempest in a teapot' but interesting to some.  :)

Ron Koval


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