Which tuning should I use?
Which Tuning should I use?
These tunings will work using the SAT 1 or SAT II, but the Double Octave Beat (DOB) feature is found only on the SAT III and SAT IV. If you have one of the older SAT models (SAT I, SAT II) you might want to start thinking about stepping up to a SAT III or a SAT IV. The DOB feature, the auto note stepping, and the smaller ’footprints’ make these newer models more conveinent, more flexible, easier to use, and a better tuner in general.
This is the header listing for the tunings that can be downloaded from this site.
The name of the tuning list is 081129CONRAD35
Pg. Piano A4 & A7 numbers
| 001 — EMPTY—- | A4 | A7 |
| 002 KAWAI CONSOLE | 6.8 | 26.6 |
| 003 KAWAI GRAND | 7.1 | 30.3 |
| 004 STEINWAY D | 7.5 | 38.1 |
| 005 YOUNG CHANG CONSOLE | 7.8 | 31.4 |
| 006 YAMAHA CONSOLE | 7.9 | 32.7 |
| 007 YAMAHA STUDIO | 8 | 33.9 |
| 008 YAMAHA CONSOLE | 8.2 | 34.2 |
| 009 YAMAHA C3 | 8.4 | 33.7 |
| 010 YAMAHA CONSOLE | 8.4 | 36.5 |
| 011 YAMAHA G2 | 8.5 | 31.9 |
| 012 KAWAI GRAND | 8.5 | 34 |
| 013 YAMAHA G2 | 8.6 | 33.8 |
| 014 YAMAHA GH1 | 8.8 | 31.9 |
| 015 STEINWAY B | 8.9 | 42.4 |
| 016 STEINWAY A | 9 | 40.1 |
| 017 STEINWAY D | 9.1 | 37.9 |
| 018 STEINWAY B | 9.4 | 39.6 |
| 019 STEINWAY A | 9.5 | 42.5 |
| 020 STEINWAY L | 9.6 | 40.4 |
| 021 YAMAHA G2 | 9.7 | 39.5 |
| 022 STEINWAY M | 9.8 | 43.4 |
| 023 STEINWAY B | 10 | 41.7 |
| 024 STEINWAY L | 10.1 | 44.2 |
| 025 STEINWAY A | 10.3 | 43.8 |
| 026 YOUNG CHANG GRAND | 10.5 | 37.8 |
| 027 YOUNG CHANG GRAND | 10.5 | 41 |
| 028 EVERETT CONSOLE | 10.6 | 42.1 |
| 029 STEINWAY M | 10.6 | 43.4 |
| 030 MASON&HAMLIN AA | 10.7 | 42.5 |
| 031 YAMAHA G1 | 11 | 40.4 |
| 032 BALDWIN ACROSONIC | 11.1 | 44.4 |
| 033 STEINWAY M | 11.5 | 44.4 |
| 034 EVERETT CONSOLE | 11.6 | 43.5 |
| 035 STEINWAY 1098 | 12 | 48.2 |
| 036 STEINWAY 1098 | 12.3 | 50 |
The column on the left is the page number. The 2nd column is a brief description of the piano from which this tuning was originally taken. The columns to the right are the A4 and A7 numbers.
In order to select a tuning, first tune A4 to A440 and then measure the 4th and 8th partials of that note. The 4th partial is the A4 number, and the 8th partial is the A7 number.
A4 number measurement:
1. In the TUNE mode, tune A4 to A440: (A4 @ 0.0)
2. Using the OCT UP buttons on the SAT, set the SAT to listen to the 4th partial of A4: (A6 @ 0.0)
3. Play A4 on the piano (the note you just tuned to A 440) and observe the rotation of the lights. They will be rotating sharp.
4. Using the CENTS UP buttons (or the MSR button) on the SAT, stop the lights on the SAT and observe the CENTS reading. Let’s say when the lights are stopped the cents reading is 9.4: (A6 @ 9.4). 9.4 is the A4 number for that piano.
A7 number measurement:
1. Now, using the OCT UP button on the SAT set the SAT to A7: (A7 @ 9.4)
2. Play the A4 that you originally tuned in step 1 above and observe the rotation of the lights.
3. Using the CENTS UP button (or the MSR button) on the SAT stop the rotation of the lights. When you have the lights stopped, look at the cents reading on the SAT. The Cents number in the Cents window is the 7 number for that piano. Let’s say it is 41. (A7 @ 41.0)
You now know that the A4 number for the piano is 9.4 and the A7 number is 41.
Now go to the header sheet above and find the tuning that is the closest to these two numbers. A4 = 9.4 and A7 = 41
The closest match is the tuning on Pg. 18: Steinway B 9.4 39.6.
Comments:
This tuning will get you close. You can use this tuning for pitch raising and your final tuning too. If you have a SAT III, you can use the DOB in the top octave to raise up the 39.6 to 41.
Eventually I will write other articles on using the DOB in the bass and treble. I also need to describe how to check and correct the potential errors at the partial changes. (There are 3 partial changes in these tuning: G#2/A2 ; A4/A#4 : and B5/C6. Each one needs to be checked and corrected for guaranteed smooth tuning results.)
Use the tuning whose A4 and A7 numbers match up best with the piano in front of you. If you made the measurements on a console or spinet, but the numbers point to a Steinway B, go ahead and use the Steinway B tuning. The amount of stretch doesn’t care if the piano has 3 legs or 2, is brown or black.
With DOB (Double Octave Beat) we can now tweak the tunings to match the pianos and compensate for differences between the piano in front of us and the memory tuning we are using.
What is more important and unique about these CONRAD35 tunings is
1. their partial change locations,
2. the overall smoothness of the tunings, and
3. the use of triple octaves in the high treble.
All of these tunings use a triple octave @ A7 . This means when A7 is being tuned, A4 is the reference note. (FAC tunings use double octaves up there, which means that when A7 is being tuned, A5 was used as a reference note).
I have always liked the added stretch of triple octaves in the high treble. But DOB cannot stretch a double octave into a triple octave. DOB allows us to adjust stretch as needed while leaving A4 unmoved, but it can only stretch the tuning so far. Sometimes the difference between a double octave @ A7 and a triple octave at A7 can be 10 or 12 cents or more. DOB cannot raise it that much. But it can tweak a tuning that has used triple octaves up there just as it can tweak a double octave up there.
If the memory tuning contains triple octaves, the DOB can be used to put them right on the money. I started using triple octaves and storing them into my SAT years ago. If you want you can do the same thing. It is all in your SAT Instruction manual.
Good Luck, and have fun.