Audio Files Tuning “Listens”
Contained below is a random collection of some of the tuning ‘listens’ recorded with my iPhone. In the collection are grand pianos of different sizes and manufacturers, some studios and consoles.
DetailsYouTube Videos
Many of the AccuTuner Blog articles are associated with a video. This link will take you to my YouTube channel which contains all my videos. Click here to go to my YouTube Channel
DetailsTuning Business Insurance
I have two SATIV “980”s. I use them both, one one week and the other the next. I don’t want to work without one. And, since a Microsoft Surface Pro is part of my tuning process, I have two of those as well. I’m backed up with both hardware and software. It’s great to know…
DetailsVideo: The Partial Change Correction Feature (PCC)
All ‘computer generated’ tunings have partial changes and those partial changes may contain an error. Correcting these partial change errors can greatly improve the sound of the tuning. The number of partial changes contained in the ‘computer generated’ tunings will vary depending on the ETD. This procedure will show how to use the Partial Change…
DetailsAccuTuner Blog
Thanks for your interest in the Sanderson AccuTuner! I hope you find something here of interest.. Please let me know if you have a question or an idea for another post! Probably because of my fascination with both the aural and technical aspects of tuning, Inventronics selected me as one of their first distributors of…
DetailsWhat’s a Registered Piano Technician (RPT)?
The field of Piano technology is an unregulated trade. Therefore the Piano Technicians Guild has set its own standards of quality for piano technicians.
DetailsVideo: Creating a Header Sheet for xMem Tunings
This post is on how to create a header sheet for the xMem sections of the SAT IV. There are probably more ways to do this than the one contained in the video, but this one works nicely and is fairly quick. This method uses Excel and Word. I hope this video can be used by those with only limited experience with Excel. Those with a basic knowledge of Excel, will have no problem with this method. (Contains video)
DetailsVideo: File Types and Piano Manager
Library Files or .LIB files are the type of files used by the Sanderson AccuTuner IV’s ‘Extended’ Memory. This upper memory or ‘Extended’ memory greatly expands the capacity – the number of tunings – that can be stored in the SAT IV. This video will show how to use and work with Library files and Piano Manager for storing and retrieving tunings in the Extended memory of the SAT IV. (Post contains Video)
DetailsLittau-Conrad Spreadsheet Demo 2
This video shows how a tuning is created using the mapping notes taken from the piano to be tuned. This video shows one of the pages from my mapping notes and how the targets are arranged on the page. There is also some discussion in this video as to how the initial A4 numbers, combined…
DetailsLittau-Conrad Spreadsheet Preview
The video below is a preview of the Littau-Conrad Spreadsheet. This video will give you an idea as to how the spreadsheet looks and works, and how it ties into Piano Manager and the SAT IV. It starts on the Templates Tab, which is where the mapping information is entered. Once the Targets info has…
DetailsAdjusting the Mid-Point of the Prime Octave
Even the smoothest set of software-created numbers for the prime octave’s tuning ‘curve’, will often not be a good fit for the piano in front of us. Being able to adjust the midpoint of this prime octave makes for a better sounding tuning because the tuning is now a better fit for that particular piano.
DetailsPartials, Partial Changes, Partial Change Errors, & Partial Locations
Because we can’t use the same partials to tune A0 and C8, there must be at least one partial change in every tuning software system. All tuning software systems contain partial ‘changes’. Whenever the software switches from one partial to another during the course of the tuning, an error at that partial change is very likely. Since every partial change is a potential tuning issue, the fewer partial changes the better. The higher partials are less reliable then the lower partials.
DetailsCombining Partial Changes with Scaling Issues
Inaccurate partial changes in tuning software can create problems in the tuning. When using any ETD’s computerized tuning system software, errors at it’s partial changes are common, can be large, and can easily cause audible ‘hiccups’ in the tuning.
DetailsWorking with a Low “4th A4 Number” Piano
I’ve come across pianos whose ‘4th A4 Number’ is 0.0 c.! I didn’t know that was even possible until I measured one. Yes, what that means is that when the A3/A4 octave is tuned as a pure 4:2, the A3/A4 2:1 is also pure.
DetailsMapping A3: Procedures
This procedure is for pianos whose 4th A4 Number is generally less than 2.0 c. When the 4th A4 number is less than 2.0 c., the prime octave’s 2:1 can be either expanded or contracted – based on what the prime 5ths dictate – and still remain less than 3.0 c. wide. Most of the time on these pianos, the prime 4:2 octave will be either wide or pure.
DetailsWorking with the Prime 5ths
My approach to midrange tuning is minimal beating. I don’t want to stretch any more than necessary to get a pair of good sounding prime 5ths contained within the prime octave.
DetailsWorking with a High “4th A4 Number” Piano
Though not absolute by any means, there is a useful ‘relationship’ between the prime octave width and the widths of the prime 5ths.
DetailsMapping A3
This system uses the relationships of the prime octave (A3/A4) to the prime 5ths (A3/E4 & D4/A4) to determine the ideal widths for both the prime octave and the prime 5ths. This relationship will be found using the A4 Numbers the 4th A4 Number, and ‘Templates’.
DetailsAdding Stretch to the Bass Using PCC
In addition to correcting errors at partial changes, the Partial Change Corrector (PCC) may also be used to add stretch to the bass. The main difference between using PCC in stead of DOB, is that with PCC the adjustments stay with the tuning after the SAT is turned off, whereas the DOB settings are not.
DetailsThe A4 Numbers
These quick and easy measurements tell a lot about the piano. They also give me the locations of two ‘Target’ notes that will be used for the tuning.
DetailsUsing PCC to Tune to Non-Standard Pitch
There are a number of ways, when using an AccuTuner, to tune to non standard pitch. PCC is one of the easiest and most versatile. When PCC is used for tuning to non standard pitch, make note of the PCC adjustment so it can be reversed when the tuning is finished.
DetailsUsing a Sequence
Using a sequence is a great way to quickly tune and make aural checks before committing to the complete tuning. (Contains button pressing video).
DetailsSuggested FAC Tweaking Routine
This post suggests a general approach to applying these FAC Tweaks.
DetailsPartial Change Correction (PCC) Feature
All computerized tunings have partial changes and those partial changes may contain an error. Correcting these errors can improve the sound of the tuning. This procedure will show how to correct the three FAC partial changes when using an AccuTuner SAT IV. But before correcting the partial changes, consider lowering the tenor partial change from…
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