The Prime 5ths
The prime 5ths are used to determine the best prime octave width for the particular piano being mapped and eventually tuned. When the widths of the prime 5ths are added together, when that total is -3.0, the prime octave width is about right. Continue reading
Mapping the Treble with Templates and a SAT 980
Mapping the treble uses:
1. information found when the A4 numbers were measured and
2. the completed mapping of the prime octave: A3, D4, E4, & A4. Continue reading
Mapping A3
The prime octave needs to be wide enough for the 5ths to sound good, but not so wide as to create excessive beating in the prime 4ths, or in the prime octave itself. Continue reading
The Width of the A3/A4 2:1, After Tuning A3/A4 as a Pure 4:2
Knowing the width of the A3/A4 2:1 after it has been tuned as a pure 4:2 is a useful and interesting piece of information about the piano being tuned. Continue reading
3. Mapping A1
Once the location for A2 is known, mapping A1 is very straightforward. A good location for A1 is as a 6:3 octave (from A1), 3.0 cents wide. Continue reading
4. Mapping A0
Mapping A0 can be done any number of ways. It can be mapped however you like, but just like A1, once you have it where you want it, it's location must be measured using it's 4th partial, since the LC Spreadsheet uses the 4th partials for A0 - A4. Continue reading
2. Mapping the Sub-Prime Octave (A2/A3) with a SAT “980” & Templates
Once the prime octave (A3-A4) has been mapped, the sub-prime octave (A2-A3) can be mapped. The same template is used for mapping both the prime and the sub-prime octaves. Aural tuning experience is very helpful for all of this. Technical skills do not exclude aural skills. But at the same time, aural skills shouldn't ignore technical skills. Continue reading
Disclaimer!!
The idea of actually being able to tune and/or measure pitch on any piano to within one tenth of a cent accuracy is very wishful thinking. And the idea that the piano 'system' is capable of a stability within one tenth of a cent is also very wishful thinking. Please keep that in mind when reading these posts. Continue reading
1. Mapping the Prime Octave (A3/A4) with a SAT “980” & Templates
This post is an attempt at the 'bare bones' instructions for mapping the prime octave using a SAT IV "980" with templates. Continue reading
Tuning Templates
Templates are not 'tunings', they are more of a pattern or mold used for finding target notes. . . . Continue reading
Prime? What do you mean by that?
When we were working on all this, we kept needing to talk about the A3/A4 octave. Over time, it just became easier to use the words 'Prime octave' instead of saying the A3/A4 octave. Continue reading
The A4 Numbers
Once A4 has been tuned, the locations of it's 2nd, 4th, and 8th partials are measured. Continue reading
Mini-Targets
'Mini-targets' are notes D4 & E4, and D3 & E3. Even if the prime octave width is perfect, the scaling contained within that octave will often result in a pair of 'uneven' or 'unbalanced' prime 5ths (A3/E4 & D4/A4). Continue reading
What is “Mapping”?
"Mapping" is the process of determining the settings for each A, as well as D3, E3, D4 & E4. Mapping is best done using both aural and technical skills and techniques. Continue reading
Combining 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. Continue reading
What is a Partial Change?
When using any tuning software, different partials are used to tune different parts of the piano. The partials used are designed into the software. All tuning software systems therefore contain partial ‘changes’ as part of the tuning.… Continue reading
Download Tunings
To make them easily available, these download tunings are in both .SAT and Excel file formats. Also included is a Header Sheet in Excel form, which contains the piano mfg, and model, and the settings for each 'A' on the tuning. Continue reading
Downloaded Tunings news
Available for download here is a group of individual pianos (complete 88 note tunings). These tunings were the result of a custom mapping routine to create a custom tuning for that particular piano at that time.
These tunings… Continue reading
The New AccuTuner Max IV “980”
The new Sanderson Accu-Tuner Max "980" has 980 pages of memory - more than double the number of available pages of the standard SAT IV. Continue reading
“Double Octave Beat” – DOB
DOB allows us to easily stretch or contract a template or tuning stored in the SAT. A DOB setting of .1 expands the double octave - increasing the beat rate of the double octave - by one tenth of a beat per second. A negative or minus DOB setting contracts the width of the double octave thereby decreasing the beat rate of the double octave in one tenth beat per second increments. DOB can be used where ever more or less stretch is needed. DOB is a feature found on the Sanderson Accu-Tuner III and IV. Continue reading
FAC Tuning Tweaks
This article addresses the potential 'Tenor' partial change issue found in all FAC Tunings, and describes a method for checking and correcting it. Continue reading
Sanderson Accu-Tuners III & IV and the Piano Librarian Software
The Piano Librarian (MIDI SATs)/ Piano Manager (USB SAT IV) Software is the ‘connection’ between the SAT III or IV and the computer. Without this software for your SAT, the only way to enter a ‘non-FAC’ tuning into the… Continue reading
SAT IV Users:
The SAT IV has more than double the memory of the earlier SATs. The SAT IV actually has 4 separate memory 'areas', for 4 different groups of tunings.
Pages 1-120 are exactly like the older SAT IIIs. They can be written to or written over, can be saved to a file, and sent back and forth from SAT to the Piano Librarian Program - Piano Librarian to SAT.
Pages 121 - 140 contain special pages used for storing sequences, temperaments, custom pitch raise amounts, Exam pages, and so on.
Pages 141-309 contain tunings provided by Inventronics. These Inventronics tunings, are 'protected' and cannot be lost, altered, damaged, or written over. But they can be tweaked with DOB, copied and pasted, &c.
Pages 310-589 we refer to as the 'upper memory'. These 279 pages of upper memory are available for us to use. Continue reading
Excel (Spreadsheet) Tuning Organization
For those without Accu-Tuners, or for those with older Accu-Tuners without the Piano Librarian software, the download package may still be of interest. In addition to the tuning files in the .sat format, the download package also contains the templates in the Excel Spreadsheet format, for opening with Excel or any other spreadsheet program.
Continue reading
Accu-Tuner Sales
The Accu-Tuner allows the technician to become as involved as he wants in the tuning process. The Accu-Tuner is a sophisticated and accurate pitch measuring device,
Piano Tuner Customers Say:
Bob, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the tuning job was, I never heard the piano sound better, either I am getting older and cannot hear or you are getting better, I think it is the latter. ...
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. . . the piano sounds great!
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Thank you, Bob, for the fabulous job you did with our piano. It sounds wonderful! Regards, Meryl Wade
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Thank you so much. We feel really grateful to have you keeping our piano in working condition. It's so nice to have someone we can trust and who always does such a great job.
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Bob, I have owned the 1904 upright you recently tuned for over 50 years. I don't know what magic you did, but I must compliment you! My sturdy old friend has never sounded better in all the years I have owned...
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Hi Bob. Thank you so much for the exceptional job you did tuning my husband's old piano back on February 13th. He was thrilled and it sounds just gorgeous now! Best, Janet Mabon
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Thank you so much, Robert, for the wonderful job you did tuning my very old upright grand piano. Stopped playing long enough to write this review. You worked a miracle and what a thrill to hear those rich...
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Just a note regarding my Schimmell grand piano. It sounds fantastic and bell like with very pure tone just like when I bought it. I played it quite a bit this weekend and as you noted one hears every note....
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Good morning Bob.......Thank you for sending the excellent report. It is well written, thorough and....well, perfect! You have mucho expertise when it comes to pianos.....we were lucky to have such a person....
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Very professional. . . . .
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My Hamilton console piano had not been tuned for over 6 years and moved from humid South Carolina to dry Tucson. So I called a friend, who plays the contemporary music at our church, and he immediately recommended Bob...
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Bob did the best job possible tuning my piano which I had neglected for five years I am ashamed to admit. Thanks Bob it sounds awesome....
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Bob, I just wanted to thank you again for all you did for my little Steinway. Even I sound good now, and that is not an easy task !! Thanks again, Jaynie Kane
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Bob, I am so pleased with my (sounds like new) piano. I have been playing it for the past hour and am just delighted. It sounds SO much better. Notes that didn't resonate before that were supposed to...
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I acquired a Yamaha Concert Grand CFIIIS in March of 2011. It had been part of the Artists Reserve unit at the Yamaha facility in CA and had been used for concert work for a period of about 10 years....
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Hey Bob- Again, thank you so much for your professionalism, advice and honesty in handling this for me. I wouldn't have done this without your help. Ray Barber, Riverside CA
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Thanks for all your help.
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Bob, My wife is deeply pleased with the performance of our Kawai as a direct result of your skills. I just stood near the piano and luxuriated in 'Porgy & Bess'. Thank you. Your concern has made a difference...
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Hi Bob, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the Steinway at the church sounds. I have been enjoying practicing and playing it. I can't thank you enough ~ it sounds beautiful! I just wanted to let you know, I...
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It never sounded this good!
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