Tuner Calibration

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apl

apl

Stand Up Comity
I've got StroboSoft which is way cool. It's more accurate than I can tune the guitars. I noticed that it didn't quite agree with my handheld tuner, or the tuner in the FX box, or something else, maybe the POD XT Live. It didn't even agree with itself; it would be a little bit different depending on what soundcard it was using. I talked to some calibration guys about a frequency standard and it occured to us that the 60 Hz line is pretty precise because power networks need to stay in sync. It's also easy to get the hum into the guitar cable.

So I am reporting that using the Saffire instrument input and setting the StroboSoft on frequency I get 59.99 ~ 60.04 Hz for hum. Not too shabby at all. I'll post some others when I get a chance.
 
It's interesting that so little has been published on this issue. I've been in bands where each player tuned to his own tuner, with the result that the instruments were clearly not in tune with each other. In addition, every tuner has different tolerances as to what it considers "in tune" which can make it a challenge to set intonation with some of them.

I have a Peterson VSII that I use to set intonation, and it seems to be pretty consistent, but I wouldn't even try with some of my lesser tuners.
 
Didn't we do this to death a while back?

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=262162&highlight=StroboSoft+callibration

As I've always said you don't need or even want a tuner to get you guitar in tune or get the intonation right. What you need is a single and reliable reference note and a little knowledge on how the guitar is tuned and the temperament it is played in.

Sure you can tune every string to a strobe tuner or a handheld tuner or what ever you like but you are not going to be "in tune" when you've done it.

Here are those links again.;)

Equal Temperament and Guitar tuning

GAL guitar tuning article. There are other ways but this is probably the best.
 
One of the first bits of advice I picked up when preparing for home recording was to have everyone use the same tuner.
 
muttley600 said:
Yes really and no the end is not the same.
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Look, I know what I read, and I read that everyone should use the same tuner. You may not agree with that advice buy you cannot change my personal history. :p

And in the tuner the reference note is a quartz crystal which makes for a nice reference. Don't those methods you cited give you EADGBE in equal temperment anyway? My strobe does that, too, and very accurately. And much faster.
 
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apl said:
Look, I know what I read, and I read that everyone should use the same tuner. You may not agree with that advice buy you cannot change my personal history. :p

And in the tuner the reference note is a quartz crystal which makes for a nice reference. Don't those methods you cited give you EADGBE in equal temperment anyway? My strobe does that, too, and very accurately. And much faster.
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You really don't get it do you?
 
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muttley600 said:
As I've always said you don't need or even want a tuner to get you guitar in tune or get the intonation right. What you need is a single and reliable reference note and a little knowledge on how the guitar is tuned and the temperament it is played in.
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What about us poor suckers who weren't blessed by the Big Man with good ears?
 
apl said:
Which part? I understand ET, understand a common reference, what am I missing?
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He's saying take your reference note (like a tuning fork or some such) and then rely on the two big tuners that God gave you (you know, the ones he stuck on either side of your head :D)
 
32-20-Blues said:
He's saying take your reference note (like a tuning fork or some such) and then rely on the two big tuners that God gave you (you know, the ones he stuck on either side of your head :D)
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I'm not opposed to that, but I don't see it as superior to a strobe. It's not as fast for me.

But I could do a study to see how good these ears are at getting perfect unison.
 
apl said:
I'm not opposed to that, but I don't see it as superior to a strobe. It's not as fast for me.

But I could do a study to see how good these ears are at getting perfect unison.
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Me neither, it takes me ages.
 
When I get to be dubious about my Strobe's calibration, I hold an A 440 tuning fork up to an electric guitars pickup, and adjust accordingly. Mind you, it almost never needs any adjustment, but every now and then a tweak of a couple thousandths of a cent is needed.


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