Tuners?

[Jerryleejr]

Just wondering if the tuner apps are as good as a dedicated tuner...

JJ

[bisontuba]

For an iPhone, the app iStroboSoft works great....
Mark

[MartyNeilan]

Korg CA30. One of the best for picking up low instruments. Good condition used on ebay for 11-12 bucks, new around 20. Much prefer it to relying on the voice-quality mic that may be in a phone.

[Jerryleejr]

Korg CA30. One of the best for picking up low instruments. Good condition used on ebay for 11-12 bucks, new around 20. Much prefer it to relying on the voice-quality mic that may be in a phone.

SOLD!

[Jerryleejr]

I like my tuner app better than my "real" tuner, except I can't plug my bass into my phone

for tuba, no contest, the phone wins

There's an adapter...

JJ

[Biggs]

I second both the Korg and iStroboSoft. The app is more convenient in terms of stuff I have to carry, but I've had the same Korg since 2001 and it still works great despite being dropped or smacked on something at least once a week. Plus, I have a weird hang-up about not wanting to look like I'm using my phone in rehearsals.

[BuzzedB]

I like to use my iPhone for a tuner than my Jory that I have but it's always a great backup to have. The best app that I have found is tonal energy. It even has the ability to have a example of a perfectly in tune note from any instrument that they have available on the app. And it can tune equal and just notes as well for interval tuning.

[Rick F]

I like to use my iPhone for a tuner... (snip) The best app that I have found is tonal energy. And it can tune equal and just notes as well for interval tuning.

Huh? How would the tuner app know what chord is being played or where you are in the chord... major or minor (etc) to get 'just intonation'?

[captbill]

For Android phones there is a really good tuner app (free BTW) called PitchLab. It even registers a pedal BBb. It has several different screens to choose from including multi-pitch screens. I suppose the quality of the phone could matter, but it works fine on the Motorola Photon 4G.

Bill

[aqualung]

The only tuner that should be used at rehearsals (and performances) is the one between your ears.

[Biggs]

The only tuner that should be used at rehearsals (and performances) is the one between your ears.

Agreed, but when I'm asked to give a tuning pitch to start rehearsal while the director is staring at a tuner on his stand, I like to be able to see what he sees and adjust accordingly, rather than try to read his mind while he glares indignantly at me.

[aqualung]

The director shouldn't have a tuner on his stand, either.

[MartyNeilan]

The director shouldn't have a tuner on his stand, either.

Why not? That prevents an overly ambitious oboe holder from forcing everyone to an A=443.333

[aqualung]

A443.333 wouldn't be a bad choice if the temperature was in the low 80s. All the wind instruments go flat and sharp at the same rate, because the ambient temperature is the most influential factor in the speed of sound. Figure about 3HZ [in the 440 zone] for every 10 degrees Farenheit.

Conductors rarely know this. And the wind players rarely know this.

So often we find a band outdoors, temp in the 90s, and they are making everybody yank WAY out their tuning slides trying to get down to A440. Sometimes the Tuning Expert with his $19.95 gizmo doesn't even know how to calibrate it to a higher pitch standard.

[Biggs]

The director shouldn't have a tuner on his stand, either.

Okay, but I'll let you be the one to tell him. This is one instance where, as Stanley Baldwin said, "I would rather be an opportunist and float than go to the bottom with my principles around my neck."