Pianotech

I thought I'd create a new discussion, not on PTG-L.  It would be helpful if there was a function in Higher Logic that could be used to snip a sub-topic and send it to an appropriately newly named subject in a new thread.

So, to continue the last post by Peter Grey, using a tool is just that.  Use it as you will.  My experience is that it helps create really clean unisons.  If you don't want perfect unisons, that's fine.  It doesn't make the tool unusable for other purposes such as tuning in a noisy environment or avoiding variances of mic placement.

Regarding using the tool on spinets and smaller pianos, it can be done with a little extra effort and time.  Most of the problems in tuning spinets is from false beats, and the apps don't do well with them.  The "tool" is helpful filtering out acoustic noises, beyond which you have to adjust the string tuning as needed to get an acceptable result.  I have tuned all kinds of pianos with it, large or small, for the past year.  It is helpful in the higher registers where there are undamped strings and lots of noise.  It can be inserted below the hammers where there are no dampers.

The following post was made on PTG-L but was never published therefore I am reposting here which is more appropriate anyway. This is what Paul M. is referring to in the above:

I would like to interject a correction (or at least clarification):

The Pianosense sensor is a TOOL and nothing more than a tool. It does not produce any form of tuning. The tuner who uses the tool creates the tuning, and it is the tuner who makes these decisions. The sensor DOES NOT create super tight unisons...the tuner does this IF he/she chooses to do so. The tuner can also choose to use the sensor to deliberately "spread" unisons quite accurately if he/she chooses to do so. The tuner can also ANALYZE an existing unison using the sensor if he/she chooses to do so. It is JUST A TOOL (and a good one at that).

A tool is separate from a philosophy of tuning. Equal temperament, unequal temperament, tight unisons, spread unisons are all PHILOSOPHIES of tuning (a.k.a. OPINIONS). These opinions have been around for a long time and will not go away since they are opinions (not necessarily fact as far as best practice).

Mark C., it may interest you to know that extremely tight unisons can in fact be tuned aurally (without the sensor). I learned how to do this over 40 years ago from the late Orman Pratt, RPT (and if you don't believe me just ask Rick Butler, RPT who also learned it from him). So there is nothing new here other than the means to use an ETD to produce the same thing.

Steve N. and I have had numerous discussions and debates on these issues. We do not agree on everything as we both have strong opinions on the matters. However what we DO NOT DO is belittle one another, or call each other names, or impute wrong motives or scientific ineptitude toward one another when we disagree. We just table it for another time and another discussion. Over time we have both learned things from each other and have altered SOME viewpoints (not all) on things as a result. We have found a way to communicate even when we disagree, without being disagreeable. It takes effort and understanding to do so. I believe that others can do the same IF THEY CHOOSE to do so. I hope they do.



Peter Grey Piano Doctor

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------