Contents

Introduction

Menu Command Summary

Chromatic Tuner

Spectrum

Tile

ON button

OFF button

Sampling Quality

Sampling Period

Tuner Sensitivity

Pitch adjustment

Spectrum frequency range

Spectrum Magnification

3D Spectrum

Spectrum Grid

Reference tone

Defaults

How to use Tune!It


Introduction

Tune!It is an innovative program designed to  tune musical  instruments on a PC using a microphone or directly connecting the instrument (with a pickup)  to the PC's soundcard.

Tune!It automatically detects the pitch of the input signal, highlights the corresponding note and shows its deviation from standard tuning. Optionally the spectrum of the input signal can be displayed from which the harmonics of the signal can be identified.


Menu Command Summary

File :

 - Exit : Closes Tune!It

Settings :

Opens a dialog box containing controls to set tuning

parameters and adjust Tune!It to the PC's  hardware configuration. Tunit!It's default settings should suit

most tuning applications. However the  following parameters can be adjusted :

Sampling Quality

Sampling Period

Tuner Sensitivity

Pitch adjustment

Spectrum frequency range

Spectrum Magnification

3D Spectrum

Spectrum Grid

Reference tone

Defaults

Window :

Shows Tune!It's current active mode (checkmark) and also allows switching between modes  :

 - Chromatic Tuner (default) : fine tuning display

 - Spectrum : shows graph with harmonics

 - Tile : Chromatic Tuner and the Spectrum  together

About :

Contains Info about Tune!It


Chromatic Tuner

This is the default mode which is used for fine tuning . This mode can be selected either by clicking on the Tuner button or via Window menu item.

The chromatic tuner detects  the pitch of the input signal and displays the corresponding note and deviation from standard tuning (based on A = 440 Hz). The note will be highlighted in red and its deviation is shown in percent in form of a floating red rectangle. The note is exactly in tune if the red rectangle shrinks to a line over the 0 percent mark.

Note :  Make sure to play only one note at a time otherwise incorrect readings may occur (e.g. on a guitar plug only one string and mute remaining strings ).


Spectrum

This mode can be used to explore the harmonics of the input signal. This mode can be selected either by clicking on the Spectrum button or via Window menu item.

The spectrum is a graph showing the amplitude of the frequencies contained  in the input signal. The peaks in the graph represent the harmonics of the signal. Optionally the spectrum can be displayed in three dimensions with time as the third dimension (3D Spectrum). The frequency scale also shows the corresponding note scale so that the harmonics can be easily identified. The Spectrum frequency range can be adjusted in the Settings dialog box (refer Menu Command Summary ) .

Note : This mode requires a lot of computation and a 486 with mathematical coprocessor is recommended to achieve reasonable real time updates of the graph.


Tile

This option will display and update the Chromatic Tuner and the Spectrum at the same time. This requires quite a large amount of processing and will need a high end Pentium to give reasonable fast updates of the display.


Defaults

Use this button to show  Tune!It's  default settings. These settings should suit most tuning applications.

Note : Press OK to have the default settings take effect. Press Cancel to bring back your current settings.


Sampling quality

Tune!It defaults to sampling rate 11025 and resolution 8 which is sufficient for most applications.

Higher sampling rates (22050 or44100) extend the upper frequency range to 10000 Hz or 20000 Hz and may improve the accuracy in fine tuning.

Resolution 16 bit should be selected in cases where the input signal is very weak.


Sampling period

This parameter determines the time and therefore amount of samples to be processed between consecutive updates of the

chromatic tuner or spectrum display. Short sampling periods mean less accuracy but faster display update, higher sampling periods improved accuracy and slower display update.


Tuner Sensitivity

This paramater sets the thresholds for the signal amplitude

and signal quality. High sensitivity settings cause the tuner to detect and process very  weak signals, however this may cause some false readings during signal pauses.

Note : Settings of this parameter affect only the Chromatic Tuner.


Pitch Adjustment

This parameter will adjust the pitch of tuner up to one semitone up or down (+/- 100 percent). This may be required for individual tuning.


Spectrum Frequency range

The spectrum can display frequencies between 20 Hz and 20000  Hz  depending on the selected sampling rate (up to 5000 Hz for 11025, 10000 Hz for 22050) . Settings of the upper frequency range have an effect of the  amount of processing and will therefore affect the update frequency of the spectrum.  Lowering the high frequencies  means less processing and will update the graph faster.


Spectrum Magnification

With this parameter the amplitude of the spectrum graph can be enlarged . Increase this parameter for weak signals.


Spectrum Grid

Uncheck this box to remove the spectrum grid. This may be necessary to avoid strong screen flickering when the spectrum is updated very fast.


3D Spectrum

This feature shows a three dimensional view of the Spectrum (with time as a third dimension) which resembles a 'musical landscape' building up over time. The drawing  will be completely refreshed once the spectrum window has been filled up.


ON / OFF Button

Clicking the ON button activates the tuner, which will cause the input signal to be processed constantly and the results to be displayed on the screen depending on the currently  selected mode.

Clicking the OFF button deactivates the tuner.

Note : The tuner should be deactivated before switching to another application.


Reference Tone

A reference tone can be produced by clicking on any of the green note boxes using the left mouse button. To switch off the tone click the left mouse button again. The volume and the Octave of the reference tone can be adjusted to individual needs.

Note : A reference tone can only be generated when the tuner is deactivated (OFF) .


How to use Tune!It

Make sure your microphone or instrument lead is properly

connected to the soundcard.

Select either Chromatic Tuner (default) or Spectrum from the options menu.

Activate the tuner by clicking the ON button.

Fine tune your instrument selecting the Chromatic Tuner or explore the harmonics selecting the Spectrum.

Deactivate the tuner by clicking the OFF button .


How to register

By registering this program you will receive a registration number which will turn your copy into a registered version  which has full functionality. This registration number will also enable you to download and use any future minor releases of Tune!It. Furthermore you will get support and notice of any future major upgrades.

Registering Tune!It is A$20.00 (Australian dollars).

Methods of payment :

 - by Credit Card

I accept Visa, MasterCard and BankCard (BankCard only in Australia and New Zealand).

Credit Card details can be sent by Mail or eMail .

 - by cheque or (international) money order

 - via CompuServe's Shareware Registration forum (GO SWREG)

       Author :          D Volkmer

       Compuserve ID :   100231,2234

       Program Title :   TUNE!IT

       Registration ID : 5445

       Registration Fee : US$ 15.00

Mail address :

Volkmer's MusoWare

5 Forbes Place

Allambie Heigths NSW 2100

     AUSTRALIA

eMail address :

- dvolkmer@zeta.org.au

Note : Your mail address name will be used to generate the registration number. If you would like to have your registered copy in a different name, please let me know.