Contents

Introduction

Menu Command Summary

Chromatic Tuner

Spectrum

Reference tone

Ear Training

How to use Tune!It

Trouble shooting

How to register


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 sound card.

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.

Additionally Tune!It includes a melodic ear training facility which you can use to improve your musical listening skills.


Menu Command Summary

File menu :

 - open WAV file

open and processes a  WAV file

 - Exit

exit Tune!It

Settings menu :

Change or adjust adjust Tune!It’s settings

Help menu :

 - How to register

Displays registration information

 - Register

Displays registration dialog

 - About

Shows program information


File menu

Open WAV file

Exit


Open WAV file command (File menu)

This command allows you to open a WAV file and use it as input to Tune!It instead of the signal coming through the sound card . The WAV file may contain some prerecorded sounds you would like to explore in more detail.

After a WAV file has been selected, Tune!It will read the file and display the results in either the chromatic tuner or spectrum  mode. Once the WAV file has been processed, Tune!It will automatically switch to sound card input .

Note :

The sound card input is switched off during WAV file processing.


Exit command (File menu)

Closes Tune!It and saves your current settings.


Settings menu

Tune!It's settings can be changed or adjusted in the following areas :

General Settings

Reference tone Settings

Spectrum Settings

Ear Training settings


Help menu

How to register

Register

About


About command (Help menu)

Displays current program information such as version number, shareware or registered version.


About Dialog box


General Settings

Frequency of A

Calibration

Instrument key

Sampling Rate

Resolution

Frequency range

Tuner Sensitivity

Response Time


Chromatic Tuner

This is the default mode which is used for fine tuning . The chromatic tuner can be activated by clicking on the Tuner button.

The chromatic tuner detects  the pitch of the input signal and displays the corresponding note and it's deviation from standard tuning (based on A = 440 Hz and using the equal temperment). The note will be highlighted in red and its deviation is shown in the cent display box 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. The spectrum can be activated by clicking on the Spectrum button.

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. The spectrum can be displayed in 2 or 3 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 display can be interrupted at any time by using the Freeze button.

Note : Requires coprocessor to achieve reasonable real time updates of the graph.


Freeze

Click on the Freeze button to stop Tune!It updating the spectrum. To contine click the spectrum button.


Tuner + Spectrum

This option will display the Chromatic Tuner and the Spectrum in one Window and update both displays at the  same time.

Note : Requires coprocessor to achieve reasonable real time updates of the graph.


Sampling rate

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

Higher sampling rates (22050 or 44100) extend the upper frequency range to 10000 Hz or 20000 Hz and may improve the accuracy in fine tuning.


Resolution

The default is 8 bit resolution. However  16 bit resolution can improve response and accuracy in cases where the input signal is very weak.


Response time

This parameter specifies the time (in milliseconds) between  consecutive updates of the chromatic tuner or spectrum display. Short response time settings result in faster display updates but less accuracy and stability, longer  response time settings result in slower display updates but improved accuracy.

The default and recommended setting is 200ms which should give you about 5 screen updates per second (on a 486 or Pentium).


Sensitivity

This parameter sets the threshold for the signal amplitude in dB. 0 dB corresponds to a amplitude of  8 for 8 bit resolution or 2048  for 16 bit. High sensitivity settings (e.g. -18db) 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.


Frequency of A

The frequency of A defaults to 440 Hz which is the standard.  This can be changed to values between 400 and 500 Hz .


Calibration

Calibration can be specified in percent of a semitone, but should be zero for most sound cards. However some sound cards (especially cheaper clones) do not sample exactly at the specified sampling rate, which can result in pitch readings with a variation of up to +/-15 percent of a semitone.

The calibration can be checked with a tuning fork and adjusted accordingly (e.g. if Tune!It's reading shows -10 percent, set the calibration factor to +10 percent).


Instrument key

This allows you to adjust Tune!It to the key of your instrument e.g. Bb or Eb instruments. No adjustment is done with key ‘C’ which is the concert key (e.g. guitar) .


Spectrum settings

Lower Threshold dB

3D Spectrum

Spectrum Grid


Frequency range

Tune!It can detect frequencies between 20 Hz and 20000  Hz  depending on the selected sampling rate (up to 5000 Hz for 11025, 10000 Hz for 22050) . The frequency range can be limited in order to speed up processing and guarantee correct readings. The upper frequency should only be set as high as needed (e.g. for tuning the open strings of a guitar 600 Hz as an upper frequency limit is fully sufficient). Settings of the lower frequency have no impact on processing and affects only the frequency display of the spectrum.

Note :

When showing the spectrum, settings of the upper frequency has an impact on the amount of processing and will therefore affect the update frequency of the spectrum display.  Low settings of the upper frequency range   means less processing and will update the graph faster.


Lower threshold dB

This parameter allows you to set the lower limit for spectrum dB scale in order to exclude/include amplitudes  values below 0 dB ( 0dB corresponds to a spectrum amplitude of  8 for 8 bit resolution or 2048  for 16 bit).


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.


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.

Sine

Midi

Midi patch

Midi channel

Volume

Octave

Repeate Rate

Note :

If you can’t hear the reference tone, change the Midi channel to 12 .


Sine

If Sine is selected, Tune!It will produce a sine reference tone using the wave component of your sound card.

However, you cannot tune at the same time. During a Sine reference tone Tune!It's stops recording.


Midi

When Midi is selected, Tune!It will produce a Midi reference tones. You can select different instruments in the Midi patch combo box.


Midi channel

Allows you to change the channel used by your synthesizer . The default is channel 0 which should work in most cases.

Use channel 12 if channel 0 does not work.


Volume

Sets the volume ( Midi velocity) of the reference tone to a value between 0 and 127.


Octave

Sets the octave of the reference tone to a value between 1 and 8. Octave 4 starts with the middle C on the piano.


Midi patch

Specifies the instrument/sound to be used for the Midi reference tone (has no effect when Sine is selected).


Repeat Rate

This parameter determines how quickly the reference tone will be repeated which is useful for midi patches with decaying signals. The repeat rate is specified in beats per minute (e.g. 60 means a repeat every second, 0 no repeats at all).


Custom Tuning

Custom tuning is a feature where Tune!It steps you through a predefined set of notes which can represent a particular tuning or tuning sequence for an instrument (e.g. open G tuning for guitar). Individual tunings can be created under Custom tuning setting .

When custom tuning is activated, three additional controls will be displayed :

 - tuning name

   name of the currently selected tuning

 - tuning step selection box

   selects any step within the current tuning

 - 'next' button

   used to advance to the next tuning step

The note box display will only show the currently selected note and pitch detection will be focusing on that note only.

Optionally a reference tone can be played during custom tuning.

To exit Custom Tuning, press the ‘Custom’ button again or un-check ‘Custom Tuning’ in the options menu.


Custom Tuning Settings

This feature enables you to create tunings for individual instruments. A tuning consists of a predefined set of notes which represents a particular tuning or tuning sequence for an instrument (e.g. open G tuning for guitar). When Custom tuning is activated, Tune!It will step you through the notes of a tuning.

Each tuning can have up to 128 steps where each step defines a particular note. Any number of tunings can be created.

To select, change or add tunings,  the following controls are available :

Tuning Selection

Tuning Name

Midi Instrument

Tuning Step

Step Name

Note

Octave

New

OK


Tuning Selection

Selects a tuning from a list of existing tunings.

The selected tuning can be changed (steps added or changed) and then saved by using the OK button.


Tuning Name

Name of the currently selected tuning. Use this field to change the name of the current tuning or enter a new tuning name (after pressing 'new').


Midi Instrument

Determines the reference tone to be played during custom tuning. The reference tone can be disabled by selecting 'none' as midi instrument.


Tuning Step

Used to proceed to any step within current tuning.


Tuning Step Name

Description of the current tuning step (e.g. 6th string A).


Note

Defines the note for selected tuning step. Selecting '**' indicates the end the current tuning sequence, which means the previous step was the last step.


Octave

Octave of the current note (Octave 4 starts with the middle C on the piano)


New

Creates a new tuning.

Enter new tuning name, tunings steps and then press OK to save tuning.


OK

Exits out of settings panel after checking  whether settings for current tuning have been changed. If yes, a prompt to save the changes will displayed.


Ear Training

You can use Tune!It’s ear training to improve your musical listening skills. Tune!It’s ear training is melodic, which means it will play random sequences of single notes such as intervals or melodies which you have to recognize and repeat using your instrument.

To begin with the ear training, click on the ‘Ear’ button or check ‘Ear training’ in the options menu.

Once in ear training mode, Tune!It will play a random melody and then wait some time (twice the duration of the melody) for you to repeat the notes with your instrument. It will then check whether the notes you played match. If yes, Tune!It will commence with a new test , otherwise it will repeat the current test.

You can also use the ‘skip’ button to abandon the current test and continue with a new test.

To exit ear training, press the ‘Ear’ button again or un-check ‘Ear training’ in the options menu.

There are many options to customize ear training which can be set in Ear training settings .


Ear Training (Settings menu)

You can customize Ear training with the following parameters :

Number of notes

Range

Scale

Key

Tempo

Show first note


Number of notes

Determines the number of notes in the melody. Up to 12 notes can be specified including 1 for single notes and 2 for intervals.


Range

Determines the distance between the potentially lowest and highest note in the melody. The range is expressed in semitones, so 12 means one octave.


Scale

The interval or melody can be constructed out of notes from a specified scale.

The chromatic scale covers all 12 notes of an octave whereas the other scales consist only of 8 or less notes as follows in the key of C :

 - major scale (c,d,e,f,g,a,b)

 - melodic minor (c,d,eb,f,g,a,b)

 - diminished (c,d,eb,f,gb,ab,a,b)

 - augmented   (c,d,e,gb,ab,bb)

 - blues      (c,eb,f,gb,g,bb)

 - pentatonic  (c,d,e,g)


Key

The interval or melody can be constructed out of notes from a specified key or the key itself can be randomly selected.

In combination with the 	Scale parameter one could e.g. practice only intervals from the C major scale.

Note : A non-random key can only be specified if the selected scale is not chromatic.


Tempo

Specifies how fast the melody is being played. Tempo is specified in beats per minute. This also effects the time for you to repeat the notes, as Tune!It waits for twice the duration of the melody before it repeats or plays the next melody.


Show first note

Check this if you want Tune!It to highlight the first note of the melody.


How to use Tune!It

Make sure your microphone or instrument lead is properly

connected to the sound card. Use line input for electrical guitars or any pre-amplified signals, otherwise use microphone input. Set the recording level for microphone or line input to high (usually adjustable in mixer).

Start up Tune!It by clicking on Tune!It's icon . Tune!It's

Chromatic Tuner panel will be displayed. A red status indicator in the left hand corner indicates  that Tune!It is ready for tuning.

Play a note on your instrument or sing a note and you should see the note highlighted and it's accuracy displayed in percent in form of a floating red rectangle.

Play a Reference tone by clicking on any of the green note boxes.

If you want to see the Spectrum simply click on the spectrum button.


Trouble shooting

If Tune!It does not respond to your input signals, check the following:

- Is microphone level of your soundcard (usually adjustable in mixer) up high ?

- If the input signal is very weak (e.g acoustic guitar), increase Tune!It's sensitivity (low dB setting) until you get a response and/or select 16 bit resolution.

- Can you record with any other standard Windows Wave recording program (e.g. WaveEdit) ?

If Tune!It shows readings from background noise, adjust

Tune!It's sensitivity to a higher dB value until the background noise is eliminated. Alternatively turn the microphone level down.

If you can’t hear the reference tone, change Midi channel to 12 in the reference tone settings.


Register command (Help menu)

Displays dialog box to register Tune!It.


Register Dialog

Type in your registration name and number extactly as shown on your registration confirmation. After hitting OK all shareware reminders will be disabled.


How to register (Help menu)

By registering this program you will receive a registration number which will turn your shareware version into a fully functional registered version. The 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)

plus A$5.00 if a disk has to be mailed.

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$ 18.00

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.