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I have uploaded Build 33.

*** Please update if you are using Build 32 ***
*** For now please use Auto Semitone or Manual. Auto A0-C7 is under revision ***

In this build:

Bug fixed, that would cause Clear Display option to be set to On whenever Settings screen is opened.

Improved Spinner/Indicator response and stability.

Something made a huge difference with the spinner today for the better!

Even using the legacy mode, I was able to move through a whole tuning without changing any settings.

Nice!

What's your recommendation when a string's iH constant is way out of range even with remeasuring? I had one piano where the treble terminations were so bad to make it impossible to get a clear tone. Most, the app did fine, but there were a couple that didn't fit the curve by a lot! Leave it blank? Leave what the app measured?

Ron Koval

I have uploaded Build 35.(skipped build 34)

It fixes a bug in Build 33 that might cause a measurement error.
***Please update to Build 35***

Ron,

Thank you for the update.
I have made some improvements in the stability of the display.
Glad that it worked well.

My recommendation would be to leave what the app measured. Leaving blank might produce an error in the calculations.
I have seen a similar IH measurement even on a Yamaha C3X where one note in the treble was way out of the curve.

EDIT: Please use Auto Semitone or Manual. I am working on the Auto A0-C7.

What do you think about a "fit to curve" option when faced with a way out of norm iH constant? The piano that was crazy this morning was using build 33, so that could be part of the issue.

Ron Koval

The Legacy mode was not affected by the bug in Build 33. But other modes might have had some errors in frequency measurements. So yes, Build 33 might have been the cause for the craziness.
IH measurements was not affected by the bug though.

I have to look into it whether I can implement a curve fit. Thank you for the suggestion.

I have uploaded Build 36.

This build increases the response of the spinner and indicator.

***Please update to Build 36***

Note: Please use Auto Semitone or Manual. A0-C7 is being revised.

Uploaded Build 37.

This build has improvements to display response.

Note: Please use Auto Semitone or Manual. A0-C7 is being revised.

Worked well today. The only new thing I played with was the auto partial setting. I had it set to "on", but on the Wurlitzer upright, that caused the display to jump +/- up to 10 cents as the partials changed.

I would think that if the iH constant represented the string that it shouldn't matter what partial is used to drive the spinner?

I'll leave it off for now.

Ron Koval

Ron, thank you for the update.

I am with you on the partial thing. It should not matter.

Which build were you using?

Build 37

The iH graph looked reasonable enough going down into the auto partial range. The display shifting was mirrored by the partial number changing, which led me to question the auto partial setting.

Ron Koval

Everything seemed to work fine - just one piano today. Even with the lawn service outside, the spinner was both responsive enough and stable enough for tuning.

If it is important to set baseline noise levels for the app before tuning, maybe something should change on the screen until the display is ready - I think you are already working on that?

One of the things I like to check on any tuning app is if the display is stable and precise enough to allow for tuning each of the three strings of a treble unison alone and end up with a clear sound. PiaTune has gotten so much better with the recent changes to allow for this. (Important especially for aging techs to keep the top octave under control)

Ron Koval

Ron, thank you for the update.

Yes I am thinking of displaying a message for one second when main screen appears; on launch, returning back from another screen or when the app is called from background, to reset the levels.

Would you prefer a brief message that closes by itself or a message with a close button?

Also, please note that, disabling and enabling the mic will reset the levels any time. For instance, if the noise level increases for some reason, you can tap the mic off and on to reset the levels.

I am glad that the display is working well.

Could you please give details on display settings you are using:

Is spinner in smooth mode or not?

Are you using spinner or indicator when tuning high treble strings of a unison one by one, and in which mode?

Is Clear Display On Decay active or not?

A message that closes by itself would be best for me.

The settings I had today and have been using the last few days - indicator/needle/medium, smooth spinner off, spinner arcs fast, closeness indicator on, clear display off. Mic auto level on

The needle gives me the best feel for tuning - I use the +/-25 cents range for fine tuning. While I like the idea of the log scale, it ends up being a little too jumpy to depend on for fine work except for very few pianos. I've always preferred an indicator over a spinner. I know many others prefer a spinner.

Ron Koval

Ron, thank you for the feedback.

I have uploaded Build 38.

In this version:

A brief message is displayed each time main screen appears, indicating that noise level is being measured.

Auto A0-C7 might be tested. It is still in development phase though.

Testing overpull auto semitone.

A few overpull mis-measurements in the bass strings - 2nd octave or so. Easily fixed with a tap to remeasure if a tech is paying attention. Not sure if it was hearing an echo of the previous note - this was a small pitch adjustment on an aeolian spinet. Most notes were targeting 1-2 cents above pitch. Mis-measurements came in 5-15 cents above pitch.

It could also be a random string being pulled a little too high above pitch triggering the next note?

I'll stick to manual mode for bass strings for now.

Again, very good tuning in spite of the wonky scale displayed by the iH graph. I ended up using the Spn-4:2 -3:1 after some tuning testing of just the A's to find an acceptable ladder of octaves.

Have you run any comparison tests of M3rds from C3-A4 on difficult scales vs. some of the other tuning apps?

Ron Koval

Ron, thank you for the update.

Over pull and auto note switching needs some care. As you would recall, initially over pull mode was allowing manual mode only. I will try to make it safer in auto semitone mode.

Glad that the tuning worked well on an aeolian spinet.

No, I have not compared M3rds with other apps.

In measure beats screen, you can show the theoretical beat rates calculated.

You can also measure actual beat rates of M3, M6 and M10 intervals. Just make sure to play the intervals with single strings muting other strings of the M3, M6 or M10 interval.

Tested the beat measuring - nice!

Auto A0-C7 seemed to work fine.

Tried log scale with smoothing on and that helped the display a lot on a couple of grands.

You mentioned the user control for resetting the level is to turn the mic off and on - perhaps another message flash to remind us not to play anything right away?

Ron Koval

Ron, thank you for the update.

I have uploaded Build 39, which displays a message when mic is turned off and on.

Just to make sure if understand correctly, do you mean to set Indicator Response to Slow mode when using log scale to smooth the display more?

No. I felt that the log scale made the needle a little too jumpy to use on most pianos. Maybe some with really clear and stable tone?

So today I tried the log scale again, but turned on "smooth spinner" in the display settings. I was still on medium for the indicator response. Didn't try slow indicator response.

Ron Koval