MuseBook Tuner 2.2 - User Guide and FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions - MuseBook Tuner

1. What is Pitch Detection Technology?
   Pitch Detection Technology is described as a technology which recognizes base frequence from a monophonic sound - sound with one instrument voice. This technology has been studied for long and shown some advancements. However detecting live sound while it is performed still has a long way to go. Errors in real-time pitch detection lie in i) possibility of picking up background noise, ii) unpredictable sound captured in onset/end of sound, iii) difficulty difficulty of post error correction as the detection process is done in real-time. Besides, different characteristics in waveform and frequency spectrum of each instrument adds far more difficulties. However, AMuseTec's real-time pitch detection technology is proprietary! and the most advanced! Based on this technology, our software detects a tone from microphone or other input source in real-time and displays the result within the minimal error range.
   
   MuseBook Tuner recognizes sound input, displays current pitch frequency in real-time and does fine tuning. Besides, to reduces possible errors in detection and have better results, MuseBook Tuner distinguishes tuning mode depends on sound characterics such as PIANO(pinao), GUITAR(plucked strings) and GENERAL(the other instruments). Apart from plucked strings and piano, you are recommended to use GENERAL MODE, even for your voice.
   
   
2. How can I know my compass of vocal with MuseBook Tuner?
   For those who want to be a good vocalist, MuseBook Tuner can be a help to check the compass of your vocal. As MuseBook Tuner shows the current pitch of your voice, you can know how high or low sound you can emit.
   1. Set Intrument Mode as GENERLAL.
   2. Set the Tuning Mode as CHROMATIC.
   3. Fix a microphone and try not to touch it. Low frequency from the body can be included as noise.
   4. Your note is displayed on MuseBook Tuner.
   "Reference C" for men after puberty is C3. For Men before puberty or woman is C4. If you can sing from G2 to G4, then your voice has 2 octave range.
   
   
3. Can MuseBook Tuner detect pitch of accompaniment?
   No, unfortunately it doesn't. Detecting one instrument with overlapping notes, for example pop songs, concerto or piano solo performance, is not possible. Even a monophonic pitch detection is not perfect at this time. Depends on software that you use, there are some differences in percentage of accuracy. (Mostly the errors occur in octave recognition.) Considering current achievements, so called polyphonic pitch detection is not possible at the moment and may take a few years. MuseBook Tuner uses AMuseTec's propritary (monophonic) pitch detection engine and its detection technology is known for doing a better job than its competitors.
   
   
4. Can MuseBook Tuner detect a pitch extracted from an Audio CD or a MP3 file?
   MuseBook Tuner can detect Monophonic Sound. Hence if the audio file is monophonic solo performance, MuseBook Tuner will display the picth on stave with its note syllable and octave number. The easiest way to see pitch information is to play the audio file with your speaker and let the sound goes into microphone. If your soundcard is allowed to send your sound directly to computer, make it do so. This is possible by changing input source through Window Record Control and will result in better accuracy.
   
   
5. How does MuseBook Tuner's tuning meter show the tuning status?
   Information diplayed on the Tuning Meter, Note Display Window and Signal Display Window helps you tune more precisely.
   • TUNING METER : Displays current pitch bias ratio of input sound.
   • NOTE DISPLAY WINDOW : Displays the information of an assigned or detected note. They are note, octave number, and reference frequence of A4 and detected/assigned note.
   • SIGNAL DISPLAY WINDOW : Displays waveform, frequence spectrum, and sound level in dB(decibel) of current input sound in real-time.
   The pitch is in-tune if the tuning meter is in center between -10 and +10 cents with green "IN TUNE" LED on.
   
   
6. What is the difference between Chromatic Tuning Mode and Manual Tuning Mode?
   CHROMATIC TUNING MODE : MuseBook Tuner analyses input signal, and based on the analysis, it assignes the closest note from the input sound as a reference note. Then, it compares both and displays pitch bias.
   
   MANUAL TUNING MODE : You must assign a key on keyboard image as a reference note. MuseBook Tuner compares this with input sound, then shows current pitch bias.
   
   
7. Is the reference frequence of A4 with oboe sound, under Sound Mode, 440Hz?
   Yes, MuseBook Tuner's Standard Pitch Frequency for A4 is 440Hz. The Standard Pitch Frequency is not an absolute value. Different standard pitches have been used at different times and different places. So, this can be calibrated for your use from -600 ~ +600 cents by cent unit.
   
   
8. What is Standard Pitch? and When should I change it?
   Standard Pitch is a universal frequency or note that all instruments are set to. It was necessary to help musicians to play instruments together in harmony. Today's standard pitch is A440. This is not an absolute value so different standard pitches have been used at different times and different places. As it is so, when you play a music composed in the time when standard pitch was not A440, you may be better to tune your instrument according to the value. Also to play with other instruments harmoniously, changing your instrument's standard pitch in accordance with main instrument is advised.