Jon Murphy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:

> Bringing it back to the lute, your
> ear is the best tuning device. 

Arguable.

Yes, some humans ear will be the ultimate judge, but, diffreent ears 
have different preferences, and, frankly, the human ear isnt capable of 
hearing the differences between close tones without using tricks like 
difference tone beats.  Even with those tricks, one has to correctly 
implement whatever temperament is to be used.

Some mechanized help is useful, even for experienced tuners.  Strobe-
tuners are prefered by profesional woodwind tuners because they can be 
used in multiple to 'see' several harmonics at once; and they also 'see' 
the pitch at the attack (computerized tuning devices need a small amount 
of time before they can decide on what frequency they are 'seeing', more 
than a few cycles, and this is enough time for a string to lessen its 
excursion by a significant amount, changing pitch from that which it had 
at the attack, not significant for a stringed instrument, but very 
significant for a wind).

Piano tuners who work by ear tend to be more efficient than those who 
work with a machine, but those who work with a machine often get the end 
result just as accuratly.

So, just what did you mean by 'best' anyway?



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