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Topic: Matching tuning to BIAB or Power Tracks |
Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 23 Nov 2005 9:15 am |
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In both PT and BIAB there is an electronic tuner. When I check my tuning using a regular tuner (and being in tune) to any of these in the program I am about -12 cents off. If I generate a tone from the program and check it against my tuner it is right on.
Should I be concerned about this?
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 23 Nov 2005 12:23 pm
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Have you checked the calibration of your tuner?
Since the same internal PC clock is used as the reference for both the tuner display and the tone generation I would think they would be the same (maybe not exactly on, but if they are off both would be off the same amount).
The first thing to do, is check the calibration of your tuner, if it has a calibration option, or make sure it's set to "440" if it has options for different frequency references. 12 cents is approximately 3 Hz.
If your tuner is set for 440 and/or calibrated, borrow a tuner from someone else and see how they compare. |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 23 Nov 2005 12:31 pm
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I checked the tuner to the tone generated from the tuner in BIAB and it was right on.
Since this is the only tuner I have I will have to find another one to check. It seems interesting that both programs are exactly the same. I just don't want to tune p to the program and them be sharp when recording.
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 24 Nov 2005 4:39 am
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I checked this again with a different tuner last night and the outcome was the same.
Has anyone else ever noticed this?
Do you think it is possible that the sound card is changing the pitch? |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2005 5:28 am
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Gary, I always tune with my tuner(Kork DTR-1) before I play with biab. Although I never checked biab tones with my tuner, it sounds in tune to me. If it was 12c off I am sure I would notice it.
Although I am not sure,it seems that I remember biab being capable of tuning to 440 or to concert pitch (442?). Does anyone know if this could be the problem?
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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 24 Nov 2005 6:17 am
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Since you are getting the difference in two different programs, remotely it could be a hardware issue.
Basically, the audio card just reproduces what it's told. If other music or sounds are in pitch then it's doubtful that the sound card would be the issue. If you play a CD, on the PC, that you know is "in tune" and play along with that with your steel that is "in tune" with the tuner, see if there is a difference with the CD.
12 cents (3Hz) is a major difference. There can be 1 or 2 cent differences but not 12 cents.
What kind of PC do you have, what operating system and what sound card? |
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 24 Nov 2005 7:28 am
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I am running a pretty new HP laptop with Pentium 4 and xp pro. The sound card is a Creative Sound Blaster.
When I play along after tuning with my regular tuner is sounds ok. I have not tried to tune up to the program tuner until I figure out why is is so far off.
I can adjust the BIAB tuner up or down in 1 cent increments.
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2005 9:34 am
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BIAB and Power Tracks Pro both use your computer's internal MIDI synth to create the sounds you hear. There's no guarantee that their internal tuner is in tune with that synth.
Maybe PG Music's tuner is set to A=442 Hz, and the MIDI synth output is set to A=440 Hz.
I've never used the BIAB/PTP tuner. I wouldn't trust it to be in tune with the computer's MIDI synth unless I'd tested it first.
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 Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com
System Administrator
My Blog |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2005 11:41 am
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After a little research, I found that biab CAN tune the pitch of the sounds in your sound card. On the menu at the top of the page, click "GM",then click "master tuning". You will see an option to "reset to A 440". There is also an option to tune (+) or (-) a selected number of "cents". I would try a reset to A 440 and check your tuning. If necessary, you can finetune the pitch.
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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar
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Gary Boyett
From:
Colorado
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Posted 25 Nov 2005 4:58 pm
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I did check the master tuning (both programs have it) and that is what started the question. If I tune to the program will I be off on regular tuning?
I have since recorded a few songs and they seem to be fine. I may be tone deaf but I think if I just tune to the tuner and not the program I will be alright. The more I look into this I think my soundcard is changing the pitch. |
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