Showing posts with label ear training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ear training. Show all posts

7/05/2012

Peterson VS-F StroboFlip Virtual Strobe Tuner Review

Peterson VS-F StroboFlip Virtual Strobe Tuner
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This is a great tuner. I wouldn't buy it to use on stage or in any playing situation, but doing intonation work as a guitar tech it works flawlessly. I run the Guitar Repair Institute and this little device is standard issue for every student that walks through our door.

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1/18/2012

SmartScore X Piano Edition Review

SmartScore X Piano Edition
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I purchased SmartScore X Piano Edition to transpose church orchestra clarinet/french horn/oboe sheet music so that it could be played on an alto saxophone. The scan feature worked reasonably well on one piece of original sheet music with a high contrast - there were only a few errors that were readily correctible. The transposition and printing worked well. But SmartScore X did not acceptably scan a copy of sheet music that apparently had less contrast - there were so many errors that it was not really correctible.

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1/12/2012

ALFRED Teach Yourself to Play Piano CD-ROM: Deluxe Edition (Windows/Macintosh) Review

ALFRED Teach Yourself to Play Piano CD-ROM: Deluxe Edition (Windows/Macintosh)
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I guess they misrepresented the product listed for the price listed. However, they rapidly credited my purchase so no harm no foul. The only reason I state one star is because I had to pick one. Since I didn't receive anything I couldn't really rate it.

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11/04/2011

Korg OT-120 Wide 8 Octave Chromatic Orchestral Tuner Review

Korg OT-120 Wide 8 Octave Chromatic Orchestral Tuner
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I purchased this for tuning my violin and piano, assuming it would do a great job on the violin (it does) but was wary of how it would work on the piano. I had been using a Peterson Virtual Stobe tuner for years, using standard piano-tuning techniques and equipment, and preferred tuning to a strobe rather than to a needle or LEDs. But battery leakage had put my VS out of commission. With the Peterson VS having its own imperfections, and a new one now running 3-4 times the cost of the Korg OT-120, I decided to give the Korg a try. (I also purchased the clip mike just in case its built-in mike balked at some of the overtones on my older piano.) I now use the Korg OT-120 regularly, not only to tune my piano and violin, but also as a practicing aid for the violin. It's very responsive and useful in verifying that I'm hitting pitch. After a few months of use I can say that the Korg OT-120 has exceeded my expectations for ease-of-use, value, and effectiveness for tuning my violin and piano, and for practice (strings). The tone generator is useful for ear training as well as for tuning. The display is smaller than I'm used to on the Peterson, but then again the Korg is much more portable. The clip microphone has come in handy for tuning some of the trickier strings at the lower and higher octaves, but I don't need to use it very often. Although I prefer the strobe for how it linearly visualizes pitch adjustment, it took less than half a tuning session to re-adapt to a needle/LED style display. Note: The Peterson has a larger number of tuning temperments than the Korg, so if you're tuning for early music make sure to review the temperments available on the Korg before buying. Nor can you store custom temperments on it.

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Tune string and wind instruments in a flash with the OT-120, a new band and orchestral tuner that combines the accuracy of needle-type meters with superior functionality, wide tuning range and a new, sleek vertical design.

Vertical Design and Superior Visibility The Korg OT-120 chromatic band and orchestral tuner is intended for orchestral instruments, packing precise performance and sophisticated functionality in a vertical design that's easy to hold and operate. The Korg OT-120 features a dual-display, an easy-to-see needle-type indicator and a backlit LCD screen that shows the battery life, sound output level, calibration, as well as key and note name. Additional design features include a large dial that makes it easy to select the desired mode, soft-touch buttons and a rear-mounted stand that lets the band and orchestral tuner stand by itself. A sophisticated silver aluminum panel contributes to its sleek, new look.
Accurately Tune Orchestral Instruments Over a Wide Range Since we developed the world's first meter-type tuner in 1975, the accuracy of Korg tuners has made them the choice of artists in all styles of music. With its wide tuning range extending from A0 to C8, the OT-120 lets you quickly tune any type of band instrument including, orchestra, wind, string, brass or piano. The Korg OT-120 also provides a wide range of calibration to support concert pitches in a range of 349-499 Hz (1 Hz steps).
Smooth and Precise Tuning This band and orchestral tuner uses a high-precision needle-type meter to accurately indicate any pitch discrepancy. The speed at which the needle responds to the input can be changed over a range of three steps; you can choose fast, medium or slow speeds to match your tuning preference.
You can also choose from two tuning modes; Auto mode, which automatically detects the pitch of a single note you play on your instrument, or Manual mode, which lets you specify the desired note name. In Manual mode, the needle movement is shown in a range of 50 cents, letting you view the tuning discrepancy over a wide range. In addition to the excellent visibility unique to a needle-type meter, the LEDs located below the meter also indicate pitch deviation or a perfect match, making precise tuning easy even in dim locations.
Sound Back Mode for Tuning String or Wind Instruments The OT-120 produces a reference tone in a five-octave range extending from C2 (65.41 Hz) to C7 (2093 Hz). You can switch the output level in two stages. The large speaker allows for more volume while not being obstructed even when using the stand, ensuring that the reference tone is clearly audible.
The OT-120 also provides Korg's proprietary Sound Back mode. This mode lets you connect an optional CM-100L contact microphone to the input jack, and automatically make the OT-120's speaker produce a reference tone for the note that is closest to the input pitch you play on your instrument. The meter will also indicate the input pitch, letting you tune using your eyes as well as your ears for greater accuracy--and also providing a great way to train your sense of pitch.
Support for Transposing Instruments and Historical Temperaments For conveniently tuning any wind instrument, twelve types of transposing keys are provided in this band and orchestral tuner, including both sharps and flats. The Multi Temperament function provides eight presets that cover the most popular historical temperaments often used with period instruments. These are also ideal for checking unique temperaments used in classical music.
Long Battery Life The OT-120 is designed for an extended battery life of approximately 100 hours when running on two AAA batteries. It can also be used with an AC adaptor (sold separately).
Soft Case Included A durable, suede-tone soft case is included. Korg band and orchestral tuners purchased from a Korg USA authorized dealer now have a three year warranty.
What's in the Box Korg OT-120 Orchestral Tuner, Soft Case, Two AAA Batteries, Owner's Manual

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9/21/2011

Grover-Trophy Pitchpipe Piano Tuning Hammers Square Head Review

Grover-Trophy Pitchpipe Piano Tuning Hammers Square Head
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The treading that connects the head to the handle striped rather quickly. A little J-B Weld fixed that. Other than that it's a solid tool.
J-B Weld 8265-S Cold Weld

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8/28/2011

EarMaster 5 Review

EarMaster 5
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I love this software. I'm a pretty crappy guitarist who decided to go back to the basics and learn some music theory (which I'm doing via the "absolutely understand guitar" DVD set by Scotty West -- I recommend that product as well -- the presenter has a tendency to ramble and excessively repeat himself but ultimately the material is solid and a lot of things are starting to click so it was worth hanging in there). Anyway, this software is a perfect complement to your music theory studies. I think that unless you're just lucky to be born with a natural talent, you're going to need some dictation of intervals, chords, scales, and rhythm to atune your ear to how they sound. Playing it on your own instrument isn't as effective because you can't help using your eyes and fingers as a crutch. With this software, you have nothing but your ears to find the answer.
Some small nits to pick, which I'm writing here hoping that emedia will read this and include in its next upgrade: (1) the sounds are pretty crappy and hardly like the instruments they're supposed to represent. I'd rather get a choice of three instruments (say, piano, violin and steel string acoustic guitar) that sound realistic than 60+ crappy MIDI ones. (2) I wish an exercise were included that helps you train absolute pitch. For this, I think the Deburgh method is good. It starts by playing two notes (Eb and F#) and you have to listen in to the character of each and once you can distinguish them you progress to other/additional notes. (3) Another thing that I would find extremely useful is if the scale identification (which is what I'm working on now) could be expanded beyond ascending/descending. My hunch is that a program could be written to pick out notes from a scale in a sequence that still sounds relatively musical (following some musical rules). Or alternatively, plenty of examples (a couple of hundred, so you can't rely on memory) could be stored of existing music pieces in those scales. Ultimately, I would like to be able to hear something on the radio and be able to pick up by the character of the music that it's in this or that scale/mode (even if I can't tell the pitch) and the included exercise (just ascending/descending) is a bit too easy.

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If you want to sing, improvise or jam with complete confidence, you need to recognize all the sounds around you. Ear training can make this possible. Making music with others will become easy and fun! EarMaster is your personal teacher. It is easy to use and provides instant feedback. EarMaster includes a Standard Tutor with over 400 lessons as well as a Jazz Tutor with over 200 lessons. Both will guide you and automatically increase in difficulty as your ear improves. Create your own customized exercises to improve the way you play, compose and notate any style of music!

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