I have been told that a lot of people are using their lap tops and softwear to tune pianos. This seems like a very cost effective way of doing it (compared to a Petereson tuner)but I can't find the softwear (I already have the laptop)has anyone seen the softwear in action? does it perform as well as a stand alone tuner? can it do stretch tuning? Where can I find it?

Steve,

Yes, I believe there are a couple. If I'm not mistaken the Reyburn software does and I know Tunelabs runs on laptops because I use it on my IBM.

Evaluation copies of Tunelabs are available free, 300kb, on the internet and possibly through Robert Scott, its creator:

Robert Scotts Page

At $35, if you like it and are honest, its the cheapest way to go. It will construct a stretch curve based on your sampling a number of notes and doing some interpolation, or you can just get a hold of David Porritt's add-in for another $10, which will do it automatically.

The program is not teaching software. It assumes you understand the basics of hammer technique, stretch, setting unisons and that you can navigate your way around the windows environment. That said, its quite impressive at nailing the right stretch and giving you a piano that rings the way it ought to, when finished. IMO, it is to the majority of aural tuners what ABS brakes are to the majority of racing drivers. That is to say better. The sample and registered version are functionally the same.

There are some RPTs using it, so I imagine it is competitive with Reyburn and the others. My advice to anyone working with it is to turn off the other programs that you may not know are running in the background by hitting and selecting end-task for everything, but explorer. This way your hard drive will shut down letting the microphone, which is standard on most portables, hear better.

Good luck,
Chris W

Thanks I will download it and take a look. I am a novice piano tuner (still going to school)and all advise is greatly appreciated

I just got a pamplet from Reyburn in the mail re: a tuning program that runs on "Compac" brand palm type organizers. The size is right, fits in a shirt pocket.

Thanks Bob. I loaded The Tune Lab sofwear in the lap top but I have not been able to get it to see the built in mic but it works fine on the desk top (a bit large to lug around). The palm comp. softwear sounds great for when I do my guitar tec stuff. On stage i use a Sabine 1100 close enough for rock and roll.

Just curious, Bob (or anyone),

Does the Compaq run on a Palm OS, Windows, or a proprietary program?

Sorry, Rich, I don't know. I tossed the flyer on it because I tune by ear.