Universal Tuner 2.2 NEW For all instruments

Overview

Universal Tuner is made to tune all instruments.

IMPORTANT: When you start Universal Tuner for the first time, you are asked to give the program permission to access the microphone. This is necessary for the program to work! If you denied the the access to the microphone you can give the permission later on in the System preferences. Go to the Security & Privacy tab and click on Microphone. Here you can give the app the permission to access the microphone (see Fig. 1).
The microphone is only used to determine the pitch. No recordings are permanently stored or used outside the app.

Figure 1: Allow the app to access the microphone

Shortcuts

	spacebar	Start/stop the tone generator
	Cmd-?	Open the Help window
	Cmd-1	Open the Tuner window
	Cmd-2	Open the Tuner Range window
	Cmd-3	Open the Spectrum window
	Cmd-4	Open the Timeline window
	Cmd-5	Open the Tuning window
	Cmd-6	Open the Temperament window
	Cmd-7	Open the Chord Detection window
	Cmd-8	Open the Tone Generator window
	Cmd-,	Open the Preferences window for general settings
	F	Freeze the current reading, if the Spectrum window is open

Abbreviations

	aug	augmented	The augmented note is played one semi note higher than usual. In most cases it means the 5th is augmented. In some chases it is also used for the 4th and the 6th.
	dim	diminished	The diminished note is played one semi tone deeper than usual. In most chases it means the 5th is diminshed. In some chases it is also used for the 4th and the 6th.
	maj	major	Major usually refers to the 3rd. The major third is 4 semi tones higher than the root note. A major chord contains a major 3rd. In the chord name the major 3rd usually is not written out. (E. g.: A major = A)
	min, m	minor	Minor usually refers to the 3rd. The minor third is 3 semi tones higher than the root note. A minor chord contains a minor 3rd!
	root	root note	Starting note of a scale. First note of a scale.
	sus	suspended	A suspended chord has a note within it, that is “suspended” either a 4th or a 2nd above the root note.

The tuner window (Fig. 2-1) shows the pitch of the played note in cent.

One octave is divided into 12 semi tones. Each semi tone is divided into 100 cent.

Zero cent indicates that the played note is in tune. If the cent meter shows a negative value the note is flat (too low). If the note is sharp (too high) the cent meter shows a positive value.

Send the App to sleep and it will use no cpu power. Click on the Tuner window to wake the app up again.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that the tone you want to tune is within the measuring range. Otherwise, the tuner will display one of the overtones as the result. Always make sure that the tuner range covers the note you want to measure! (see Tuner Range)

App sleep Send the App to sleep and it will use no cpu power. Click on the Tuner window to wake the app up again.

Tuner Range Warning When this sign starts to blink, it means that the measured note is outside the range of the tuner. Click on the sign and open the Tuner Range window (Cmd-2) and adjust the range to your needs. (See Fig. 4)

Figure 2-1: Tuner window




Figure 2-2: Tuner mini window

Connect the Interface

If you want to change the input or output to another device, please use Apple′s System Preferences. If the device is not detected properly by Universal Tuner, please press the Check Input Device-button.

Set the Input Channel to the input channel of your audio interface. If your interface is shown correctly and you play a tone you should see the signal on the Input peak meter.

Hint: Use the trackpad or the scroll wheel of your mouse to adjust the sliders or the concert pitch.

Figure 3: Preferences window

By default the tuner range is set from C1 to C7 to cover most instruments. Once you selected a specific instrument the range will automatically change to the range of the selected instrument.

You can adjust the range of the tuner by using the + and - buttons.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that the tone you want to tune is within the measuring range. Otherwise, the tuner will display one of the overtones as the result. Always make sure that the tuner range covers the note you want to measure!

Figure 4: Tuner Range window

The spectrum displays all frequencies that are within the selected tuner range. To change the range, open the tuning range window (Cmd-2 )and select the range you want to measure and display.

Figure 5-1: Spectrum window




Figure 5-2: Mini timeline window

Figure 6: Timeline window

Select your instrument and tuning.

IMPORTANT: Selecting an instrument will change the range of the tuner!

You will see a representation of the tuning as seen from above, facing the instrument. Starting with one for the lowest string.

Note: If you pick guitar, you will get an alternative tuning option, that can be activated by clicking the “Magic wand”-button (see Fig. 7-1).

Figure 7-1: Tuning window

Create a Custom Tuning or a Custom Instrument By pressing this button you can create your own custom tunings and custom instruments. (See Fig. 7-2)

Edit your Custom Tuning Select one of your custom tunings and press the Edit-Button to rename or modify it.

Delete a Custom Tuning If you select one or your created custom tunings this button will appear. You can delete the tuning by pressing the button. Important: If you delete the last tuning of a custom instrument, it will also delete the instrument.

Create a new Tuning or a new Instrument

To create a new tuning pick the instrument you want to add a new tuning to. Then press the “+”-button (See Fig. 7-1). This will open a new window (see Fig. 7-2).

If you add or delete a string of your new tuning, you'll get the option to create a new instrument.

To enter a root note is optional. If you combine your tuning with a temperament, the root note of the tempererament will automaticly switch to the selected root note of the new tuning.

If you are not using temperaments, just leave the root note as it is.

Figure 7-2: Create New Tuning window

The standard tuning in western music is called “12 Tone Equal Temperament” (12-TET). In 12-TET all notes are equally spaced thruout an octave. This leads to equal intervals in any key. On the downside the intervals are not “pure” as they occure in nature.

“Just Intonation” will give you “pure” intervals in relation to the selected root note. But the further you move away from the root note the stranger the intervals will sound.

The other temperaments try to find a compromise between “Equal Temperament” and “Just Intonation”.

Tip: If you are using an open tuning, set the root of the temperament to the root of your open tuning and pick “Just Intonation”. Give it a try!

Create and Save a Custom Temperament

Select Custom-Temperament and enter your deviations by clicking on one of the 12 note buttons to enter a new value for the deviation (only value between -50 and +50 cent are accepted).

You can change the value of the root note (orange button), but why would you want to do it?

Save Custom Temperament If you customize a temperament this button will appear. You can save your customized temperament by pressing the button.

Rename Custom Temperament Select one of your saved custom temperaments and then you can rename it.

Delete Custom Temperament If you select a saved custom temperament this button will appear. You can delete the scale by pressing the button.

Hint: Hover over root note and use the trackpad or the scroll wheel of your mouse to adjust it.

Figure 8: Temperament window

Play all notes of your chord at once to get the best result.

Play the root note of the chord and press the “Freeze”-button. The root note is locked in now and any other note you play will be shown as a component in a chord in relation to the root note.

Hint: Hover over the “Freeze”-button and use the trackpad or the scroll wheel of your mouse to adjust the root of the chord.

Figure 9: Chord detection window

The tone generator is used when you want to play back a frequency or a tuning. Select the waveform to be used for playback here.

Hint: Use the trackpad or the scroll wheel of your mouse to adjust the volume, frequency, cent value, note or octave. Just hover over the slider or value.

Figure 10: Tone generator window

UniTuner, universal tuner, MacOs, Download link, Stimmgeraet