peterson AutoStrobe™ 490-ST Strobe Tuner Instruction Manual Revised 4-99 for Software Revision 1.04 by Michael Skubic © 1998-99 Peterson Electro-Musical Products, Inc. 11601 S. Mayfield Avenue, Alsip IL 60803-2476 Phone: 1-708-388-3311 FAX: 1-708-388-3341 email@petersonemp.com http://www.petersontuners.
TABLE OF CONTENTS THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS MANUAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 THE AutoStrobe 490-ST—AT A GLANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 1. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 2.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS MANUAL Congratulations on your purchase of the peterson AutoStrobe™ 490-ST strobe tuner. For your convenience, this manual is organized into three major sections. The first, “The AutoStrobe 490-ST—At A Glance”, comprises just three short pages of “must read” information that everyone should read before attempting to turn the Model 490-ST on and use it.
) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) Pull the “Fuse Pull” lever out and to the left until the fuse is released on one end. Completely remove the fuse from the unit. Make sure the “Fuse Pull” lever is in the absolute far left position, completely clear of the Voltage Selection Card. Insert the tip of a needle-nose pliers, scissors, or other suitable item through the small hole at the edge of the selection card.
PETERSON MODEL 490-ST TUNER REVISION X.XX SERIAL # T490 XXXXX The initial screen during the power up phase is depicted here. Line three shows the software revision number and line four the serial number of the particular tuner. NOTE: We advise that you write down the serial number shown on this initial screen and keep it with your records for future reference in case anything should happen to your unit that would prevent this screen from appearing.
notes and strong, non-harmonic overtones of the lowest notes can interfere with the note detection. Automated note selection at these extremes is best optimized by using an external microphone (at the EXTERNAL INPUT jack on the front panel) and placing it near the sound source. Alternatively, of course, MANual mode note selection may be chosen to avoid the difficulty entirely.
THE AutoStrobe 490-ST—IN DEPTH 1. SUMMARY OF FEATURES AND FRONT PANEL CONTROLS We will begin with a brief description of the front panel controls, indicators, and basic features of the Model 490-ST. This will provide you with a quick reference guide to the front panel of the tuner. Detailed information about each feature is explained in the succeeding sections of this manual.
4. EIGHTY-CHARACTER LCD MENU SCREEN — Simplicity and ease of operation are enhanced by the intuitive and user-friendly menu screen displays which address all the functional features of the tuner. 5. FOUR MENU-DRIVEN FUNCTION BUTTONS — The action of each of these four push buttons is defined by whatever specific description is currently displayed immediately above them on the bottom line of the LCD screen.
11. MUTE — The AutoStrobe 490-ST has an external input and “through” output with mute to allow silent on-stage tuning of instruments without having to disconnect the tuner from your audio signal chain. When MUTE is active, any audio signal (originating from the EXTERNAL INPUT jack or built-in microphone) to the front-panel EXTERNAL THRU jack is suppressed. Each press of the MUTE button toggles the MUTE function on or off.
KEY= C A=440 C 00 ¢ MAN SETUP MODE 2 3 ÷ 4 C 00 ¢ AUTO SETUP MODE 7 1 + 2 KEY= C A=440 1 2 3 4 Accessing Auto Note Select Mode While the MAN MODE is indicated, the selection of note will not be affected by the incoming audio signal and must be selected by pressing one of the note buttons below the strobe disc.
SCREEN PARAMETER SETTING RUN (before entering SETUP) VALID RANGE: Strobe Disc Band DISPLAY +2 / -1 +2, -1, Normal, ... Factory Default: Normal 1st SETUP parameter screen Concert A Pitch Reference Recalibration 350 Hz to 550 Hz in 1 Hz increments Factory Default: A=440 2nd SETUP parameter screen Musical KEY Setting C, B=, F, E=, ...
RECALIBRATE TUNER? NOW A= XXX RUN DOWN UP 1 2 3 4 1 ÷ 7 NEXT + KEY SETTING KEY IS NOW : X NEXT RUN 1 2 3 4 Accessing the Key Setting Screen The KEY screen uses the front panel KEY button to alter the KEY setting just as it will under the RUN screen.
Pressing the “2” button (YES) at this time will save the SETUP parameters in the state in which they were last placed and return the screen to the SETUP menu. The power-up condition of the Model 490-ST will now reflect these latest parameter settings until new values are once again stored under SETUP. c) VIEWING AND ALTERING TEMPERAMENT FILES Temperament refers to the specific frequency (pitch) intervals placed between notes in a musical scale.
490-ST NAME FULL NAME DESCRIPTION EQUA EQUAL All semi-tone intervals are identical: 12/2 or .6% above previous note. All keys signatures are equally playable. PYTH PYTHAGOREAN Perfect 4ths and 5ths; 3rds are poor. Avoid G< major and minor keys. F<, C< major and E=, B= minor diatonic keys are very good. JUMA JUST (MAJOR) Perfect triads in 12 keys: C, G, A, E, E=, F major and A, E, F<, C<, C, G minor. “Wolf” tones in all other keys.
SETUP MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE FILE RUN DIAG 1 2 3 4 2 ÷ 7 OPTN + FILE MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE TMPR STRCH 1 2 SETUP 3 4 Accessing the File Menu Screen Pressing a “1” (TMPR) will then allow access into temperament file activity: FILE MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE TMPR STRCH 2 3 1 ÷ 7 1 SETUP + 4 TEMPERAMENT MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE START COPY –EDIT –DEL RUN STOP 1 2 3 4 Accessing the Temperament Menu Screen Under this TEMPERAMENT MENU screen, all temperament-related activities are access
1. To the right (or sometimes above) each front panel function button—“1” through “4”—depicted on the flowchart is the exact label for that button as shown on the LCD display at the current step in the programming. 2. With the exception of the top two LCD screen drawings in each flowchart, the word descriptions at various steps do not necessarily appear on the LCD screens but are meant only to explain the action at these steps.
Once a temperament is activated, its name will appear at the upper right-hand corner of the RUN screen: KEY= C A=440 TMPR= PYTH C 00 ¢ AUTO SETUP MODE 1 2 3 4 d) VIEWING AND ALTERING STRETCH FILES “Stretch” refers to specific adjustments in the frequencies (pitches) of notes—both within octaves and over multiple octaves—to enhance the overall quality of tuning within an instrument.
490-ST NAME FULL NAME DESCRIPTION CNGD CONCERT GRAND Useful for all concert style grand pianos of approximately 8 feet in length or greater. This minimal stretch profile may also be of use on smaller pianos strung with thin piano wire or in situations where the user wishes a greater coherence of fundamental pitch throughout the instrument. STGD STUDIO GRAND Optimal for a 6’ to 7’11” range of grand piano.
KEY= C A=440 C 00 ¢ AUTO SETUP MODE 2 3 1 ÷ 7 1 + 4 SETUP MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE OPTN FILE RUN DIAG 1 2 3 4 Accessing the Setup Screen The next step—accessing the FILE menus—is accomplished by pressing the “2” button (now labeled: FILE): SETUP MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE FILE RUN DIAG 1 2 3 4 2 ÷ 7 OPTN + FILE MENU PLEASE SELECT MODE TMPR STRCH 1 2 SETUP 3 4 Accessing the File Menu Screen Pressing a “2” (STRCH) will then allow access into stretch file activity: FILE MENU PLEA
STRETCH ACTIVITY ACCESSED THROUGH: Select and activate a pre-existing stretch START –EDIT Create(edit), name, and activate a new stretch START –EDIT Copy an existing stretch (except for G5TH), edit the copy (if desired), name, and activate the new stretch.
A comprehensive flowchart at the end of this instruction manual shows ALL possible paths through the stretch menus and provides a good reference once the fundamental concept of the these menus is understood. You may note that at almost every point, there is a button function (like BACK or REDO) which jumps to a logical earlier step of the current activity or a button function (like RUN or CNCL—short for “cancel”) which jumps out of the current activity with no changes made.
1 2 3 + 2 ÷ 7 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=_ _ _ _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL 4 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=_ _ _ _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL 1 2 3 4 Selecting a Character To Enter Into the New Stretch File Name The cursor underline is now under the “B” in the selection string, but no character has been added to the stretch file name. To do this we must press the ENTER button on the front panel. (Note our position in the flowchart.
1 2 3 + ENTER ÷ 7 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=B _ _ _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL 4 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=B G _ _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL 1 2 3 4 Entering the Second Character Into the New Stretch File Name For the third character, a “blank” in our example of “BG 1”, we could either continue to advance through the letters and numbers in the selection string to arrive at the “blank” character or we could make use of the wrap-around feature
1 2 3 + 1 (Press and hold) ÷ 7 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=B G _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL 4 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=B G _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL 1 2 3 4 Selecting the Final Character To Enter Into the New Stretch File Name And, finally: 1 2 3 + ENTER ÷ 7 PICK NAME = ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ01 23456789 STRCH=B G _ < — — — — > BKSP CNCL THE NAME CHOSEN FOR STRETCH IS: BG 1 REDO OK 1 CNCL 2 3 4 4 Entering the Final Ch
We are assuming that we have chosen a valid name for our file and have, consequently, followed the “NO” path from the “Name already exists?” decision box on the flowchart. Thus, we have now entered the “Edit Notes” phase of our stretch file creation. From this one screen, we can now define the note offsets for 96 notes (8 full octaves). Note that this screen shows you which stretch file you are editing as well as which octave and which note within that octave you are editing.
display to the next note in the sequence. At any time short of defining all 96 notes, we may exit and permanently save the file by hitting button “3” (DONE) and then the ENTER button. This will save our stretch file with all the note offsets we had entered to that point. Any notes that we declined to define in an editing session will be saved with the initial zero values (or previously defined offset values if we were editing a pre-existing file).
corner of the RUN screen. KEY= C A=440 C 00 ¢ AUTO SETUP MODE 2 3 4 ÷ 7 1 + KEY KEY= Bb A=440 C AUTO SETUP MODE 1 2 00 ¢ 3 4 Choosing Alternate KEY Transpositions 5. ENHANCED RESOLUTION OF INTONATION MEASUREMENTS As you continue to practice your intonation with the Model 490-ST, you will find that your pitch accuracy continually improves. As you find yourself playing more and more closely to perfect intonation, you may wish to adjust the tuner more precisely to your pitch.
the tuner to the note you are playing. a. Connect an external microphone to the EXTERNAL INPUT connector of the tuner. Set this microphone on a stand so that you can face away from the tuner. b. Adjust the tuner to the tuning key of your instrument as detailed above. If necessary, raise or lower the standard tuning reference pitch of the tuner (Concert A setting under the SETUP menu). c. You are now ready to begin.
KEY= C A=440 C MUTE AUTO SETUP MODE 2 3 4 + MUTE ÷ 7 1 00 ¢ KEY= C A=440 C 00 ¢ AUTO SETUP MODE 1 2 3 4 Disengaging the Mute Function When engaged, the word “MUTE” appears on the third line of the RUN screen on the LCD display. The MUTE button is connected in parallel with the 1/4-inch jack at the rear of the tuner labeled “MUTE SWITCH”. Any momentary-close contact device such as a footswitch may be used in place of or in addition to the MUTE on/off button.
GLOSSARY cent - an audio frequency interval which is defined by the division of an equally-tempered semitone interval into 100 equalratio steps. Each cent is 1200/2 times the previous one in frequency, making it about 0.058% higher in frequency than the previous one. equal-tempered - type of note scaling within a musical octave in which a perfect 2:1 octave frequency ratio is divided into equal-ratio scale notes.
APPENDIX A: WHY USE A “REAL” STROBE TUNER? There are many cheap “strobe pattern” tuners on the market which attempt to emulate the look of the image produced by an authentic rotating strobe disc. This is usually done with an array of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) which are simply turned ON or OFF in sequence so as to “appear” that the light image is drifting left or right.
APPENDIX B: WHY BE CONCERNED ABOUT UNEQUAL TEMPERAMENTS? Temperament refers to the specific frequency (pitch) intervals placed between notes in a musical scale. With 12 notes per octave (the most prevalent case but, by no means, the only case), there are an infinite number of ways to set the audio frequencies of these notes relative to one another. Through the centuries, many have wrestled with the challenge of creating the most pleasing, yet universally flexible, temperament of these 12 intervals.
APPENDIX C: STRETCH FILE DATA AND CHARTS FILE: CNGD Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -12.8 25 C-2 -1.2 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 0.1 2 C#-0 -11.8 26 C#-2 -1.0 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 0.2 3 D-0 -10.9 27 D-2 -0.8 51 D-4 0.0 75 D-6 0.3 4 D#-0 -10.1 28 D#-2 -0.6 52 D#-4 0.0 76 D#-6 0.5 5 E-0 -9.4 29 E-2 -0.4 53 E-4 0.0 77 E-6 0.7 6 F-0 -8.
FILE: STGD Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -28.3 25 C-2 -2.8 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 0.8 2 C#-0 -26.3 26 C#-2 -2.4 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 1.1 3 D-0 -24.3 27 D-2 -2.0 51 D-4 0.0 75 D-6 1.4 4 D#-0 -22.4 28 D#-2 -1.6 52 D#-4 0.0 76 D#-6 1.7 5 E-0 -20.6 29 E-2 -1.4 53 E-4 0.0 77 E-6 2.0 6 F-0 -18.9 30 F-2 -1.1 54 F-4 0.0 78 F-6 2.
FILE: AVRG Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -31.3 25 C-2 -6.4 49 C-4 -2.0 73 C-6 2.6 2 C#-0 -30.1 26 C#-2 -5.9 50 C#-4 -1.8 74 C#-6 2.8 3 D-0 -28.9 27 D-2 -5.5 51 D-4 -1.6 75 D-6 3.1 4 D#-0 -27.7 28 D#-2 -5.1 52 D#-4 -1.4 76 D#-6 3.4 5 E-0 -26.5 29 E-2 -4.8 53 E-4 -1.2 77 E-6 3.8 6 F-0 -25.3 30 F-2 -4.5 54 F-4 -1.
FILE: SMGD Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -33.1 25 C-2 -6.0 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 2.5 2 C#-0 -31.6 26 C#-2 -5.4 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 3.0 3 D-0 -30.1 27 D-2 -4.8 51 D-4 0.0 75 D-6 3.6 4 D#-0 -28.6 28 D#-2 -4.3 52 D#-4 0.0 76 D#-6 4.2 5 E-0 -27.1 29 E-2 -3.8 53 E-4 0.0 77 E-6 4.9 6 F-0 -25.6 30 F-2 -3.3 54 F-4 0.0 78 F-6 5.
FILE: UPRT Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -42.1 25 C-2 -7.2 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 2 C#-0 -40.1 26 C#-2 -6.6 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 7.2 7.8 3 D-0 -38.1 27 D-2 -6.0 51 D-4 0.0 75 D-6 8.4 4 D#-0 -36.1 28 D#-2 -5.5 52 D#-4 0.0 76 D#-6 9.0 5 E-0 -34.1 29 E-2 -5.0 53 E-4 0.0 77 E-6 9.7 6 F-0 -32.1 30 F-2 -4.6 54 F-4 0.0 78 F-6 10.
UPRIGHT PIANO STRETCH CHART 50 40 CENTS DEVIATION 30 20 10 0 C-0 -10 C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 -20 -30 -40 -50 NOTE Page 44 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8
FILE: VERT Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -46.5 25 C-2 -4.3 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 5.2 2 C#-0 -44.0 26 C#-2 -3.8 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 5.5 3 D-0 -41.5 27 D-2 -3.3 51 D-4 0.1 75 D-6 5.8 4 D#-0 -39.0 28 D#-2 -2.9 52 D#-4 0.2 76 D#-6 6.2 5 E-0 -36.5 29 E-2 -2.5 53 E-4 0.4 77 E-6 6.6 6 F-0 -34.0 30 F-2 -2.2 54 F-4 0.6 78 F-6 7.
GENERIC VERTICAL PIANO STRETCH CHART 50 40 CENTS DEVIATION 30 20 10 0 C-0 -10 C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 -20 -30 -40 -50 NOTE Page 46 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8
FILE: CNSL Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -49.2 25 C-2 -10.1 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 8.2 2 C#-0 -47.0 26 C#-2 -9.3 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 8.9 3 D-0 -44.8 27 D-2 -8.5 51 D-4 0.0 75 D-6 9.6 4 D#-0 -42.6 28 D#-2 -7.8 52 D#-4 0.1 76 D#-6 10.4 5 E-0 -40.4 29 E-2 -7.1 53 E-4 0.2 77 E-6 11.2 6 F-0 -38.2 30 F-2 -6.4 54 F-4 0.3 78 F-6 12.
FILE: SPNT Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation Note Note Cents No. Name Deviation 1 C-0 -50.0 25 C-2 -14.8 49 C-4 0.0 73 C-6 11.5 2 C#-0 -50.0 26 C#-2 -13.8 50 C#-4 0.0 74 C#-6 12.0 3 D-0 -50.0 27 D-2 -12.9 51 D-4 0.5 75 D-6 12.6 4 D#-0 -50.0 28 D#-2 -12.0 52 D#-4 1.0 76 D#-6 13.2 5 E-0 -50.0 29 E-2 -11.2 53 E-4 1.5 77 E-6 13.8 6 F-0 -50.0 30 F-2 -10.4 54 F-4 2.
INDEX AC Voltage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 1 accuracy, tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Auto-Note selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 37 tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5, Page 37 temperaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
