Tuner for brass/wind orchestra

[Lamiczka]

Hello everyone,

I am searching for recommendation of good tuner for wind/brass orchestra. I tried to google it and also search it here but I did not find much.

Tuning fork is not the best option for our purpose and just players ears also because we have a lot of kids there and they need some help with tuning.

I found a lot of recommendation to Korg tuners and also Petersen, that are considered a bit more precise (correct?). My understanding is that probably the most ultimate option would be stroboconn tuner, but I am looking for something a bit more affordable and mobile.

Would anyone have experience. My preselection is along the lines of
Korg OT-120 that is designed for orchestra directly
Korg TM-50 or TM-70
Petersen StroboPlus HDC

Has anyone any hands on experience or recommendation of other possibilities?

Thanks a lot!

[abontrumpet]

I only have experience with the Korg OT-120, and it's great!

[ericmpena]

I use the Korg TM-60 for home practice and for gigs where I’m using a music stand.
No issues so far. They cost about $35-$40.

https://a.co/d/bpvv4yz
_________________
Thane Performing Artist
www.youtube.com/ericmpena
https://thanetrumpets.com/

[JayKosta]

Have you tried any type of electronic tuner? Even a very inexpensive one should be able to assist wind instrument tuning - typically to concert Bb and F.

A key item is having the players be familiar with how the intervals of a major scale should sound, and that they are able to imagine the proper pitch of the notes, and actively strive to produce and recognize the correct pitch.
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[Ronnman]

Lamiczka - I have been using a Korg TM-40 for about 5 years and find it to be reliable. I use it daily during home practice, during community band practice and during performances. You can pick one up off eBay for very little. See link below.
Ron

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=korg+tm-40&_sacat=0&LH_PrefLoc=2&_sop=15
_________________
Martin Committee #2 1954
Leblanc “Al Hirt” Model 1966
Olds Custom Crafted Ultra Sonic 1974
Edwards Gen II 2014

[MrOlds]

If you’re inclined to go the iPhone app route this one has temperament and transposition features.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/keytuner/id1328712601

[Lamiczka]

Thanks a lot for help.

I have some experience with Korg i believe it was TM-50 or similar from the past. It worked fine but sometimes I was not that happy with digital scale. There were sometimes delay and it was a bit clumsy so I decided to remove TM-70 from the list.

I checked some videos on youtube and quite like analog needle type meter on OT 120 - it seems to be fast and precise so I ordered one for roughly 80 USD. From the price range it is somewhere in the middle of LCD Korgs and Petersen so I hope that it will work for us.

For my personal practice I want to try Petersen iOS app iStroboSoft.

Quite interesting will be to compare performace of iOS app and Korg OT-120. Once I will have it, I will try it and will let you know

[kehaulani]

Just keep in mind that a tuner is just a tool and not the answer. The answer is in developing the ear without the tuner.

Don't have the kids blow a note into the tuner and adjust. Have them play what they think is the center of their pitch, with you watching the tuner and making suggestions. Have them continue listening critically.

Regarding using a tuner to tune every note in a scale, this is just wrong. Pitches are relative to each other. Some notes in a scale may be a little lower or higher than acoustically perfect, especially when balancing chords.

Spend more time having groups of instruments playing octaves, open fifths, perfect fourths, etc. until you work yourself to playing isolated chords in tune within itself. Get the kids to listen and adjust.

Tuning is relative. I once asked a friend who played in the Philadelphia Orchestra how they played so well in tune with each other. He said. "We don't play perfectly in tune. We play out of tune together, perfectly."
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

Years ago (many ) ... pre-digital anything ... I used to tune (playing electric lead guitar) to the dial-tone of a landline telephone.
Frequently used in bars, since you couldn't hear a tuning fork amidst the din.

The dial-tone is pitched at A=440cycles. The 2nd string on a guitar is the A-string.
One needed to cradle the phone between ear and shoulder, while turning the tuning pegs on the guitar, to center the pitch at the A open string, and then again at the octave (12th fret).

This "tip" was given to me by my close friend, the late Danny Gatton.
If not familiar, "Google" him. He was known as the "World's Greatest Unknown Guitar Player" ... and, also, as "The Humbler". (Apt description).


[Am missing Dickie Betts, already. Saw him perform (Allman Brothers) many times. Great guitar-player ... great song writer. R.I.P., Dickie ...hoping you're with Duane, again.]
_________________
Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz

[Lamiczka]

[falado]

Hi, I have a Korg and a phone app that produces a green smiley face when you are on pitch. However, the orchestra director does not allow us to use an electronic tuner when we tune up for rehearsal. He prefer we use our ears. During rehearsals he also will point you out when your intonation, partial, is off. He will also, at that point, ask you which instrument you might be playing in unison with and what part of the chord you are playing and how you should play that note so the chord sounds in tune. The trick in rehearsal is to play so you are not noticed, or to play in tune with the orchestra.
Dave
_________________
FA LA DO (Ab: V/ii) MUCS, USN (Ret.)
Stomvi VR (Reeves) with VR II Bell
Bach 239 25A C, Blueprinted
Bach 37, Early Elkhart, Blueprinted
Kanstul Flugel
Getzen 4 valve Pic.
Yamaha D/Eb
Besson Cornet

[trpthrld]

iPhone "Total Energy" tuner app.

I think it's $10 but well-worth it.

For the kid in all of us, when you get the pitch in tune, you get a big green smiley face. It's hilarious!
_________________
Tim Wendt

www.trumpetherald.com/marketplace.php?task=detail&id=147567&s=The-Best-Trumpet-Lead-Pipe-Swab-EVER-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPWAJqghk24&feature=youtu.be

[cgaiii]

Second the use of tuning apps on a phone. I may be old school, but tuning was always a one note deal when I played in larger groups. One instrument tuned to a piano or tuner and the rest tuned to that instrument. I was taught that from my first experiences in band. I remember in school, there was a big strobe tuner. After we would each tune to the one instrument, usually a clarinet, we would all play in unison to see the tuner's reaction. I learned guitar tuning as tuning one string to a tuner or tuning fork, then tuning the rest by ear. All the piano tuners I have known use a similar technique, usually a tuning fork.
So any decent tuner is good for getting that first pitch, the phone, my old Korg, even the cheap ones. The rest is relative.
On the trumpet, and with the natural trumpet in particular, tuning is always an adventure in compromise.
_________________
Bb: Schilke X3L AS, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Bb Cornet: Getzen 800 DLXS
Pic: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Std
Bass Tr: BAC Custom
Nat. Tr: Nikolai Mänttäri Morales Haas replica

[Rapier232]

I like SoundCorset. Use it on my phone and iPad.
_________________
"Nearly as good as I need to be. Not nearly as good as I want to be".

Smith-Watkins Bb
Will Spencer Bb
Eclipse Flugel
Smith Watkins K2 Cornet
JP152 C Trumpet
Besson Bugle

[TrpM]

I like the very clean interface of the LinoStrobe tuner app (on Android phone).

[kehaulani]

In other words, there are a number of choices, but don't "take your eyes off the prize." The main priority is still developing the ear, not relying on a tuner.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Man Of Constant Sorrow]

"You can tune a piano ... but, you can't tuna fish".
_________________
Sub-Optimal Hillbilly Jazz