Stay In Tune 1.1 is on its way!
I have submitted Stay In Tune 1.1 to Apple for review. It is hard for me to predict how long this process will take, but it should be available soon! Version 1.1 will be a free upgrade to all existing users of Stay In Tune.
Stay In Tune 1.1 will support a Chromatic Tuner, a wider range for Calibration, and instrument tunings for Cello and Viola.
Along with submitting the new application to Apple for review, I also submitted new screenshots and descriptions. Unfortunately, the iTunes App Store was refreshed with the screenshots and descriptions of Stay In Tune 1.1 prior to the new application being made available for download. I am in the process of fixing this situation, but I'm sorry for any confusion that this has caused.
Stay In Tune 1.0
Stay In Tune uses the iPhone's built-in microphone to tune your guitar, violin, banjo, ukulele, mandolin or other stringed instruments. As such, the ability of the application to "hear" the instrument is limited by the characteristics of the microphone itself. The application will work best with instruments whose frequency range matches the voice frequency that the microphone was designed for. The instruments listed above are good matches for Stay In Tune, whereas a bass guitar may not be.
The current version of Stay In Tune is not a chromatic tuner. Therefore, it will not support tunings which are not included in the list that is shipped with the application, nor is it designed to tune horns or wind instruments like the trumpet or clarinet. Stay "tuned" for an update to Stay In Tune that will include chromatic functionality.
When tuning your instrument, a quiet room will work best. As you play the strings, Stay In Tune will show with the needle and the red and green lights if you are in tune or not. If the needle is the the left of center, your string is flat and needs to be tightened. If the needle is to the right of center, your string is sharp and needs to be loosened. Continue playing the note as you adjust string tension and monitor how Stay In Tune shows your adjustments are altering the pitch.
Stay In Tune allows you to fine-calibrate your tuning to a non standard pitch by setting the relative pitch of the reference A note. Typically, standard pitch uses A=440 Hz. By tapping on the "i" button, you can access a slider control that allows you to adjust the reference pitch. The reference pitch is also shown on the left side of the front display.
Tapping on the Tuner text on the front of the screen will toggle the mode between Tuner and Tones. In Tuner mode, the microphone is used to listen to your instrument and display the tuning adjustments needed. In Tones mode, you can tap on the string names to play the appropriate sound. You can use this reference note to tune your instrument by ear.
Stay In Tune includes a short list of alternate tunings and instruments on the reverse side of the main screen. There are hundreds of possible alternate tunings, and I would like to add only the most popular ones to keep the list short and manageable. Send me an email to support@sonzea.com if you have a tuning you would like to see on the list.
Please also send an email to support@sonzea.com if you have other issues or suggestions for Stay In Tune.
Have fun making music!
