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Tunable Tunable User Guide

Tuner FAQ

The microphone doesn’t seem to work. What do I do?

Section titled “The microphone doesn’t seem to work. What do I do?”

You may need to grant Tunable microphone permission.

Open the Settings app, scroll down to Privacy & Security, select Microphone, and make sure Tunable is turned on. Restart Tunable and the microphone should work.

Why does my tuning display keep jumping around?

Section titled “Why does my tuning display keep jumping around?”

The tuner responds to everything the microphone picks up. In a noisy environment, it may detect background sounds and jump to unrelated pitches. Try:

  • Moving to a quieter space
  • Playing closer to the microphone
  • Playing more firmly so your instrument is louder than the ambient noise
  • Lowering the Microphone Sensitivity setting so the tuner ignores softer background sounds

What is the green zone on the tuner?

Section titled “What is the green zone on the tuner?”

The green zone, called the in-tune zone, is the range of pitch Tunable considers acceptably in tune. When your note lands inside it, the display confirms you are close enough to the target pitch.

You can adjust how wide the zone is using the Skill Level setting in Tuner Settings:

  • Beginner: wider zone (10 cents either side)
  • Intermediate: moderate zone (6 cents)
  • Advanced: narrow zone (2 cents), requiring greater precision

What is the white line being drawn?

Section titled “What is the white line being drawn?”

The white line shows where your pitch has been over the last few seconds. A steady horizontal line means you are holding the note consistently. A jagged or drifting line means your pitch is moving.

  • Line left of center: note is flat
  • Line right of center: note is sharp

Is there a quick way to change the temperament key?

Section titled “Is there a quick way to change the temperament key?”

In Settings, tap Temperament to select a different temperament and Temperament Key to select a different key. You can also quickly change the key by double-tapping a note on the Tone Generator when using an alternate temperament.

What is a cent?

Section titled “What is a cent?”

A cent is one hundredth of a semitone — the smallest unit used to measure pitch accuracy. There are 100 cents between any two adjacent notes on the chromatic scale (for example, C to C♯). When the tuner shows +5 cents, your pitch is 5 hundredths of a semitone sharper than the target. 0 cents means you are perfectly in tune.

What do the numbers on the tuner display mean?

Section titled “What do the numbers on the tuner display mean?”
  • The large note name shows the nearest note to your current pitch.
  • The number below it shows your pitch in cents relative to that note. Positive is sharp; negative is flat.
  • The octave number after the note name (for example, A4) indicates which octave you are in. A4 is the A above middle C.

How does alternate temperament change my tuning?

Section titled “How does alternate temperament change my tuning?”

When you select an alternate temperament, the green in-tune zone for each note shifts to reflect that temperament’s pitch targets rather than equal temperament. For example, in Just / Pure temperament, a major third is slightly narrower than in equal temperament, so the tuner will show slightly flat even when you are in tune by just intonation standards. See Alternate Temperament in Settings for the full list of available temperaments.

How does vibrato affect my tuning reading?

Section titled “How does vibrato affect my tuning reading?”

Vibrato causes the needle to oscillate back and forth as your pitch wavers intentionally. The tuner is responding accurately — vibrato is a deliberate pitch variation. If you are on the Advanced skill level, you can adjust the Vibrato Width setting so the tuner better distinguishes intentional vibrato from unintentional pitch deviation.

Can I create my own custom temperament?

Section titled “Can I create my own custom temperament?”

Yes. Go to Settings → Alternate Temperament → tap Add. Enter a name and provide a cent offset for each of the 12 chromatic intervals (P1 through M7). Positive values place the note sharper than equal temperament; negative values place it flatter. Tap Save and your temperament appears alongside the built-in options.

How do I edit or delete a custom temperament?

Section titled “How do I edit or delete a custom temperament?”

Swipe left on a custom temperament in the Alternate Temperament list to reveal options:

  • Tap Edit to reopen the editor with your existing values. Make changes and tap Save.
  • Tap Delete and confirm in the alert to remove it permanently.

How do I share a custom temperament with someone?

Section titled “How do I share a custom temperament with someone?”

Swipe left on a custom temperament and tap Share. Tunable opens a mail composer with your .temperament file attached. Send the email — the recipient can import it directly into their copy of Tunable.

How do I import a temperament file someone shared with me?

Section titled “How do I import a temperament file someone shared with me?”

When you receive a .temperament file by email:

  1. Open the email and hold down the attachment.
  2. Tap Copy to Tunable from the app list.
  3. Tunable opens and imports the file automatically.
  4. Find the new temperament in Settings → Alternate Temperament.

You can also open a .temperament file from the Files app or any app that supports file sharing — tap the file and choose Tunable from the share sheet.

If you have a question about the Tuner that is not answered above, please contact us and we will be happy to help.