DaTuner: Tuner & Metronome is a popular mobile app designed for musicians and music enthusiasts who need an accurate tuning and beat-keeping tool. It's developed by Bork, the same team behind the advanced DSP effects suite called Audio Evolution Mobile. DaTuner has received an impressive rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 based on over 100,000 reviews on the Google Play Store.
Features
Tuner
DaTuner boasts one of the fastest and most precise tuning algorithms available in the market, which makes it ideal for tuning any musical instrument, from guitars to violins or pianos. It supports multiple temperaments, including equal temperament (12-tone), just intonation, and Pythagorean tuning. Additionally, it lets you customize the A4 frequency, the sensitivity, and the temperament, among other parameters.
Metronome
The app comes with a built-in metronome that allows you to set the tempo (BPM) from 10 to 1000, as well as the time signature (from 2/2 to 7/4). You can also customize the sound and volume of the metronome, choose between different rhythm patterns (including swing), and even program complex sequences of beats with accents and rests.
Chords and Scales
DaTuner includes a feature called Chords, which displays the notes and intervals of up to four simultaneous notes played on your instrument. This can be handy for harmonizing, composing, or transcribing. The app also has a Scales function, which shows the notes and degrees of most common scales and modes, such as major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and Dorian.
Pitch Pipe
Another cool feature of DaTuner is the Pitch Pipe, which allows you to play a reference note or a whole chord by tapping on any of the keys on the virtual keyboard. This can serve as a tuning reference, aural training, or just for fun!
Pros
Accurate and fast
DaTuner's tuning algorithm is remarkably precise and quick, thanks to its use of cutting-edge digital signal processing (DSP) techniques. You'll get your instrument tuned in seconds with an accuracy of up to 0.1 cents, which is more than enough for most musical purposes.
Versatile and flexible
The app supports a wide range of instruments and tunings, as well as various customization options for the metronome, chord display, and pitch pipe. You can also switch between different temperaments and even customize your own, making it a great tool for multi-genre musicians or alternative tunings fans.
Free and ad-free
One of the best things about DaTuner is that it's totally free to download and use, without any annoying ads popping up. There's also a premium version available for those who want to support the developer and gain access to some extra features, such as pitch detection visualization, custom temperaments import/export, or auto-calibration.
Cons
No audio input
Although DaTuner can detect the pitch of any sound picked up by your phone's microphone, it doesn't allow you to plug in an external instrument through an audio interface or a cable. This means that you'll have to rely on the built-in pickup of your acoustic or electric instrument, which may not be ideal in noisy environments or for low-frequency instruments.
Interface could be clearer
While DaTuner is packed with features and settings, some users might find the interface a bit cluttered or confusing at first glance. There are plenty of buttons, icons, and menus to navigate, and it may take some time to discover all the functions and shortcuts available.
Comparison
There are many other tuning and metronome apps for Android devices, such as GuitarTuna, Pro Metronome, PitchLab, or Soundcorset. However, what sets DaTuner apart from its competitors is its high level of accuracy, speed, versatility, and customization options. Few other apps can match its ability to handle multiple custom temperaments or to display complex chords and scales. Moreover, DaTuner is free and ad-free, which makes it a great value for money proposition.
Tips
Use a quiet and well-lit room
When tuning your instrument with DaTuner, make sure you're in a quiet and well-lit environment, as external noise or shadows can interfere with the microphone's sensitivity. Also, try to hold your phone as still as possible, without covering the mic or the speaker ports.
Experiment with different tunings
Don't be afraid to explore the various temperaments and alternate tunings available in DaTuner, as they can add new colors and textures to your music. You can even create your own custom temperament by adjusting the cents values of each note relative to A=440 Hz.
Create a metronome sequence
If you need to practice a difficult rhythm or a song with irregular beats, you can use the Metronome function to create a sequence of accentuated and muted notes. You can also change the sound and volume for each beat, as well as add tempo changes or time signature variations.
Conclusion
If you're a musician looking for a reliable, fast, and versatile tuning and metronome app for your Android device, DaTuner might be the perfect tool for you. Despite some minor interface issues, it offers a wide range of features and customization options that are hard to match in other free apps. Its accuracy, speed, and flexibility make it suitable for amateurs and professionals alike, and its lack of ads makes it even more appealing. Give it a try and see for yourself!
Updated 04-07-2023
Overview
DaTuner: Tuner & Metronome is a popular mobile app designed for musicians and music enthusiasts who need an accurate tuning and beat-keeping tool. It's developed by Bork, the same team behind the advanced DSP effects suite called Audio Evolution Mobile. DaTuner has received an impressive rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 based on over 100,000 reviews on the Google Play Store.
Features
Tuner
DaTuner boasts one of the fastest and most precise tuning algorithms available in the market, which makes it ideal for tuning any musical instrument, from guitars to violins or pianos. It supports multiple temperaments, including equal temperament (12-tone), just intonation, and Pythagorean tuning. Additionally, it lets you customize the A4 frequency, the sensitivity, and the temperament, among other parameters.
Metronome
The app comes with a built-in metronome that allows you to set the tempo (BPM) from 10 to 1000, as well as the time signature (from 2/2 to 7/4). You can also customize the sound and volume of the metronome, choose between different rhythm patterns (including swing), and even program complex sequences of beats with accents and rests.
Chords and Scales
DaTuner includes a feature called Chords, which displays the notes and intervals of up to four simultaneous notes played on your instrument. This can be handy for harmonizing, composing, or transcribing. The app also has a Scales function, which shows the notes and degrees of most common scales and modes, such as major, minor, pentatonic, blues, and Dorian.
Pitch Pipe
Another cool feature of DaTuner is the Pitch Pipe, which allows you to play a reference note or a whole chord by tapping on any of the keys on the virtual keyboard. This can serve as a tuning reference, aural training, or just for fun!
Pros
Accurate and fast
DaTuner's tuning algorithm is remarkably precise and quick, thanks to its use of cutting-edge digital signal processing (DSP) techniques. You'll get your instrument tuned in seconds with an accuracy of up to 0.1 cents, which is more than enough for most musical purposes.
Versatile and flexible
The app supports a wide range of instruments and tunings, as well as various customization options for the metronome, chord display, and pitch pipe. You can also switch between different temperaments and even customize your own, making it a great tool for multi-genre musicians or alternative tunings fans.
Free and ad-free
One of the best things about DaTuner is that it's totally free to download and use, without any annoying ads popping up. There's also a premium version available for those who want to support the developer and gain access to some extra features, such as pitch detection visualization, custom temperaments import/export, or auto-calibration.
Cons
No audio input
Although DaTuner can detect the pitch of any sound picked up by your phone's microphone, it doesn't allow you to plug in an external instrument through an audio interface or a cable. This means that you'll have to rely on the built-in pickup of your acoustic or electric instrument, which may not be ideal in noisy environments or for low-frequency instruments.
Interface could be clearer
While DaTuner is packed with features and settings, some users might find the interface a bit cluttered or confusing at first glance. There are plenty of buttons, icons, and menus to navigate, and it may take some time to discover all the functions and shortcuts available.
Comparison
There are many other tuning and metronome apps for Android devices, such as GuitarTuna, Pro Metronome, PitchLab, or Soundcorset. However, what sets DaTuner apart from its competitors is its high level of accuracy, speed, versatility, and customization options. Few other apps can match its ability to handle multiple custom temperaments or to display complex chords and scales. Moreover, DaTuner is free and ad-free, which makes it a great value for money proposition.
Tips
Use a quiet and well-lit room
When tuning your instrument with DaTuner, make sure you're in a quiet and well-lit environment, as external noise or shadows can interfere with the microphone's sensitivity. Also, try to hold your phone as still as possible, without covering the mic or the speaker ports.
Experiment with different tunings
Don't be afraid to explore the various temperaments and alternate tunings available in DaTuner, as they can add new colors and textures to your music. You can even create your own custom temperament by adjusting the cents values of each note relative to A=440 Hz.
Create a metronome sequence
If you need to practice a difficult rhythm or a song with irregular beats, you can use the Metronome function to create a sequence of accentuated and muted notes. You can also change the sound and volume for each beat, as well as add tempo changes or time signature variations.
Conclusion
If you're a musician looking for a reliable, fast, and versatile tuning and metronome app for your Android device, DaTuner might be the perfect tool for you. Despite some minor interface issues, it offers a wide range of features and customization options that are hard to match in other free apps. Its accuracy, speed, and flexibility make it suitable for amateurs and professionals alike, and its lack of ads makes it even more appealing. Give it a try and see for yourself!