A way to tell if an instrument is in tune

If it is a piano or synthesizer, testing by playing random chords (atonicaly). Any random combination of black and white notes. Clusters.


If it sounds great it is greatly in tune and it is a great instrument too.


The Pleides tuning (having correct octaves to listener's brain) gives this property to synthesizers. For example used on all notes scale tuning of Yamaha DX7ii or Korg Triton.


A recording using the Pleiades tuning was made in 2007. A Rolland TB-303 was playing bass. Then either DX7ii or Triton was playing string chords. The sounds were electrically added on an FBT (Personal 1002?) electron tube PA. Output from its line amp was send to step down audio transformer then to a Cinena Engineering passive EQ 4031-B (same as Motown?) then to an RCA BA-6A limiter or vice versa. It may be uploaded on YouTube. Title can just be The Pleiades Tuning.


The TB-303 synth (slowly programmed sequence is then played fast) is played by the left hand by just changing bass notes in real time. Reasonance is high. At times the bass is pedal bass and the right hand changes chords played on the DX7ii. The chords are repeated continuously by analog tape echo. At times the right hand goes nuts and plays clusters. But then it becomes tonic again and plays A flat major sevenths etc. it sounds like a combination of Jeab Michel Jarre and fantastic pedal bass chords from Against all Odds - Ohil Collins.


It was found on a type I cassette. Is this the master? It soinds fine. It's in mono.


The cassette has before this an interesting track possibly made by an electron tube (modem) FSK gone half crazy producing great random tones. It is a Hallicrafters T.O. Keyed Model HA-1 bought from Dionissis military surplus yard. Output from its electromagnetic relay switch must had been sent to a frequency multiplying PLL. The increased frequency pulse feeds an Alesis MT-100 midi recorder. It drives through midi everything including an Oberheim DMX drum machine. Then metronome out of the DMX is used as feedback on the PLL so everything gets the beat from the electron tube half crazy keyer. The half crazy conductor. For obvious reasons this keyer is called in Hellenic, η τρελή, (the crazy girl). And this will be the title of this track.


The 2 music tracks have been transferred to m-audio micro track files 1048, 1050.


A ferrograph series 6 electron tube reel to reel tape recorder must have been used perhaps recording the backing rhythm track? It can be heard speeding up at the beginning of the Crazy Girl.


Not sure whether the bass is TB-303 Yamaha DX200. Most likely TB-303.


There is loads of good echo from the Italian FBT PA system. There is speed instability making the sound interesting. The TB-303 must have been manual adjusted to fit the tempo of the analog delay.