[sdiy] frequency counter

[Scott Gravenhorst]

I don't have "perfect pitch" either.  Nor do I have a frequency
counter.  While it is a very useful tool, it is not necessary for
tuning an instrument (to other instruments).  I have several digital
synth sound modules and one digital synth keyboard.  I also have a
FatMan which is a MIDI analog monosynth.  When I want to tune my
FatMan, I set up my studio so that I can hear a flute-ish sound from a
digital synth with no pitch modulation (very plain sound).  I set the
FatMan to the same MIDI channel as the digital sound and hold down a
key.  I turn the FatMan master tuning knob until the pitch is close
and listen for a "beat" or phasing sound between the two sounds.  If I
want the two to be the same pitch, I adjust the tuning knob to
eliminate the phasing sound altogether.  If the phasing sound (or
beat) cycles at one time per second, the two pitches are 1 Hertz
apart.  2 times per second is 2 Hertz apart.

I hope that helps.

Mark Romberg <mark-romberg at utulsa.edu> wrote:
>anyone know of a simple-ish frequency counter circuit?  beginning to 
>realize im going to need one to tune oscillators and things in the 
>analog world as i dont have perfect pitch :/
>saw one on sdiy.org, but no schematics or source code for the uC.
>
>have nice days.
>

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