[TPIN] electromechanicals (was Re: How the Tonight Show...)

[William Ash]

D. Michael McIntyre  and Greg Goodknight wrote:
>>But this is the 21st century.  Why do we have to limit ourselves to 
>>technology that's over 100 years old when it comes to intonation?  It 
>>seems like it would be very possible to build some kind of 
>>electromechanical compensating trumpet using something like ultrasonic 
>>camera lens motors and some kind of pitch analysis algorithm à la 
>>Centerpitch CP2 tuner to figure out what note you're on, and assist 
>>getting it in tune.
>>
>I've considered the same. I think the player would align it once, and the 
>steppers (or whatever moves the tuning slide) would adjust accordingly 
>based on the valve combination and the basic pitch detected. You'll 
>probably need to complicate the actuation mechanism to counteract angular 
>and rotational momentum to keep the horn from moving when the thing is moving.

I suspect this idea might lose some of its allure over time. Intonation 
isn't quite as straightforward as a Strobo-Tuner might suggest -- you have 
to play in tune with the ensemble, whether or not it's dead on at A-440. 
And does it tune to pure or tempered pitch? Does it compensate for a 
particular mouthpiece or mute that always plays sharp or flat? What if 
you're trying to bend a note or scoop into it or fall off it -- do 
mechanized slides start whirring and flying all over the place to try to 
keep you on pitch?

Mechanically, what powers it? How much weight and bulk does it add to the 
horn? How fast is it? How many additional points of failure does it add? 
What maintenance does it require? (And what happens to it when you 
cryogenically freeze it, and can somebody sell you heavy caps for it? :-) )

Of course, no doubt there were similar nattering nabobs of negativism when 
somebody first suggested putting valves on the trumpet, and I'll probably 
eat my words -- and spend all my time at the next ITG conference trying out 
the new Electro-Comp Tuning Trumpet.


Bill Ash