Tuning the Chronos beep

I know how to do it. I read the manual.

My question is this: What settings correspond to what pitches?

Through trial and error, I’ve decided that 0000 is approximately a low D, 1000 is approximately an A, 2000 is approximately an F-sharp, and 850 is a pretty on-target G. But has anyone figured out the exact relationship between the tuning setting and the frequency of the beep?

I don’t have that model, but you might help us out if you’d tell us which octaves each of those notes is in. For example, is that A a major fifth above that low D, or is it an octave plus a major fifth, etc? Also, you might list some more intermediate values, such as 1500, etc.

Bill Smythe

As far as I can tell, the G is in the same octave as the D, the A is the beginning of the next one up (one tone above the G), and the F# is in the octave begun by the A, but the tones that the clock generates are far from pure tones.

It would be a lot easier if the clock didn’t make me change its settings one digit at a time.

why would you have your clock make noise?

It’s a touch pad model. I’ve tried using it without the sound, and it’s just weird. In the absence of tactile feedback, I need audible.

I agree. I have the touch model of the chronos, and the slight beep helpsd to know that its your turn. Although some TD’s will ask you to turn the beep off, I think its less intrusive (and more quiet) than buttons physically clicking. The Gametime Excaliber II clock is a rather noisy clock when hitting the buttons, and an entire roomful of them can make quite a racket, especially when the room has several hundred players in it. :smiling_imp:

If you get the sound just right it can sound like a click.

So in your world octaves begin with A and end with G#. And the sequence you quoted me is D-G-A-F# (0000-0850-1000-2000) – a fourth, a whole tone, and a major sixth. OK, I’ll see if I can figure out something.

The scale could be logarithmic (the way the ear hears it), linear, inverse linear, or something weird. A few more examples might be necessary to guess at a pattern.

Is that equal temperament, mean tone, or Pythagorean? :slight_smile:

Bill Smythe

Equal temperament. And I tried plotting the curve in Excel, based on just those few data points, and I agree that it might be logarithmic. But when I tried to use the trend line equation to make predictions, they were way off. What I’d need, I think, is some kind of device that can get an accurate reading of the frequency of a tone in the one-fifth of a second or so that the Chronos beep lasts. I don’t have one, and I couldn’t find one online that worked well enough. (I made my guesses above by trying to sing the tones the Chronos was making into an online tuner.)

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If you had access to an electronic piano or synthesizer keyboard you might be able to match the tone of the clock to a key/note.

I’m looking forwards to hearing this Chronos Choir perform. They could come in handy if someone left their pitch pipe at home when going to a chorus rehearsal. :wink:

Chronos Quartet?

Suggested performance.

End threadjacking.

I find it funny that there is a thread about how to tune the beep of a Chronos when from my observation a majority of their owners don’t even know how to set them for a chess game! :smiley:

Heh. One of the reasons I got one is that, as a TD, I think I ought to be able to set any clock a a player brings to one of my tournaments.

Now I just need someone to loan me an Excalibur.

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Well, if you can’t get anyone to loan you an Excalibur, Dewain Barber at amchesseq.com sells them for $26.95 if you buy less than 6. He also charges exactly what the shipping costs are to him.

I talked with him and he told me he orders these in very large quantities from overseas where they are now sold. That’s why he can sell them so inexpensively.