bx_tuner

bx_tuner is a monitoring utility rather than a pitch-correction effect: it measures a played note and leaves the musician to adjust the instrument. Its main display identifies the nearest note, a larger LED bar shows the overall tuning error, and a separate fine display helps settle the final adjustment.

The detection and display behavior are designed around guitars, basses, and related string instruments. Place it before distortion, amplifier simulation, or other effects so it sees the clearest possible source. For a plucked string, judge the sustained pitch rather than only the initial attack, which may briefly be sharp.

Play mode permits continuous monitoring without added latency. Dim is useful when the downstream amp sound should remain audible at a reduced level, while Mute supports silent tuning. Reference Pitch accommodates a slightly different ensemble tuning, and Ballistics changes display responsiveness to suit the instrument and player.

Manual, introduction, p. 1; controls 1–7, p. 2.

Monitoring

• Tuner On / Off engages or bypasses the utility. Establish the preferred reference and display behavior once, then use this switch when tuning is needed.
• Play / Dim / Mute controls what reaches the following processors. Play passes the signal normally; Dim lowers it by 20 dB; Mute suppresses the output while the tuner remains usable. Dim is attenuation at this point in the chain, so level-sensitive processors after it may also respond differently.

Reading the display

• Note Display identifies the nearest note automatically. Confirm the note name before using the fine indicators: centering the meter on the wrong note will not give the intended tuning.
• Tuner LEDs cover −50 to +50 cents around that note. The central green indication is the main target.
• Fine Tuning Display covers approximately 3 cents according to the manual. Use it after the coarse bar has reached the center, and allow the string's attack to settle before judging a sustained note.

Calibration and movement

• Reference Pitch sets A between 438 and 442 Hz, with 440 Hz as the default. Change it to match the session reference rather than compensating every string separately.
• Ballistics changes the LED response speed. A slower display may be easier to read on a wandering sustain; a faster response makes pitch movement more apparent.

The manual cautions that artificial test tones such as sawtooth synth signals are not the detector's intended benchmark. Feed an isolated instrument directly rather than expecting reliable tuning of a full arrangement.

Manual, Tuner On / Off through Ballistics, p. 2; placement and source guidance, p. 1.