Tuner Feature Overview

The Tuner is FlowBeats' built-in real-time chromatic instrument tuner. It detects pitch via the device microphone, helping you tune string instruments quickly and accurately.

What Problem Does This Solve

Everyday Tuning: Tune guitar, ukulele, or other string instruments with just your phone
Precision Tuning: Real-time cents offset display shows exactly whether you're sharp or flat
Multi-Tuning Switching: Switch between different tunings (Standard, Half Step Down, Open tunings, etc.) with one tap
Visual Tuning: Tune without relying on your ears — ideal for noisy environments

Core Capabilities

Auto Detection & Manual Mode

Mode	Behavior	Best For
Auto Detection	Detects which string you're playing, locks on, and marks it complete when in tune	Tuning multi-string instruments string by string
Manual Mode	Tap a string button to select the target note; only that pitch is tracked	Single-string tuning, non-standard tunings

In auto mode, the algorithm requires 6 consecutive matching frames before switching targets, preventing jittery jumps. Once a string is tuned, its button shows a green checkmark.

Cents Needle Gauge

The horizontal gauge spans -50 to +50 cents. The needle color reflects tuning status:

Needle Color	Meaning	Status
Green	Within ±5 cents	In tune
Amber	More than 5 cents flat	Flat — tighten string
Red	More than 5 cents sharp	Sharp — loosen string

Stability Indicator

A row of 34 dots above the gauge indicates signal stability in real time. More lit dots mean higher pitch stability and confidence.

Tuning Success Feedback

When pitch stays within ±5 cents for approximately 0.45 seconds:

Visual: Expanding green ring animation with checkmark icon
Audio: Synthesized chime (880Hz + 1176Hz)
Haptic: Success vibration

A 1.4-second cooldown prevents repeated triggers.

Reference A4 Adjustment

Adjust the reference A4 pitch between 410–470 Hz in 0.5 Hz steps. Quick presets are available:

Preset	Use Case
432 Hz	432 Hz tuning preference
440 Hz	Standard concert pitch
442 Hz	Common for some orchestras
444 Hz	Common for some European orchestras

Tuning Preset Management

6 built-in tuning presets are included, with support for custom presets (subscription required).

Getting Started

First Use

Tap the Tuner card in the Tools Hub
Grant microphone permission on first launch
Auto mode is enabled by default — start plucking

Tuning Operation

Pluck a string and watch the note name and cents needle
Amber needle (left) means flat — tighten the string
Red needle (right) means sharp — loosen the string
When the needle turns green and the checkmark animation appears, the string is in tune
In auto mode, move to the next string; in manual mode, tap a target button to switch

Switching Modes

Tap the Auto / Manual toggle in the top-right corner. Auto mode is ideal for standard string-by-string tuning; manual mode is for when you need to target a specific pitch.

Adjusting Reference Pitch

Tap the settings gear in the top-right corner
Drag the Reference Pitch slider or tap a quick preset
All target frequencies recalculate automatically

Switching Tuning Presets

Find the Tuning Presets list in settings
Tap a preset name to switch — string targets update immediately
Tap + to create a custom preset (subscription required)

Built-in Presets

Preset	Strings (6th → 1st)	Use Case
Standard	E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4	Standard guitar tuning
Half Step Down	D#2 G#2 C#3 F#3 A#3 D#4	Half-step down tuning
Drop D	D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4	Drop D style
Open G	D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4	Open G slide playing
Open D	D2 A2 D3 F#3 A3 D4	Open D slide playing
DADGAD	D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4	Celtic / fingerstyle

Relation to Other Modules

iOS Widget: The tuner provides a Home Screen widget for one-tap access
Deep Linking: Supports the flowbeats://tuner URL scheme for external navigation to the tuner
Audio Engine: The tuner uses a separate playAndRecord audio session and does not interfere with rhythm/harmony playback

Notes

The tuner requires microphone permission; if denied, re-enable in System Settings
Screen stays on while tuning and resumes normal behavior when you leave
Custom tuning presets require a FlowBeats Pro subscription
Auto mode works best with clear single notes; strumming chords or playing double stops may cause unstable detection
The YIN pitch detector has an effective range of approximately 70–500 Hz; pitches outside this range may not be detected accurately