SABINE STX-1100 User manual

STX1100
Chromatic AutoTuner
NEW: Improved with more functions!
ON/OFF SWITCH
AMPLIFIER OUTPUT
MICROPHONE
INTUNE INDICATORS
INSTRUMENT INPUTMUSIC STAND CLIPS
NOTE
INDICATORS
FUNCTION
INDICATORS
FUNCTION SWITCH
9-VOLT ADAPTER INPUT
SABINE
®

2
Outstanding Features
Chromatic Scale - Full Range
The STX1100 automatically senses all 12 notes in the musical scale. It
tunes all open strings, from the five-string bass to the mandolin and
violin, and can be used to tune all musical instruments and voice.
Automatic Note Sensing
The STX1100 automatically determines and displays which musical note
is being played. The hands-free operation of this tuner allows the musi-
cian to monitor the pitch while playing.
Automatic Calibration
The STX1100 can be Calibrated to match the pitch of any reference
instrument with the touch of a button.
Automatic Battery Monitoring
The STX1100 monitors the voltage of the battery and automatically dis-
plays a warning when the battery is low.
Automatic Sleep Mode Battery Saver
If there is no tone for 15 minutes, the tuner will turn itself off automati-
cally.
Easy-to-Read Display
The STX1100 replaces the delicate meter and needle display with a
rugged solid-state LED array. The LED display provides the same con-
tinuous indication of tuning error by varying the LED blink rate. But LEDs
are much easier to read, especially in the dark or at a distance. Addition-
ally, LEDs do not introduce angle-of-view errors.

3
Quartz Accuracy
A highly stable quartz crystal resonator assures that the Sabine AutoTuner
is much more accurate than the human ear (+/- one cent.)
Music Stand and Amplifier Mounts
The STX1100 has two stainless steel clips built into the case top so the
tuner can be easily mounted on a music stand. Also included are two
reusable cable ties for mounting the tuner to an amplifier.
9 Volt DC Adaptor
Most 9-volt DC adaptors can be used with the STX1100. If the adaptor
has a polarity switch, set the center pin of the DC adaptor jack to nega-
tive (barrel: 2.5mm inside diameter).
New FEATURES!
Manual Calibration
The STX1100 can now be calibrated to any of 12 precise frequencies –
many more than available on other tuners.
Tone Generator
Generate a reference tone through an amplifier for tuning by ear.
Tranposes to Any Key
Transpose to any key – a special advantage for many band and orches-
tra musicians.

4
Instructions For Tuning
1. Slide The ON/OFF Switch To ON. Wait two seconds for the green
light to start blinking. The green light will blink once per second to indi-
cate that the unit is on and ready.
Acoustic instrument tones are detected by a very sensitive internal mi-
crophone. It is generally not advantageous to play loudly, except in very
noisy rooms. Medium loudness usually gives the best results.
Electronic instruments should be connected with a standard cord with a
¼-inch phone jack to the input labeled INSTRUMENT. The internal mic
is automatically disconnected when an electronic instrument is connected
so that the tuner will not pick up extraneous room noise. You may con-
nect the tuner’sAMPLIFIER jack to any amplifier’s or P.A. system’s input
so that you can tune as you play.
2. Play a single tone that you wish to tune. Adjust the instrument’s
pitch until the desired Note Indicator light is lit. For example, if you wish
to tune a D string on a guitar, pluck the string and tune it until the “D” note
indicator light is lit. Pluck the string every second or so to keep the note
“fresh” and to prevent the note from fading flat.
3. Slowly adjust the instrument’s pitch until the green “IN TUNE”
light is lit. Note that the SHARP and FLAT indicators blink rapidly when
the tone is far from being in tune and blink slower and slower as the tone
approaches being IN TUNE. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other notes
until the entire instrument is tuned.
Note: The STX1100 has contrasting red and green note indicator LEDs.
The green LEDs indicate the six standard guitar notes (E,A,D,G,B,E).

5
How To Use The Special Features
Automatic Battery Monitoring
The STX1100 monitors the voltage of its battery automatically. If the
voltage gets low, the "In Tune" indicator light (green) will stop blinking
and the "Flat" (amber) and "Sharp" (red) indicator lights will blink simul-
taneously. The tuner will then tune accurately for about 10 more hours.
Automatic SLEEP MODE Battery Saver
The STX1100 will turn itself off if it does not hear a tone for 15 minutes to
help prevent the battery from discharging unnecessarily. To turn the tuner
back on from sleep mode, simply move the power switch to OFF and
then back ON. Note: A very small amount of current will be drawn from
the battery in sleep mode, so it is best to turn the tuner off with the power
switch.
9-volt DC ADAPTOR
Most 9-volt DC adaptors can be used with the STX1100. If the adaptor
has a polarity switch, set the center pin of the DC adaptor jack to nega-
tive (barrel: 2.5mm inside diameter).

6
Music Stand Clips
The STX1100 mounts easily to the bed of
a music stand so that you can monitor
your pitch while you play. (See Figure 1.)
If your stand has a sharp or ragged edge,
a strip of tape along the edge will prevent
scratching the top of your tuner.
The clips will easily accommodate a thin
piece of metal like a music stand, but they
will be permanently bent if you try to jam
them over something thicker, such as the
handle of a guitar amp.
NOTE: BENT CLIPS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Automatic Calibration
Most tuners on the market will allow the user to calibrate only a few
Hertz from standard A = 440Hz. They prove to be almost useless if the
user wishes to tune to an instrument that is more than a few Hertz out of
tune. However, the STX1100 can be calibrated to match any instrument
by simply touching a button.
Example: If you wish to tune a guitar so that it will be in tune with a
certain piano, simply play any note on the piano, and wait a moment for
the note to register on the tuner’s display. Then touch the FUNCTION
button on the tuner. Instantly the green IN-TUNE light will go on, indicat-
ing that the tuner now considers the piano to be in perfect tune. Now if
you tune your instrument to the tuner, your instrument will be in tune with
Fig. 1
INSTRUMENT

7
the piano. To return the tuner to standard A = 440Hz, simply move the
power switch to OFF and then back ON. The tuner always resets its
internal scale to A = 440Hz when it is turned on.
Manual Calibration
Most other tuners on the market allow the user to manually calibrate to a
very limited number of pitches. However, the can be calibrated to any of
12 precise pitches. This feature will be especially useful for tuning in-
struments that use open tunings, such as banjos, dulcimers, Irish harps,
pedal-steel and bottleneck guitars, etc., or any time you may wish to
tune to a “natural scale” rather than an “even-tempered scale.”
Example: If you wish to calibrate the tuner from standard A = 440Hz to
A = 438Hz, press the FUNCTION button and hold until the top row of
LEDs (MANUAL/FLAT, TONE OUT/IN TUNE and TRANSPOSE/SHARP)
light in sequence. Release the FUNCTION button when only the
(MANUAL) LED is lit. The bottom row of LEDs will begin to light in se-
quence. (Each LED represents 1 Hertz.) Press the FUNCTION button
when the LED corresponding to 438Hz lights. The tuner’s scale is now
shifted flat from A = 440Hz to A = 438Hz. Please note the manual cali-
bration scale is referenced in Hertz and in ¢. NOTE: there are 100¢
between any two adjacent notes in the musical scale, and one Hertz is
equal to one vibration per second. To return the tuner to standard A =
440Hz, simply turn the power switch to OFF and then back ON.
Tone Generator
The STX1100 will generate any reference tone over a two-octave range
so that you may tune by ear.

8
Example: First, plug the tuner into an amplifier. If you wish to hear a “C”
note, press the function button for three seconds until the MANUAL/
FLAT, TONE OUT/IN TUNE and TRANSPOSE/SHARP LEDs light in
sequence. Press the FUNCTION button when the TONE OUT LED is lit.
Now the “A” LED on the bottom will light and an “A” will sound through
the amplifier. Each time you press the FUNCTION button, the pitch will
raise one-half tone. Press the FUNCTION button three times to gener-
ate a “C” note. You may stop the tone generator simply by turning the
tuner OFF and back ON. You may play your electric instrument through
the tuner while in TONE mode. You will hear your instrument and the
reference pitch at the same time so that you can match the tones pre-
cisely. The volume control on your instrument will act as the volume
control of the tone generator also.
Transpose
The can be transposed to any key. This is especially useful if you are
using a fretted instrument with a capo or if your instrument is not tuned in
the key of “C” such as a B-Flat trumpet or E-Flat Alto Sax.
Example: If you wish to transpose the tuner for use with a B-Flat trum-
pet, press the function button for three seconds until the MANUAL/FLAT,
TONE OUT/IN TUNE and TRANSPOSE/SHARP LEDs begin to light in
sequence. Next, press the function button again when the LED that cor-
responds to TRANSPOSE is lit. Now, the twelve note indicator LEDs will
light in sequence. Press the function button when “A#” (which is the
same as B-Flat) is lit. The tuner’s internal scale is now shifted down
one-half step so that a “C” played on the trumpet will register “C” on the
tuner, not B-Flat as before transposing. To return to standard “C” tuning,
simply slide the power switch to OFF and then back ON.

9
Tuning Tips
Most musical instruments have peculiarities that can cause annoying
tuning problems. Fortunately, most of these peculiarities can be over-
come by following these simple procedures:
Fretted Instruments
1. Pluck the instrument once per second at normal volume while you
are tuning. Plucked strings go noticeably flat a few seconds after
they have been plucked.
2. Tune stringed instruments from a pitch that is flat up to the pitch you
desire. This procedure removes any slack in the gears of the
instrument’s tuning heads. If you tune from SHARP to IN TUNE, the
gears will slip as you play and the instrument will go flat.
3. If you have difficulty getting a note to register on the tuner, try
touching the other strings lightly to stop their vibrations. This will
eliminate any extraneous overtones that may disturb the tuning.
4. Use good strings. Old strings tend to lose their uniformity and will
not vibrate evenly. Brand new strings stretch flat as you play.
5. All sources of friction will cause problems. For example, if the slot in
an instrument’s nut is too tight, the string will be pulled flat as it is
played. A tight nut (or capo) will cause the string’s pitch to change in
steps rather than evenly.
6. Avoid pressure on the instrument while tuning. Even moderate
pressure on the neck of a guitar will cause a noticeable change in
pitch. Also, press the strings straight down to the fingerboard.
Bending the strings sideways is very common, especially on difficult
chords, but causes the strings to be pulled sharp.

10
Note for advanced fretted instrumentalists:
All fretted instruments, and most other instruments, are constructed to
play an “even-tempered scale.” Sabine tuners are also calibrated to this
scale. The “even-tempered scale” places equal tonal spacing between
all notes in the scale so that the musician will not have to retune to
change keys. A disadvantage, however, is that the third note of the scale
sounds a little sharp (14 cents, to be exact). For example, when playing
in the key of G, the B will sound sharp. If you tune the B string so that it
sounds correct in an open G chord, other chords using the B string will
sound out of tune. The musician may choose to optimize the tuning for a
particular key or to use the “even-tempered scale.” Much depends on
the musician’s style, but generally it is best to tune exactly as your Sabine
tuner indicates.
Wind Instruments, Voice & Instruments of
The Violin Family
Sabine tuners are excellent teaching aids for both beginning and ad-
vanced musicians. During practice, the musician should clip the Sabine
AutoTuner to a music stand as illustrated in the drawing. Practice play-
ing long, steady tones and intervals. Try to keep the green IN TUNE light
lit. Standing with good posture will facilitate good breath and hand con-
trol. The visual feedback from the tuner will greatly reduce the time needed
to train your ear to play or sing beautifully and in tune.
Contact Microphone (Optional)
The Sabine CM1 contact microphone makes tuning an acoustic instru-
ment as easy as tuning an electric guitar. It has a removable rubber
suction cup to stick the mic directly onto the instrument. The CM1 is