Anyone tune their gear to 432hz when recording analog music?

[jpsexton]

Back in my Gigging days when we were playing 3-5 shows a week we tuned down because it was easier on the voice.

I can't say for sure that it was or simply a placebo effect but we believed it and that made it so!

I also always thought it made things a bit fatter sounding but that could have been a placebo as well.

[64GTOBOY]

This is goofy, 80-90% of the world does not recognize western tunings and pitch is a matter of opinion. It doesn't matter in the slightest what you tune to, it's just easier to have a standard so that our western style harmonies can be easily created.

[John_Toolbox]

I think there is some science in different tunings, where the effect of said tunings is entirely dependant on the room you are in. As an example, if any dimension of your room is divisible/multiple of the wavelength of 440Hz and you play an A (assuming tuning of A=440), those standing waves will certainly affect what you hear. Thus, changing tuning to A=432Hz would make the same material sound different in that particular room, since the wavelength of "A" wouldn't be a standing wave. But, those result won't necessarily transfer to a different room. The same goes for an instrument. If the instrument resonates more at a certain frequency due to its design, A=440 may not necessarily be the ideal tuning for it.

If you are listening in a treated room, the problem frequencies for standing waves should have been dealt with in the design of the room, but all rooms are different and will have their own quirks.

Keep in mind I have taken an acoustics class many years ago, and spent lots of time reading about acoustics, but I don't by any means claim to be an expert on this subject.

[JCBigler]

Originally Posted by jpsexton

Back in my Gigging days when we were playing 3-5 shows a week we tuned down because it was easier on the voice.

I can't say for sure that it was or simply a placebo effect but we believed it and that made it so!

I also always thought it made things a bit fatter sounding but that could have been a placebo as well.

Why not just transpose your song down by a whole step? or third, or whatever until it's in the comfortable vocal range?

[jpsexton]

Originally Posted by JCBigler

Why not just transpose your song down by a whole step? or third, or whatever until it's in the comfortable vocal range?

Too much to think about.

When you're learning a half a dozen new covers a week it's much easier to learn them in 440 and then just tune down when you perform. Also if someone set in nobody had to think about changing keys from how the song was originally intended.

[AlexLakis]

Originally Posted by JCBigler

Why not just transpose your song down by a whole step? or third, or whatever until it's in the comfortable vocal range?

Maybe open chords are involved (or a dozen other reasons).

[amagras]

Originally Posted by JCBigler

Why not just transpose your song down by a whole step? or third, or whatever until it's in the comfortable vocal range?

That's what metal guys do, they use 8-string guitars for the low notes, no need to tune to 432

[JCBigler]

Originally Posted by jpsexton

Too much to think about.

When you're learning a half a dozen new covers a week it's much easier to learn them in 440 and then just tune down when you perform. Also if someone set in nobody had to think about changing keys from how the song was originally intended.

Hope you don't have any horn players or piano/keys players sitting in with you. Tuning down would wreak havoc on their parts.