Korg CA-40 Chromatic Tuner

For every musician, a properly-tuned instrument is absolutely essential. However, even the best, most seasoned players blessed with absolute 'perfect pitch' need the proper equipment to perfectly tune their instrument right down to that precise frequency. Furthermore, every instrument within the ensemble has to be in perfect tune with each other.

Most often, primitive tuning devices such as pitch pipes are unreliable and wear out fast. Ear-tuning tools, such as tuning forks and the 'piano-method' not only rely on very sharp ears, but again, are only as good as the condition of the tool or instrument generating the reference tone. This is where the need for a good electronic tuner comes in.

The Japanese Korg Corporation has been producing quality electronic keyboards, rhythm machines, and musical accessories since 1962. To many musicians, their keyboards and tuners are the world standard, and it is through many recommendations I purchased my first Korg tuner back in 1985, and have used them ever since. I've had my Korg CA-40 Chromatic Tuner for almost a year now, and I can tell you it is one of the best electronic tuners I ever had.

Retailing for $17.99, how could I not replace my old Korg CA-30 with this little gadget? Not that my CA-30 wasn't a great piece of gear, but the newer Korg CA-40 Chromatic Tuner has some major new additions and improvements over the previous model.

For openers, it has a much wider tuning range from A0-C8; a huge improvement over the CA-30's C1-C8 range. Also, the CA-40 has both an input AND output jack, instead of the CA-30's solitary input jack. This allows guitarists to leave the Korg CA-30 Chromatic Tuner plugged in between the instrument and the amp during performing and recording, enabling the guitarist to constantly check the tuning and tweak as necessary.

The CA-40 also has a bypass function, which disables the tuner without impeding the signal flow. The only shortcoming I could find with the CA-40 is that the battery life is much shorter than with the CA-30, but that's to be expected with the extra functions and features. As for the rest of the features, the CA-40 has all the same great features of the old CA-30 model.

Chromatic tuners are undoubtedly the best tuners because of their versatility. Unlike standard guitar tuners (which only detect notes "E-A-D-G-B-E"), the Korg CA-40 can detect any given pitch, which not only enables guitarists to use alternate tunings such as "Eb", but it can also be used for woodwinds, brasswinds, membranophones, or virtually any instrument in the orchestra. The large, easy-to-read LCD needle display is extremely stable, and is aided by two red LEDs indicating whether the pitch is sharp or flat, and a single green LED that lets you know when the note is tuned to perfection.

The Korg CA-40 can be used to detect pitch either aurally through a built-in condenser microphone or electronically through direct connection via the "Line In" jack. It's only limitations are, of course, ambient noise when using the condenser mic, or if the instrument has extreme overtones and/or undertones.

The CA-40 can also be calibrated in 1 Hz increments to suit the tastes of the performer, and has a convenient "Memory Backup" function to remember the setting of the last manual recalibration. Like its predecessor, it has an auto-shut-off function to conserve the power in the two "AAA" Batteries required to operate the unit, and can even produce an audible reference tone that some musicians may find helpful.

Lastly, the Korg CA-40 Chromatic Tuner has a very nice feature in the built-in "Tilt-Slit" in the back of the unit. This shallow slot enables the musician to insert a credit card (or other similarly sized card) to use as a stand that sets the unit at a perfect angle for both viewing and stability.

The Korg CA-40 Chromatic Tuner is a great piece of precision gear, and for an average retail price of around $20.00, is an accurate, portable, versatile, low-maintenance tuner that I would recommend to anyone regardless of what instrument they play. By creating the CA-40, Korg has again lived up to it's name and reputation by taking their great CA-30 tuner and making it even better!