Boss TU-12EX - Chromatic Tuner Manual

Before using this unit, carefully read the sections entitled: "USING THE UNIT SAFELY" and "IMPORTANT NOTES" (supplied on a separate sheet). These sections provide important information concerning the proper operation of the unit. Additionally, in order to feel assured that you have gained a good grasp of every feature provided by your new unit, Owner's Manual should be read in its entirety. The manual should be saved and kept on hand as a convenient reference.
As shipped, the TU-12EX's batteries are not yet installed. Be sure to read the section "Changing the Batteries," and then follow the instructions to install the batteries.

How to Use the Tuner (Auto CHROMATIC Mode)

1. Connect the instrument to be tuned to the INPUT jack.
   If you're tuning an acoustic instrument, use the built-in mic instead. To use the mic, make sure that nothing is connected to the INPUT or OUTPUT jacks, and place the TU-12EX near the instrument.
2. Press [POWER] to switch the power on.
3. Press [CHROMATIC/GUITAR] to enable the "CHROMATIC" setting (lighting the green indicator).
   In CHROMATIC mode, the TU-12EX automatically displays note names as you play them on your instrument. Most of the time, you'll find that CHROMATIC is the most convenient mode to use.
   If you're using a guitar or bass and wish to tune by specifying the string number first, use GUITAR mode. (Tuning using GUITAR mode is described in the next section.)
4. Play a single note on the instrument.
   Most of the time, you'll want to play an open string when tuning a guitar or bass.
   While the note is sounding, the note name is displayed.
   The meter and Tuning Guide show how far the note is from the correct pitch.
5. Tune the instrument.
   While playing a single note, adjust the instrument's tuning as necessary to display the target note's name. Once the desired note name is displayed, fine-tune the note's pitch by tuning the instrument so that and on the Tuning Guide light simultaneously and the meter's needle points to 0 (the center position). When the Accu-Pitch feature is on, the tuner makes a beeping sound when the note is stabilized at the correct pitch, informing you that the note is in tune.

How to Use the Tuner (Manual GUITAR Mode)

1. Connect the instrument to be tuned to the INPUT jack.
   If you're tuning an acoustic instrument, use the built-in mic instead. To use the mic, make sure that nothing is connected to the INPUT or OUTPUT jacks, and place the TU-12EX near the instrument.
2. Press [POWER] to switch the power on.
3. Press [CHROMATIC/GUITAR] to enable the "GUITAR" setting (lighting the red indicator).
4. Press [] or [] to light the indicator for the string number you want to tune.
5. Play the selected string number on your instrument.
   Play the string open, without fretting it.
6. Tune the string.
   Adjust the string's tuning so that both and on the Tuning Guide are lit and the meter's needle points to 0 (the center position).
   When the Accu-Pitch feature is on, the tuner makes a beeping sound when the note is stabilized at the correct pitch, informing you that the note is in tune.
7. Repeat Steps 4-6 as necessary to tune the rest of your instrument's strings.

TU-12EX Settings

Changing the Reference Pitch for Tuning

1. Hold down [PITCH] and press [] or [] to choose the reference pitch you want. (Range of setting: 438 to 445 Hz)
   The indicator flashes. Choose the reference pitch you want by getting it to flash.
2. Release [PITCH] to set the selected reference pitch.

Flat Tuning (Flat Feature)

1. Press [FLAT] to switch on the Flat feature (the red indicator lights).
2. Press [] or [] to set the number of flats (the number of flat semitones) that you wish to tune to. (Range of setting: to 6 )
   For example, if you select two flats, the actual pitch of a tuned note will be two semitones below what is displayed by the TU-12EX.
3. Press [FLAT] again.
   This enables the setting for the Flat feature. Even if you don't press [FLAT], the setting is enabled automatically after three seconds.
4. To disable the Flat feature, press [FLAT] so that its red indicator goes out.

Tuning While Listening to the Reference Tone (Sound Mode)

1. Choose the type of tuning you want to use (e.g., Tuning Mode, Flat feature).
2. Press [] (Sound) to play the reference tone.
3. Press [] or [] until the indicator for the note name/string number you want to tune is lit.
   The sound of the note name/string number shown by the indicator is played.

   Auto CHROMATIC mode:	Pressing [] and [], you can play reference tones in half-step increments over five octaves (C2 to C7).
   Manual GUITAR mode:	The pitch of the selected open string (7B to 1E) is played.
   When you're using the Flat feature, the pitch the reference tone is adjusted accordingly.

4. Tune the instrument to the reference tone.
   When you're using Sound mode, tuning cannot be performed using the built-in mic (the built-in mic is disabled).
5. Press [] (Sound) to stop playing the reference tone.

Calibrating the Meter's Needle

Rarely, the meter's needle may drift out of calibration, causing the needle to point slightly off from the 0 position even when the Tuning Guide's and indicators light simultaneously. This can occur over time as the unit is transported, or if the unit is handled in a rough fashion.

During normal use, the meter's needle almost never drifts out of calibration. To adjust it, be sure to use a small flathead screwdriver (a 2.0 mm precision screwdriver).

1. Hold down [PITCH] and turn the power on.
   Confirm whether or not the needle is pointing at the 0 position.
2. If the meter's needle fails to point to the 0 position, use a flathead screwdriver (a 2.0 mm precision screwdriver) to turn the meter adjustment control until the needle points to 0.
3. After completing calibration, press [POWER] to switch off the power.

Useful Features

Preventing Battery Drain If You Forget to Switch Off the Power (Auto Power Off Feature)

When using battery power, if the TU-12EX remains in the state described below for approximately thirty minutes after it was turned on, the power will automatically be switched off.

• No button has been pressed, and
• No audio (including input from the built-in mic) has been detected.

Deactivating the Auto Power Off Feature

You can temporarily deactivate the Auto Power Off feature when you power up the TU-12EX. To do so, simultaneously hold down [] and [] while you press [POWER] to turn on the power.
The Auto Power Off feature will be enabled the next time you turn on the power in the usual way.

Using a Tone to Indicate Tuning is Completed (Accu-Pitch Feature)

When the Accu-Pitch Feature is on, a beeping sound is played when the sound of the instrument you're tuning has stabilized at a pitch that is no more than three cents sharp or flat. This sound tells you that the pitch is in tune.

Switching the Accu-Pitch Feature On and Off

1. Hold down [] (Sound) and press [POWER] to switch on the power.
   If no sound is heard from the unit as it's powered up, it means that the Accu-Pitch feature has been deactivated. To enable the Accu-Pitch feature, perform the same operation again; if you hear a beeping sound when the power comes on, it means that Accu-Pitch has been enabled.

Memory Features

Once batteries are installed in the TU-12EX, the settings described below are retained in memory even after the power is switched off.

Setting	Original factory settings
Tuning mode setting (CHROMATIC or GUITAR)	CHROMATIC
Reference pitch	440Hz
String Numbers in Manual GUITAR Mode	6E
Sounded reference tone	CHROMATIC: C4 GUITAR: 6E
Accu-Pitch feature settings	ON (enabled)
Flat tuning settings (number of semitones)

If the batteries are removed or are depleted, all data saved in memory may be lost.

Changing the Batteries

The BATT. indicator flashes when the batteries begin to run down.
Replace the batteries as soon as possible.
* When turning the unit upside-down, place it on a soft cloth or the like so as to prevent damage to the panel.

1. Open the battery compartment (located on the bottom of the unit) by sliding the cover toward OPEN.
2. Remove the old batteries from the battery compartment.
3. Insert two of the same type of fresh AAA batteries.
   * Make sure the "+" and "-" ends of the batteries are oriented correctly.
   * Do not mix fresh batteries with used ones, or mix batteries of different types. Doing so can result in fluid leakage.
4. Slide the cover of the battery compartment back into place.

Specifications

* In the interest of product improvement, the specifications and/or appearance of this unit are subject to change without prior notice.

Copyright © 2008 BOSS CORPORATION
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of BOSS CORPORATION.