Tuner+ update adds VoiceOver support

By Nick Culbertson, 24 October, 2017

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hello Everyone,

I just updated my instrument tuning app, Tuner+, to have full voiceover support! The app plays tuned notes for guitar, bass, violin, ukulele and other stringed instruments. The app doesn't analyze the notes being played, but is a great solution for tuning by ear to pitch perfect audio.

This new accessibility was added after receiving 2 emails from users requesting full VoiceOver support. I've been working closely with one of the users to make sure everything works as he would expect as a VoiceOver power user. This is the third app I've added VO support to and I plan to continue adding it to my other apps to better serve this community. I hope these changes help to make Tuner+ useful for all the VoiceOver musicians out there.

Here is the link to Tuner+ now with full VoiceOver support: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tuner/id447600117?mt=8

Thanks for reading,
Nick

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Comments

By musicman on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 21:18

I was just looking for something like this a few weeks ago and just found inaccessible programs. this is awesome! It would be great if for the chromatic scales the original instruments were sampled. although I can see this being a lot of work. Out of curiosity, you mentioned some of your other apps were voice over accessible. but you have so many apps! haha. which would those be? thanks!

Thanks, Musicman! I'm so glad to hear that you'll be putting the app to good use.

Yes, adding chromatic notes would take quite a lot of work which I don't mind, but more importantly it would make the size of the app much larger. I'll add your recommendation to the feature backlog for consideration on future updates.

The other apps I have added VO Accessibility to are Nature Soundscapes, an app with seamless audio loops of nature, and Photo Timer+, a simple photo timer app with custom controls. I wrote about adding VO to Nature Soundscapes on another post here: https://www.applevis.com/forum/ios-ios-app-discussion/nature-soundscapes-update-adds-voiceover-support

The next apps I will be adding VO to are my radio streaming apps which I have quite a lot of. Thanks for checking out Tuner+ and commenting!

Thanks,
Nick

By Erion on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 21:18

Nick, it's really nice to see that you put time and effort into making your applications accessible to us. Thank you so much.

By DJX on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 21:18

Would it be possible to set how fast the note/string plays? For example, if I want the note to play every second to facilitate faster tuning when plucking? I think this would help in situations where it might be somewhat noisy, and hearing the end of the note fade might be difficult.

In any case, thanks for making the app VoiceOver friendly, it works great!

Thanks, Erion! Apple has put a lot on emphasis on having developers making their apps accessible the past couple of years at their developer's conference. It really makes it a win-win for everybody since it means more people can use the apps. Hopefully more and more indie developers will jump on board.

Thanks,
Nick

By Nick Culbertson on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 21:18

Thanks, DJX! That is a great feature request. Right now the entire audio file of the sound plays then it loops when it hits the end. If the audio files were shorter it would loop faster. That certainly gives me something to think about. I'll add your recommendation to the feature backlog for future updates. Thanks for posting!

Thanks,
Nick

By DJX on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 21:18

Thanks for the quick response and consideration Nick!
I figured the sound file length was the case, and I agree, a shorter sound file would do the trick, since it could loop faster.
Alternatively, depending on how you are playing the file, a long sound that plays for a short second, with a small decay or release envelope could also do the trick, if you have that much control over the playback of the file that is. In this way, you can have the length be adjusted by the user and not just a hardwired 1 second. You could provide more options and not have to have a sound of that length for each choice.
Speaking of sounds, if you needs sounds for the tunings, I'd be glad to record some in my studio and provide them for you if need be.

By Socheat on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 21:18

Hello Nick. Yesterday, after I went through this topic, I've decided to give this app a try. The result is very good. It's says Tuner+, and I thought it is a payed app. But no, my thought is fault. :) Anyway, it is a great app. And thanks for making this free. It's great for people who live in the poor country like myself. The app is pretty accessible. Not just that, you can tune various instruments in just one app. I really love this app. Keep up the great work.

By Liam on Thursday, March 24, 2022 - 21:18

Hi Nick
I was wondering does this app have Chromatic scales now?
I am learning the wire harp and its in a chromatic scale. so I am seeking a tuner app that isn't a guitar tuner. does yours now have this option?
thanks :)
Liam

By Nick Culbertson on Thursday, March 24, 2022 - 21:18

Hi Liam. Thanks for writing. Yes, there is a chromatic mode. It is called Notes. To navigate to it, you select the notes mode near the top. Then navigate to the center of the screen where there is an "E" button to play a sine wave tuned to "E" and adjacent buttons to change the note's pitch up or down an octave or a half step also known as a semitone. Good luck with your music!

Thanks,
Nick

By Matthew Whitaker on Thursday, March 24, 2022 - 21:18

Hello. Thanks so much for doing this. Keep up the amazing work.