Precision Strobe Tuner vs Colorful Chords
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Precision Strobe Tuner
This app provides a highly sensitive chromatic tuner for musical instruments. It features a radial spectrum display and a classic strobe tuner for precise pitch visualization. Ideal for instrument technicians and musicians seeking accurate tuning.
- Chromatic tuning
- Radial spectrum display
- Classic strobe tuner
- Programmable temperament function
- Piano tuning functions
- String inharmonicity characterization
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Precision Strobe Tuner 2.0 A General Purpose Chromatic Musical Instrument Tuner App with special Temperament and Piano Tuning Functions. The PST combines a radial Spectrum Display with a classic Strobe Tuner and Note Dial for an ultimate visualization of pitch and tone. The Strobe Display is highly sensitive with response speed that is practically instantaneous and has long been the preferred tool for piano tuners and instrument technicians. The central Spectrum Display shows the input spectrum wrapped around the Display, with each Octave drawn in a separate color. The Note Dial is marked like a clock with the twelve notes of the Scale. All overtones of the input are shown as peaks in the Spectrum Display pointing towards their corresponding Notes. The Fundamental Indicator Tic on the Spectrum Display shows the Note of the Fundamental along the Note Dial, with the color designating the Octave. Use the Spectrum Display for coarse adjustment by tuning the Fundamental to the center of the desired Note Indicator. As the input approaches the desired Note, a Two Group pinwheel pattern becomes visible rotating in the Strobe Display. Fine tuning is accomplished by adjusting to stop rotation. The Strobe Display responds instantaneously to changes in pitch and is extremely sensitive. The outside Strobe Display works just like a classic rotating disk strobe tuner. The Two-Group pattern rotates CCW when the input is flat, and CW when sharp. When the rotation is stopped, the note is in tune. The previews show a general strobe display demonstration, an example of using the calibration function to measure the accuracy of a tuning fork and an example of guitar string tuning. The first screenshot shows the display tuning a Guitar Low E string. The Fundamental appears as an Orange peak in the Spectrum Display. This string rings bright, so the overtones are also dominant in the Display. The second screenshot shows the display for an E 440 Tuning Fork with the Calibration Dial enabled and adjusted. This Fork is 2.9 cent Flat. The PST also includes a Programmable Temperament Function with 5 user definable banks. The third screenshot shows an example of a Temperament Bank set up to a typical Piano Stretch Curve. This can also be used for tuning alternate temperaments, pedal steel guitar setups, or special guitar intonation systems. In addition, there are several Special Measurement Banks used for String Inharmonicity characterization and Piano Stretch Curve Estimation. Individual strings can be characterized by measuring the Fundamental and 2nd Harmonic separately. By careful selection of a few representative measurement points, a reasonable smooth fit Piano Stretch Curve can be generated. Any number of measurements can be used. The final screenshot shows the Input Signal Scope/Spectrum Display Page. The Detailed Operation Manual can be viewed here: www.precisionstrobe.com
Colorful Chords
Discover 192 unique guitar chord voicings not found in standard charts. Explore major and minor chords with extensions, listen to audio playback, watch video demos, and find compatible keys. Includes a daily chord and a built-in tuner for 7 different tunings.
- 192 unique chord voicings
- 7 different guitar tunings
- Audio playback of chords
- Video demonstrations
- Built-in chromatic tuner
- Chord of the Day feature
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The Book of Colorful Chords brings 192 hand-discovered guitar chord voicings to your fingertips — sounds you won't find in standard chord charts. WHAT'S INSIDE 192 unique chord voicings across 7 tunings: Standard Drop D Double Drop D Open G Open E Open A DADGAD Includes major and minor voicings with colorful extensions — 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and suspended tones throughout. FEATURES Audio Playback — Hear every chord played on a real guitar Video Demo — Watch each chord being played Works Well In — Each chord shows the keys it fits naturally Variation Notes — Ideas for embellishment and alternate fingerings Chord of the Day — A new chord delivered daily with optional reminder notification Built-In Guitar Tuner — Chromatic tuner supporting all 7 tunings in the app, with acoustic and electric reference tones CREATED THROUGH DISCOVERY None of these chords were copied from a book or website. Every shape emerged organically from years of exploring the fretboard — experimenting, listening, and following curiosity. Whether you're a songwriter looking for fresh textures, a session player expanding your vocabulary, or a curious guitarist ready to explore, these chords are waiting for you.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Precision Strobe Tuner at 79% against Colorful Chords's 0%. Precision Strobe Tuner also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (56 vs 2). Colorful Chords's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $9.99). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Precision Strobe Tuner costs $9.99 and Colorful Chords $5.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Precision Strobe Tuner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Precision Strobe Tuner has 56 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Precision Strobe Tuner's written reviews are positive against 0% of Colorful Chords's.
| Parameter | Precision Strobe Tuner | Colorful Chords |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | $5.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (56 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 79.1% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 56 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 97 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jim Campbell | Michael Schmidt |
Customer experience
Precision Strobe Tuner
Colorful Chords
In-app purchases
Precision Strobe Tuner
No in-app purchases
Colorful Chords
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Precision Strobe Tuner free?
Is Colorful Chords free?
Which has better reviews, Precision Strobe Tuner or Colorful Chords?
Do Precision Strobe Tuner or Colorful Chords have ads?
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