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Korg Pitchblack Advance Tuner Pedal Review (2021)

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The self-proclaimed ‘evolution of the best-selling Pitchblack tuner’ has arrived – the Korg Pitchblack Advance! The Pitchblack Advance is the successor to the previous Pitchblack models released by Korg. It incorporates many of the same features and capabilities of the previous models, but with a new sleek design. Does the Pitchblack Advance live up the hype surrounding the name? Well lets find out. We will be checking out everything you need to know about this tuner pedal, and much more!

Features:

  • Modern Design
  • Easy-to-Read Display
  • High Tuning Accuracy (+/- 0.1 Cents)
  • 4 Meter Display Modes to Choose From
  • True Bypass Functionality
  • DC OUT Jack to Power Multiple Pedals
  • Eliminates Any Noise Caused By Power Supply
  • Up To 60 Hours of Battery Life
Korg Pitchblack Advance Front View Let’s go ahead and list the specs of the Pitchblack Advance:
SPECIFICATIONS DETAILS
Scale 12 note equal temperament
Detection Range E0 (20.60 Hz) – C8 (4186 Hz)
Calibration Range A4 = 436 – 445 Hz (1 Hz steps)
Detection Accuracy +/- 0.1 cent
Power Supply 9V Battery or AC Adapter (optional)
Battery Life 30-60 hours
Dimensions (W x H x D) 2.68″ (6.8 cm) x 4.37″ (11.1 cm) x 1.85″ (4.7 cm)
Weight 257 g
The Pitchblack Advance really stands out from the crowd with its slanted design. I’m honestly quite a big fan of its appearance, but I feel like some people may not be. This design definitely feels like something you’ll either love or hate, so I’ll let you be the judge of that one. The most obvious reason why people look to invest in a decent tuner is so they can accurately tune their instrument (duh!). The Pitchblack Advance is really able to deliver on this as it provides incredibly accurate tuning (+/- 0.1 cents). There are a total of 4 different meter display modes for you to choose from:
  1. Regular: In ‘regular mode’ you will want to tune your instrument until the LED at the center of the LED meter is lit. An LED on the right will light up if the pitch is high, and an LED on the left will light up if the pitch is low
  2. Strobe: In ‘strobe mode’ you will want to tune your instrument until the LEDs stop running. Since the strobe meter has a higher precision, it allows you to tune with greater accuracy. The LEDs light up, running from left to right if the pitch is high and from right to left if the pitch is low
  3. Half-Strobe: In ‘half-strobe mode’ you will want to tune your instrument until the LEDs stop running and only the center LED is lit. The LEDs on the right will strobe if the pitch is high, and the LEDs on the left will strobe if the pitch is low. When the pitch is in tune, only the center LED is lit
  4. Mirror: In ‘mirror mode’ you will want to tune your instrument so that the two illuminated LEDs in the left and right side of the LED meter coincide in the center. The farther your instrument is from the correct pitch, the farther apart the illuminated LEDs will be
As mentioned above, if you want the greatest amount of tuning accuracy from the Pitchblack Advance, then choosing to go with the ‘strobe mode’ will be your best option. Like most other guitar pedals seen nowadays, the Pitchblack Advance features true-bypass functionality. This means the guitar signal going through the tuner will not be altered in any way as it passes though. This is a pretty useful thing to note when setting up the composition of your pedalboard. Another useful feature of the Pitchblack Advance is its capability to power other effects pedals using the DC OUT jack. This can be performed through the use of an optional DC cascade cable, and can provide 9V 200 mA of power. Make sure you DO NOT connect the AC Adaptor to the DC OUT port – doing so may cause major damage to the pedal. One thing I forgot to touch on is the viability of the pedals display while tuning. This is a very important factor to consider; especially if you plan on using the tuner when you are performing live, or in a poorly lit area. Much like the previous models of the Pitchblack, the Advance is incredibly well lit up. You should have no problems using the pedal in any setting. It’s very bright, clear, and large enough to see from a distance. The biggest thing that separates the Advance from the previous Pitchblack tuners is its long battery life. You’re able to get around 30 hours of battery life from zinc-carbon batteries and close to 60 hours from alkaline batteries.

CONCLUSION

Okay, now that we have checked out the Pitchblack Advace, what do we think about it? Well… it doesn’t really add much from the previous models. The main differences are in its appearance, and longer battery life. I wouldn’t really say that those two things are worth paying an extra $30-50 for. Overall, the Pitchblack Advance does give you everything there is to love about the original Pitchblack in a new sleek housing though. If you’re on a tight budget then I would suggest going with the original Pitchblack to save a few dollars. Regardless though, it’s still a very good tuner. It does everything you would expect from a tuner, and it does it well. It’s highly accurate, has multiple display modes, and has long battery life. Picking up any Pitchblack tuner is definitely not a bad thing at all. Thanks for checking out our review! Hopefully we have covered enough information on the pedal for you to make a judgement call on whether it’s the right tuner for you. If you have any questions or comments then feel free to send them in to us!

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