KORG CA-50 - Pocket Chromatic Tuner with Enlarged Display and Extended Battery Life

KORG CA-50 - Pocket Chromatic Tuner with Enlarged Display and Extended Battery Life

The KORG CA-50 is the standard in chromatic tuners for band and orchestral instruments. It features a more legible LCD display with a high-response needle-type meter and center note indicator, pure major and minor third markers for accurate harmonies, and a Sound Out mode with audible reference pitch. Its wide A0–C8 detection range covers everything from piccolo to tuba and violin to double bass, and A4 calibration between 410–480 Hz in 1 Hz steps allows for adapting to a variety of concert pitches. It includes a built-in microphone and 1/4" (mono, unbalanced) INPUT/OUTPUT connectivity for linking your instrument and amp without disconnecting. The design adds a stable flip-up stand and a sliding battery cover for convenient use on a music stand. Backup memory preserves calibration and Sound Out settings, and the 20-minute auto-off helps extend the battery life to approximately 135 hours on two AAA batteries (not included).

Main features

• Chromatic tuner with needle-type meter and large center note.
• Detection range: A0–C8 (27.5–4186 Hz).
• A4 Calibration: 410–480 Hz (1 Hz steps).
• Accuracy: ±1 cent (detection); Sound Out: ±1.5 cent.
• Sound Out (audible reference) of C4–C5 , one octave.
• Markers for tuning pure major and minor thirds in the meter itself.
• Daisy chain connectivity : unbalanced 6.35mm mono jack input and output.
• Built-in microphone ; compatible with KORG CM-200 contact microphone (optional).
• Battery life approx. 135 h (Meter mode, zinc-carbon batteries, A4 continuous input).
• Smart features : backup memory and auto power off (20 min).
• Music stand design : stable folding foot and sliding battery cover.
• Compact format : 100 × 67 × 17 mm; weight 81 g.

Product benefits

• Fast and reliable reading in the studio, rehearsal, or at the music stand thanks to the optimized display and precise meter.
• True versatility for orchestra and band: covers wind and string instruments across their entire range.
• Ensemble musical tuning with pure third markers for more pleasing harmonies.
• Flexible use : tune by microphone, cable or with audible reference without reconfiguring your audio chain.
• Minimal maintenance thanks to its long battery life, settings memory and auto-off.

Use cases

• Band and orchestra : quick setup for rehearsals and concerts, with audio reference for sections.
• Schools and conservatories : ear training with Sound Out and relative tuning practice.
• Acoustic instruments : stable tuning in noisy environments with optional CM-200 contact microphone.
• Electro-acoustic guitar/bass : daisy chain INPUT→tuner→OUTPUT→amplifier for tuning without muting.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are batteries included? No. Requires 2 x AAA batteries (not included).
• Can I leave it in the chain to the amp? Yes. Use the 1/4" (mono) INPUT and OUTPUT to fine-tune without disconnecting.
• Does it remember the calibration when it's turned off? Yes, thanks to the backup memory (it's reset when you change the batteries).
• What notes does the Sound Out play? Reference notes from C4 to C5 (one octave) through the built-in speaker.

Description for projects

Portable chromatic tuner in 12TET; detection range A0–C8; A4 calibration 410–480 Hz (1 Hz); detection accuracy ±1 cent; pitch accuracy ±1.5 cent; Meter and Sound Out modes; audible reference C4–C5 via Ø21 mm dynamic speaker; INPUT/OUTPUT connectors 6.35 mm (mono, unbalanced); internal microphone; memory backup and auto-off (20 min) functions; 2×AAA power supply; autonomy approx. 135 h (zinc-carbon, Meter mode, A4 continuous); dimensions 100 × 67 × 17 mm; weight 81 g.