Metronome - now with dance rhythms! Digital metronome MeIdeal M50 How a mechanical metronome works.

Hi all. I needed a metronome. There was no big rush, so I bought a metronome on Aliexpress. The metronome is quite functional, quite loud, but there is also a drawback that required studying the waveform oscillograms

This review of a newly purchased metronome was prompted by an extremely unexpected problem, or perhaps its feature, which sharply limited its use.

Many famous musicians do not use a metronome during performances, rehearsals, and even when recording albums, since the metronome forces musicians into strict time frames, depriving them of the freedom to express emotions through music. At the same time, everyone recognizes that a metronome is an absolutely necessary thing for the development of a musician, for developing his sense of time, and training for even playing. For the drummer, who sets the musical pulse of the group and is essentially a metronome for the rest of the musicians, this is especially important.

As it turned out, my sense of rhythm and sense of time were far from ideal, and to control the smoothness of my drumming I needed a metronome. But the volume of the metronome, an Android application that I installed on my mobile phone, turned out to be not enough. Therefore, it was decided to take an “iron” metronome.

There are metronomes on sale that are completely different in functionality. The simplest ones can only make sounds like “pick-peek” with a given periodicity in a given musical time signature. “Advanced” metronomes have several sound options, can be programmed for various rhythmic patterns containing pauses, accented notes, empty measures, speed changes in different parts of the piece, have a memory for storing an n-number of rhythmic patterns, etc. Very advanced models of metronomes (for example, Boss db-90) have built-in realistic drum sounds, a voice counting function, have a midi input for synchronization, an input for a drum pad trigger, an instrument input, allowing, for example, a drummer to hear, in addition to the metronome, also a monitor line from the sound engineer's mixer, etc.

Initially, I wanted to take something serious, so to speak, for the future; I was very attracted to the Boss db-90 metronome (for everything except the price, of course).

But having soberly assessed the situation, realizing that I still have to grow and grow to the level where I really need such a metronome, I abruptly changed my “wants” and bought almost the simplest metronome. If there is a need, we will think about an advanced option. And now there is simply no need to carry such a bandura with you.

In music stores, the prices are much higher than the prices for metronomes on aliexpress that are approximately the same in functionality, but there are no reviews at all for seemingly interesting models, so I settled on one of the simplest and best-selling options. And about 3 weeks later I received a package in the mail.

The metronome is small, very small, from the description and photo on the website I assumed it was larger. But the small size is even good, I attached it to my clothes and it was in order.

There were no batteries included with the metronome, so I couldn’t test it right away. When I bought and inserted a 2032 or 2025 battery, the metronome worked, but periodically the screen went dark and the settings were reset to default. I decided that the battery was not making good contact, and bent the spring contact. Indeed, after this the battery stopped falling off and the settings were not reset.

The kit included instructions in English and Chinese, I’m posting the English one, but in principle you can figure it out without instructions:

The metronome has several settings; you can change the tempo at any time using the “+” and “-” buttons from 30 to 280 beats per minute. Other settings can be changed after pressing the “select” button. The volume has 4 gradations, from the loudest to zero, it is not smoothly adjustable, even at zero volume the red LED flashes in time with the rhythm. There are also two settings “Beat” and “Value” (in the Rhythm types instructions) with which you can set the musical time signature and highlight a strong note. The “On-off” button turns the metronome on and off, the “Play” button, also known as the “Tap” button, is used to turn on/off the metronome signals; in the “Tap” mode, the “Tap” button allows you to enter the song tempo into the metronome by successive presses of the “Tap” button. . There is a battery saving function; if the metronome does not beat the rhythm, it turns off after a while.

The metronome is really very loud for its size, the built-in tiny speaker works wonders, for practicing on the practice pad I turn the volume down one unit from the maximum. At maximum volume on a hard surface, the metronome jumps up and down from its own sound, and the sound becomes disgustingly rattling. It’s not for nothing that it has a clothespin, you shouldn’t put it on the table... Also, if you look closely, each sound signal is accompanied by a slight dimming of the LCD screen, apparently the peak load on the battery is quite large. I don’t know how long the battery lasts, in total I used it for 10 hours, and the battery is still alive.

There is a headphone jack, if you connect headphones, the volume is quite enough for practicing on a drum kit.

But, a big “but”: I couldn’t use the metronome with headphones. In headphones, each “squeaky” sound of the metronome is accompanied by a powerful, unpleasant shock to the ears, as if a constant voltage pulse is applied to the headphones at the beginning of each tone. Therefore, with headphones, I don’t so much perceive the sound of the signal as I feel the blows on my ears, and this is very unpleasant.

To understand where these percussion effects are coming from, I recorded the sound from the metronome output on a Zoom H4n recorder to examine the sound waveform on the computer.

There was a suspicion that the constant component, so to speak, the low-frequency fluctuation of the “blow,” would not pass into the sound recording channel, and it would not be visible on the “oscillogram.” But the recorder did the job, and this low-frequency transient is very noticeable. True, I was a little mistaken, the “blow” was not before the signal, but after it.

Here's what a "normal" metronome waveform looks like:

As you can see, there are no low-frequency fluctuations here, only a harmonic click sound with human transitions to zero, and no problems arise when playing with headphones under such a click.

Thus, this digital mini-metronome was completely unsuitable for me for playing with headphones. In addition, if you try to broadcast a click from it during a rehearsal, you can easily damage the speaker systems, which will have to work out the low-frequency component of the metronome signal. It doesn’t seem to be enough for the ears either; there is no desire to check it for yourself. I don’t know if this is a mistake in the metronome’s circuitry, or if its microcontroller is wired crookedly... Perhaps it’s enough to connect the headphones to the metronome through small capacitors, which will let the squeak through and cut off the beat, but is it worth making an adapter for headphones larger than the metronome itself... I’ll take it apart I'm not planning it yet.

And finally, a short video with examples of the sound of a metronome in different modes. The sound was taken from the microphone and from the headphone output, I think the “beats” are quite noticeable:

Well, whoever read to the end, a video from a recent rehearsal, from which even a non-professional will notice that a metronome is very necessary. The rehearsal was after a decent break, don’t kick too hard, the vocalist didn’t show up, there’s no bassist yet:

Hello! I decided, so to speak, to follow up on my previous article, to write a post where I want to consider in detail the question of why a metronome is needed for a guitarist, and also tell you the structure of a metronome, its main types and purpose.

So, first, we will find out what a metronome is, and then we will move on to the varieties of this device.

Metronome- a mechanical or electronic device that measures (tapping) a certain rhythm at a predetermined speed, ranging from 35 to 250 beats per minute. It is used by musicians when performing a composition as an accurate guide to the tempo and helps during rehearsals when practicing various exercises.

Any piece of music can be played at either a slow or fast tempo. When learning a new composition, you should always start at a slow tempo in order to eventually play every note clearly and beautifully. And in this way, gradually approach your goal, reaching the original tempo indicated in the piece of music, thanks to the metronome assistant.

Metronomes are divided into three families:

• Mechanical
• Electronic
• Software

Each musician chooses the metronome that best suits his requirements. Now let's take a closer look at each family.

Mechanical metronomes

The oldest and very first type of metronome that was once invented. The current older generation, who attended music schools in childhood, still remembers small wooden pyramids that stood in glass cabinets or on pianos in the offices of strict music teachers. These pyramids are the ancestors of all modern metronomes.

This species has evolved quite a lot since then. Nowadays, mechanical metronomes are made not only from wood, but also use modern composite materials, such as plastic, for example. Previously, these devices were stationary, but today they are made more compact in size so that they can easily be placed in the pocket of a guitar case.

In the design of some metronomes, special bells began to appear that place emphasis on the downbeat, and such an “emphasis” is set depending on the size of the musical composition being learned under the metronome. Of course, electronic counterparts are significantly superior in functionality to mechanical metronomes, but the latter have several undeniable advantages that are still worth paying attention to. Here are the main ones:

• Visibility. A mechanical metronome has a pendulum that swings in different directions, so it is difficult not to notice it even for a musician who is completely absorbed in playing his instrument. He will always be able to track the movement of the pendulum with peripheral vision.
• Sound. The natural click of a real mechanism cannot be compared with electronics. This sound is absolutely not annoying and can be listened to as a serenade, and it clearly fits into the overall picture of the sound of any instrument.
• Form. For mechanical metronomes it is traditional - in the form of a sophisticated pyramid. This design will add color to any room and also create a creative atmosphere.
• Simplicity. Metronomes of this type, due to their clarity and ease of use, can be used by all musicians without exception, and I would also recommend them to beginning guitarists. They don't need batteries because they have a clock-like mechanism, i.e. Before use, the device must be wound up, like an old mechanical alarm clock.

How does a mechanical metronome work?

The metronome is incredibly simple. The main parts are: steel spring, transmission, anchor escapement. Unlike mechanical watches, the pendulum here is not round, but long with a moving weight, where the axis of the escapement comes into contact with the case and clicks on it. Some models also have a function of strong 2, 3, 5 and 6 beats. Especially for this, the drum is mounted on the release axis, which, like a barrel organ, consists of several wheels with pins, and a bell with a lever moves along it. The bell gives the required share depending on which drum wheel it will be installed opposite.

Electronic metronomes

This is a new and modern type of metronome that has captured the hearts of many musicians around the world. Such devices are most preferred by artists who play power instruments. Electronic metronomes, as a rule, are small in size and therefore easily fit in the palm of your hand and can be hidden in any case, trunk or travel bag.

Digital metronomes have many useful functions, such as tuning fork, accent, and accent shift, and can satisfy almost any “capricious” user. There are also hybrid models that are combined with a digital tuner, but we will talk about that in another article.

Separately, I would like to mention electronic metronomes for drummers, because... These devices are perhaps the most sophisticated of this family. In addition to various accents and offsets, such metronomes have additional capabilities.

It's no secret that drummers' brains are divided into 4 parts, each of which controls a specific limb. Especially for them, metronomes were invented that can produce a rhythm personally for each limb of the drummer. To do this, the device has several sliders (faders) in order to mix a particular rhythm for a particular leg or arm. This metronome also has a built-in memory for recording and storing rhythms for each individual composition. At concerts, the thing is absolutely irreplaceable - turn on the desired rhythm and tap yourself calmly, being confident that you “can’t run away from the randomly surging emotions.”

From the name it is clear that this is nothing more than a special program installed in the Windows OS environment or an application for Android and iOS. Like real metronomes, virtual metronomes similarly perform their function by generating sound signals at a predetermined tempo and/or using visual effects (flashing lights, images of numbers). There are quite a lot of such programs and they are not difficult to find on the Internet.

That's all I wanted to tell you in general terms about metronomes. I think now you understand why a guitar player needs a metronome, and you will become friends with it, because... This is a very useful and necessary thing in the arsenal of every musician. You will take the right step towards competent guitar playing, because “smooth” musicians have been valued at all times. This is especially appreciated when working together in a group with other musicians. Therefore, I wish you creative heights and success in music. See you soon on the blog pages!

Anyone who does not play music may consider a metronome to be a useless device, and many do not even know what it is and what its purpose is. The word “metronome” is of Greek origin, and it was formed after the merger of two words “law” and “measure”. The invention of the metronome is associated with the name of the great composer Beethoven, who suffered from deafness. The musician relied on the movements of the pendulum to feel the tempo of the piece. The “parent” of the metronome is the Austrian inventor Melzel I.N. The brilliant creator managed to design a metronome in such a way that it became possible to set the desired tempo of the game.

What is a metronome for?

Metronome- this is a device that plays regular sounds at a certain tempo. By the way, the number of beats per minute can be set independently. Who uses this rhythm machine? For beginners trying to master the guitar, piano, or other instrument, a metronome is a must. After all, when learning a solo part, you can start the metronome to adhere to a certain rhythm. Music lovers, students of music schools and colleges, and professionals cannot do without a metronome. Even though the metronome sounds like a loud ticking clock, the sound is perfectly audible when playing any instrument. The mechanism counts fractions of a beat and it becomes very convenient to play.

Mechanical or electronic?

Arrived before everyone else mechanical metronomes made from plastic or wood. The pendulum beats the beat, and with the help of the slider a certain tempo is set. The movement of the pendulum is clearly perceptible with peripheral vision. It is worth noting that the main “monsters” of musical art prefer mechanical metronomes.

Sometimes they meet metronomes with bell(shown on the left), which emphasizes the downbeat in the measure. The accent can be set according to the size of the piece of music. The clicks of the mechanical pendulum are not particularly annoying and go well with the sound of any instrument, and anyone can set the metronome.

An undeniable advantage of mechanical devices- independence from batteries. Metronomes are often compared to a clock mechanism: in order for the device to work, it must be wound.

A device with the same functions, but with buttons and a display is electronic metronome. Thanks to its compact size, you can take this device with you on the road. You can find models with a headphone input. This mini metronome can be attached to an instrument or clothing.

Artists who play electronic instruments choose electrometronomes. The device has a lot of useful functions: accent shift, tuning fork and others. Unlike its mechanical counterpart, the electronic metronome can be set to a “squeak” or “click” if you don’t like the “thump.”

The classic definition is that tempo in music is the speed of movement. But what does this mean? The fact is that music has its own unit of measurement of time. These are not seconds, as in physics, and not hours and minutes, which we are accustomed to in life.

Musical time most closely resembles the beating of the human heart, the measured beats of the pulse. These blows measure time. And the pace, that is, the overall speed of movement, depends on whether they are fast or slow.

When we listen to music, we do not hear this pulsation, unless, of course, it is specifically shown by percussion instruments. But every musician secretly, inside himself definitely feels these pulse beats, it is they that help to play or sing rhythmically, without deviating from the main tempo.

Here's an example. Everyone knows the melody of the New Year's song “A Christmas tree was born in the forest.” In this melody, the movement is mainly in eighth notes (sometimes there are others). The pulse beats at the same time, you just can’t hear it, but we will specially sound it using a percussion instrument. Listen to this example and you will begin to feel the pulse of this song:

What are the tempos in music?

All tempos that exist in music can be divided into three main groups: slow, moderate (that is, average) and fast. In musical notation, tempo is usually denoted by special terms, most of which are words of Italian origin.

So slow tempos include Largo and Lento, as well as Adagio and Grave.

Moderate tempos include Andante and its derivative Andantino, as well as Moderato, Sostenuto and Allegretto.

Finally, let's list the fast tempos: the cheerful Allegro, the lively Vivo and Vivace, as well as the fast Presto and the fastest Prestissimo.

How to set the exact tempo?

Is it possible to measure musical tempo in seconds? It turns out that it is possible. For this purpose, a special device is used - a metronome. The inventor of the mechanical metronome is the German mechanical physicist and musician Johann Maelzel. Nowadays, musicians in their daily rehearsals use both mechanical metronomes and electronic analogues - in the form of a separate device or application on the phone.

What is the principle of operation of a metronome? This device, after special settings (move the weight along the scale), beats the pulse at a certain speed (for example, 80 beats per minute or 120 beats per minute, etc.).

The click of a metronome resembles the loud ticking of a clock. One or another beat frequency of these beats corresponds to one of the musical tempos. For example, for a fast tempo Allegro the frequency will be approximately 120-132 beats per minute, and for a slow tempo Adagio it will be about 60 beats per minute.

These are the main points regarding musical tempo that we wanted to convey to you. If you still have questions, please write them in the comments. Until next time.

Metronome - now with dance beats!

Don't have a regular metronome? Ours will allow you to learn and rehearse pieces of music in a more comfortable way than with a regular metronome!

If you do not see the metronome above this inscription, then you need to download and install Adobe Flash Player

Good news: Today I received a letter from my childhood friend, classmate, Ivan Lyubchik, with whom I played in a school rock band (Usolye-Sibirskoye, Irkutsk region, 1973-1975). Here's the line: "... Hello Alexey. Yes he uses this metronome all the time … " - Ivan writes about one of his sons - Alexei. Bass guitarist of the legendary group "Zveri" Alexey Lyubchik rehearses with a Virartek metronome , and Alexey is a very high level musician. So follow the masters!

Online Metronome is very easy to use:

• First button on the left for selection size from the list: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 7/4, 3/8, 5/8, 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8
• The tempo can be set in different ways: by moving the slider, using the " + " And " - ", moving the weight, making several presses in a row on the button " Set the pace"
• volume can be adjusted with a slider
• Can mute the sound and use visual indicators shares: orange- "strong" and blue- "weak"
• you can choose any of 10 sound sets: Wood, Leather, Metal, Raz-tick, E-A Tones, G-C Tones, Chick-Chick, Shaker, Electro, AI Sounds and several drum loops for different dance styles, as well as loops for learning triplets.

To play the drums at the original tempo and size, press the “reset tempo and size” button

Please note that the tempo value is specified for BEATS, i.e. for 4/4 time, 120 would mean 120 quarter notes per minute, and for 3/8 time, 120 eighth notes per minute!

You can “force” the loop to play in a “non-native” time signature, this will give you additional variations in rhythmic patterns.

Sound sets "Tones E-A", "Tones G-C" can be useful for tuning a string instrument or for vocal chanting.

A large selection of sounds is convenient when using a metronome to learn pieces in different styles. Sometimes you'll need crisp, punchy sounds like AI Sounds, Metal or Electro, sometimes soft sounds like the Shaker set.

A metronome can be useful for more than just music practice. You can use it:

• for learning dance movements;
• doing morning exercises;
• for training fast reading (a certain number of strokes on time);
• during concentration and meditation.

Visitor comments:

01.03.2010 Gennady: Correct about the metronome. I would like to know how the tempos that are written in notes (fast, slow, moderate, etc.) relate to the frequency set by the metronome.

01.03.2010 Admin: Especially for you, we have added a sign indicating the tempo of musical works. Please watch.

16.05.2010 Irina: Hello! Grandson is 6 years old. He studies music. school. The works are mostly in 2/4 time signature. How to use your metronome in this case. Should the strong beat be on ONE and THREE?

18.05.2010 Admin: Exactly!

02.09.2010 Alexander: Good afternoon, a very high-quality electronic metronome, I’ve been looking for one for a long time. Tell me, is it possible to download it somehow so that I can place it in full screen (without a browser, etc.) and change the background color? I need it for visual use. Thank you.

21.01.2011 Admin: There is no such version yet, but most likely it will appear in February 2011.

23.10.2010 Admin: Almost ALL sizes ADDED!!!

09.11.2010 Valerarv2: Great, that’s all I needed!

13.12.2010 Daria: Guys, I’m in the 7th grade of music. schools. I'm preparing for exams. Thank you very much! All over the World Wide Web I couldn’t find a normal metronome with dimensions! Now I can finally start working out normally :))

20.02.2011 Alex: The long-awaited February is already here. How soon will a computer version of this wonderful metronome appear?

28.02.2011 Svetlana: Super! I really like it! I would like one of these for my daughter to improve her piano playing. How to purchase this metronome?

03.03.2011 Programmer: A freely available metronome is great. Thank you! But the counting “one-and-two-and-three-and-four” would also be useful. Then there is a more complex rhythm within, say, the same 4/4 rhythm. The strong part, it seems to me, does not stand out much. It would be nice to do a version with the cymbals hitting the downbeat. Good luck!

05.03.2011 Anton: Thanks for the convenient tool! It's much easier to launch than any professional app just for the sake of a metronome. I often use it for rehearsals and learning parts, and working with students. I would like to ask you to add some sounds (with a sharper attack), as well as loops for training polyrhythms - triplets, doubles, etc. I would also like to have a function for smoothly changing the tempo “FROM and TO”, so that you can practice the part first in a slow, and then at a fast pace...

08.03.2011 Admin: Thank you very much everyone! We really appreciate all suggestions and comments, and we will definitely continue to develop this application. Regarding the desktop version: we are unlikely to release it separately, but Metronome will be included in the “Music College” flash games set on CD, which is being prepared for release in the near future. Moreover, the applications will work both on Windows and Mac computers.

23.04.2011 Julia: Good day! Thank you very much for the metronome. I’m a teacher at a music school; you won’t find mechanical metronomes during the day, but almost all children have computers. They found you on the Internet. Now a lot of problems have disappeared. All students will become rhythmic))))))))). Thank you, good luck!

In theory, this map should display the places where visitors are located :-)