A good idea talking about metronomes because a metronome is my most important practice tool. No way without it !

Clayton, you‘ve mentioned so many different metronomes. I have no idea what the differenes are. But I want to look more closely at some of them.

I didn’t really thought about metronomes so far.

I‘ve prepared different metronome loops from 80 –120 bpm in Audacity. Sometimes I do add a separate metronome track to a backing track in Reaper.

Next, I want to make my own metronome track in Reaper using Drum Kit 2 to make hi-hat clicks. I don’t know if this is a good idea but I want to try out a little bit.

I’m most exited to hear what other MGA members are using.

Birgit

Does anybody use a metronome?  C'mon, this is helpful for Members!

@clayton, yes, I do use a metronome but not enough, probably.  I have several I choose from depending on what I am doing.

1) For most of my looping, slowing down, etc. I use my Boss eBand JS-10.  It is a tremendous tool for learning.  If I am studying one of Robert's lessons I will transfer an mp3 to it and then I can slow it down and loop sections of it I am struggling with.  If it is one of his videos (Mp4) I'll rip the audio from it and transfer it to study.  What does this have to do with a metronome?

I have recorded a 100 BPM (4/4) metronome that is probably 7 minutes or so long.  The Boss has a slow down feature.  So if I need a metronome of, say, 68 bpm, I just set the "Speed" of this track to 68%.   Birgit, @Bluesiline  probably not unlike what you did with Audacity but I just have 1 that I change the speed on.  Of course, mine is only in 4/4.  Boss does have a pack of metronome tracks at different tempos and signatures one can download but I haven't had the need yet.

2) I have a metronome on my phone called MM Pro.  (Mobile Metronome Pro).  It works great.  I set it on my music stand to use it.  The "Pro" just means I bought the paid version and I'm not sure what that got me.  🤔   It was probably all of 2 or 3 bucks.  One can vary just about anything possibly needed.   Tempo, signature, sound, accent on the first beat, flash, vibrate, etc.

3) Lastly, on very rare occasion I have used the online metronome, called Metronome Online.  I say rarely because either the eBand or my app serves my needs 99.97% of the time.  There is also the nagging suspicion that with internet connection how accurate is it?  Of course, it doesn't have to be that accurate but the skepticism remains.

Clayton, I also had a "device" as you described it.  It was a little black box, I think from Planet Waves.  And I'm guessing that I paid $20-30 when I first started learning.  It worked fine and I think for anyone looking for a physical metronome it would serve perfectly.  Thisis it.   It died and with what I had that worked I just didn't replace it.

Metronomes... what are these things called metronomes...?

Actually I do have one, several if you count the electronic digital ones. My physical metronome is a Korg TM-40. I've had it for years , yet somehow it still looks shiny and new! the battery is still good! Hmmm...

Mostly I use Asparion Metronome on my windows machine[s] 

I had another called "Tempo" on my phone [android] which was quite nice though I  don't generally have my phone handy when I practice. 

They have settings that allow you to drop beats, I think Tempo will even randonly drop beats for you.

I don't use a metronome nearly as much as I should, Having said that I do find it is very rewarding and beneficial when I do spend time using it.

At times i set the metronome to 'half' speed and consider the clicks my 2 & 4 beats... fun!!!

Thank you, Ron and Chris, for taking the time to explain your opinion on your preferred metronomes and, in particular, how you are using them.

That’s very helpful information for me (and hopefully for many other members), as I’m not very experienced in using different kind of metronomes.

Clayton, Chris and Ron, different views, I’ll give a feedback after trying out some of your recommendations.

Thanks a lot for sharing,

Birgit

There are so many different devices and software available to set time that are so much more than the metronome, and I think software makes it so much more interesting:. Alter a song or backing track, or create a project in your DAW setting the signature, bpm, and then adding in some drum loops, etc.  This gives more to play along with rather than the wooden click of a metronome.

Here's my thought, all of these help and have their place in your tool kit, BUT a good metronome (box device or software app) is an essential part of the Time & Groove Tools. BECAUSE it leaves no place to hide or drift in the mix of playing along with more sound.  It's you and the click, and you can practice the feel of rushing the best or playing behind it.  It is naked time.

There is much, so much to learn playing in time with other instrument tracks and it teaches valuable insights into compliment, contrast and accents.

Still, it gets very real when it is just you and the Gnome.

@clayton Great topic!  My timing is creatively "off".  It is good when I want to put down a nice slow blues beat where quantizing is not part of the plan and I want to retain the human element of music.  Anyway....that being said, I like to jam with a drum beat from my awesome SDRUM pedal from Digitech.  It's amazing the quality of this pedal....sounds like a real drummer to me...my analog buddy.  So I make a beat with it hooked up to my mixer then just play along. 

When I want to record some ideas I use a Boss RC505 looper which has built in looper functions via the drum kits that are built in or I just record a beat from the SDRUM right into one of the RC505 loopers (It has 5) and then I am off and running.  My usual routine is to lay down a drum track on looper1...then guitar rhythm on 2...then second rhythm on 3...then bass line on 4...then finally looper 5 for lead.  The first 4 loops are all in sync and become my working band.  Looper 5 button is set to not loop so that it will record over all the looping parts.....pretty fun.  Anyway....that's kind of my setup.  The RC505 is not cheap but it has become the main piece of my practice and recording set up since I can upload the wav files into my Studio One DAW and go from there.  

Blessings to all.  

Go make some music.

Posted by: @halv1

I like to jam with a drum beat from my awesome SDRUM pedal from Digitech.  It's amazing the quality of this pedal....sounds like a real drummer to me...my analog buddy.  So I make a beat with it hooked up to my mixer then just play along. 

When I want to record some ideas I use a Boss RC505 looper which has built in looper functions via the drum kits that are built in or I just record a beat from the SDRUM right into one of the RC505 loopers

We in the same boat on Digitech as I love to use the Trio+ Band-in-a-Box fueled looper for practice and creative bouts.  Trio+ allows song sections and lots of versatility, too.  I have yet to tap all of it's potential.  But I did get the three button footswitch to place the Trio+ box at desktop level and control Rec/Stop/Overdub at my feet. This way I can dial in projects and changes without all the bending and grunting. 😉 

In fact, there are so many new loopers with rhythm section options, including software and especially in iOS these days, it makes my head spin.  Loopy HD just upgraded to Loopy PRO which is insanely feature laden.  I just picked up Quantiloop for iPad iOS (the new iPad Air/Pro architecture allows for incredible integration and routing.  

I find myself now learning midi encoding to tap into use of the software/app options.  GO MAKE SOME MUSIC, INDEED!