Metronome Online

Intelli IMT-500 Chromatic Digital Tuner

Whether you get together with a few buddies to crank out some righteous licks just for fun or you have aspirations of becoming a professional musician, a correctly tuned instrument is crucial. Through years of gaining experience, some people might be skilled enough to tune a guitar by ear. Most of us regardless of how long we’ve been playing need help getting our instruments properly tuned.

There are a number of products on the market said to do this with ease. Yet many consumers would disagree if it an older type of tuner that uses sensitive microphones to pick up sounds in order to detect the key range of a chord played to determine if it is in tune. If you have used such a tuner than you know they also pick up background, and other noises present in the room making it harder to get your instrument tuned. Many of these other tuner’s also require the use of wires and connectors which can be problematic depending on where you’re setting up to play.

Technologically advanced tuner products available today like the Intelli IMT500 Chromatic Digital Tuner give consumers the best in fast, accurate, and hassle-free tuning for guitars, violins, and other acoustical instruments at an affordable price. Forget messing with tangled wires and microphones that causes your instrument to compete with other room noise leaving you hoping you won’t strike a sour note. There is a better and much simpler way.

Digital technology powers many of the products we use every day such as phones, MP3 players, gaming systems, and computers. Now that powerful technology has found its way into other products making them better than ever. The Intelli IMT500 Chromatic Digital Tuner is a wireless, compact tuner that clips directly to the instrument you want to tune and senses vibrations for no fuss instrument tuning every time. The Chromatic Digital Tuner IMT500 is so dependable that many of the big name musicians use it to tune their musical instruments before concert performances.

You can find the Intelli IMT500 Chromatic Digital Tuner online through a variety of suppliers for twenty dollars or less. It is amazing that a tuner small enough to fit in your pocket can deliver such reliable tuning performance for less than the cost of a concert ticket. This product is highly recommended to anyone that wants to ensure their guitar and other acoustical instruments are in tune quick and easy. Get tuned and rock out.

Wittner Taktell Piccolo Metronome

For anyone seeking an effective, well made metronome, the Wittner Taktell Piccolo metronome is a prime specimen.  This metronome was made in Germany and really is #1 when it comes to audible timing available in such devices.  It couldn’t get any more accurate.  Additionally, this metronome features a sliding counterweight that makes it conveniently adjustable.

Weighing in at just 6.4 ounces and small enough to travel quite easily (it stands 5 ½ inches tall), this Wittner metronome packs quite a punch when it comes to music timing.  One of its prime features is the mechanical yet compact pendulum that also allows for visual sensing of tempo.  Furthermore, the metronome is compact and offers a full tempo range from 40 to 208 beats per minute.  Musicians that like a little variety will be pleased to learn that it comes in ruby, black, blue, ivory, and dark brown.

The Taktell Piccolo metronome is housed in a plastic case that’s a lot more durable than you might think.  That just adds to the ease of traveling with it.  This tough little metronome’s performance is extremely precise and equals that of a full-size metronome.  The strong, reliable wind-up mechanism is essential to its durability and versatility.  And for such a small device, the sound is absolutely loud enough to be used with even the loudest of instruments.

Musicians feeling wary of the Wittner metronome shouldn’t.  The metronome is backed by a 1-year warranty.  Oh, and did we mention the versatility?  The plastic case can snap on and off for easier traveling and extra keys as well as weights are available.  Affordable, effective, and efficient are all words that can be used to describe the Wittner Taktell Piccolo metronome – it’s the only one you’ll need.

Seiko SQ50V Quartz Metronome

In the search for the best way to time their music, musicians worldwide continue to look for that perfect device. In this metronome review we take a look at the Seiko SQ50-V Quartz Metronome, which with its $30 price tag is clearly aimed at the entry-level buyer segment. While this neat little instrument doesn’t have a lot of “extras” to boast of, this update to its predecessor (the SQ50) does add a few things that had us interested to test.

Specifications

Here is what’s new with this Seiko update to a fairly good device:

• A new stylized look makes it appear simpler to use. It in fact is.
• Adjustable volume controls can be seen here.
• You have your two tone generators (A and Bb).
• An easy-to-use tempo dial helps you select and switch settings fast. Use the A=440 to perfect your tuning. Range is 40-208 BPM, and can be easily set using this 39-position rotary dial.
• Represent the beat visually through a red LED. You can also use both together i.e. the LED and the audio beats.
• Includes an earphone jack.

Pros

To kick things off, it’s important to take stock of the dial found on the SQ50-V. You have here a dial that’s easy to operate, and extremely convenient to use when figuring out the tempo of a song you’re listening to.

For example, you can turn the dial to what you think is the song’s tempo. From there, you can turn it point-by-point in either direction until you find the exact value of that particular tune. Compared to its counterparts which use buttons to change the settings, most musicians (serious or casual) will find this dial to be a far superior option.

Another great addition to this quartz metronome is the headphone jack, which can be specially useful to night owls using digital instruments. Even better would be to connect it to a wireless headset, for an unrestricted practice session.

The flexibility you see in this entry-level product is quite surprising. There are various ways you can work things out, including adjusting the volume of the beat while choosing between two pitches for that beat.

Cons

Now while you can choose between two pitches, the sound isn’t all that pleasant to the ears. The beep sounds are electronically reproduced, and are unnatural to play along to. During a long practice session, it not only gets annoying, but might just distract enough to get one off tempo. Nor is it a particularly sharp sound, that will have you paying attention. For anyone interested in this product, it’s highly recommended that you hear it for yourselves to ensure that your ears can get accustomed to it.

Not particularly important, but some musicians might say otherwise and demand it from any metronome review – this device cannot go up to 250 BPM. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy it, rather it wholly depends on the kind of music one subscribes to. 208 BPM is the maximum this quartz metronome can go up to.

Verdict

For a price tag of $30, the Seiko sure has packed in enough to justify a recommendation. This metronome review gives it a…

Rating: 4/5

Metronomes Online: Do They Work?

There are many online metronomes available to musicians today. To the beginner musician, a metronome that can be accessed and used online seems like a great alternative to the regular, more expensive metronomes you may purchase from your local music store.

But is using an online metronome such a great idea?

I am often asked by students what web metronomes I use and can recommend to them. And in the past I have always been comfortable sending my music students to sites such as Metronome Online.

But my opinion has changed somewhat of late.

You see many years ago we only ever used our computers for one thing – to seek information. Back then computers had very limited resources and we didn’t have all the distractions we do nowadays like Facebook, eBay, YouTube, games, email, and so on. And it’s this stuff that makes it almost impossible to knuckle down and concentrate on any one particular task – and it is only getting harder as time goes on ( I’m sure you know exactly what I am talking about).

It is for this very reason that I now tell all my students NOT to use online metronomes. You see practicing your instrument is something that requires concentration and effort – something you will not be able to give sitting in front of your computer. You need to rid yourself of distractions if you want to make the progress you desire.

So then, what’s the answer?

There is now a much more sensible solution for those musicians who need a good metronome for practice but without all the distractions that come along with it – and they’re called Metronome Tracks. Metronome Tracks are simple mp3 tracks that you can download and use on your iPod or any other mp3 player. This makes them an ideal practice tool for musicians.

Not only are metronome tracks simple to use, they also allow you to take your metronome wherever it is needed. This leads to more frequent and more efficient practice.

So go and download your free set of mp3 Metronome Tracks today – and start practicing smarter NOT harder.