Metro-gnome

[Metro Gnome]

No, I'm not a vertically challenged elf-like creature with a fetish for urban railway systems :lol:

What I would like to know (I'm a novice player) is if anyone knows of a location that I can download a Metronome off of the web (free).
I thought I saw some links once but I cannot find them now.

If not, what is the general consensus on these things? Electronic or clockwork - any particular model/make better than any other or are they much of a much ness?

Also these tuner note/pitch comparison meters - are they recommended for the absolute beginner and are they combined with any metronomes???


Thanks in advance :wink:

[max]

I don't use it often (since I don't practice by the computer much), but I really like Weird Metronome:

http://www.pinkandaint.com/weirdmet.shtml

[rogerb40uk]

No, I'm not a vertically challenged .....

<snip>


Also these tuner note/pitch comparison meters - are they recommended for the absolute beginner and are they combined with any metronomes???



I'd like to revive this thread, as there were no replies to the poster's question .

I need a tuner & a metronome and also wondered if the combined ones were any good?

I want a 'transposing' tuner first & foremost, easy -to-use and preferably inexpensive!!
(I'm learning alto)
A simple metronome is a secondary need.

Thanks!

[Face Ache Mike]

For a very cool tuner try AP Tuner (http://www.aptuner.com).

[baffonero]

Hey Mike!

Do you know if there is a VST version of it?

[Face Ache Mike]

Hey Baffonero! No, there isnt. Guess which fool lost his registration key after transferring to his dedicated music pc? :joker:

[baffonero]

Hey Baffonero! No, I didnt. Guess which fool lost his registration key after transferring to his dedicated music pc? :joker:
Noooooooo....:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Dog Pants]

I reckon I've tried them all, including weird metrome and metro gnome, etc.

Instead of farting around with these, I'd recommend getting BIAB (Band In A Box). It will serve as a click track in various time signatures. It will play a long tone, transposed for whatever instrument you like. It will do everything except allow you to enter notation in multiple time signatures. :evil: :evil: :evil:

[baffonero]

It will do everything except allow you to enter notation in multiple time signatures. :evil: :evil: :evil:

So you didn't come up with a solution yet?
I think you have to resign and start using finale for that :D :D

[Dog Pants]

So you didn't come up with a solution yet?
I think you have to resign and start using finale for that :D :D

Go ahead, laugh you bastards. :) :) :twisted: :) :)

Isn't it funny how a bloke starts of wanting to learn the saxophone, and then looking back a few years later, realises that the learning the saxophone part is relatively simple. It's the "learning all the bloody software to go with the saxophone," that does my head in.
If I ever win the lotto, I'm gonna buy me a geek, so I can go back to playing the saxophone.
Anyone want a slightly damaged keyboard? It comes in two parts for easy storage. :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Ruediger Kramer]

I don't use it often (since I don't practice by the computer much), but I really like Weird Metronome:

http://www.pinkandaint.com/weirdmet.shtml


very good (and funny)

[baffonero]

looking back a few years later, realises that the learning the saxophone part is relatively simple
oh well, this could cheer my neighbours up!!


Anyone want a slightly damaged keyboard? It comes in two parts for easy storage. :evil: :evil: :evil:

I'll take an half...I would prefer the side with the midi port :)

[rogerb40uk]

Thanks, guys, I downloaded AP Tuner, but couldn't figger(yet) how to actually USE it ???

Apart from that, as max says, I usually don't practise (& have lessons) in the same room where my PC resides.
So I need something more 'portable'.

[Dog Pants]

Thanks, guys, I downloaded AP Tuner, but couldn't figger(yet) how to actually USE it ???

Apart from that, as max says, I usually don't practise (& have lessons) in the same room where my PC resides.
So I need something more 'portable'.

cue charton Heston voiceover...


"And thus the fateful journey begins......in his quest to find the Holy Grail,.... that mythical bit of software, gear, metronome, mouthpiece, reed, etc, that promises to make practice easier,..... another young man is doomed to wander the cyber wilderness and spend more time learning how to use practice aids, than actually practicing with them."

If you run into Dan Brown on your journeys, tell him he stole my book! :)

[rleitch]

I actually know a pretty good drummer who fits your original description. He doesn't eat much and you could probably buy him cheap. If you have children or pets I wouldn't risk it though.

R

[rogerb40uk]

Thanks again, but it would be nice to get a serious answer to the question(s), rather than some creative p155-taking at the concept of someone wishing to practise/play in tune :)

(Is there some SOTW in-joke which I am not getting?)

[Dog Pants]

Thanks again, but it would be nice to get a serious answer to the question(s), rather than some creative p155-taking at the concept of someone wishing to practise/play in tune :)

(Is there some SOTW in-joke which I am not getting?)

Jesus, mate. No need to get your panties in a twist. :)

Yess we're having a laugh, but I did recommend BIAB. With BIAB you can make up a tuning note, metronome tracks of various times and tempos and render these tracks as MP3 files. You can then burn these tracks to a Cd or load them into your Ipod and Bob's your mother's brother.
Alternatively, you can go down to your music store and buy a cheap chromatic tuner for $20 or so. These will also play a tone for you to tune to.
If you want a portable metronome, you're gonna have to shell out some $$$ for one that has various times and subdivisions of the beat. Then you'll have to plug headphones into it anyway because I've yet to hear one that's loud enough to hear when I'm playing at anything greater than subtone volume. So if you're gonna have headphones on anyway, you may as well spend the $ on BIAB in the first place.
There ya go.
Unless Martysax is still serving time in a federal prison, there are no inside jokes on this forum. Or, as the Hoff used to say, "there are no inside jokes, just good jokes and SG Unisons." :D

[davidk]

I got a Seiko digital tuner from Dawkes (http://www.dawkes.co.uk/). The latest incarnation of mine seems to be the Seiko SAT500 Chromatic Tuner. Instant sharp/flat indicator, key transpose (covers B flat and E flat instruments), tune to normal A=440 or A=442 if you have a Buffet saxophone, 20 quid. Bargain.

More info at http://www.seiko-syd.co.jp/music/product/tuner/sat500.html.

No metronome though.

[Sid]

Thanks again, but it would be nice to get a serious answer to the question(s), rather than some creative p155-taking at the concept of someone wishing to practise/play in tune :)

(Is there some SOTW in-joke which I am not getting?)

Give us a break, it is Friday afternoon!

I use a Seiko chromatic tuner that has a transpose button C/Eb/Bb/F it does the business - but lulls you into a false sense of security if you watch the needle whilst you're tuning, because you automatically compensate with your lip to bring yourself on pitch visually rather than aurally - much better to tune with your eyes closed :D . Cost about £12 quid and the transpose function doesn't get used!

I don't like electronic metronomes for the opposite reason - I can't 'see' the time. With a mechnical pendulum you can see it 'swinging'8-)

[larry]

Googline "online metronome" yeilded these links:

http://www.metronomeonline.com/
http://www.theviolinsite.com/online_metronome.html
http://www.yukyuk.com/metronome/yy_metronome.shtml :D
http://www.surfpack.com/downloads/1707/metronomeonline.html

[Face Ache Mike]

Thanks, guys, I downloaded AP Tuner, but couldn't figger(yet) how to actually USE it ???


Its a doddle to use, Roger. Set it to Eb and if you can be bothered you can make up a sax scale that goes from low Bb to high F# for the right hand side. Let me know if you need any more help. Really, its not that difficult.

[rogerb40uk]

PM sent Mike.

[Face Ache Mike]

PM received - I`ll post here so others can get the benefit too :)

AP Tuner settings for Alto Sax.

How did you install it? Do you have a directory called "C:\Program Files\AP Tuner" ?

In there should be the file called "tuner". Thats the executable that you double click to start.

I think you`ve got that far....

It needs to know which is your recording input i.e. that your soundcard has the line in or mic able to be used.

Press Ctrl+R and you get the standard windows requester for line in/mic - just make sure it isnt muted.

From there, I assume you have a microphone plugged in, you just play and the needle will move. Its set to concert pitch, so press Ctrl+T to change the tuning settings.

In that window, near the bottom, you will see:

Transpose
Select transpose: which you set to (+3) Eb for alto and click "OK".

To make a sax scale on the right side, press Ctrl+N which takes you to Note presets. make a new set and call it Sax. On the right, in the place where you type stuff enter this: C#2-A5 and click "Save".

Don`t forget to select the new Sax scale in "Note preset" at the top menu.

Thats all the setting up you need to do.

[rogerb40uk]

When I do Ctrl+R, I get a pop-up which says:
"Unable to launch the Windows Recording Control Panel"

:? :?

(I'm using XP-Pro, fwiw)

[Face Ache Mike]

Silly question... Do you have a soundcard installed?

[rogerb40uk]

Er, yes, an NVIDIA nForce... would that be it?
(I can certainly get sound from the PC!)

[Face Ache Mike]

NVIDIA nForce is a graphics card. You must have a sound card if youre getting sound - next question, do you have a mic plugged into it? Have you recorded anything already?

[rogerb40uk]

No, the only sound input devices are the built-in mic in the webcam, and the Skype phone!

Would "Unimodem Full-Duplex Audio Device" be a sound card?

Pls excuse my ignorance... who'd believe I used to teach Cobol programming (on mainframes!)?

I wonder if I need to do something with the sound settings on the Control Panel?

[Face Ache Mike]

The webcam mic would be ok for AP Tuner. You`d have to connect that up and have it working then it should all be ok.

[baffonero]

No, the only sound input devices are the built-in mic in the webcam, and the Skype phone!

Would "Unimodem Full-Duplex Audio Device" be a sound card?

Pls excuse my ignorance... who'd believe I used to teach Cobol programming (on mainframes!)?

Actually few of my programming collegues are not able to burn a cd, so I think you do not have to worry :) :)

[rogerb40uk]

I needed to fiddle around with my sound input settings.

The 'meter' is responding to sounds now.

Watch this space!

Thanks for trying to help.

(The probs I have(had) with PCs are largely due to its using a completely different language... when I first got one I didn't know what the 'desktop' was, for example :o )

[Face Ache Mike]

The 'meter' is responding to sounds now.



Woohooo! Now we`re getting somewhere! :)

(p.s. I used to program in C)

[rleitch]

Mea culpa:)

R.

[rogerb40uk]

Sorlright ... I'm not as lacking in SOH as some appear to think :)

Sheesh.. I've got a wife, 3 daughters and a female dog and cat... I've just gotta have a SOH :D

(Especially as I also had my car turned into a T-bone this morning.)