In search of cheap, very loud, inexpensive metronome
I use a metronome for both violin and viola. My current one, the Wittner Mini Taktell, is not loud enough for me to hear clearly above the sound of my viola. So, I am looking for a relatively inexpensive metronome that can be heard in the next county. So far, the Matrix 500 seems like a good choice. Anyone have any other suggestions?
Replies (26)
Mini metronomes simply don't have the speaker to be really loud. I use a Dr. Beat, but it's big and expensive. At max volume it will easily cut through your playing, and it can be easily hooked up to external speakers if you really want LOUD.
Hey OP! I had the same problem until I picked up this honey of a metronome -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EELA3I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The Wittner MT70 has a volume control that can get ridiculously loud, you could hear it over a full orchestra. The wood block sound is very nice, and it also has a 40 note tone generator that can be used for tuning or drone notes against which one can practice intonation. Equally as important, you can turn the volume very low for practicing delicate passages, I think you'll love it. Shar also has it's own version of this for half the price, but I've never personally heard it -
http://www.sharmusic.com/Accessories/Metronomes-Tuners/SHAR-Perfekt-Time-Quartz-Metronome.axd#sthash.E39vFypz.dpbs
A traditional wind-up mechanical pyramidal metronome a la Maelzel, if you can find one, is ideal. It's designed to produce a loud tick-tock which is enhanced if you stand it on a resonant surface such as a wooden table. Just ensure that the surface it is on is absolutely horizontal, otherwise you'll get interesting effects arising out of the "ticks" and the "tocks" not being of quite the same length :)
P.S. I don't quite understand why a metronome should be loud enough to be heard over an orchestra. What is a biological stick-waver for?
if you have a smart phone, you may be able to download one for free then hook it up to some speakers.
From Trevor Jennings
Posted on December 11, 2014 at 12:52 AM
P.S. I don't quite understand why a metronome should be loud enough to be heard over an orchestra. What is a biological stick-waver for?
________________________________________________
Good point. With the current state of funding for our orchestras, these devices may be a further threat -
"Because of the current economic climate, the CSO was forced to make drastic budgetary cuts. Ricardo Muti will be replaced as Music Director by Mr. Wittner MT-70 for the 2015 season. While many patrons bemoan the loss of artistry this decision brings, most orchestra members find Mr. Wittner to actually be more personable and easier to get along with than Muti himself" :)
Or earphones.
Plug into only one ear.
I am not sure which model they use but there is a High School .4 miles away and I can hear their marching band's metronome. I also hear the one from my son's high school a few blocks before I get there.
This is one of the less pricey possibilities: This is a link to Digitmet III Indoor-Outdoor Metronome
Thanks so much to all who have responded. I will check out some of these suggestions.
I agree with the pp who suggested that you download a free metronome app and connect your smartphone to speakers. I use one that has a tap function also (a la Dr. Beat).
BTW,for anyone searching for a good metronome, this website gives free sound samples for each kind. I thought it was very helpful.
http://www.metronomes.net/
The Korg KDM-2 has a nice loud woodblock tock. It can also do an obnoxious, ear-splitting beeping-truck-backing-up screech (insert viola joke here).
"P.S. I don't quite understand why a metronome should be loud enough to be heard over an orchestra. What is a biological stick-waver for?"
I understand that the stick waver is an evolution from the biological staff pounder. I seem to dimly remember a story from music history where a conductor (gosh darned if I can remember who) died from an infection caused by striking his foot once too often with the staff while pounding out the beat. Probably one of those big ceremonial macey things of which British pageantry is so fond. Anyone else ever hear this tale?
'Twas Jean-Baptiste Lully who, the tale has it, came to an unfortunate end when he hit his foot with his heavy conducting staff and passed away from an ensuing infection.
If you already have a smartphone then you can just get a metronome app, and then all you need to buy is a bluetooth speaker. Check some of your home audio or "home theater" components though, because they might already have bluetooth input. We have an external "sound bar" on one of our TVs and those things get LOUD.
The ultimate in metronomes that can be heard over an orchestra is the recording studio click-track.
You should ditch the old electronic or analog metronome and simply get a metronome app for your data-enabled phone or other device! If you have an iPhone, I recommend Silverlight. App version of metronomes are far less expensive and more feature-rich than standalone devices (this is also true for tuners). If the sound is not loud enough through the phone's speakers -- and Silverlight can be set pretty loud -- you can use the audio out jack to output your phone's audio through a set of headphones or speakers.
Lully, yes that's the chap. Thanks Trevor
Today there was a sudden surge in purchases of 'heavy conducting staffs' as the prime conductor Christmas present...
Never mind the metronome apps, get a drum machine app - far more inspiring and less annoying than a metronome beep. DM1 for instance is a good one - you can select drum-kits and make your own beat pattern, even make it just bang on the beat like a regular metronome. Having said all that, Tempo is a good metronome app. There is also a metronome app called Time Trainer that can drop beats or bars to help you develop internal time and also options to speed up gradually.
I recently had to replace the metronome that I'd been using since the Dawn of Time, as it finally ticked its last tock. My first instinct was to get something cheap, but I went too cheap and it was a piece of junk. Then I reexamined my trusty (but dead) old metronome and found a new one one that had some of the same characteristics as the old:
Plus, it has volume control and the option to have either a higher- or lower-pitched beat. It has a light, as well, in case you want to go with no sound and just the light. I've been quite happy with this one and find that I can turn it up very loud, if need be.
Thanks again to everyone who has responded. I think I have enough data at this point.
Are you sure, Elise? I'd heard that you can't get the staff these days.
Just a quick note. I recently bought the Matrix metronome you mentioned and loved it... for about 6 weeks. It occasionally skips and the sound has started to short out. Reference tones sound very distorted. It's a shame because I really like the metronome, but I think if I replace it I will go with the Wittner that Matrix is imitating. Until then, I'm using an app called Pro Metronome on my smartphone. It's fantastic.
I decided after consideration to get the Seiko metronome Laurie recommended. I am quite happy with it. It is very audible over the sound of the viola.
I decided after consideration to get the Seiko metronome Laurie recommended. I am quite happy with it. It is very audible over the sound of the viola.
I guess I'm late to the party, but my teacher recommended the Intelli IMT-301 to me a while ago and it's the best one I've ever used. It is very loud (volume is controllable), you can change tempo easily, and it can give you the eighth, triplet, sixteenth, and also the outer triplets and outer sixteenths for each tempo, which has helped a lot for practicing. It can also play any pitch you'd like for tuning purposes or for when you want to play against a drone note. Anyway, worth taking a look at.
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December 10, 2014 at 10:40 PM · I've yet to find one that is loud enough. I have in the past put it in front of a mic and amplified it - and also recorded it and played back at high volume.