Metronome w/training input

[ba55i5t]

Hi again folks,


My lovely wife bought an Alesis Nitro Mesh electronic drum kit for me for my birthday and it features a cool program on the module. The click track will visually display to you whether you're playing on the beat (good), behind the beat (slow), or in front of the beat (fast) based on when you strike a pad.

I think that this is great and was wondering if there's a metronome that I could purchase to get the same feedback when I practice bass (via input jack). Does anyone know if such a metronome with visual feedback exists?


Cheers,
ba55i5t

 

[two fingers]

I think Garage Band will do that if you have an interface.

 

[ba55i5t]

I think Garage Band will do that if you have an interface.

I do not have Garage Band (or a Mac) but I do have an interface. I primarily use Reaper and would be also open to trying VSTs that do this too.

 

[TheDirtyLowDown]

The liveBPM smartphone app gives you a graph of beats-per-minute.
I've used it with our drummer to help tame situations where things keep speeding up.

Check it out -- it's not perfect, but what it does well is detect and display a trend
over a period of time.

 

[ba55i5t]

The liveBPM smartphone app gives you a graph of beats-per-minute.
I've used it with our drummer to help tame situations where things keep speeding up.

Check it out -- it's not perfect, but what it does well is detect and display a trend
over a period of time.

That's a pretty sweet app, but I'm looking for direct feedback on subdivisions too. I made a screenshot of how it appears from the manual just to give an idea here.

I don't know why the metronome/tuner pieces of hardware don't use this, as they already have LEDs and input jacks.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Hi again folks,


My lovely wife bought an Alesis Nitro Mesh electronic drum kit for me for my birthday and it features a cool program on the module. The click track will visually display to you whether you're playing on the beat (good), behind the beat (slow), or in front of the beat (fast) based on when you strike a pad.

I think that this is great and was wondering if there's a metronome that I could purchase to get the same feedback when I practice bass (via input jack). Does anyone know if such a metronome with visual feedback exists?


Cheers,
ba55i5t

Many of todays software recording programmes will show you how you are playing in relation to the beat.


Working on timing is cool, but do not let the click rule you, you are not a slave to it.

The click is a reference, not a definite.

Playing behind the beat is not slow and playing in front of the beat is not fast because your relationship to those two issues will be tempo...its when you allow the tempo to change you will have issues, not the beats within the tempo.

BEvAT BEvAT BEvAT BEvAT BEvAT BEvAT BEvAT BEvAT BEAvT BEAvT BEAvT BEAvT BEAvT BEAvT BEAvT BEAvT BvEAT BvEAT BvEAT BvEAT BvEAT BvEAT BvEAT BvEAT


Now if I take the word BEAT as a visual reference and use the letter 'v' to represent the beat, in the above rhythm we start on the beat, then play after the beat then before the beat.

In the first eight the 'v' is n the beat, with the same feel between them.
In the next eight, only the first one will feel out, but then the next seven will have the same feel between them as the beat is being felt in the same place.
In the next eight again only the first one will feel out, the next seven will have the same feel as again the beat is being felt in the same place.

So its where we put the '1' that matters, for example if I played this to you:

v BEAT v BEAT v BEAT v BEAT v BEAT v BEAT v BEAT v

Would you be able to say if it was one beat or in-between the beat?

Just because the feel is even does not mean it is on beat. we need to apply a '1' to work that out...so why worry about working to a visual reference of it?

Play with a click as a reference, do not let it rule your life.


I am a pro player, and as such I record a lot.

Whenever producers, or engineers comment on my 'stems' (more over the peaks where I appear on the stems) more often than not I am right on the 1, but miss 2345678 by being slightly in front of it or behind it, but always, more often than not, always right on the '1'.

So I feel a strong beat every 8 beats, not every beat, and I do not feel it over four beats, but over eight beats.

That is my feel, that is how I play, that is why they employ me....learn to stay in tempo and have fun with the beat is my advice, use your ears not your eyes.

 

[BassChuck]

How times have changed.

Rare Russian Dragon RD-2 rack mount rhythm accuracy indicator

 

[JW56789]

Wait a minute, a metronome that will TELL ME if I'm on it, behind it, or rushing?

I thought torture devices like that were banned under International Law. If I ever see one, it's going home with my Beretta . . . . . .

 

[ba55i5t]

Many of todays software recording programmes will show you how you...

...That is my feel, that is how I play, that is why they employ me....learn to stay in tempo and have fun with the beat is my advice, use your ears not your eyes.

Thank you for this. Can you please recommend the software or show it to me? I currently use Reaper but haven't found this feature on it. I am aware of how software can quantize a track to make it 'on beat' but have not seen one that gives real time feedback on whether you are on beat or not.

I agree with the reference, I just want to have that reference in real time especially for playing subdivisions (e.g. triplets, sixteenths).

 

[ba55i5t]

Wait a minute, a metronome that will TELL ME if I'm on it, behind it, or rushing?

I thought torture devices like that were banned under International Law. If I ever see one, it's going home with my Beretta . . . . . .

Yes but a reference, very useful for drums and I can see the use for bass and other instruments.

 

[IamGroot]

The phone app is great for showing bands, ensembles, and folks that claim they dont need a metronome the truth.

 

[IamGroot]

IMO....
Develop the ability to feel dead on the beat, and then playing ahead or behind is very easy.

Also, in classical / big band conducted settings, the tempo will swing with the conductor, but the note values within the tempo are pretty well fixed unless the conductor has given explicit directions .

In jazz solos, the transcribed note durations are just an approximation. If you play them stiff, it will sound off.

 

[ba55i5t]

I have found a product that might work. It is designed for percussionists but comes with a contact microphone which might be sensitive enough for string vibration.

BEATLAB mini - RHYTHM TRAINER | KORG (USA)

Link to Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Korg-BTLMINI-Rhythm-Trainer-Metronome/dp/B01N1PMVAG

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Thank you for this. Can you please recommend the software or show it to me? I currently use Reaper but haven't found this feature on it. I am aware of how software can quantize a track to make it 'on beat' but have not seen one that gives real time feedback on whether you are on beat or not.

I agree with the reference, I just want to have that reference in real time especially for playing subdivisions (e.g. triplets, sixteenths).

What is your computers OS, windows or mac?

 

[ba55i5t]

What is your computers OS, windows or mac?

Windows

 

[Fergie Fulton]

Lots of good options for windows but if you are using Reaper you should have all you need, what version are you using and does it come with Melodyne software?

If you track a drum pattern, then track your playing against it, in play backback via track view... you show be able to see how you played to it.

First off you need to set a metronome, and set your project to it so your bars are in time with the drum you will use. So import a click track of a drum loop and line the loop up to tempo.
Then record your playing and compare it to the drum loop and the bar counter.

I use a Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 into Mixcraft pro studio 9 via my Zoom R16, so I can be sent tracks to import, record my parts and send them back as stems to the originator.
But I will say I use Garage Band for ipad for teaching and it is by far the best and simplest tool for this sort of thing.
I use an irig interface to record to and the drum loops and virtual instruments can help make it fun.

Now I use an old ipad 2, so its really all it does for me anymore is run garage band, I do have Garage Band on my MacBook, but the iPad version is way cooler..so if anyone sees an old ipad for sale and it has Garage band on it I would say grab it and add it to your teaching tools

 

[Nashrakh]

The liveBPM smartphone app gives you a graph of beats-per-minute.
I've used it with our drummer to help tame situations where things keep speeding up.

Check it out -- it's not perfect, but what it does well is detect and display a trend
over a period of time.

+1

The drummers in my big band use this app, and it works as intended. Great for checking whether you hold the target tempo or not. The most interesting hijinx ensue when the conductor insists that the rhythm section sped up during a song but the app proves otherwise...

 

[ba55i5t]

Lots of good options for windows but if you are using Reaper you should have all you need, what version are you using and does it come with Melodyne software?

If you track a drum pattern, then track your playing against it, in play backback via track view... you show be able to see how you played to it.

First off you need to set a metronome, and set your project to it so your bars are in time with the drum you will use. So import a click track of a drum loop and line the loop up to tempo.
Then record your playing and compare it to the drum loop and the bar counter.

I use a Focusrite Scarlet 2i4 into Mixcraft pro studio 9 via my Zoom R16, so I can be sent tracks to import, record my parts and send them back as stems to the originator.
But I will say I use Garage Band for ipad for teaching and it is by far the best and simplest tool for this sort of thing.
I use an irig interface to record to and the drum loops and virtual instruments can help make it fun.

Now I use an old ipad 2, so its really all it does for me anymore is run garage band, I do have Garage Band on my MacBook, but the iPad version is way cooler..so if anyone sees an old ipad for sale and it has Garage band on it I would say grab it and add it to your teaching tools

I appreciate this post but I'm not looking to record my playing. I just wanted a program to assess it in real time. I know I may be asking for a unicorn, but I've been finding it very useful for learning how to drum and there might be some beginner bass players that find it very useful as well.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

I appreciate this post but I'm not looking to record my playing. I just wanted a program to assess it in real time. I know I may be asking for a unicorn, but I've been finding it very useful for learning how to drum and there might be some beginner bass players that find it very useful as well.

If you record your paying you will see how it represents your timing, modern software will show your timing.
That is in essence what you want, a reference of your actual timing, and a way to practice to see quantifiable results....recording yourself will show that and more.

Many people tend to anticipate the beat, so play slightly ahead (in front of it) learning to let the beat "come to you" is a skill that you will realise via recording yourself.

Recordings do not lie...you have reference, that in todays world not only can you listen to but also view.

Good luck with it all, and i hope you find what you want.