Metronome improvement....

[mnhnhyouh]

I like the idea of using my iPod as a metronome, however the plugin is only at the most basic level.

At present it allows the user to increase and decrease beat and volume.

However even a bog standard metronome allows you to do a bar beat, so that, say for 4/4 time, every 4th beat is a different noise.

More complex metronomes allow you to have the beat swung, or to tap a button at the beat of the music you are listening to and it will read the bpm back to you. And there is a whole range of other features available.

Here is the feature list of one of the best metronomes, the Doctor Beat by Boss

The Boss DB88 Dr. Beat takes the metronome to an entirely new level. The first thing you'll notice is that that you're not just limited to the traditional metronome click sound — you can also select a human voice that will count the beats for you. (Think of it as a little company on those long, lonely nights of practice!)

The DB88 also memorizes tempo, beat, and rhythm level settings and facilitates practicing in odd-time signatures through the combination of 2 distinct beats. There's independent slider-based control of desired note volume (quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note, eighth-note triplet), so you can be sure the accents will fall where you want them to. The loop function plays back memorized beat settings in the exact order you wantÖperfect for practicing passages with rhythmic changes. The large alpha dial and custom LCD make operation a breeze and there's tempo tap capability so you can easily get the BPM of whatever music you're listening to.

For serious musicians, the Talking Dr. Beat can handle time signatures up to 15 beats per measure. Mountable on drum hardware. Two headphone jacks and one audio input.

The DB88 is a new member of the DR.Beat Series, a reference standard for electronic metronomes.

Features
Memorizes tempo, beat, and rhythm level settings

Accommodates time signatures up to 15 beats per measure

Large alpha dial and custom LCD provide easy user interface

Allows for independent, slider-based control of desired note volume (quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note, eighth-note triplet)

Provides 2 click sounds plus a human voice count (one, two, three ...)

Tap function allows for finger tapping tempo (BPM)

Loop function plays back memorized beat settings in user-defined order

Reference tone allows fine pitch adjustment and chromatic voicing

It seems to me that most of these could be incorporated into Rockbox by somebody with some programming skill.

I have had a look at the code, and my very rusty pascal skills are not up to the task of even adding basic functionality.

This is more a clarion call to see if there is interest out there by developers in making some improvments?

h

[Mmmm]

or to tap a button at the beat of the music you are listening to and it will read the bpm back to you

This is already a feature of the metronome plugin (at least on H1xx anyway) press select button a few times and the beat should change to match your clicks.

[ZincAlloy]

I'd like to be able to hear the metronome while recording. Is it possible to implement this feature?

[Lyke]

It would be great if the metronome could visualize the beat -
a flashing square would be enough.

While performing or practising I don't like to use earplugs...

[Kalokagathon]

YES, it'd be nice to have Rockbox count 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, or complex (2+2+3 etc) meters, so I strongly support the request for a meter setting in the metronome plugin.
It would actually be really great if a chromatic scale could be incorporated (sine-tone generatin would be fine) with a pitch setting for basic tuning (eg 440, 438, 446, 415...)

[I have a 4G iPod]