Stand-alone tuner/metronome?

[tbdana]

There are lots of apps for the iPhone, but I'm looking for a really good stand-alone tuner and metronome. Either two-in-one or separate. I need a tuner that works well with trombone, as the one I have for piano is pretty crappy. And I need a metronome that sounds like a traditional "click" metronome, and not some dumb video game electronic sound.

But since I am from the time when the earth's crust was still cooling and I am as tech-aware as a Neanderthal munching poison ivy, I'd really appreciate it if folks who know can recommend something I'll be happy with.

Any takers?

[Posaunus]

Korg TM-50. Affordable, accurate, reliable.

[muschem]

I like a clip-on tuner for noisy environments. The Korg AW-LT100T is nice and small, clips to the bell in your line of sight, and the battery lasts a long time. I've had good luck with it in both tenor and bass ranges. I have a Korg KDM-3 as a standalone metronome, but I almost always just use the metronome in forScore or one of my other apps on the iPad, so I couldn't really say much about how well the KDM-3 works... it collects dust nicely, though.

[BGuttman]

First good tuner I got was the Korg AT-12. The one all the oboists used. Worked all the way down through tuba range. Just not fast enough to read as I played a fast passage (but you probably should not be trying to do that). Also had a Snark clip-on and a smaller Korg (I forget the number; maybe it was the AT-50?).

For a metronome I used one of the Video Game ones, but the gold standard used to be a Dr. Beat, which had a bunch of subdivisions (DB-99?). My metronome was the size of a pocket watch and used a CR-16 battery that seemed to last around 10 years. Also functioned as a stopwatch and timer.

[tbdana]

Korg TM-50. Affordable, accurate, reliable.

I ended up getting the Korg TM-70, because I didn't see the 50 and assume the 70 is at least as good under the law of higher model numbers.

[AtomicClock]

I would put the Korg TM-60 in the "video game" category.


My Boss TU-80 (combination tuner/metronome) is about the same. I suspect that any machine capable of making a tuning drone will reuse that circuit for the metronome, so the metronome gives an electronic tone instead of a nice *thwack*. So I really don't expect any combo device to have a good metronome sound.

I have two standalone metronomes I like better. When I find 'em, I'll post the model numbers.

[LeTromboniste]

Korg OT-120 is a great tuner. Backlit analog needle display with adjustable speed of reaction to the pitch moving, reference pitch for A can be adjusted by 1Hz increment from 349Hz to 499Hz, it can play any reference tone in a 5 octave range, and it has a number of common non-equal temperaments.

[AtomicClock]

I have two standalone metronomes I like better. When I find 'em, I'll post the model numbers.

Matrix MR-500
Sabine Zipbeat

[ghmerrill]

I ended up getting the Korg TM-70, because I didn't see the 50 and assume the 70 is at least as good under the law of higher model numbers.

The law of higher model numbers is generally reliable, but can lead to the consequence of "too many features" and possibly to "incomprehensible usability". This can result in more time diddling with the tuner than actually playing the instrument. So there are trade-offs.

I have always liked the Korgs -- for tuning a range of woodwinds and also low brass. I like the various features they have and the visual presentation for the pitch. Within the past month both my old Tascam and my equally old Korg TM-50 finally croaked or stopped being reliable. I'm pretty sure I'd had each of those for 25 years or so.

I decided to downsize in terms of both size and functionality, and now have a clip-on D'Addario Eclipse Cello/Bass tuner that seems to be just fine. All it does is tune. It doesn't record, act as a metronome, give weather reports, or predict stock market trends. I've also got a Snark that I've had for some time, but the D'Addario is better. If I could find a working 60s-vintage Conn StroboTuner, I might go for that.

[Chazzer69]

Another vote for the Korg TM models. What I have found though is that volume for the metronome component can be a challenge (the 70 is slightly louder than the 50 or 60). For at-home usage, would add the recommendation to buy a set of cheap (<$20) computer speakers with a 3.5mm plug to use with the Korg. Makes a big difference.

[ghmerrill]

I decided to downsize in terms of both size and functionality, and now have a clip-on D'Addario Eclipse Cello/Bass tuner that seems to be just fine.

It turns out that there is one unfortunate feature of the D'Addario: It has an automatic shut-off that activates after 10 minutes of inactivity -- and this can't be disabled. So you need to be turning it on repeatedly during a practice session if you want to check your tuning. To me, this is sufficiently irritating that I've gone back to my Snark (attached now to the slide crook). I still feel it's not as accurate/responsive as the D'addario, But most of the time it seems close enough in VIB mode to not be an issue.

Also, the D'addario requires a CS2032 battery -- rather being rechargeable as the Snark is. I regard this as a minor inconvenience at this point in technology development. But of course this may be the primary reason for the enforced auto shut-off feature.