Best METRONOME app overall ★★★★★

This is the best of all of the metronome apps out there because the conducting patterns contain so much information - you can tell which beat of the measure you are on with just a glance at the motion of the "baton" out of the corner of your eye, and you can even tell where you are WITHIN each beat.

The conducting patterns are the result of CENTURIES of experience on how to transmit timing information to musicians. The standard visual cues for metronome apps - flashing lights, [...] - contain far less information than the movement of the baton.

If you already know how to play under the direction of a conductor, this is the metronome app to have. If you haven't learned with a conductor, give this app a chance, practice with it, and you will understand.

Check out the iOS versions, too.

by NineByNine

Simple App ★★★★★

Very simple App and easy to use. I bought this to improve my timing skills associated with watching the conductor in the orchestra. I have it installed on my computer and its like a virtual conductor conducting away in my peripheral vision. You set the bmp to what you want (anthing up to 300 bpm) and you can chose bar time signatures from 1 beat through to 12 beats per bar. The app opens with a semi transparent window over your desktop which means that you can open a peice of music and have the conductor pattern conducting away over the top of whatever you have on screen at the time. The semi transparent background can very easily be adjusted to completely tranparent or completely opaque. [...] Good value and simple - a winning combination !

by Orchestralbassplayer