The Good:
Very usable program that is easy on the eyes also very simple to operate. Good install process that gets you up and practicing quickly.
The Bad:
No additional upgrades, packs or educational plug-ins from the Graf-Martinez library so what you get for practice music is all you get. Not really for the advanced Flamenco guitarist.
Overall Rating: 8
So you think you are ready to throw in the towel and give up on staying in time with the compas? Well thanks to the Graf-Martinez team we believe there Flamenco Metronome may just be what you were looking for. The metronome comes packed with features including preset practice time structures including the ever complicated twelve beat. Also it comes with a three count which is very useful when writing falsetas for soleares or bulerias. With a giant clock used to tick away the beat count we think it would greatly benefit all those looking to polish there Flamenco guitar playing. Made for both Windows and MAC and priced under $40 this may just be the ultimate in visual and audio learning for the Flamenco guitar.
The most striking thing about this metronome is it sleek design which provides access to all its features at once. The clock keeping the count is very large and easy to read. Volume and Tempo are controlled using sliders with the tempo ranging from 0 to 240 beats per minute. QuickTime is required in order to use the some of the features and I would recommend you go download the latest QuickTime software which is free. We had only one issue after install with the metronome and that had to do with the QuickTime displaying correctly on our Windows machine but it was quickly resolved. It seems that the color setting for the display required by the metronome needs to be set to 32-bit True Color in order for it to render on the screen. So if you are able to listen to the practice music playing but are not seeing anything try adjusting your color settings through the Windows control panel.
On to the Compas Visible feature which provides scrolling music with both musical notes and tabs also a smaller version of the metronome clock that keeps the time for the music being played. This by far is the coolest feature of this software as it provides examples of three different timings groups of Flamenco music and allows you to play along providing the ability to increase and decrease the tempo. The first group starting on the twelve beat are Bulerias, Guajiras, Fandanguillo and Petenera followed by a group that start on the one beat Alegrias and Solea and lastly the group which start on the eighth beat Siguiriyas. Although most of the provided patterns are short and simple they do not miss there intension which is to provide a steady repetition of each Palo. We really wish the Graf Martinez team could have provided a bit more material from its extensive library of educational products. One of our wish list items for future releases of this software is to provide examples of Llamadas, Sierez and Falsetas as part of the Palo loop so you can practice for example the major components of a buleria and really get a solid grip on the timing for all the basic components of that Palo.
This is a great product as it is now… But we do have wish list for the next software release:
1. Downloadable Palos for advanced users – It would be great to download an advanced buleria pack that played on the Compas Visible.
2. Personal Sounds – The ability to change the downbeat sound to Cajon and the other beats to Palmas or other custom sounds on the metronome.
3. Longer Loops – As mentioned above the ability to practice all major components of a Palo in the Compas Visible.
You can purchase your copy of the Graf-Martinez Flamenco Metronome at: http://www.graf-martinez.com/flamenco-metronome.html
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It seems very good but still computer dependant., I personally go for a portable flamenco metronome with which I can practice anytime and anywhere. Metrotunerlive, is cheap, and functions greatly, showing the beats of the compas as you go along, so that you know where in the compas you are at any moment.
As for me, an intermediate player, there are 3 versions of each palo, which progressively take me to the more advanced and complicated compases. The accented beats are also shown. I guess by just looking at the screen and reading the numbers out loud, one can master the flamenco compas.
You can see Metrotunerlive beautiful demo at:
http://www.flamencometronomo.com and buy it from: http://www.storemusic-live.com
Usman