Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about Metronome Time

How accurate is Metronome Time?

Metronome Time uses the Web Audio API, which provides timing accuracy within milliseconds. This makes it as accurate as professional hardware metronomes for all practical musical purposes. The precision is more than sufficient for practice, recording, and performance preparation.

Does Metronome Time work offline?

Yes! Metronome Time is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Once you've visited the site, you can install it to your device and use it offline. Your presets, practice stats, and settings are all saved locally on your device.

Can I use Metronome Time on my phone or tablet?

Absolutely! Metronome Time is fully responsive and works on all devices - smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. The interface adapts to your screen size for the best experience. For the best mobile experience, we recommend installing it as a PWA using the "Add to Home Screen" feature.

How do I save my metronome settings?

Your settings are automatically saved in your browser's local storage. Additionally, you can save custom presets with specific BPM, time signature, and other settings by using the "Save Preset" button in the Options panel. These presets will be available whenever you return to the site.

What keyboard shortcuts are available?

Metronome Time supports several keyboard shortcuts: Spacebar (play/pause), Arrow Up/Down (adjust BPM by ±1), Arrow Left/Right (adjust BPM by ±5), F (fullscreen), M (mute/unmute), T (tap tempo), and number keys 1-8 for quick tempo presets. You can also click the "?" icon in the metronome interface to see all shortcuts.

Is Metronome Time really free?

Yes! Metronome Time is completely free to use with all current features available at no cost. We may introduce optional premium features in the future for users who want advanced functionality, but the core metronome will always remain free.

What is the Tempo Trainer feature?

The Tempo Trainer automatically increases the metronome speed gradually during your practice session. You set a starting BPM, target BPM, how much to increase each time, and the interval between increases. This is perfect for building speed systematically on difficult passages.

How does Practice Tracking work?

Practice Tracking automatically records your practice time whenever the metronome is playing. It tracks total practice time, number of sessions, current streak, best streak, and today's progress. All data is stored locally on your device, and you can view your stats in the Practice Stats panel.

Can I change the sound of the metronome?

Currently, Metronome Time uses standard click sounds with distinct accents for strong beats. Sound customization features may be added in future updates based on user feedback. You can adjust the volume and choose whether to hear accents on strong beats.

What time signatures are supported?

Metronome Time supports all common time signatures from 1/4 to 12/4, including 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 (common time), 5/4, 6/8, 7/8, and more. The first beat of each measure is automatically accented to help you feel the rhythmic structure.

What is the BPM range?

The metronome supports tempos from 25 BPM (Grave - very slow) to 240 BPM (Prestissimo - very fast), covering the full range of classical tempo markings and all musical styles and practice situations.

Why isn't the metronome making any sound?

First, check that your device volume is turned up and that the metronome isn't muted (press M or check the sound toggle in Options). On some browsers, especially mobile Safari, audio may require user interaction to start - try tapping the play button again. Also ensure your browser isn't blocking audio autoplay.

Does the metronome keep playing when my phone screen is off?

Yes! Metronome Time keeps playing even when your phone screen turns off or locks. On Android devices (Chrome/Edge), we use Wake Lock API to prevent screen sleep. On iOS Safari, we use a silent audio loop technique to keep the audio context alive in the background. This ensures continuous metronome playback during practice sessions, just like dedicated metronome apps. The audio automatically resumes if you switch apps and return to the metronome.

Can I use this for live performance?

While Metronome Time is highly accurate, it's designed primarily as a practice tool. For live performance, we recommend testing it thoroughly in your specific setup first. Consider using headphones or in-ear monitors to hear the click during performance without it bleeding into microphones.

Does Metronome Time collect my data?

We respect your privacy. All practice data, presets, and settings are stored locally on your device. We use Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity for anonymous usage statistics to improve the service, but we do not collect or store any personal practice data on our servers. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

What is Visual-Only Mode?

Visual-Only Mode allows you to practice without any sound, using only the visual cues from the metronome (beat flashes, counter, and ring animations). This is perfect for silent practice sessions, rehearsals where you need to be quiet, or when practicing in libraries or shared spaces. Enable it in the Practice Modes section of the Options menu.

Does Metronome Time support haptic feedback?

Yes! On Android devices and Chrome browsers that support the Vibration API, you can enable Haptic Feedback in the Practice Modes section. The metronome will vibrate on each beat, with different vibration patterns for strong beats, normal beats, and subdivisions. This is especially useful when practicing in loud environments or when using Visual-Only Mode. Note: iOS Safari does not currently support this feature due to browser limitations.

How can I report a bug or request a feature?

We love hearing from our users! Use the feedback widget (the circular button at the bottom right of the screen) to report bugs, request features, or share your thoughts. You can also contact us through the Contact page.

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