iBeat+v1.2


 * Title:** [|iBeat v1.2]
 * Publisher:** MickMadSoft
 * Copyright Date:** 1997-2005
 * Platform:** Macintosh
 * Peripherals**: N/A
 * Grade/Age:** All
 * Type of Class:** General Music, Band, Orchestra, Choir, Theory

There is a link to the creator’s e-mail address directly on the screen.
 * Teacher Support**

The utility can provide a quarter, eighth, sixteenth, and thirty-second note pulse at tempos from 32 to 250 BPM, and play any pitch from middle C to B4 for tuning purposes. National Standards Addressed:
 * Instructional Content**
 * Standard 1: Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
 * Standard 2: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
 * Standard 6: Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
 * Standard 7: Evaluating music and music performances.

This program is meant for individual and small ensemble practicing situations, but because computers tend to have a wider volume range than many metronomes, it may also be useful with larger groups. It is designed to be a substitute for a physical metronome/tuner, and operates using a slider interface. The tuner cannot identify your instrument's pitch; instead, it just gives you a demanded pitch using a MIDI sound effect.
 * Instructional Design and Pedagogical Soundness**

N/A
 * Record Keeping**

With its simple format, I had expected iBeat to be easy-to-use and reliable, but I was appalled to find out that it could not even keep a steady pulse! Upon using the program more, I realized that moving the mouse was the cause of this problem, and while it is unlikely that one would practice their instrument and use the computer mouse simultaneously, it does not seem like a difficult glitch to fix. Additionally, the “tuner” element, which is really more of a pitch generator, plays notes that sound like they were played on an electric guitar; these notes can be difficult to tune from for most musicians because of the distortion on some of them, especially the accidentals. There are several other free computer-based metronomes available, often online, and with superior sound quality.
 * Overall Evaluation**

Rating: * 1/2

Reviewed by Michelle Cheng 10/26/2008 Updated by Gregory Tongue 11/16/2009 Updated by Kathy Wainwright 6/16/2010