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What is it?
The Quadranome® is designed as an aid to learning complex polyrhythms.
Four separate metronomes or timelines are available, with up to 13 subdivisions
per timeline. By entering a number of beats per measure for each timeline,
Quadranome can play up to 4 subdivisions against each other, with each metronome
resolving to the "1". You can easily create polyrhythms such as
7/4/3, 13/4, or 11/4/5. By repeatedly listening to these complex rhythms,
you can vastly improve your rhythmic vocabulary. This type of device was
reportedly used by such masters as John McLaughlin to internalize complex
polyrhythms.
Where did you get the idea for such a device?
The subject of a multi-metronomic device called the "Trinome"
came up on a drum forum I belong to. The Trinome is a metronome that incorporates
a motor, a spindle onto which a series of 8 cams is molded, and some levers
that can be positioned over any of the 8 cams. By selecting different cams
with the levers, any 3 of the 8 subdivisions can be played against each
other, with a bell, tick and tock sound. This sought-after device has long
since been out of production, and even appears in the Metronome museum!
I was inspired to create a software version of this device, and to expand
and improve on the concept.
Expanded and improved how?
The Quadranome allows 4 rhythms to superimposed with up to 13 subdivisions
per cycle. Also, 3 different sound sets are available - the traditional
metronome sounds (bell, tick, tock, took?), a latin percussion set (agogo,
bongo, hi conga, low conga), and a drum kit (cowbell, snare, tom, kick).
Finally, each timeline displays it's beats-per-minute value, updated dynamically.
Sound sets, time values and speed can be changed on-the-fly.
What computers are supported?
Quadranome is currently available for Mac OSX, and Windows.
Sounds cool! How do I get it?
You can download a trial version of Quadranome from the links below.
The trial version is fully functional, but will time out after 15 minutes.
This should be enough time to realize that you NEED this thing!
The full version is a measly $15. Then you will be able to listen to
that 13/7/5/4 polyrhythm for hours on end, and become a polyrhythm master!
You will also be eligible for free updates, should they become available.
Finally, you will be supporting the concept of independent software developers. |
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