The metronome has long been an indispensable device in the everyday life of musicians. Accurate timing is vital not only when practising an instrument, but also whenever looping or sequencing is required – that's where the metronome comes in. While the vast majority of these devices keep time with an acoustic signal, Soundbrenner has taken a different approach – and created metronomes that use vibration to trigger a pulse signal. The Soundbrenner Pulse an affordable, effective device that does exactly that. It can be worn like a watch on the wrist, or indeed an ankle, or anywhere else: To this end, it comes with straps in different lengths. In order to fully exploit the metronome's considerable potential, musicians can download the free Soundbrenner Metronome app for iOS and Android.
The housing of the Soundbrenner Pulse measures five centimetres in diameter and is strapped to the body – usually the wrist. Soundbrenner's claim is that the vibration is seven times stronger than that of a mobile phone. Users can set the tempo via a rotating ring or by tapping several times on the touch-sensitive surface, which features an illuminated Soundbrenner logo. Tapping on the screen again will either start or stop the vibration. The device can also be connected to the app via Bluetooth, allowing musicians to control the Pulse remotely – the app also offers storage options and playlist management, among other things. The Soundbrenner DAW Tools app is also supported by Mac OSX and can be used for MIDI control via DAW software.
The monotonous sound of a metronome can spoil the fun of practising, as the noise is frequently unpleasant, to say the least, and means it can't be used for recordings or playing live. The Soundbrenner Pulse allows practising musicians to concentrate fully on their instrument's sound – be it a piano, a violin, a guitar, or a drumkit. Live performers will also benefit greatly from the Pulse whenever precise timing is of the essence, such as when playing along with pre-recorded music, or when trying to avoid messing up the tempo during a fast-paced live performance.
Soundbrenner was founded in Berlin in 2014 by Florian Simmendinger and Julian Vogels. The Soundbrenner Pulse, a vibrating metronome that can be worn on the wrist, ankle, or on the body, was launched in 2016 with the help of a crowdfunding campaign. A production facility was opened in Hong Kong for the device's manufacture, while development still takes place in Berlin. In 2019, after another successful crowdfunding campaign, the Soundbrenner Core was presented, which retained the proven concept but was enhanced with a few new features. Since then, the portfolio has been expanded to include other products such as the Stomp, a Bluetooth foot controller.
Whereas in the past pianists had to place a brutally loud, heavy wooden metronome on their beloved instrument while practising, present-day solutions are far more elegant and quiet; however, none are completely noiseless – except the unique Soundbrenner Pulse. A gentle (or, optionally, a rather stronger) vibration makes the pulse physically perceptible, enabling undisturbed musical performances without unwanted background noise. In live settings, the Soundbrenner Pulse comes in handy as well: For instance, drummers can create a concert playlist that allows them to play every song at exactly the right tempo. And with the sync function, every single band member can be fitted with a Soundbrenner, guaranteeing precise timing at every gig.