MagicBPM vs The Metronome by Soundbrenner

MagicBPM listens through a microphone to measure music tempo in real time, with a metronome and song identification. Its BPM readout updates as music plays and shows a confidence indicator as the reading settles; a scrolling tempogram displays tempo changes over time. The metronome supports up to 300 BPM, eight time signatures, accented downbeats, and eighth-note, triplet and sixteenth-note subdivisions. It can listen while music plays aloud from services including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and Deezer. Tempo analysis runs on-device, and microphone audio is not recorded or uploaded. Song identification sends an acoustic fingerprint to Apple’s Shazam service, requires internet access, and is disabled on CarPlay and Bluetooth hands-free routes. The app does not import audio files: users measure microphone-captured sound or tap the beat. Apps are listed for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android, with an Apple Watch metronome. The core app is free; iPhone and Android versions show ads, while the Mac app is ad-free.

The Metronome by Soundbrenner combines a metronome, practice tracker, and tuner for musicians. Accent markers have four states, and users can assign sounds and visual effects to each state. Songs can be saved to a library, organized into setlists, and shared by link; practice history supports reviewing sessions and building streaks and calendar progress. The app works with Soundbrenner wearables, which users connect from within the app. Ableton Link syncs it over Wi-Fi with Ableton Live and other Link-enabled apps. The maker discontinued DAW synchronization beyond Ableton Link, citing usability and reliability issues. Core app features are free. Soundbrenner Plus adds cloud backup and cross-device library syncing, but its multiple listed subscription prices have no specified billing periods. The app supports iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, macOS 13 Ventura or later on Apple silicon Macs, and Android 10 or later. It supports tap tempo, subdivision controls, and custom time signatures, but not polyrhythms.