I have the DB-88 and like that I can put it on the hi-hat rod. I bashed it a few times with my AHEAD sticks and it took the beating. It also has lots of different patterns AND a pitch generator. Comes with a string so you can wear it around your neck.

The unit has a jack for an ear plug, but I haven't been able to get an acceptable volume from it. The flashing lights take care of that. The ONE is on the left light, while the other beats are on the right light.

It even has a timer for doing laundry.

Ive had an old Boss Dr. Beat for the last dozen years or so and it still works well.

I wanted some things that the Dr. Beat couldn't do so last year I got a Tama RW.

I like the Rhythm Watch, it's easily mountable and has the ability to advance through preprogrammed tempos with a foot switch. Features that I wanted that my Dr. Beat doesnt have.

But....Yamaha has recently released this...




Apparently, its got a leg up on the Tama unit with it being MIDI capable, having more memory and this creepy pulse thing. Im not sure if it's mountable or if it can advance with a foot switch though. The most intriguing thing to me is the "small, round vibrating pad that pulsates with the beat, providing the user with time reference through the sense of feel, and eliminating the need for audible or visual cues."

I'm guessing that you sit on the pad and you can feel the pulse. Kinda weird to have the time being shocked into you like that but who knows, it might be better than having to use headphones.

I know what you mean. I would have to try it out extensively before I bought one even though Yamaha has a great track record with me too.

I wonder what would happen if it got wet though, since youre in contact with it. I'm always spilling soda and water when I'm playing live. Knocking cups and glasses over. I can see the headlines...

Drummer Electrocuted By Soaked Metronome.

Yipe.

They should call it the Buttranome.  Itd sell like gyros at a street fair.

I have that.. its good for practice pad stuff, but to play it with a kit, I have to run it through a PA in into a monitor unit, into headphone to hear it enough to drum along... I think i'm going to get a TAMA soon.

AND...maybe they could add an "aversion therapy" training feature. If you are off the prescribed beat for more than 4 bars... instead of feeling the pulse...it sends a low level electrical shock  . Kind of like the way an invisible fence for dogs does  . Just a thought...

BigBill

Its not overkill if you are going to use those features and you're willing to pay 200 bucks for them.

I had a need for just a plain click that I could use live and advance from song to song easily and be loud enough for me to hear over a raging hard rock band.

Such an animal didn't exist when I was first after one in the mid to late eighties, so I had to invent a system on my own out of things I already had. I had to drag around my Drumkat, a Roland D110 (as a tone module) and a headphone amp. Allot of stuff for just a click.

I was elated when I found the Dr. Beat because it was easily portable and with inner ear headphones, it was LOUD! But, I had to be quick about changing tempos between songs and I had to have it sit on something so I could reach it.

The Tama unit is loud, mountable and programmable/advanceable which made it my dream metronome.

However, just like anything else I buy. As soon as I do, something better comes out. Dang blamit!  

SEIKO DM-20

Simple to use. No problems. Cheap.