FR2472772A1 - Electronic metronome providing complex rhythm pattern - uses microprocessor with programmable memories to provide two sound groups with different characteristics in alternance - Google Patents

Abstract

The metronome for beating musical time provides groups of at least one sound in alternance, the sound characteristics for each of these groups being different. The sound is provided by a loudspeaker receiving signals from a microprocessor with at least one programmable memory. The manual programming input allows two numbers each corresponding to a respective tempo to be entered into the memory together with their relative disposition for obtaining the required rhythm. The metronome allows a complex rhythm pattern to be denoted by use of the two sound groups and its precision is retained at below 40 beats per minute. It is also easy to adjust to the precise beat frequency.

Description

 The invention generally relates to and essentially relates to an electronic metronome used in particular to beat the time of a measurement of a piece of music, and a method for determining the characteristics of sounds broadcast by the metronome.

A classical metronome known as "Maelzel", which is well known to musicians, consists essentially of a pendulum rod whose period is adjustable by a movable mallet along the pendulum stem. Such a metronome is characterized by its number of beats per minute, at the rate of 1 beat per half-period of the pendulum, each beat accompanied by an audible sound by the student or the teacher. However, this type of metronome has several disadvantages
- Its accuracy is severely limited, especially at low speed and more precisely below 40 beats per minute when there is a lack of isochronism, that is to say that the times separating two beats are no longer strictly identical,
- the diffusion of a single sound does not allow to beat complex measures, and
- Its use is tricky for the blind, because it is difficult for them to know exactly the number of beats per minute and to fine tune the metronome.

 The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages and proposes a metronome that is characterized by the emission of alternating groups of at least one sound, the sound characteristics of these groups being different.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the metronome comprises at least one loudspeaker controlled by a programmed controller such as a microprocessor having at least one programmable memory.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the metronome also comprises a mechanisa programmer connected to the microprocessor, manually controlled and defining at least
a number m of time of a first measurement,
- ba number of time of a second measurement, and
- the disposition in time of these two measurements, the association or the combination of these measures giving a certain rhythm R.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the scheduler mechanism makes it possible to define in a first rhythm said "in"
a first measurement at m time and whose (m - 1) beats have a first characteristic of sound, and
a second measurement with n times and whose (n - 1) beats have a second characteristic of sound,
these measures being included in the same measure of time whose first beat is marked by a beat common to both measurements and having a third characteristic of sound.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the scheduler mechanism makes it possible to define, in a second rhythm, said "= wl
a first measurement at m time and whose (m - 1) beats have a first characteristic of sound and
a second measurement with n times and whose (n - 1) beats have a second characteristic of sound,
these measurements having an equal duration and succeeding in time, the first beat of the first measurement being marked by a beat having a third characteristic of sound and the first beat of the second measurement being marked by a beat having a fourth camisole the characteristic of sound.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the metronome makes it possible to define, in a third rhythm called "then" a first measurement at m time and whose (m - 1) beats have a first characteristic followed by a second measurement at n times and whose (n - 1) beats have a second characteristic of sound, the beats of the first measure succeeding one another at the same rate as the n beats of the second measure, that is to say that all the (m + n ) beats are equidistant from each other, the beat of the first beat of the first beat having a third sound characteristic and the beat of the first beat of the second beat having a fourth sound characteristic.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the metronome is provided with a seven-segment cell display system for displaying the various parameters chosen by the user, such as, for example, the number of beats of a first measurement, the number of times of a second measurement, and the chosen rhythm which determines the association of the combination of these two measures.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the metronome makes it possible to display the time on the display system.

The invention also proposes a method for determining the characteristics of the sounds of the successive beats of the beats of a measurement, this method consisting of
to choose a so-called base frequency defining a number of elementary beats per minute,
determining according to this basic frequency the duration of the measurements defined according to the chosen rhythm, each of these measures including a multiple greater than or equal to 1 of elementary beats,
- to be determined for these measurements, those of the elementary beats which actually correspond to a time of one measurement, and
to determine for each of these beats the characteristic of the sound to be broadcast.

 The invention is explained below in more detail with the aid of drawings representing only one embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 1 shows in perspective a metronome according to the invention
FIG. 2 schematically represents the main circuits of the electronic metronome conforming to = redEDn;
FIGS. 3 and 4 represent a two-step measurement and a three-beat measurement included in the same period, and a graphical representation of the different times of these measurements, respectively;
FIGS. 5 and 6 show a three-step measurement followed by a two-beat measurement, these measurements having an equal duration, and a graphical representation of these different times, respectively
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a three-beat measurement followed by a two-beat measurement, these measurements having an unequal duration, and a graphical representation of these different times.

 Referring to FIG. 1, the electronic metronome 1 in accordance with the invention is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped-shaped casing 2, of which one face 3 or front face has an electroluminescent digital refining system. 4 to four cells with seven segments. On the upper face 5 of the stacker 2 are provided five control devices, forming programmers, such as five pushbuttons referenced F7 -, R, +, S. At the rear face of the casing 2 is provided a power cord 6 completed by a plug 7 connectable to a power source. On a side face of the casing 2 is provided at least one speaker 8 for the sound diffusion of the different beats of one or more measurements. An electroluminescent diode 9 is also provided on the front face 3 of the casing 2.

 Such a metronome makes it possible to emit an alternation of groups of at least one sound, the characteristics of the sounds of these groups being different. To fulfill this function, the metronome contains various circuits which will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG.

The main controller consists of a microprocessor 10 comprising
processing circuits and a random access memory 11,
a programmable read-only memory 12 containing at least one program, and
an input-output interface 13,
these different elements being interconnected by a connection bus 14 ensuring the transmission of data.

The input-output interface 13 is connected
- To mounts a speaker 8 integrated in the metronome 2 as in the case of Figure 1 (or two speakers not integrated in the box as shown in Figure 2); the connection being effected by a conductor 15 with the interposition of a power transistor TI,
- to the different pushbuttons S, -, R, +,
S by conductors 16, each push-button being schematized by a simple switch I,
to the display system 4 comprising four cells with seven segments 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d; these cells being fed in series on the basis of a conductor 17 per segment with the interposition of a transistor T2 mounted in emitter and a resistor R2 at the output of the interface 13, and each cell is connected by a conductor 18 to the interface 13 to send successive display commands to the four cells.

 It will be studied now some of the various possibilities offered by such a metronome incorporating a microprocessor with particular reference to Figures 3 to 8.

Beforehand, it is important to define some essential notions for a better understanding of these figures
- simple measurement: it is a measurement composed of several times of equal duration, the metronome ensuring the beat of the measurement by emitting an audible sound at each time,
- so-called complex measurement: this measurement is broken down into simple measures that are combined or associated in a particular way, these different associations or combinations giving the measurement of different rhythms,
- base frequency: a metronome is characterized by the number of beats per minute.In this case, it will be called base frequency, a number of elementary beats per minute chosen by the user, which determine the duration a simple or complex measure and some beats will be made silent or made sound with different sound characteristics depending on the chosen rhythm.

The base frequency is a variable parameter chosen by the user. To ensure the adjustment of this basic frequency, it is sufficient for the user to exert an action on the push-button F to put the metronome in frequency adjustment mode and the microprocessor 10 sends on the system of display 4 the value of the basic frequency then present. If this base frequency is 60 (or 60 beats per minute), the first cell 4a displays the value
F, cell B displays - a point, the third cell 4c displays the number 6 and cell 4d displays the number 0 (Figure 1).

 Once the metronome is in the basic frequency setting mode, the user can adjust this frequency by operating the - and + pushbuttons.

More precisely
- if the + key is pressed, the frequency increases according to a uniformly accelerated law,
- if the - key is pressed, the frequency decreases according to a uniformly accelerated law with a negative acceleration in this case,
- if both + and - keys are pressed at the same time, the acceleration is canceled immediately, but the speed then reached at that moment is retained.

 Thus, it is possible to quickly switch from one setting to another which is remote while having the possibility of finally obtaining a precise setting.

 Suppose for example that we want to switch from a base frequency of 60 to 400. We start by pressing the + key, which increases the frequency faster and faster. If the desired frequency of 400 is not completely reached when you release the key, just press a little on the same key +, so that the frequency will accelerate again starting from zero speed. If, on the contrary, the value 400 has been exceeded, simply press the key to decrease the frequency. Of course, the control of the frequency adjustment is effected by looking at the values displayed by the display system. The push-button S is associated with a broadcast or not of sound, that is to say that it switches on or off or high-paleurs 8. If the push-button S was previously pressed so as to allow the broadcast of sounds, pressing the push button again prohibits such broadcast . In the case where one is in the basic frequency setting mode and if the push-button S authorizes the broadcasting of sounds, the speaker 8 emits a sound at each beat of the base frequency when the we control a variation of it.

 In the case where it is desired to modify the basic frequency of only a few units, it is not essential to look at the display system 4. In effect, provided that the sound diffusion has been cut off. if it is possible to operate the push-button S, when a variation of the basic frequency is controlled, the metronome is not in fact entirely silent, and there is broadcast of a sound or a sound signal at each variation of a unit of the frequency within the limit of 5 tops sound.

For example, if we vary the base frequency from 60 to 63, we hear 3 tops sound, but beyond 65, we will hear no sound top. This means that if you hear 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 sounds, you will have changed the frequency of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 beats per minute.

 Another possibility is offered in the case of adjustment of the basic frequency by a blind person.

Indeed, if we maintain the two push buttons
F and S pressed simultaneously, even for a short time, the metronome broadcasts through the speaker 8, for a base frequency less than 1000, C bass, D sounds rather acute and U sounds more acute with C, Dr U , respectively representing in this example dibe hundreds, tens and units of the basic frequency then displayed on the display device 4.

Of course, the number of different groups of sounds emitted is a function of the possible frequency deviation.

 Thus, if the base frequency is 60, that is, 60 beats per minute, 2 beats are separated from each other by one second. For a double base frequency (120) 2 successive beats are separated from each other by 0.5 seconds.

 Once the basic frequency chosen, for example 60 elementary beats per minute, it is necessary to choose the mode of operation of the metronome, that is to say that it is necessary to define its rhythm and the beats of time which must between sound and the characteristics of the sounds to be broadcast.

 To enter the rhythm operation mode, simply press the R push button once.

The microprocessor 10 then displays on the display system 4 three parameters m, X, n where m is the number of times of a first measurement, n the number of times of a second measurement and X defines the number of times. combination or combination of these two measures according to three particular rhythms which will be described below.

 Rhythm "d" (X becomes the letter d), figures 3 and 4.

This rhythm mdn amounts to playing simultaneously during the same period of time a measurement at m time and a measurement at n times. Referring to Fig. 3, the line a represents a two-beat measure and the line b a three-beat measure. Moments t1, t1, ... t6 correspond to seven successive elementary beats of the basic frequency. If this basic frequency is 60 beats per minute, two elementary beats are separated by one second. Since each time of the two-beat measurement and each time of the three-beat measurement must correspond to an elementary beat, the only possible arrangement between the different times of these two measurements is
- first time of the two-beat and first-beat measurement of the three-beat measurement fall at time tO,
- the second beat of the three-beat measure falls
at the instant-t2,
the second time of the two-beat measurement falls at time t3,
the third beat of the three-beat measurement falls at time t4, and
the first time of a new two-beat measurement and the first time of a three-beat measurement fall at time t6.

 It takes 7 successive elementary beats to define the period of such a rhythm (ie 6 seconds for a base frequency of 60 beats per minute).

In other words, in general, the period of a rhythm mdn is equal to the MCP (least common multiple) of m and n, because each time of a measurement must be in concordance with one of the elementary beats defined by the basic frequency.

Referring again to Figure 3, it is important to note
- that the elementary beats falling at times t1 and t5 must be silent,
the elementary beats falling at times t0 and t6 must be sound and have a first sound character to recognize the first beat of the two-beat measure and the first beat of the three-beat measure,
the beats falling at times t2 and t4 must be sound with a second characteristic of sound to recognize the second beat and the third beat of the three-beat measure, and
the elementary beat falling at time t3 must be sound with a third characteristic of sound different from the previous ones to recognize the second beat of the two-beat measure.

According to the invention, the determination of the elementary beats that must be sound with the definition of the characteristics of the sounds and the mute elementary beats are given from Table 1 below in the case of a rhythm mdn.
Table 1.

Data Results
CTRG CTRD CTRG CTRD sound # 1 # 1 MDGH MDDR serious # 1> 1 MDGH DEC acute 2> 1 # 1 DEC MDDR acute 1>1> 1 DEC DEC mute where MDGH is equal to the value of m; MDDR is at the value n; CTRG is a variable that initially has the value O or 1; CTRD is a variable that is initially 0 or 1; DEC means that the value of CTRG or CTRD is decremented by 1.

 It is important to note that each time we go in the first row of the table it is equivalent to the diffusion of a sound for example serious having a first characteristic of sound, in the second line of the table this equates to the diffusion of a high-pitched sound having a second characteristic of its acute sound 2, in the third row of the table this is equivalent to the diffusion of an acute sound having a third characteristic of its acute 1, and in the fourth line of the This equates to a mute state. If we consider Table 1 in the particular case of a 3d2 rhythm, we obtain Table 2 below which is represented in graph form in Figure 4 illustrating a period of a 3d2 rhythm. After the beat 6 we start again a new period since we find ourselves in the initial conditions namely CTRG and CTRD at O or 1.

 Table 2.

Data Results
CTRG CTRD CTRG CTRD sound
0 O
O 0 3 2 1 severe 3 2 2 1 2 mute 2 1 1 2 3 acute 1 1 2 3 1 4 acute 2 3 1 2 2 5 acute 1 2 2 1 1 6 mute 1 1 3 2 1 serious
The explanation of the results of this table 2 is as follows: at the beginning the variables CTRG and CTRD have the value 0 or 1. We then refer to line 1 of table 1 which indicates that CTRG takes the value MDGH is 3 and CTRD takes the value of MDDR = 2. These results form the new data line which we refer to row 4 of table 1, giving a CTRG result of 1 and CTRD also decremented by 1, and so on.

 The variables CTRG and CTRD are managed by registers at the level of the microprocessor 10, which work according to the program stored in the read-only memory 12.

 To modify the values of m and n, simply press the - and + pushbuttons respectively. Each time these pushbuttons are pressed, m and n are increased by 1. Once m and n reach a limit value, for example the value 9 for m and the value 4 for n, we restart cyclically from 1 .

 It should be noted that when m is equal to 1, this amounts to playing a measure at n classical time and conversely if n = 1 it amounts to playing a measure at classical time.

 In the case of the rhythms mdl and 1d41st first time of the measurement is indicated by a sound having a certain characteristic and for the other times of the measurement one obtains a sound of a different characteristic.

 Rhythm "=" (X becomes the sign =) (Figures 5 and 6).

 The metronome is in this rhythm by pressing the pushbutton R. Once again, this rhythm is accompanied by two parameters m, n where m is the number of beats of a first bar and n the number of beats a second measure. According to this rhythm, these two measures are of equal duration and follow one another in time.

 The adjustment of the two parameters m and n is carried out by operating the push-buttons - and + as before, by advancing them by one unit each time.

The general table 3 given below is based on the same principle as the previous table 1 to determine the elementary beats of the basic frequency which must be sound with different heights of sound for the two measures, and the mute elementary beats. An additional variable
AIG has been introduced and takes the value O at the beginning. The variables CTRG and CTRD take the value O or 1 at the beginning, the variable MDGH having the value m and the variable
MDDR having the value n. DEC denotes a denormation of a unit, NC indicates that the value remains unchanged and - means indifferent value.

 Table 3.

Data Results
AIG CTRG CTRD AIG CTRG CTRD sound 0 # 1 # 1 1 MDGH MDDR serious 1 0 # 1> 1 0 MDGH DEC acute 1 0> 1 - 0 DEC NC mute # 0 # 1 # 1 0 MDGH MDDR serious 2 # 0 -> 1 1 NC DEC mute # 0> 1 # 1 1 DEC MDDR acute 2
It should be noted that the passage
- in the first line of Table 3 gives a sound beat for example serious having a first characteristic of sound is serious 1,
in the second line of Table 3 gives an acoustic beat, for example an acute one having a second characteristic of sound that is acute 1,
- in lines 3 and 5 of Table 3 give silent sound beats,
- in the fourth row of the table gives a sound beat for example serious having a third characteristic-of its being serious 2, and
in the sixth line of Table 3 gives a sound beat for example acute having a fourth characteristic of its acute 2
Table 4 given below is an application of Table 3 in the case of a 3 = 2 rhythm (m = 3 and n = 2) 0
This means that lion plays a three-beat measure followed by a two-beat measure, these measurements having an equal duration. This case is represented in FIG. 5, and it appears that it is necessary to have 13 elementary beats of the base frequency to be able to play the succession of these two measures, In fact, it is necessary that each time of the two measurements correspond with a basic beat of the base frequency, It is necessary to take again the PPCM (least common multiple) of m and n to have the number of elementary beats for each of the measurements, these measurements being of equal duration.

 In this example, the two considered measures (3 = are successive, whereas for the previously studied rhythm (3 d 2) they are simultaneous, so that the periodicity of the movement is 12 for the rhythm (3 = 25 and 6 for the rhythm (3 and 2).

 Table 4.

Data Results
AIG CTRG CTRD AIG CTRG CTRD sound
OOO
OO 0 1 3 2- 1 severe 1 1 3 2 1 3 1 2 mute 1 3 1 1 2 2 3 acute 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 4 mute 1 2 1 1 1 2 5 acute 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 6 mute 1 1 1 O 3 2 7-serious 2 o 3 2 o 2 2 8 mute 0 2 2 0 1 2 9 mute 0 1 2 0 3 1 10 acute 1 o 3 1 o 2 1 11 mute 0 2 1 0 1 1 12 mute 0 1 1 1 3 2 1 serious 1
The graph shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the table in FIG. 4. Such an example in music represents the case of a triplet followed by two blanks.

 If both pushbuttons R and S are pressed simultaneously, the speaker 8 broadcasts the different sounds.

 Rhythm "P" (X becomes the letter P) (Figures 7 and 8).

 The metronome is in this rhythm by pressing the pushbutton R. Once again, this rhythm is accompanied by two parameters m, n where m is the number of beats of a first bar and n the number of beats a second measure. According to this rhythm, the beatings of the first measurement follow one another at the same speed as the beat of the second measure.

 The parameters m and n are adjusted by operating the - and + buttons as before, moving them forward one unit at a time.

 The general table given below is based on the same principle as the preceding tables for determining the characteristics of the sounds of the elementary beats given by the basic frequency. It is important to note that in this case there is no dumb sound. Indeed, as the two measures are of unequal duration, but the times of a measurement are separated by an equal distance, there will be a beat of sound time at each elementary beat of the base frequency.

As before, the variables CTRG and CRRD take the value O at the beginning, MDGH is equal to m and
MDDR is equal to n. DEC, NC have the same meaning as before.

Table 5
Data Results
AIG CTRG CTRD AIG CTRG CTRD sound 0 - # 1 1 MDGH 0 serious 1
O - 21 NC NC DEC acute 1 + O # 1 - OO MDDR severe 2> 1 - 1 DEC NC acute 2
Table 6 given below gives an application of this rate in the case of a three-step measurement followed by a two-step measurement as shown in FIG. 7 with the corresponding graph in FIG. 8.

 Table 6.

Data Results
AIG CTRG CTRD AIG CTRG CTRD sound
OO 0 1 3 o 1 severe 1 1 3 0 1 2 0 2 acute 2 1 2 0 1 1 0 3 acute 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 severe 2
O 0 2 0 0 1 5 acute 1
O 0 1 1 3 o 1 serious 1
For this rhythm, a bass sound having a first characteristic of its bass 1 gives the first beat of three beats, a high-pitched sound having a second characteristic of its high pitch 2 gives the second beats and the third beats of the three beats In the meantime, a bass sound with a third characteristic of its grave 2 gives the first beat of the two-beat measure, and a high-pitched sound with a fourth characteristic of its treble 2 gives the second beat of the two-beat measure.

 As before, the diffusion of these different sounds is done by simultaneously pressing the two pushbuttons R and S.

 The various tables 1, 3 and 5 are stored in the programmable read-only memory i2 of the microprocessor 10 and are managed by the processing circuits 14 of the microprocessor according to a program previously stored in the memory 12 and whose different instructions are processed by the processing circuits 13 of the microprocessor.

 At the beginning of the measurement, a counter (not shown) is initialized to a fixed value M3M2 and which is equal to 60 / T where T is the time necessary to traverse a complete loop of the program. During this loop is replaced each time the M3M2 value which becomes a variable by M3M2 - FB (base frequency chosen in advance). After N subtractions, a zero or a negative value is obtained, N being given by M3M2 / FB. The time that will have been necessary to decrement the counter from its maximum value to O will be equal to T x -N.

When the counter reaches a zero or negative value, we start broadcasting a top that will be either sound or mute. To fix the ideas, with a value of T equal to 1000 microseconds, M3ME is fixed at 60 000.

 However, when the base frequency is not an exact divisor of the value chosen for N3M2, there is an error on the time interval between two elementary beats, which error can wait a millisecond. Also, when the rest resulting from the successive subtractions M3M2-FB becomes lower than FB, this remainder is multiplied by 16 and, as before, we subtract successive subtractions each time FB, but this time at a speed 16 times faster which makes it possible to significantly reduce the possible error over the time interval separating two elementary beats.

The metronome also has a clock function for displaying the current time on the display device 4 by simultaneously pressing the pushbuttons
F and R. The microprocessor 10 from a quartz giving a determined frequency determines a frequency of 1 Hz by successive divisions. Each pulse has a frequency of 1 Hz is counted in hours, minutes and seconds counters respectively.

 The role of the electroluminescent diode 9 provided on the housing 2 of the metronome I is lit for example at the beginning of each measurement in order to give a point of reference to the student or the teacher.

In summary, such an electronic metronome makes it possible to obtain very precisely
- beats of two, three, four, ...

eight times,
- particular rhythms for the study of the piano and other instruments with several litters.

 This metronome marks not only the first beat of each measure, as a classical metronome does, but other beats using different sounds.

 It should be noted that in the three rhythms studied mdn, mPn and m = n, simultaneously pressing the push-buttons R and S makes it possible to sound broadcast the rhythm then chosen. This gives for Example for a 3d2 rhythm: 3 tops then 1 top then 2 tops, each top having a different sound for a 3P2 rhythm: 3 tops then 2 tops and 2 tops; for a rhythm 3 = 2: 3 tops then 3 tops then 2 tops.

 Finally, in the case of the clock, pressing the pushbutton S allows audible broadcasting of the time.

 In all of the above, "sound characteristic" means all the parameters that make it possible to differentiate one sound from another (intensity, pitch, timbre, etc.). The metronome described has a display system with four displays, but of course this number is not limiting and if we consider an excursion greater than 1000 for the base frequency, it will take 5 displays.

These displays may be optionally liquid crystal.

 It should also be noted that all previous sound tops may be eventually replaced by bright tops of different brightness, which is particularly advantageous for the blind.

 For the tops considered as mute in the previous explanations, it should be noted in fact that they are still slightly audible to avoid a 4d2 rhythm for example is translated only by a simple two-beat measurement.

 Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown which has been given by way of example. In particular, it comprises all the constituent means of the technical equivalents of the means described, as well as their combinations, if these are executed according to its spirit and implemented in the context of protection as claimed.

Claims (13)

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S  1. Electronic metronome for beating in particular the time of a measurement, characterized in that it emits an alternation of groups of at least one sound, the characteristics is son of said groups being different.  2. Metronome according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one speaker controlled by a programmed control member.  3. Metronome according to claim 2, characterized in that said controller is constituted by a micro-processor having at least one programmable memory.  4. Metronome according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it also comprises a programmer mechanism connected to said microprocessor, manually controlled and defining at least  a number m of time of a first measurement,  a number n of time of a second measurement, and  - the timing of these two measures, the combination or combination of these measures giving a certain rhythm.  5. Metronome according to claim 4, characterized in that said scheduler mechanism allows to define in a first rhythm said "in"  a first measurement at m time and whose (m - 1) beats have a first characteristic of sound and  a second measurement with n times and whose (n - 1) beats have a second characteristic of its  these measures being included in the same measure of time whose first beat is marked by a beat common to both measures and having a third character e of sound.  6. -Métronome according to claim 4, characterized in that said scheduler mechanism allows to define, in a second said rhythm  a first measurement at m time and whose (m - 1) beats have a first characteristic of sonp and  a second measure at n time and whose (n <1) beats have a second characteristic of sound,  these measurements having an equal duration and succeeding in time, the first beat of the first measurement being marked by a beat having a third characteristic oe sai and the first beat of the second measurement being marked by a beat having a fourth characteristic of his.  7. Metronome according to claim 4, characterized in that it defines in a third rhythm said "then"  a first measurement at time and whose (m - 1) beats have a first characteristic of sound, - a second measure E n time and whose (n - 1) beats have a second characteristic of sound,  these measurements succeeding one another and having an unequal duration, the beat of the first beat of the first measure having a third characteristic of sound and the beat of the first beat of the second measure having a fourth characteristic of sound.  8. Metronome according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a seven-segment cell display system for displaying the various parameters chosen by the user, such as for example the number of times m of a first measurement. , the number of times n of a second measurement, and the chosen rhythm which determines the association or the combination between these two measurements.  9. Metronome according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it also transmits the time on said display device.  10. Method for determining the characteristics of the sounds of the successive beats of the measurement times given by a metronome as defined in one of the preceding claims, this method being characterized in that it consists of  to choose a so-called basic frequency defining a number of elementary beats per minute,  to determine, according to this basic frequency, the duration of the measurements defined according to the chosen rhythm, each of these measurements including a multiple greater than or equal to 1 of elementary beats,  - to be determined for these measurements, those of the elementary beats which correspond effectively to a time of a measurement, and  to determine for each of the beats the characteristics of the sounds to diffuse to differentiate them. others. DEC means that the value of CTRG or CTRD is decremented by 1 unit. CTRD are variables that initially have the value 0 or 1;  where MDGH is equal to m: MDDR is equal to n, CTRG and CTRG CTRD CTRG CTRD sound # 1 # 1 MDGH MDDR serious # 1> 1 MDGH DEC acute 2> 1 # 1 DEC MDDR acute 1> 1 1 DEC DEC mute  Data Results  11. The method of revendintion 10, characterized in that it consists in determining, in the case or in the same time period is played a measure m time and a measure m time, the aforementioned elementary beats that must be sound and the elementary beats that must be mute according to the table below  12. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that it consists in determining, in the case where a first measurement is played at m time followed by a measurement at n times of a duration equal to the first measurement, the aforementioned elementary beats that must be sound and the elementary beats that must be muted according to the table below  Data Results AIG CTRG CTRD AIG CTRG CTRD SON  O <I 1 1 1 MDGH severe MDDR 1  O 4 1> 1 O MDGH acute DEC 1  O> 1 - O DEC NC mute # 0 # 1 # 1 0 MDGH MDDR severe 2 + 0 -> 1 1 NC DEC mute * 0> 1 # 1 1 DEC MDDR acute 2  where MDGH is equal to m MDDR is equal to n; CTRG and CTRD are variables that initially have the value O or 1 DEC means that the value of CTRG or CTRD is decremented by 1 unit; NC means value unchanged; AIG is an intermediate variable that initially has the value 0.  13. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it consists in determining, in the case where it is played, a first measurement at m time followed by a measurement at n times, the aforementioned elementary beats which must be sound and the beats elementary who must be silent according to the table below:  Data Results AIG CTRG CTRD AIG CTRG CTRD SON  O - S 1 1 MDGH O severe 1  Q -> 1 NC NC DEC acute 1 * o # 1 - O O MDDR severe 2 + O> 1 - I DEC NC acute 2  where MDGH is equal to m; MDDR is equal to n; CTRG and CTRD are variables that initially have the value O or I DEC means that the value of CTRG or CTRD is decremented by 1 unit; NC means value unchanged; AIG is an intermediate variable that starts at 0.