How do I use the metronome?

[Jekyl1]

Hi, it's my first post here, and I'm fairly new to CEP2.0, so I apologize if I'm asking dumb questions...

I am trying to figure out how to set the metronome to play at 3/8 and at 5/8 time. I don't understand the whole "Advanced" settings for the metronome. Can someone explain, step by step, how to set the metronome for these time signatures? I am not a drummer, nor do I read music, so I really need a detailed walk through.

Thank you!

[matty_boy]

A metronome will only play beats. You need to play a time signature over top of it with an instrument. You can add accents to certain beats to make it easier, but that's it.

[Jekyl1]

But, the metronome has presets for 4/4 and 3/4, etc. These presets play a different amount of clicks. 4 clicks for 4/4, 3 for 3/4. So, I assume there is a way, since there is a "custom" setting, to tell the metronome to play in different time, like 5/8.

[lpdeluxe]

Open a new session. In the lower right hand corner is a box showing "Tempo", "Beats/Bar" in which you can enter your own figures (default is "87" and "4", at least on mine) and below that "Key" with a drop-down menu arrow (default "None") and another box beside it with a drop-down arrow that will display "4/4 Time" by default. Click on the arrow and it will give you choices from 2/4 to 12/8. Clicking on the "Advanced" button will open a dialog that allows you to select from a number of preset sounds, set the volume of the metronome, change the time signature and save custom settings. Finally, there is a "Metronome" button that turns it on & off.

[Jekyl1]

lpdeluxe, I appreciate the quick reply.

However, I know about the advanced settings screen and i understand that that is where I need to make changes. What I don't know is exactly what changes I need to make in order to get the metronome to play in 5/8 time. In other words, when you say "Change the time signature and save custom settings", exactly how do I do that? I literally mean, exactly. Do I put "1 3 3 3 3" and then change beats/bar to 8? When I do that it doesn't sound right. Most of the song I am recording is in 4/4. For that I played to the preset 4/4 metronome. but the bridge goes into a few measures of 3/8 and then one measure of 5/8 then to 2/4.

So, in the metronome advanced settings, what numbers do I put where to get these specific times?
Thank you!

[lpdeluxe]

I don't use the metronome but it happened I had my manual out when I read your post. Here's a link to the online CEP manual.
http://www.alfors.com/Ruzne/cep2man.pdf

[Jekyl1]

Thanks for link, but the manual doesn't really explain specifically how to get different time sigs from the metronome.

If anyone else has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.

[lpdeluxe]

I think you'll only find out how to use by experimenting. Plan to devote a couple of hours to it.