Support

Getting Started

Downbeat has four tools: Metronome, Tuner, Jam and Songs. Metronome and Tuner are free; Jam and Songs are part of Downbeat Studio Pro.

On iPhone, switch between them with the tabs at the bottom. On iPad and Mac, use the sidebar.

Metronome

• Set the tempo from 30 to 300 BPM with the dial, the +/− buttons, or by tapping along with Tap
• Pick a time signature and a subdivision: 8ths, triplets or 16ths
• Choose a click sound: Classic Click, Wood Block, Cowbell, Digital Beep or Rim Shot
• The metronome keeps playing in the background, so you can use it alongside other apps

Tuner Not Responding

The tuner needs microphone access. If the needle doesn't move:

• Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and make sure Downbeat is turned on (on Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone)
• Choose the right instrument (Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Violin) or Chromatic for anything else
• Play one string at a time and let it ring; tune in a quiet room where you can
• Bring the device closer to your instrument, especially with acoustic instruments

Audio is analysed on your device and never recorded.

Apple Watch

Downbeat on Apple Watch includes the metronome and tuner, both free. Install it from the Watch app on your iPhone, or from the App Store on your watch.

Importing Songs

In Songs, tap Import and choose an audio file, such as MP3, M4A, WAV or AIFF, from Files, iCloud Drive or your Mac.

• Downbeat splits the song into vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano and other instruments, and finds its chords, key and tempo, all on your device
• Importing takes a little while because it's done on your device. On iPhone and iPad you can leave the app and the import continues in the background
• Songs bought or downloaded from streaming services such as Apple Music or Spotify are copy-protected and can't be imported. Use audio files you own
• If a song has no vocals or no drums, Downbeat lets you know and that track stays silent

Practising With Songs

• Use the volume of each track to mute the vocals, solo the bass, or remove the drums
• Slow a song down with Practice speed without changing its pitch
• Change its key with Transpose
• Follow the chords as they play, with the current and next chord shown

Jam

Jam generates a backing track for you to play over. Pick a style (Rock, Pop, Blues, Funk, Jazz, Bossa Nova, Neo-Soul, Ballad, Reggae or Country), a key and a tempo, then tap Generate track, or let Surprise me choose. The chord chart shows what's playing now and what's coming next.

• Mute any instrument (drums, bass, keys or guitar) to play that part yourself
• Turn on Loop to keep the track going, and Count-in to get a bar's warning before it starts

iCloud Sync

With iCloud Sync on, your songs and settings appear on all your iPhone, iPad and Mac devices signed in to the same Apple Account.

• Make sure you're signed in to iCloud and iCloud Drive is turned on for each device
• Imported songs are about 30 MB each, so check you have enough iCloud storage
• Songs added on another device download when you open them, so the first play may take a moment
• Sync can be turned on or off in Downbeat's Settings

Downbeat Studio Pro

Pro unlocks Jam and Songs on all your devices: £2.99 a month, or £19.99 a year with a 7-day free trial (prices in the UK; the App Store shows yours in your own currency).

• Subscribe: Settings → Downbeat Studio Pro → See Plans, or tap Jam or Import in Songs
• Your other devices: subscribe once and Pro turns on by itself on every iPhone, iPad and Mac signed in to the same Apple Account
• Restore purchases: if Pro doesn't show up, Settings → Downbeat Studio Pro → Restore Purchases, signed in to the same Apple Account you bought with
• Cancel or change plan: Settings → Downbeat Studio Pro → Manage Subscription, or your Apple Account's Subscriptions settings
• When Pro ends: your songs stay in your library, but play only their first 15 seconds until you subscribe again
• Refunds: handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com

Something Not Working?

Try force-quitting and reopening the app. If the problem continues:

• Check you're running the latest version of Downbeat
• Restart your device
• For import problems, try converting the file to M4A or WAV and importing it again

When you contact us, tell us your device, the OS version and what you were doing. It helps us fix things faster.