The MA-2 is a slim metronome for orchestral and band players, finished here in black and red. It covers 30 to 252 bpm, pairs any time signature up to nine beats with eight rhythm subdivisions, and folds out to stand on a music desk. Practice rooms are unforgiving.
A buzzer you can actually hear
Korg fitted this generation with a newly designed electronic buzzer, so the click carries further than before. Loud instruments and bright frequencies no longer bury the beat. That extra cut is the main reason to choose it over an older unit.
Setting the tempo three ways
Pendulum step moves through the same increments as a wind-up metronome. Full step shifts one value at a time. Tap tempo takes the speed from you, which is faster when working against a recording. Timing accuracy is quoted at 0.02 per cent.
Rhythm patterns and timer work
Beats per bar run from 0 to 9, and each divides into quarters, eighths, triplets or sixteenths, with versions that leave inner notes out. Timer mode counts anywhere from one minute to two hours in single-minute steps, sounds an alarm and stops. Warm-ups then follow a plan rather than a guess.
Reference pitch on tap
Sound Out mode plays a tone across one octave, C4 up to B4, through the small speaker. A4 calibration moves in one-hertz steps between 410 and 480 Hz, with pitch held under a cent. String and wind players can tune before the downbeat without reaching for a second device.
Stand, cover and battery life
A folding stand props the unit upright where you can see it, and the sliding battery cover forms part of the body, so there is nothing to mislay at a change. Two AAA alkalines last roughly 400 hours, dropping to about 100 on zinc-carbon. A low-battery indicator warns you.
See it in action
Specifications
| Tempo range | 30 bpm to 252 bpm |
|---|---|
| Tempo settings | PENDULUM step, FULL step, TAP tempo |
| Beat Range | 0-9 beats |
| Rhythms | Quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets (straight triplets, triplets with inner beat omitted, triplets with the third beat omitted), sixteenth notes (quadruplets, quadruplets with middle beats omitted, quadruplets with the third and fourth beats omitted). |
| Tempo accuracy | ±0.02% |
| Reference Tone | C4 (261.63Hz) to B4 (493.88Hz) 1 octave |
| Calibration range | A4=410Hz to 480Hz (unit: 1Hz) |
| Tone accuracy | under 1cent |
| Connections | Headphones jack (3.5mm stereo mini jack) |
| Speaker | Φ15mm piezo speaker |
| Power Supply | Two AAA batteries, 3V |
| Battery Life | Approx. 100 hours (when using zinc-carbon batteries), Approx. 400 hours (when using alkaline batteries), (tempo 120, 4 beats, and max volume) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 100 x 60 x 16 mm / 3.94” x 2.36” x 0.63” |
| Weight | 68 g / 2.40 oz. (including batteries) |
Specifications from Korg. Appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.
