Read this first, please
At Soundbrenner we firmly believe success is not given, it has to be earned. This is true for musicians, but also for companies like us.
We went to great lengths to ensure that the Core you’re holding in your hands was made to the highest standards. We care deeply that it will become an irreplaceable companion on your musical journey.
If you experience any issues, our team will work hard to put a smile back on your face. We’re just an e-mail away:
Contact support (English only)
First steps
Video. The best way to get started.
This video is the ultimate crash course to learn everything you need to know about how to use your Core in the shortest time possible. It’s the best way to get started, so we highly recommend you to watch this video!
What's in the box
Core |
Body strap |
Charging cable |
Magnetic tuner mount |
Silicone strap |
Earplugs |
Core Steel only |
Core Steel only |
Core |
Body strap |
Charging cable |
Silicone strap |
Core Steel 2 only |
Core Steel 2 only |
Plus subscription
Upgrade your practice with Plus, our optional premium service that unlocks the full capabilities of our app. While the Core itself provides a complete experience on its own, Plus offers extras such as cloud storage of your songs and setlists, among other features. Our subscription model supports the rollout of multiple significant app updates annually, so get ready for a continuous stream of exciting new features!
Your Core comes with a free 3-month trial that you can redeem by following the in-app instructions after connecting your wearable!
Charging the Core
To charge your Core, attach the cable to the magnetic port located on the side of the device. The Core takes 1.5 hours to fully charge.
Battery life
- 4+ days in watch mode, or
- 3+ hours metronome playback
Charging light
- Orange light = charging
- Green light = fully charged
App & compatibility
Before you can start using your Core, you need to unlock it in our app first. This helps us check if there are any firmware updates available. Download our app by clicking the buttons below, scanning the QR code or searching for “Soundbrenner” in the Google Play or iOS App Store.
Download app
The Metronome by Soundbrenner
Compatibility
Requires an iPhone, iPad, iPod or Android device. More info on:
Wear & care
Core
The Core is splash resistant (IP65). This means it can withstand light rain or water splashes, for example while washing your hands. However, it can not withstand heavy rain, showers or water immersion.
The Core contains strong magnets that may interfere with some medical devices. Read the "Safety & regulatory information" section at the end of this manual for more information.
Tip
Don't store your Core for extended periods (over 3 months) with an empty battery, as this can lead to permanent battery damage.
Battery maintenance guideSilicone strap & body strap
Both straps are very durable and suitable for all environmental conditions.
Italian leather straps
We only use premium quality leather sourced from Italy. Any variations in color or markings such as scars and wrinkles are inherent to the natural beauty and uniqueness of genuine leather.
Over time the leather will mold to your wrist and develop a patina finish. To maximize its durability, we suggest to limit the leather’s contact with moisture.
Lock system for the rig
To remove the Core from its rig, twist it counterclockwise and take it off.
To put the Core on its rig, hover it right above the rig and let go. Once the Core drops on the rig, it will magnetically snap into place.
When placing the Core on its rig, make sure the buttons point towards the direction of your hand. To wear the Core on your other wrist, you can change the orientation of the screen in our mobile app.
Tip
Make sure that you hear and feel the spring-loaded pin when the Core locks into place on the rig. This will ensure it can’t fall off.
Changing the watch straps
To change your watch strap, simply turn the device on its back and open the two rivets on each side.
We’ve created a range of stylish strap options for the Soundbrenner Core. They’re made from the finest materials such as silicone, woven nylon or Italian leather. Explore our latest collection on:
Navigating the device
Device overview
Device controls
Top button
- Go backward
- Stop editing selection
- Power on & power off (long press)
Bottom button
- Go forward
- Start editing selection
- Open app dock
Wheel
- Navigate the app dock
- Change values while editing a selection
Touch surface
- Tap the soundwave twice quickly to start or pause a feature while inside an app
- Tap the soundwave three or more times to tap tempo while inside the "Metronome" app
Power on & power off
Power on
Hold the top button for 1 second to turn on the Core.
Power off
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Hold the top button for 3 seconds until the power off prompt appears.
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Select yes, by pressing the bottom button.
Navigation hierarchy
Touch interactions
The Core features a capacitive touch surface. To ensure it can reliably detect your inputs, make sure that you use two fingers flat across the surface. Don’t just use your fingertips!
Start or pause a feature
Tap the soundwave twice quickly to start or pause certain features. Works in "Metronome" app, "Timer" app, "Stopwatch" app and the "Smartphone music remote".
Tap tempo
Tap the soundwave three times or more at a steady pace. The Core will set a new tempo that matches the average pace of your taps. Works in "Metronome" app only.
Time, date & status icons
Time notation
Use the app to change the time notation from AM/PM to 24h clock and vice versa.
Watch face icons
Battery level |
Battery charging |
New notification |
Smartphone music remote |
Ready to pair |
Disconnected, but paired |
Airplane mode |
Practice streak active, goal not reached |
Practice streak active, goal reached |
Practice tracker (Core 2 only)
Tracking on Core
Inside the "Track" app, set your practice session duration and choose the instrument you'll use. To modify instrument choices on your Core 2, use our mobile app and go to: "Settings" → "User profile" → "Instruments". To start your session, tap the soundwave twice quickly.
If you already practiced for a while but didn't start the session on your Core 2, adjust the start time by pressing the bottom button and rotating the wheel.
When a practice session is active on Core 2, the "Track" app will automatically open each time you wake the screen for easy access. The LED ring fills with orange to show progress towards your goal. To turn off the orange tracking light, disable it in the Core 2 settings of our mobile app.
Tap twice quickly during an active session to pause or end it. When editing the session, you can delete it or adjust its start and end times.
Tracking with our mobile app
When you track a practice session on your Core 2 or our mobile app, any changes you make to things like your goal, instrument or starting time will sync across both devices. All saved sessions will also automatically sync. If synchronization issues arise, you can manually sync in the mobile app inside your Core 2's settings.
The mobile app offers various options to view your practice data, like a practice calendar, streaks, and more.
Vibrating metronome
Body strap
Where you place the Core on your body can have a big impact on your experience. What works best is different for each musician.
The included body strap and body strap rig allow you to wear the Core on your wrist, arm or ankle. Add the included extension piece to wear it on your chest, shoulder or thigh.
Tip
For your first few sessions, try out different locations to see which one feels best. Wearing it on the chest is usually the most effective location.
Remember to keep the strap tight – the tighter the strap, the stronger the feeling of the vibrations.
If you have thin arms or ankles
To set the body strap to its smallest setting, align the arms of the rig with the markings on the strap as shown in the illustration below.
How to feel the beat
Using a vibrational metronome is different. When you first start using the Core, you need to get used to it first. Don’t give up - you’ll get better over time. It’s just like learning to practice with a traditional metronome!
Over time, the vibration can even become a subconscious feeling that helps you keep the beat without thinking about it.
Setting up a rhythm
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Press the bottom button to select the first value.
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While selected, use the wheel to change the value.
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Press the bottom button again to edit the next value. Press the top button to go back.
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Tap the soundwave twice quickly to start or pause the metronome.
Tip
An alternative way to start the metronome is to long-press the bottom button. Once you release the button, the metronome starts. This makes it easy to sync your Core's starting time with the rhythm of something you're listening to.
Change LED lights, vibrations & sounds
Because we know every musician is different, you can customize the Core to your own liking with our app.
LED lights & vibrations
To customize or turn off the LED lights and vibrations, open our mobile app and go to: "Settings" → select your Core → "Metronome vibrations" or "Metronome lights".
We recommend to experiment with different vibration intensities and durations to find out what works best for you!
Sounds
To customize or turn off the metronome sounds, open our mobile app and go to: "Settings" → "App settings" → "Metronome sounds".
Multi-player sync
The Core can be synced to other Core or Pulse wearables by connecting all of them to the same mobile device. You can sync up to a total of five devices, allowing you to feel the beat together.
If you want to connect a Core to a different mobile device, you need to unpair it from the existing mobile device first. To bring up the unpairing prompt, open the "Settings" app on your Core, navigate to "Bluetooth" and press the bottom button.
Once the Core is ready to pair, open the Soundbrenner app on the mobile device you want to use to sync the wearables. Inside the app navigate to: "Settings" → "Add a Soundbrenner wearable" → now select a Soundbrenner wearable you want to sync.
Sync to DAWs
We've created a dedicated section in our knowledge base that explains how to sync your Core to DAWs. Get started here:
Chromatic tuner
Microphone tuner (Core 2 only)
Launch the "Microphone Tuner" app and play a note - your Core will detect the closest note and the cent deviation to it. As you tune, the LED ring changes from red to green to signal that the note is perfectly tuned.
Customize the tuning reference from 440 Hz to your preference by pressing the bottom button and twisting the wheel.
Contact tuner
Core 1 includes the "Contact tuner" app pre-installed. For Core 2, purchasing a magnetic tuning accessory is required. You can either get a tuning clip, or tuning mounts with adhesives. Both come with a unique code to unlock the "Contact tuner" app on Core 2. Contact tuning is designed to work with guitar, bass guitar, ukulele and violin.
Attaching a magnetic tuner mount
Each magnetic tuner mount has an adhesive pre-applied. Peel off the thin layer on the back of the tuner mount and attach the mount to the headstock of your instrument.
The tuner mount is designed to be left on long-term, so you don't have to remember taking it with you. That said, if you ever want to remove it, it's possible. If you peel off the adhesive, be careful to avoid any damage to your instrument.
How to use the tuner
First, open the "Contact tuner" app on your Core. Next, take the wearable off its rig by twisting it counterclockwise. Finally, stick the magnetic port located on the side of the Core to your tuner mount or tuner clip. Once you play a string, the LED ring and the screen of the Core will light up. Happy tuning!
Decibel meter
Sound levels
If you open the "Decibel meter" app, the Core starts measuring the current, average and maximum sound levels. The Core can only measure sound levels above 70 dB and uses A-weighting.
Tip
For a more accurate reading, take the Core off its rig and place it on a soft surface (e.g. a cloth or your hand) before opening the "Decibel meter" app.
Volume alarm
Your Core listens to the sound levels throughout the day. It will alert you, once the volume reaches a risky level based on the World Health Organization’s guidelines:
- 80 dB: 5 hours 30 minutes per day
- 85 dB: 1 hour 45 minutes per day
- 90 dB: 30 minutes per day
- 95 dB: 10 minutes per day
Don’t worry - we respect your privacy and no audio is ever recorded and stored. To turn off the volume alarm and all background measurements, open our mobile app and go to "Settings" → select your Core → "Volume alarm".
Smartwatch
Smartphone notifications
Smartphone notifications are supported for iOS and Android mobile devices. The Core will receive the same notifications as your mobile device and is compatible with all apps. At the moment it’s not possible to enable or disable notifications for particular apps independently from your mobile device.
For the Core to receive notifications, iOS and Android require a number of permissions. When you connect your Core for the first time to our app, we will ask for these permissions automatically during the device setup.
If you are unable to receive notifications after the setup, check out our troubleshooting article here:
Reading notifications
New notifications automatically appear on the Core when you wake its screen.
- Twist the wheel to scroll the text of a notification forward and backward.
- Press the bottom button to delete the current notification and display the next notification. In the top right corner, you see how many notifications are queued up.
- Long-press the bottom button to delete all notifications in the queue.
- Press the top button to send all queued up notifications to the notification center, up to a maximum of 20.
To access the notification center, twist the wheel to the right when you’re on the watch face.
Phone calls
If you get a phone call, the Core will start vibrating and give you the option to accept or decline the call. Since the Core has no speaker, you’ll need to use Bluetooth headphones or your phone itself to take the call.
Smartphone music remote (Core 2 only)
Control any media you play on your mobile device such as music, videos, podcasts, audiobooks and more. Compatible with all apps, for example Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube. To use this feature on Android, our mobile app requires access to your notifications.
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Twist the wheel left to access the smartphone music remote.
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To start or pause, tap the soundwave twice quickly.
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Press the bottom button to select the current media you're playing. Twist the wheel forward for next, backward for previous.
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Press the bottom button again to select the volume. Twist the wheel forward to increase, backward to decrease.
Other apps
Timer
Press the bottom button to select if you want to edit the hours, minutes or seconds. Once selected, use the wheel to edit the time. Tap the soundwave twice quickly to start or pause the timer.
Stopwatch
Tap the soundwave twice quickly to start or pause the stopwatch.
Alarm
To create an alarm, select "New alarm" with the wheel and press the bottom button. Use the wheel to set the time of your alarm. With the bottom button, select which days the alarm should be active and turn each on by twisting the wheel right. The alarm will be active on days that are underlined. If no days are underlined, the alarm will be by default active on all days.
Change the state of the alarm by selecting "On" with the bottom button. Twist the wheel to the right to select "Off" or "Delete". Confirm your selection by pressing the bottom button.
Settings
Airplane mode
Disable all radio signals such as Bluetooth. While airplane mode is on, your Core won’t be able to communicate with your mobile device.
Bluetooth
Shows your current connection status. Press the bottom button to unpair and make your Core ready to pair again.
Factory reset
This will erase all data and preferences and reset the Core back to factory settings. The device will be locked until the setup is completed with the Soundbrenner app.
Troubleshooting
Get help
Connecting to your mobile device
If you have trouble connecting to your mobile device, follow the steps outlined in the article below.
Soft restart
If your Core shows unexpected behavior, hold both buttons for 5 seconds and keep them pressed until recovery mode launches. Select restart with the bottom button to soft restart. If your Core is unresponsive, try performing a hard restart.
Hard restart
This only works if your Core is unresponsive. Make sure the charging cable is connected to a power source. Then attach the charging cable to the magnetic port. Detach it and attach the charging cable a second time to complete the hard restart.
Safety & regulatory information
If you currently have a medical condition or have a history of medical conditions that may be affected by the Soundbrenner Core, consult with your physician before using the product. Medical conditions include (but are not limited to):
- White Knuckle Syndrome
- Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome
- Blackouts
- Epilepsy
- Postural Hypertension
- Allergic Reactions to Silicone
- Any other heart, neurological, or skin conditions
If you use any medical device that may be affected by the Soundbrenner Core, consult with your physician before using the product. Medical devices include (but are not limited to):
- Coronary Stents
- Defibrillators
- Pacemakers
- Any other implanted medical device
Stop using the Soundbrenner Core if you suspect that it is interfering with your medical device or if you experience any discomfort.
Frequent and prolonged use of the Soundbrenner Core may cause skin irritation in some users. If you experience itchiness, redness, and/or swelling while using the Soundbrenner Core, remove the device immediately and stop using it until your skin returns to normal. Consult your doctor should any of the symptoms persist.
Your Soundbrenner Core and its charging cable are electrical devices and should be handled with care. Never use your device in extremely low or high temperatures.
Substances in this product and battery may harm the environment or cause injury if handled or disposed of improperly.
Take your Soundbrenner Core off if it feels warm or hot.
The Soundbrenner Core and its charging cable contain magnets. All credit cards, key cards, and any other object containing a magnetic stripe should be stowed safely away from those products.
Use only an authorized Soundbrenner charging cable to charge your device to avoid any safety or electrical hazards.
Always disconnect the charging cable from the electrical socket as soon as your device is fully charged.
Do not attempt to change the battery on your own. This will void the warranty and could cause injury.
Never charge your device when moisture is present.
Never put your device or charging cable near any inflammable or explosive materials.
Even though your Soundbrenner Core is sweat proof and partially water-resistant, it should never be submerged in water under any circumstances.
Do not use your device in the rain or in wet environments for prolonged periods.
For optimal performance, we recommend that you don’t use your device until it is fully charged.
Take care when using skincare products, as they may affect the color or usability of the included straps.
Store your Soundbrenner Core in a well-ventilated and dry environment when not in use.
Make sure you regularly clean your device with a damp cloth to maintain good hygiene.
Never wash your device in the sink.
Never store your Soundbrenner Core for extended periods (over 3 months) with a depleted battery, as this can lead to permanent battery damage.
Battery maintenance guideOur terms of warranty can be viewed here:
Terms of warrantyOur mobile app's terms of use can be viewed here:
Terms of useOur mobile app's privacy policy can be viewed here:
Privacy policyYour Soundbrenner Core should be disposed at a recycling center due to the device’s electronic nature in order to encourage sustainable reuse and conservation of resources.
Soundbrenner Limited hereby declares that the Soundbrenner Core is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1995/5/EC.
The device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
- This device may not cause harmful interference
- This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation
The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Soundbrenner Limited is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.