beatCal is a rhythm/stroke/beat/pulse calculator that you can use to either work out the rhythm/stroke/beat/pulse of something, or you can use to set a rhythm or stroke rate. For example, the calculator could be used for working out a pulse rate, the stroke rate of a rowing squad, or the rhythm of some other event. The calculator then tells you the beats per minute.

The calculator can be used in one of three ways:

1. Tap Mode (T)
2. Count Mode (C)
3. Beat Mode (B)

In Tap Mode (T) you tap in the beat on the screen, and the calculator tells you the beats per minute. In Count Mode (C) you count the beat, so you would set the calculator to the number of beats you wish to count, start the timer, count the beats, and when the number is reached stop the timer. The calculator will now display the number of beats per minute. Finally, Beat Mode (B) can be used to set a tempo/beat for something. An example may be exercise on a rowing machine where you want to maintain a stroke rate of 20 strokes per minute. The calculator can give you the stroke rate in one of three ways (and these can be set using the sliders), as a beep, as a flash, or as a vibration.

Tap Beat – with beatCal you can work out the beat rate (for example the stroke rate of a rowing crewing) by tapping the iPhone/iPod Touch screen in time with the event and the calculator will show current and average rate (plus elapsed time and number of beats)

Count Beat – with beatCal you can also set the calculate to a ‘count’ (see below), start the calculator, and then count the number of beats, and then press stop. The calculator will then display the current rate (and the average since the calculator was started).

The count rate used in Count Beat (and also Beat Mode) can be set using a standard iPhone/iPod Touch picker.

beatMode – with beatCal you can use the App as part of your training routine. You can set a beat rate and then have the calculator give you the rate as a beep, buzz (vibration) or flash of the screen (or any combination). This is ideal for use in the gym where you may want to keep a sustained stroke rate going on a rowing machine, or a stair master. In addition, you can listen to music on beatCal, and still hear the ‘beep’ of the beat rate given.

For more information on beatCal please visit the beatCal home page.

beatCal is available on the App Store.