[STEP BY STEP] Finding the BPM

[size size=200:2w7uzrmr]BPM TUTORIAL 1.0 [/size:2w7uzrmr]

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This is a tutorial to help in finding the bpm of songs & acapellas. Please add any quality links, tips, or ideas u have about the BPM theory, efficient ways of altering the BPM in audio production apps, or any other helpful info for others. THX![/color:2w7uzrmr]

[b:2w7uzrmr][size size=200:2w7uzrmr][color color=red:2w7uzrmr]TOC[/color:2w7uzrmr][/size:2w7uzrmr]
I. Basics
II. Clock
III. Methods
IV. Links
V. Databases[/b:2w7uzrmr]

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[size size=150:2w7uzrmr]The Basics[/size:2w7uzrmr]

[size size=200:2w7uzrmr][color color=yellow:2w7uzrmr]1[/color:2w7uzrmr][/size:2w7uzrmr] [color color=darkblue:2w7uzrmr]Search the Web[/color:2w7uzrmr]: You want to always check to see if anyone else knows it first. Google works great for this. Put the song title in quotes to narrow the search [example: “2pac – hail mary” bpm ]<- put bpm on the outside of the quotes.
I would also recommend saving the links to the databases in the last section (V) – The website is the most complete.
[color color=yellow:2w7uzrmr][size size=200:2w7uzrmr]2[/size:2w7uzrmr][/color:2w7uzrmr] [color color=darkblue:2w7uzrmr]BPM Analyzer/Application[/color:2w7uzrmr]: The next easiest way is to get a copy of the original song (beat + vocals) and drop it into a beat counter program. There are many different types in section III – an easy, free program called Mixmeister can be downloaded .
[color color=yellow:2w7uzrmr][size size=200:2w7uzrmr]3[/size:2w7uzrmr][/color:2w7uzrmr] [color color=darkblue:2w7uzrmr]By Ear?[/color:2w7uzrmr]: Gaining the ability to hear how words flow with a beat is essential for modern remixers, producers, & DJs. As you listen to music, learn to hear how words are spoken rythmically over the beat. That will help you get the feel for it. Listen to your own music & experiment with slowing & raising the speed of the vocals to get them in the right syncopation with the beat.

[color color=orange:2w7uzrmr] Metronomes are for recording, not determining the speed of a track. Thats what beat counters are for.[/color:2w7uzrmr]

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[size size=150:2w7uzrmr]About The Clock[/size:2w7uzrmr]

It is as it stands for "[size size=150:2w7uzrmr]B[/size:2w7uzrmr]eats [size size=150:2w7uzrmr]P[/size:2w7uzrmr]er [size size=150:2w7uzrmr]M[/size:2w7uzrmr]inute". This basically says that if the speed of a song is 60 then there is one beat every second or if the speed is 120 then there are two beats every second – get it . But what is a "beat"? A "beat" is a downbeat, usually the first note in a bar or measure. Think of it like a point in a repetition of something – a bouncing ball hitting the concrete, your windshield wipers hitting their stopping point, touching the ground while doing a set of push-ups. The most basic & common musical structure (in commercial music) is 4/4. The top (first) number is how many beats are in each measure (or bar) of music. The bottom (second) number is which note gets the beat (soak that up b/c you’ll need it) Okay, in this 4/4 beat there are 4 quarter notes per measure & the quarter note gets the beat. Its no wonder why this is used so often because you can count along with it easily (1,2,3,4-Repeat). In each measure of a BASIC 4/4 beat there is a kick (DOWN), snare (UP), kick (DOWN), snare (UP) – then the loop repeats. MOST ppl tap their foot to the downbeat kick & then snap or clap to the upbeat snare. Count only the kicks (or downbeats) in a 10 second time period then mulitply by 6 to get a rough BPM esimate.

[color color=orange:2w7uzrmr]Please note that 4/4 beat structures will not always be in the form of kick, snare, kick, snare. This would make most beat structures boring so rests (or offsets) of kicks & snares are commonly used. The key signature (4/4) is still the same though & can be recognized very easily with a little practice.[/color:2w7uzrmr]

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[b:2w7uzrmr][size size=150:2w7uzrmr]Methods For Finding The BPM[/size:2w7uzrmr]
[Provided by LeWelsch][/b:2w7uzrmr]

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Online: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://onlineconverters.com/bpm.html

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Scientifically: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.forret.com/tools/bpm_tempo.asp?

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Tap Mouse or Space Bar: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.accsi.com/bpm/

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Automatic Counter: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.mixmeister.com/download_freestuff.html

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Full Automatic: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.synchroarts.com/products/voc … calign.asp

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]
Direct from Soundcard IN:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.pyramidedata.dk/autobpm.html

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Direct from Line IN: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://users.skynet.be/bk264570/BMonitor.htm

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr][b:2w7uzrmr]
Work on:[/b:2w7uzrmr] [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.propellerheads.se/index.cfm

http://www.celemony.com/melodyne/index.html

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Full Tool: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.native-instruments.com/index … us&flash=7

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]VST: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.leapfrogaudio.com/rephrase.aspx

http://www.bitshiftaudio.com/products/index.html

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]DirectX [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.acondigital.com/Features.htm

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]
Standalone: [/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://products.prosoniq.com/cgi-bin/re … l&refno=39

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Hardware:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.samedaymusic.com/product–BEHBC100

[color color=orange:2w7uzrmr] When using the tapping method to find the BPM note that you tap in a steady pace – the speed of the song. Four taps to a measure or bar. Do not try to tap directly to the rythm as if you were drumming – except when in the case of a Kick, Snare, Kick, Snare beat structure used in House, Trance, etc. Most notably [Nine Inch Nails – Closer] uses this pattern.[/color:2w7uzrmr]

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[size size=150:2w7uzrmr]Helpful Links[/size:2w7uzrmr]

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Beat Matching in Audition / Cool Edit:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx … @.2cccd873
(must register)

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Beat Matching in Sonic Foundry/ Sony Acid 3.0+:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.ddrmaniax.net/forums/lofiversion/in … l%22&hl=en
http://b00mb0x.org/front/001167.html

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Beat Slice-Matching Link:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://emusician.com/mag/square_one/emusic_slice/

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]BPM Theory:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.djrhythms.com/bpmcalc.htm

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Timing Vs Hertz:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.forret.com/tools/bpm_tempo.asp?

[color color=red:2w7uzrmr]Odd Time Signatures:[/color:2w7uzrmr]
http://www.threechords.com/hammerhead/t … ures.shtml
http://www.drumdojo.com/world/india/oddtimes.htm

[color color=orange:2w7uzrmr][b:2w7uzrmr]Many new mixers & tbl top cd players come with built-in beat counters.
They are automatic but can also be set by tapping to the beat.[/b:2w7uzrmr][/color:2w7uzrmr]

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[size size=150:2w7uzrmr]BPM DATABASES[/size:2w7uzrmr]

http://bpmdatabase.com

http://www.djrhythms.com/db/#bpmndx

http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/bpm1.html

http://www.goodtimekaraoke.com/bpm/

http://www.dickersonmusic.com/downloads/cdlist.PDF

[color color=orange:2w7uzrmr]Please post links to any GOOD websites that list BPM counts for songs.[/color:2w7uzrmr]

2 B Kontinueddddd…….

[quote quote="jforce":1bejcilt]here’s the one i use

http://www.goodtimekaraoke.com/bpm/[/quote:1bejcilt]

cool jforce

i added it

I think you’re starting to understand it. u could also mix two songs: song1=85bpm, song2=180bpm
by changing song1’s tempo to 87.5 & song2’s to 175.

i dont usually bother with using something like SoundForge, Recycle, or Wavelab for time-stretching. it doesnt matter tho – u can if u want.