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Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2003 5:04 pm Post subject: Counting BPM

How does everyone here count BPM on songs? I downloaded a program that has me hit the spacebar on every beat as I listen to it, and it pops out a number, but I discovered that it likes to speed it up (a listed 136 song popped up at 158), so while its good for me to get a basic idea, it's not all that great. How does everyone else figure this one out?

Max

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2003 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Counting BPM

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2003 12:28 pm Post subject:

I use a util I downloaded from somewhere, winBPM. Tap along for a while and it gives you a filtered average. I recommend it.

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 7:21 pm Post subject:

Exact same program as Ron. Taps out with the mouse button.
_________________
Lawrence Page
Austin Lindy Hop
http://www.AustinLindy.com

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 8:07 pm Post subject:

I can't seem to find a copy of it anywhere. Do you know where you downloaded it at?

Max

Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2003 11:10 pm Post subject:

For the past few years I've been using a program called Delay Time 2.0 which seems to work just fine for me. It's freeware for the PC, and you can download it from their site.

Jesse

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2003 11:34 am Post subject: DJ BPM

I use DJ BPM http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/programs/DJ_BPM_Counter/

It's pretty low-tech, but it gets the job done, and I believe it to be as accurate as I am. But that's the real problem, I think. These solutions rely on the user.

I find that it works best if I scan at least 30 seconds into the song and run the counter for at least 60 seconds. Takes a bit longer, but it's more accurate.

For kicks, try measuring the BPM at the beginning of a song, during solos, and towards the end to see how much our type of music can vary without drum machines and synthesizers.

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2003 11:48 am Post subject: Re: DJ BPM

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2003 6:07 pm Post subject:

The 15 second count works for me. Made a little chart with the x4 count on it (small enough to slip one into each of my CD cases, so I can more easily check BPMs anywhere and not have to remember my times tables). Instead of a watch, I use the little counter on my portable CD player.

One of our venues has a BPM counter in the booth, so I have rechecked my counts and found them accurate enough to not worry about being perfect.

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2003 1:33 pm Post subject:

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2003 4:47 pm Post subject:

I don't use the automatic part of it, I tap along and it tells me how fast I tap. So, best of both worlds. Don't need to use my fingers to add things up. Smile

Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2003 10:21 pm Post subject:

I have iCrunchBPM for my Palm, a dirt-simple, free little ditty I've had for a while. Same idea as WinBPM--tap and it calculates--but I really don't use it very often, and really don't like to.

My biggest pet peeve is when anyone comes up and asks me to play a tune "about 190" or whatever. I think that overall, BPMs are an overrated statistic about the music that don't tell of the virtues or drawbacks to the tunes themselves.

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2003 6:58 am Post subject:

Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2003 7:58 am Post subject:

I use the TempoTapper. I've found it to be pretty accurate and very quick to give the results. Helps me move through bpm's quickly if I like the song.

http://likai.net/taptap/
_________________
Mike Marcotte

Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2003 7:37 pm Post subject: Mac Users Unite

Macintosh users might be glad to learn that there's a utility for MacOS that does an excellent job:

http://diwww.epfl.ch/~zenger/macbpm/

One particular feature I like is the stabilisation measure, which tackles some of the problems mentioned above in this thread by giving you and indication of whether the beat is pretty steady in the music, or in your forefinger at least!!

I've written my own little util for MacOSX, but until I get time to add more features it's not amazingly useful. If anyone really really wants it, they can email me.