Labeling records with BPM - how to find the bpm

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-- Labeling records with BPM - how to find the bpm

Posted by Aspiring DJ on Apr-06-2004 20:41:

Labeling records with BPM - how to find the bpm

i know it's common practice for people to label their records with the track's bpm. how do you find the bpm of your records? only very few of mine actually have the bpm listed on them.

is there a huge online database, or some kind of search engine where record bpm's are stored?

or do you just have to record a clip of each record on your comp and then measure the bpm using software?

Posted by SUNWmsf on Apr-06-2004 20:51:

My methods probably wont give you the *exact* BPM, but it really close. I use 2 ways:

1 - On my palm pilot, I installed a program called "beatmatch 1.0" and I use that to get the BPM's of records when I listen to them at the record stores prior to me purchasing. The program works by the user pressing a button when user hears the tempo of the beat. The BPM is then progressively displayed on the screen. I do this a couple times until I consistently get a BPM number.

2 - I have some remix compilated records that have BPM's listed, and I compare the pitches of some of my records with some of the record tracks that have BPM's listed.

I dont really *need* an *exact* BPM number, I just need a close estimate.

Posted by Zombie0729 on Apr-06-2004 20:53:

don't get into that... you'll start becoming dependent on those numbers... wait until your record collection is just so big you need to label them because you forget.

Posted by D Dubya on Apr-06-2004 23:15:

I think that would be the only time I would use the BPM counter on my DJM 600.... I wouldn't become too dependent on writing all these BPMs down though. Just listen to your stuff, figure out what goes nicely with what and you will be fine.

Posted by KiNeTiC ENeRgY on Apr-07-2004 01:39:

quote:
Originally posted by Dirk W.
I think that would be the only time I would use the BPM counter on my DJM 600.... I wouldn't become too dependent on writing all these BPMs down though. Just listen to your stuff, figure out what goes nicely with what and you will be fine.

I agree, I would only write or put a mark on the side on the vinyl that has your favorite mix so you can spot it quicker instead of trying to read the print in low light conditions. You shouldn't worry about BPM's just practice your beat matching and know your tracks well beforehand.

Posted by veezee on Apr-08-2004 06:20:

people actually go into a store and count beats while shopping for records? i don't mean to sound like an ass.. but that is retarted!

Jay

Posted by goata on Apr-08-2004 06:30:

why do you need to know the bpm of your tracks anyway? it might save u .5 seconds if u know the bpm of the current track as well but compared to the time it takes to bpm your entire collection its not worth it at all

Posted by zoomzoom on Apr-08-2004 06:57:

I think keeping track of your collection's BPMs is a personal preference. Don't hate just because you do/don't keep track of your tempos. For some of the more scientific DJs, or ones with larger collections, knowing a track's BPM is a good thing. It helps you avoid mixing tracks that are too different in tempo.

Posted by limin_li on Apr-08-2004 08:39:

Just remember that Nightcrawlers-Push the Feeling on is 122BPM and you start from there.

Posted by groovable on Apr-08-2004 11:09:

And bpms are essential for harmonic mixing, labeling with bpm and key will save you a lot of try and fail.

Posted by DJ Kibon on Apr-08-2004 19:23:

I don't really get this BPM labelling bit, though I will allow that it might work well for others.

I spend a fair bit of time listening to my individual tracks, as well as mixes, and I just have a fairly good idea of which tracks go well together in my head.

Posted by T:REBEL on Apr-08-2004 21:08:

You can find out by using the BPM SEARCH OPTION on a TT-X1...

Posted by FC`Noir on Apr-08-2004 21:59:

You know this gets asked ALOT from new DJ's. And usually the answer is "You dont need it, just shut up and spin" or its cheating, lame, etc.

Not everyone can learn everything the same way. Not everyone has a musical background or musical talent to be able to just "shut up and play" and knowning the BPM can help them gauge better.

As for the actual question there are sites that have a data base of songs of all styles and genres and their BPM [try google searching]. Theres also BPM counters on many mixers now a days.. and theres even cheap little pocket devices that you tap the beat to [8 times, on each quarter note] figure out a "ballpark" number.

While i do agree that after a couple months of practice the BPM thing really doesnt matter all that much, it can still keep you organized when youre at a show with all those stacks of records.

Posted by spike_boy69 on Apr-10-2004 22:23:

most people will say that you shouldnt need to know the bpm's of a record. as the club set up may not show this, or whatever.

however i once made a mix cd, and i was wondering how fast it was at the start and end, so wot i did is, i opened fruity loops, and beat matched the tune on my mix, with the bpm thing on fruity, as this is accurate.

Posted by brianwilkinson on Apr-10-2004 22:49:

the entire process of getting to know your records, making mistakes because you didnt know the bpm (until you actually listened to the record) trying to mix a track that sounds good into a track that sounds like shite at a high tempo, and using your ears instead of some blinking numbers that arent even 85% accurate is what learing to match pitch is all about. beginners need to fuck up to get better. forming the habit of being anal about bpm is detrimental to the long term buildup of solid DJ'ing skills and ears.

the only reason, already mentioned, for labeling records with bpms should be to organize huge collections which is counter-productive anyways unless all the records are of the same genre.

Posted by Ghostface on Apr-12-2004 09:37:

I use my DJM300. When I go to mix in a trak it's quicker as it gives you a rough guide to where you need to pitch the incoming record to get it matched. Labelling your records doesn't beatmatch them for you, it just gives you a helpful starting point.