Simple question:

As the track progresses is it possible that the BPM of the track increases very slightly as part of the way the track is designed? I'm not after specific examples - just wondered wether this is common practise.

The reason I say this is that as soon as I've mixed a track in I'll start beatmatching the next track. This only takes a minute or so so I'll stop the deck I'm not using and dance around for a bit. After a few minutes when it's time to mix out I find that my beatmatching seems to have gone out a little bit - pisses me off no end!!

Any ideas?

Jarv

As far as I know a track's bpm does not change, unless your record is warped.

Usually. Some tracks do, and it's really annoying.

Some tracks even drift around in BPM, from lik 140-142 or so..

especially where live drums were used instead of computerized ones, because humans aren't perfect.

Or in the case of Schiller - Ein Schoner Tag, the entire breakdown is half the speed of the rest of the track. Which really fucks you up if you're trying to mix the breakdown... I don't know why you would, but hey, anything can happen.

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not that i know of

although there are some exceptions to the rule

What ive noticed is when i used to spin a set it would always end at a higher bpm

now it stays the same all the way thru

im very proud of that

ive encountered a few remixes that change BPMs... but its not very common at all! i've yet to see an original version of a track that changes...

right on @ liquid... that's an accomplishment, i guess that would mean your beatmatching is very solid

-mer

quote:

Originally posted by DJ LIQUID What ive noticed is when i used to spin a set it would always end at a higher bpm

I think it's kinda good that way. I like to crank up the pitch a bit in beatless parts. then when the beats start again, it's just a little bit faster, and makes the set seem to have more energy.

i usually start at about 140 and end at about 145 using this method.

i find myself doing the same thing... i tend to use breakdowns as a point for pitch change... the break will come, i'll turn the pitch actually down at first, slowing in the start of the break.. then as the breakdown works back up, the pitch goes up to a quite high point, adding anticipation... then just before the beat comes back, i slam the pitch down quicky to a point a little above where it was. you have to do this just right or it sounds very obvious. i usually work the tempo up during the set to a point where i'm 5 to 8bpm faster at the last track, and i try to throw down the most energetic slamming track at the very end...

-mer

What's the matter with Midway - Travelling?
On my copy, after about 20 seconds the bpm rises by about 1%, then ten seconds later it returns to the original bpm. Nothing else is wrong with the vinyl. Is it my copy, or is the tune actually like that?

If you find a song is drifting BPM it's more likely to be your beatcounter or TT thats drifting and not the song.

The only way a song can drift BPM wise is if it was sequenced in seperate sections. And I can't think of a single reason why a producer would do something like that.

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quote:

Originally posted by zapper What's the matter with Midway - Travelling? On my copy, after about 20 seconds the bpm rises by about 1%, then ten seconds later it returns to the original bpm. Nothing else is wrong with the vinyl. Is it my copy, or is the tune actually like that?

umm, no, nothings wrong with the track... let it run alongside another track thats beatmatched and you'll see it won't drift...

Most of my records will change a tad bit, but I think because they have a slight bend (warp) in them. Some of them do it bad, others dont do it that bad, just a bit.
I believe if you get the same song directly in its digital form, right out of the studio, you will find they keep their BPM. However, with records, they have been handled and so on, so they are not perfectly straight, so they will tend to change in BPM.

For those who may say its the decks, bullshit, cause I use Technics 1200s, and I've played at certain places using 1200s, the records act the same there.

Also, one last thing, just like trancegeek mentioned: If it would be 100% beatmatched, then some records would not change at all. The human finger can only be so precise using the pitch. For instance, on some songs you may need +1.2 pitch, but when you match it can be actually set to 1.25 or 1.3, the pitch controls all decks i know of have , dont have a extra wide pitch control to really get really, really precise.
Pretty much throughout the mix, you will have to make minor (minute, unless the records warped) adjustments to the pitch.

Last edited by bachatu on Jun-08-2002 at 02:28