| Dj Thy |
Depends how precise you want to be. Sometimes you need to be more accurate than just counting (it will always be an approximation that way).
If you are pretty sure the tempo stays the same through the song, there is a tool specially made for that in Protools, Identify Beat.
Make a selection (or better a region) that loops exactly one bar. Listen while loop playing, the loop must be seamless. For easier operation, move that one bar region so its start corresponds to a rounded number on the time ruler (Digidesign always suggest completely at the beginning, 1|1|0). Make sure the region is selected. Call up Identify beat (Apple I on Mac, Control I on PC, or edit menu), and normally it will have filled in the selection start and end fields by itself. If it hasn't, well fill them in yourself (can't be lazy all your life can you). Then tell it which time signature you are in (usually it'll be 4/4), and click ok.
This will you tell exactly the tempo of that one bar loop. And in the ideal case, this will be the tempo of the whole song.
In the more difficult case where tempo changes in the song, you'll need a tempo map to be precise. This can also be achieved with Identify Beat, or with Beat Markers. But you'll be busy some time.
If you have access to Beat detective (dunno if LE has it, TDM versions have it for quite some time), it will be easier. Make beat detective scan the song (low emphasis works best for drums), and adjust sensitivity until it detected the main beats (you might need to edit some manually). Once the right beats are marked, there is an option to calculate the tempo map.
You guys, don't be fooled, in pro studio's those methods are used a lot. With "simple" music, the counting trick can be used, but if precision is needed, better methods are available. |
|
|
