Question about BPMs

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evanmcgill
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Question about BPMs

Post by evanmcgill » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:02 pm

I have to match up an intro of 156 BPMS with a song that will be mostly 103 BPMs. Any suggestions on how I could do this and where I could adjust BPMs to have it work. Obviously right now it just doesn't sound quite right, but the concept and design of the song just sounds it could sound really great! Thanks!

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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by jazzstan » Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:28 pm

Not sure I understand the question. Are you talking about changing the speed of the faster audio file? If so, there are limits beyond which the artifacts become very noticable and distracting, and I think you'd be unhappy with the result. But if it's a musical match, since there is about a 3:2 ratio between the BPMs, you might be able to use a triplet pattern in 103 which would match up to a 154.44 bpm (which is within the aforemention stretching limits). So ADDING a drum or percussion track to overlap and "blend" the two might serve as a listenable transition.

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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by evanmcgill » Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:41 pm

Sorry, my posting was confusing and I apologize for that. I have a song I have written. In some of what an "unorthodox" fashion, I have an piano melody in the beginning before verse one kicks in that is about 156 BPMs. As soon as that starting melody finishes and I transition to the first verse, it would dip down to 103 BPMs. My question was, is there is a good way to make this transition where it doesn't sound crappy. Personally, I've never heard a pop song do anything like this, but it seems like it can work with this song IF I can figure out a way to basically drop 53 BPMS without having it sound bad. It's strictly piano, no drums or other instruments. I appreciate any help or ideas you can provide.

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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by stevebarden » Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:16 pm

Is it possible for you to post the beginning of this song so we can hear what you're trying to accomplish?

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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by Len911 » Thu Feb 18, 2010 10:23 pm

If you are actually playing while recording, it shouldn't make a difference. If you have played the song in your sequencer or daw in one tempo, and want to go back and change the tempo for one section, I know in cubase you have to draw in tempo maps, on the tempo track.
A brief period of silence might be the best transition. Morphing or crossfading would either sound as though the timing was off or it was two different songs.
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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by cardell » Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:22 am

This sounds interesting.

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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by evanmcgill » Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:23 am

I'm going to try the moment of silence, which is what I have done all along. Hoping to have something done this weekend and I'll post it here, so you can hear it. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by mojobone » Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:56 am

Simplest thing is a slight pause. You could also do what electro producers cal a transition-it could be a build, a snare roll, a sound effect. Without knowing the style/genre of your material, it's impossible to say what sort of transition would be appropriate.
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Re: Question about BPMs

Post by evanmcgill » Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:56 pm

It's Pop

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