Analyzing beats in an AUP

[mmrmusic]

I would like to be able to find the exact speed of my project. I used the click track. However, after I changed the speed, the click track window does not change to the new speed. The original speed is displayed. Beat Finder is very cumbersome and slow for this kind of an anaysis. Is there a way to get an exact readout of the new speed of the click track? Without this, I won't be able to import drums.

I have version 2.0.6 on Windows XP
Thanks

[steve]

For a click track, you should be able to clearly see each of the clicks. The "Timeline" at the top of the track window will show you exactly how long a minute of audio is. Count the number of beats in one minute of audio and you have the exact BPM.

[Gale Andrews]

Please be careful with Windows XP. Microsoft are no longer officially supporting it, so it will be unpatched against any new security vulnerabilities that appear.

Make sure you have XP Service Pack 3. You can still download Service Pack 3 from Microsoft if necessary: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/en-gb .

Ensure you have a good third-party anti-virus application. Be aware though that this will not give you complete protection against a previously unknown attack.

For some extra protection you can install http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/jj653751 .

If it is not practicable for you to update to the much more secure Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can consider installing a Linux operating system instead. Most versions are free and all are very secure.


Gale

[mmrmusic]

Thanks for the response. Here's the problem with your offered solution: If I count the beats for the first 30 seconds and mulitply by 2 (adding in the extra beats within that time frame) I get 155. If I count all the beats in the first 60 seconds, I get 158 plus about a half a beat. The problem is that the Change Speed application works in percentages and the click track works with whole numbers, only. A simple addition to the Change Speed application..a readout with the new speed in bpm, with 2 places behind the decimal point, would be a HUGE help to anyone editing music. You could, then, just bump the percentage slide up to closer to a whole number. Worst case scenario might be that anything that's recorded and imported MIGHT be off as much as 1 beat every 6 minutes. There are any number of ways one could work around that.

[steve]

The problem is that the Change Speed application works in percentages and the click track works with whole numbers, only.

The next version of Audacity (2.1 - due out soon) has an enhanced "Change Speed" effect that, in addition to the current percent change, also has a "to length" control (and displays the current selection length. So, with the new Change Speed effect, if you want, say, 125 beats per minute, all you need to do is:
1) Select 125 beats.
2) Open "Change Speed" effect and set the new length to 1 minute.
3) Undo the effect (the percent change is remembered by the effect).
4) Select the entire track and press Ctrl+R (repeat last effect).
The track is now 125 beats per minute.

If you wanted 125 and a half beats per minute, you would need to select 125 beats + half a beat in step (1).

[mmrmusic]

Thank you SO MUCH!! The change you're including in the new version is going to be very helpful. I look forward to the release. Until then, if I find viable workaround, I'll let you know. Anything you can tell us about when the new one will be released?

[steve]

Anything you can tell us about when the new one will be released?

As soon as we can have it ready. Hopefully not more than a few weeks.
If you wish to be notified by email, you can register you email address at the bottom of the main Audacity website home page:
http://audacityteam.org/

Just for interest, this is the page for the new effect in the "alpha manual" (for the next release version of Audacity)
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Change_Speed