Explain BPM...

[Manu]

Try Marley's "no woman no cry", see the reaction

[jazzyj]

Yah - was received well this weekend at a birthday party ... NO WOMAN, no cry. say say say... but then the birthday lady's boyfriend was from Africa and a reggae fanatic we also passed the dutchie, sang about buffalo soldiers, got up and stood up, and shot the sheriff.

[Nicadraus]

Being a DJ for 20+ years as you claim, you should know the answer to your question.

Back in the days when I started DJing in 1990, we counted every songs' BPM manually using a timer and labeled it on the record sleeves. In my opinion, it is still the best and more accurate way of knowing a track's BPM. It will take a lot of time though, but still very effective. Another suggestion and quick free software is the Mix Meister BPM analyzer.

You can download it here:

http://www.mixmeister.com/bpmanalyzer/bpmanalyzer.asp

Hope this helps.

[moyo wilde]

i am trying to get into making the songs sing to each other so to speak. telling a story with a set. i remember reading about it in how to dj properly. they said that larry levan and david mancuso were excellent at doing that. most people nowadays though don't pay too much attention to the lyrics.

[Finnish_Fox]

i am trying to get into making the songs sing to each other so to speak. telling a story with a set. i remember reading about it in how to dj properly. they said that larry levan and david mancuso were excellent at doing that. most people nowadays though don't pay too much attention to the lyrics.

Yah, but Mancuso doesn't mix. He just plays each track from beginning to end.

[Sween]

BPM = Beats per minute... Usually you would count 4 beats per measure (quarter notes)... and this is how Tempo is written on sheet music usually.

Your computer software is not smart enough to know the difference between a quarter note vs a half note vs an eighth note.. It only detects a regular tempo and then splurts out a number between 80 and 200 (usually adjustable per your software settings).

It is up to you the DJ to determine if that number is the True tempo, or a half or double-time tempo.

Technically, DJ's don't mix in the 60 BPM range because it's just not danceable... (unless you're a very creative dancer), nor would you ever mix over 200... and that is why your software is ignoring that range. But 60 BPM could mix with 120... also 240... and maybe even 180 or 90 but only if the rhythm/time signature is correct.

[Finnish_Fox]

I was born with BPM analyzers... they're called ears.

[Dixieland DJ]

Dixie, I often wonder sometimes about what you're saying about going from a "cheating" mode to a "love" mode. When I started, I really tried to focus in on that, but so many of the ladies at these country weddings LOVE the chick empowerment songs (shania, dixie chicks, gretchen, etc.) that even though it's a wedding, playing these songs about cheating and imma kick his ass, seems to be ok lol I do still try to start out playing songs that are about partying, instead of relationship songs. Works ok I reckon

Jazzy, when I was using this term, I was speaking of the time I was in radio. Unless its a request, I try to never play "cheating", "Kick his a**" or negative songs at a wedding. I try to stick more to positive songs such as "love" or "close personal relationships" etc songs.
Thanks for your post & advice
TC

[jazzyj]

Jazzy, when I was using this term, I was speaking of the time I was in radio. Unless its a request, I try to never play "cheating", "Kick his a**" or negative songs at a wedding. I try to stick more to positive songs such as "love" or "close personal relationships" etc songs.
Thanks for your post & advice
TC

I figured but these girls these days are wild - sometimes Earl just has to die lol even at a wedding.

[Dixieland DJ]

Being a DJ for 20+ years as you claim, you should know the answer to your question.

Back in the days when I started DJing in 1990, we counted every songs' BPM manually

Nic... to be totally honest with you, I never heard of, or knew about BPM's until I came on this forum around 2004.. I got out for a while then came back to the forum in 2010. I guess the type music I have been into & the places I have played/worked in music, just didn't require it or we're all just a little slow down here After 4 years in radio & 6 years in the club, I never heard anyone talk about using it. Then I got into mobile in 2002 & seen something about it on my DJ software but I was fine without it. I just done it like I always did. Then I found this forum in 2004 & its like... huh? what?
In the 80s, our music director always labeled the new 45's with the intro time, whether it started & ended cold or faded & a letter A - F depending on where it was in the billboard charts.