How do you guys find the tempo of a sample?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ScorchinBeats
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ScorchinBeats

ScorchinBeats

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I mean, it's easy to find it approximately (down to 1 or 2 bpm) but I find that you need it very accurate for the sample to actually fit.

Plus, with many old songs that weren't recorded to a click track, the tempo seems to always change.

How do you guys deal with this stuff? It's giving me headaches trying to sample some old soul music in Recycle because of the timing!!!

Also, I tried using Recycle, Fl Studio, etc to "detect" the tempo but they all suck! Except maybe Traktor but even it doesn't always work.
 
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I just do it by ear 99% of the time. Once in a while I'll use tap-tempo.
 
I've never had a need to find or know a samples tempo.

Seems like tap tempo would be the best bet though
 
Yeah tap tempo unless your looping then it gets a lil sticky.
 
I just cut a 4 bar loop from the track i want to sample. Put it into FL and just adjust the tempo of the song until the loop is played perfect. And i don't mean that i adjust the tempo of the sample but of the projectfile you'r working in. For me it works perfect because that way i can detect the tempo real accurate.
 
it might sound dumb, actually it does sound dumb, but most dj-ing programs will give you the bpm in order to mix the next track, so i'll use like dj mixer for mac or something like that where when i load the song it gives me a bpm thats very accurate.
 
When it comes to mixing acapellas, tap tempo will work and it will just take a bit of fine tuning. If you know the original track well, you'll crack it, you just have to sit with the track, at least I don't know a better way, unless you're mixing it live.
 
Ya use tap tempo to find it. You also said how it will get off time, you can help this by chopping your loop in half or whatever.Then just hit both pads when needed and it will stay on time better.
 
I use FL Studio but ive never had to find the BPM of a sample. I just chop with edison and cut a 4 bar loop and adjust the beat tempo till it fits. or if im not looping the sample and chopping it to **** i still do the same thing and adjust the tempo till it fits. hey it works for me!
 
Tap tempo will get you generally close to the BPM, but it's not exact in most cases. Especially if you're sampling a song that a band recorded. Look at how DJ's do it.
 
not sure if the way i do it is right but it works so... i set how many bars in recycle till i get the tempo i want the track to be at lol (or the closest to it) then i set the tempo one or two bpm above it (e.g. sample tempo 94.365 then i set the tempo in reason 96-7) then i just do the drums and lay the sample over it, if it dosnt work right away **** around with the pitch of the sample... unorthodox but works for me so im not complaining :)
 
Logic has a "Detect Tempo" option that's usually pretty accurate. It gives a couple possibilities and shows how strong of a match it is. I find this works better once you cut out a 4-8 bar section of the track though... it rarely works on a full song.
 
In FL studio its ultra easy to find the tempo of a sample.

Open Edison. Load sample. Trim sample to 4 beats. Select entire 4 beats. Go to Format (2nd button in Edison) > Edit Properties.

Now where it says Length (Beats) : , type in 4. Turn off rounding. I use tempo-sync sometimes too.

And thats it... the tempo will be displayed in edison's properties at the top left. The sample also keeps the tempo data so if you want to sync it with your project and slow it down or speed it up, it will stretch automatically.
 
I get a rough estimate with logic. Then use flex mode to just warp the tempo without distorting the sound
 
yeah i think a lotta dudes just over think it. if you do this you dont gotta worry bout it.....peep @ 6:20


And like Xa said if you chop it then you dont have to worry about it really either.
 
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why don't you guys just drag the audio clip onto the fruity loops playlist and use that instead of making its own pattern for the sample?
 
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