Subject:beatmapper almost perfect !@! help please from users

Posted by: BPB

Date:10/28/2001 12:33:07 AM

Beatmapper is working almost to the point that I can use it for projects...no matter how I fine tune the measure selection it just seems to drift off at the end of the tune. I've tried it several times on tracks all cut to click tracks.
1 is there a way to fine tune the tempo map from the timeline after beatmap has done it's thing.
2 is there an easy way to fine tune the 4 beat selection in Beatmapper. When I zoom in to check how close I am it is almost impossible to scroll to the 2 and 3 beats and adjust. Is it only adjustable from the front and back? When I hit next after readjusting the measure selection the next screen (measure check)doesn't have the same tempo I setup in the previous screen..is this normal or a bug?
3 I know you can scroll through measure by measure to correct timing errors but I use this function to replace drums so the wav file I'm importing has no drums on it (which is why i wanted to adjust from the timeline when I have some drum loops up.
To sum up ..any hot tips from experienced user would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Bryan

Subject:RE: beatmapper almost perfect !@! help please from users

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:10/28/2001 9:50:25 AM

1) You can relaunch the Beatmapper Wizard by double-clicking the track in question, click the "Stretch" tab and then click the "Beatmapper Wizard" button if you feel something is off.

You can also either use the split at cursor function (with the Draw Tool, highlight the track and use "S" on your keyboard) to cut and tweak the file so that it matches with the rest of your project.

2) It's actually normal. It sounds like the file you're using itself may be a little off tempo-wise (which might be on purpose) or the beat of the file itself uses syncopation (where the downbeat usually reserved for the 1st beat is at the 2nd beat for example). I think the Beatmapper does its thing by detecting the strongest audio signals like drums, hence why the Beatmapper works best with files that have a strong percussive presence like dance music.

3) See number 1 above; I believe using the split at cursor function will help you out here too.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: beatmapper almost perfect !@! help please from users

Reply by: BPB

Date:10/29/2001 8:33:31 AM

Thanks very much for the info Iacobus..I'll give it a go.
Bryan

Subject:RE: beatmapper almost perfect !@! help please from users

Reply by: BPB

Date:10/29/2001 1:06:00 PM

iacobus..followed your suggestions and had good luck with it. I went into TRACK PROPERTIES went to STRETCH and instead of reusing the BEAT MAPPER WIZARD I zoomed in on the file and readjusted the TEMPO from the box on the left until it aligned with the clicks at the head of my audio track..I then saved and reset the session TEMPO on the bottom left of the main screen. This cured my problem!! BUT did I just remap the tempo and grid information to match my track OR did I stretch my file to fit the tempo map?
Thanks
Bryan
also when using BEATMAPPER I would finally get it adjusted in the second screen but when I click NEXT to go to the CHECK EVERY MEASURE screen the previous screen's adjustments are not there..my selection area is different as well as the tempo listed...I can't quite figure what I'm missing there.

Subject:RE: beatmapper almost perfect !@! help please from users

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:10/29/2001 3:51:54 PM

You did both. :)

The Project Tempo is always used as the reference for playing back any track, including Beatmapped tracks. The tempo setting in the Beatmapped tracks properties represents the original tempo of the track (which you can, of course, use for the whole project). So, in effect, you stretched your file to fit the overall project tempo in the lower left.

You also adjusted the downbeat offset, which means that you specified exactly where the Beatmapped track begins. (BTW, if you need the extra material before the downbeat offset, use either the Draw Tool and drag the left edge of the event or use the Paint Tool and paint to the left.)

The reason why the tempo in Step 3 of the Wizard is different from Step 2 is because the Wizard had not yet extrapolated the whole file's data to come to a final tempo. If you noticed, there's not too much difference between the two tempos.

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:RE: beatmapper almost perfect !@! help please from users

Reply by: BPB

Date:10/31/2001 12:17:11 AM

it's slowly becoming clear to me now..I feel the haze rising from my addled brain..:)

i really wasn't intending to alter the original track just get the grid lined up precisely but it all sounds great now...can one shots which I believe my audio track comes in as be affected by tempo change or only after it is acidized? I know this one is easy enough to check out but I'm just thinking while I'm typing without the program up. thanks for the help though as this is already saving me hours of cutting and pasting measure by measure which is how I've been doing it for some time now. I'm trying to get to the point where I get a rough mix from my client without drums just a reference click; assemble the drum tracks in ACID and fly the Acid drum mix into DIGI 001 for final mix; then into Sound Forge for mastering. I'm just about there. Now all I have to do is to get my client to upgrade to something with multi. outputs or lightpipe so I don't have to fly in and align all his separate tracks.
all the best
Bryan