bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
Forgive me if this has already been asked, but the forum won't let me search for "bpm" and I haven't turned up anything helpful with other searches.
I don't suppose anyone can recommend a tool which will attempt to detect bpm and store this value in the ID3 tags in the iTunes Library, is there? I believe I read somewhere that MC can do this for a set of MP3 files, but my files are already imported into iTunes, and I don't think iTunes will pick it up if I change their ID3 tags by hand.
And yes, I know tempo-detection is a sketchy business, but I'd at least like to take a first pass. I'll be spending more time in the gym with my iPod this winter and I like to setup playlists at various paces for my workouts. I did a few of these by hand this spring, but it's painstaking, and I've got thousands of songs in the library ...
[891 byte] By [
Songdog] at [2007-11-9 15:19:25]
# 1 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
I had this same question a few days ago and after searching these boards and google, I've decided MC9 is my best bet. The other alternatives were expensive dj software, weak winamp plug-ins, or manual beat counters.
I ran the MC9 analyze audio directly against a few of my iTunes folders and the BPM data got inserted and is recognized by iTunes. After this first insert, the updated files synced fine to my iPod.
However, if you go back and fix a BPM value (because it was double or half of what it should be) the iPod sync will not recognize that there has been a change to the file. This is also apparently a problem with the comment tag and perhaps others.
A trick mentioned by someone else on the board is to mass update the files with an EQ change or something similar. I actually changed the EQ setting to one of the presets, synced once, changed the EQ back to nothing and synced a 2nd time. The second change isn't necessary, I just didn't want to keep the EQ change in there.
I'm actually going to run the analyze audio on the rest of my library overnight tonight. I've been generally pleased with the accuracy, but count on manually updating 10-20% of the files when it's done. Usually they are obvious slow songs tagged with high BPM or the opposite. It's just a matter of halving or doubling the number MC9 gave it.
Hope this helps.
Jas
# 2 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
Hallo :)
Wat is MC 9 (how is the full name) or better where can i download it (buy it, what ever)
Thx
# 3 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
MC9 is Media Center 9 ( http://www.musicex.com/mediacenter/), yakuphan.
Thanks for the advice, marotti, I'll give it a try too!
# 4 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
I've done some experimenting with this MC9 solution and found that it's BPM detection is useless and wrong 90% of the time when compared to the results I got in the DJ application Mixmaster Pro 4.
If you have this app, it is definitely a much better solution and it also adds the bpm info to the tag.
mGee at 2007-11-15 16:49:06 >
# 5 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
Well, I ran the analyze audio against my entire iTunes directory. I found that almost everything <50 and >140 needed to be adjusted to half or double the bpm. I'm sure there are more in the middle, but just got tired of doing it. I did the 2 syncs like I described above and everything is updated on my iPod now.
mGee - Do you have a URL for that Mixmaster Pro 4? Google just returns listings to warez sites. I'd like to give it a try. Thanks.
I also found an old, free manual BPM prog called WinBPM here:
http://www.thedjgroove.com/software/free/
Jas
# 6 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
Sorry about that... my bad... I misnamed the app. It's called Mixmeister Pro 4. It can be had at www.mixmeister.com
There is a demo you can download. It's great making seamless mixes.
mGee at 2007-11-15 16:51:07 >
# 7 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
Mixmeister 3 will get the job done and it's the cheapest version at $39.95.
I wouldn't suggest purchasing just for the bpm detection... but if you plan on mixing as well, then it's worth it.
mGee at 2007-11-15 16:52:11 >
# 8 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
I tried winbpm... great app for doing it manually.
Thanks for the link.
mGee at 2007-11-15 16:53:04 >
# 9 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
I tried the MixMeister Express 5 and it's very cool. I've never really used any of this dj type software before and I was impressed how it can gradually merge the BPM between songs.
I did notice ~1 BPM difference in most tracks analyzed by this vs. MC9. I like how there are buttons built in for manually tapping and 1/2x and 2x adjustments. I'm not sure if this info actually gets saved to the ID3v2 tag since the demo doesn't allow saving, but I didn't notice a change to the files when I viewed them outside of MixMeister.
Jas
# 10 Re: bpm in ID3 Tags in iTunes (tempo, beats per minute)
OK, MixMeister (3, 4, or 5) looks like it will do the trick for MP3 files. But is there any tool out there that can do this for AAC files? Does anyone have a way of doing this? Apple, are you listening? Surely you can provide this functionality (license it if necessary) for files that are ripped in iTunes. Or at least in the ones we purchase from the iTunes Music Store.
