BPM?

[Zerow]

I've tested the Abyssmedia BPM Counter, on those same 26 files

Results:
1] Instead of foobar's range 75-100, I came up with BPM range from 75 to 166
2] Five files had exact or almost exact BPM as they did in foobar2000; and remaining twenty one tracks came with higher values
3] Twelve tracks came with exact or almost exact BPM as they did in MixMeister; and of remaining fourteen tracks eight came with higher values and four with lower
4] No FLAC support

I've tested also fourth software, the Rapid Evolution 3 [beta 58], on those same 26 files

Results:
1] Instead of foobar's range 75-100, I came up with BPM range from 75 to 160
2] Two files had exact or almost exact BPM as they did in foobar2000; and remaining twenty four tracks came with higher values
3] Fourteen tracks came with exact or almost exact BPM as they did in MixMeister; and of remaining twelve tracks nine came with higher values and three with lower
4] Sixteen tracks came with exact or almost exact BPM as they did in Abyssmedia BPM Counter; and of remaining ten tracks three came with higher values and seven with lower

@Etz

First of all, automatic BPM detection usually works best on Music which has 4/4 measure.
That includes EDM, Pop, etc...

That is what I can imagine right now, after those tests: that this will work for pop / radio / club songs, and not for not-so-regular-in-structure score music [although those action tracks are more consistent and regular that my music from other RPG categories]

@Etz

Secondly common mistake that any BPM detection software does is that it counts BPM twice as fast or twice as slow as it should actually be.

And that is, why they did include that sort of correction as an additional manual option in foobar2000...

So the process is automatic only in theory. Because I would have to listen and possibly click a proper action for manual evaluation after the automatic one. And thus it seems I can refrain from BPM system at all and just should use description like slow / normal / fast. Because digital values 125 / 149 / 176 won't tell me much [and could be erroneous] but normal / quick / quicker would be easier to use [accurately to choose from for RPG usage] later on

@Etz

So I created some actions to fix those, maybe someone else would find those to be useful as well...

I've also found this post with helpful actions for users of BPM: /t/7295/1

@Etz

If you want I could do comparision on Mixed In Key software

If it is not a problem; I can send you a PM with a link to a ZIP pack with those tracks

And then you would have to send me them back; or just a list of titles with BPM values

That would be fifth and final test

@Etz

Also you could try Rapid Evolution, which should have pretty decent BPM detection algorithm.

And I did, after your suggestion

@Etz

[...]

Little bit of reading aboutbdifferent BPM detection algorithms: http://mziccard.me/2015/05/28/beats-detection-algorithms-1/
It also explains, why it is so hard for computers to get it done accurately.

Didn't understand much, but thank you for this screed

But from those four tests I can see now quite clearly, that this is getting me nowhere near, what I need. Instead of making things easier, speeding them up and making more accuracy in categorizing, with [automatic] BPM I would only produce unknown amount of errors. As foobar's 50% / 200% correction option would give some hope with a system relaying on BPM, it does not "add up" to other results [for example file counted in foobar2000 as 76 in other comes up as 90, 115 and 167 - nowhere near the 152]; so it clearly indicates a need for manual evaluation. And on top of that, there is also issue of FLAC files, not processed by every software

And also what is important here, each of those four programs have listed as slow [no higher that 100 BPM] at least three action oriented tracks [out of twenty six]

So I'm willing to make a statement, that automatic BPM does not work [at least for my purposes]

Alternatively: I could add four BPM values and divide the result by four [and even making an action for it]. But I'm afraid I would get something like 110-120 BPM for 80-90% of action tracks, resulting in no distinction between them on the basis of BPM tag

Or just tap manually to the beat of 10 000+ files from various scores, which sums up to 16 days of non stop listening; and then evaluate few hundreds tracks that are not from score albums / sources, but still can be used for RPG background / illustration

Does anyone has other thoughts or can speak from own experience?