How to Calculate BPM of a Song Using Propellerhead's Recycle

Propellerhead's ReCycle software gives users the freedom to take a musical sample and slice it up into individual sounds and features. Once "sliced," the sample can be manipulated into varying lengths, pitches and tempos. As a start, ReCycle can estimate the beats per minutes (BPM) of a particular section of a song known as a loop.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Open ReCycle. Load a "WAV" or "AIFF" file of the song you want to analyze into the file browser window. ReCycle will ask if you want to move the locator to the first slice point. Click "Yes." ReCycle will also warn you that you won't be able to hear any effects yet. Click "OK."

2. Select a loop of two to four bars with some sort of rhythmic element like a drum or keyboard beat. Place the start and end markers on the exact measure of the song (bar length) using the "L" and "R" handles at the bottom of the graphical display.

3. Type in the number of bars you cut out into the "Bars" field at the top of the display and press "Enter."

4. Find out the approximate BPM of the loop based on the cut you loaded. ReCycle automatically computes the BPM based on the length of the file in bars and beats to give you the exact tempo.

Tips & Warnings

• You will need to determine the BPM if you want to import a loop in REX2 format into Propellerhead's Reason software; without the BPM, Reason will not open the file.