How to Beatgrid BPM Transition Tracks with Rekordbox
Struggling to beatgrid a track in Rekordbox that changes BPM? Here's some tips on how to beatgrid difficult tracks.
What is Beatgridding in Rekordbox?
Beatgridding is the act of adjusting or correcting the beatgrid within your DJ software. For this blog we will be using Pioneer DJ's (AlphaTheta) Rekordbox software.
When you analyse a track in Rekordbox the program will determine the BPM (beats per minute) and set a beatgrid where it thinks the beats are. The problem is, sometimes the program gets the BPM wrong or just gives you an average BPM which may only be partly accurate. The program might also get the BPM correct but place the grid in the wrong position. As a DJ, you need to check your beatgrids and adjust some of them for optimal performance and avoid syncing errors.
Looking at the images below, the first example shows a correct beatgrid where the red and blue lines are positioned at the front of the waves (at the start of the beats).
Whereas this second image below shows a beatgrid that is not aligned with the waveforms of the beats.
In order for some of the advanced features of modern DJ software to work properly, including sync and quantise, your beatgrids need to be perfect. However, not every track is easy to beatgrid. Some tracks change tempo (speed) and thus the BPM can vary.
Why do some tracks change BPM slightly?
With modern electronic dance music you expect the BPM to stay the same throughout the song but with older tracks or tracks with live drummers you may find that the BPM varies over time. This is because a human drummer will not be able to drum at a completely constant speed for minutes on end, unlike a computer which allows producers to program a consistent BPM. Even early electronic dance tracks with electronic drums, say from the 80s or early 90s may have inconsistent tempo. This is because in the early days of electronic music programming the tracks tempo was often done using rudimentary hardware and sequencers that lacked the precision of modern production programs.
If you look at the BPM of your tracks in Rekordbox you will see that many of them have a round number, i.e. 120.00 BPM. You may spot some that have odd numbers, such as 120.67 BPM. This could be an error or it could be Rekordbox giving an average BPM for a track that have a live drummer.
Here is an example track from George Michael that features recordings of a live drummer. While the producers of this track did their best to quantise the drums there are parts of the track where the beatgrid slips because of the live drummers inconsistencies. The track's beatgrid starts off well but drifts off over time.
This inconsistency means that the DJ wouldn't be able to rely on using beat sync and would have to manually beatmatch by ear. Most DJs can learn how to beatmatch by ear and this will solve a lot of problems. We recommend that you overcome difficult tracks such as this by learning how to ride the pitch, which is an advanced beatmatching method. Contact us if you'd like to learn some advanced beatmatching skills and not be reliant on sync.
Why do some tracks change BPM dramatically?
Other than some tracks where the beatgrid gently drifts off, you'll spot some tracks where the song completely changes BPM. For example, a music producer might create and EDM track that is 128 BPM for the most part but in the breakdown transition into another tempo, such as a 100 BPM Hip Hop beat. In most cases, they will then return to 128 BPM for the end of the track. This occurs the most during breakdowns and is a relatively rare trick but one that is still common enough to warrant you learning how to deal with!
In addition, some producers will create specific tracks that transition from one BPM to another, enabling the DJ to mix multiple styles of music by jumping BPM during the set. These are called transition tracks. Luckily, Rekordbox has a tool within the beatgrid toolbar you can use to solve these issues.
If you find a transition track you should beatgrid both parts of the song. In this example from Dillon James, the track changes from 99 BPM to 128 BPM. I first beatgridded the start of the track to 99 BPM. I then listened to the track to find the point where the transition to 128 BPM had completed. I identified the phrase and then use this button to set a second beatgrid. Think of this tool as the magic button enable you to have two more beatgrid BPMs within a single song.
We found this transition track on the TheMashup.co.uk which is a brilliant DJ pool for finding BPM transition tracks. They also offer some old tracks with live drummers that have been quantised to make beatgridding and beatmatching easier.
We know that beatgridding can be a bit of a headache! If you're struggling to understand how to beatgrid your tracks on Rekordbox, Traktor or Serato please contact us for lessons over Zoom or in person at our studios.
