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How to sync an imported MP3 so I can use metronome?


blogan

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I'm recording some tracks for someone on the west coast. I'm on the east coast. Not that that matters. He sent me mp3s. There is no click, and on some of the tunes I don't need one, but how do I get the mp3's to sync up with my bar lines? Is this possible? I'm using Logic Express 9.1.8

 

Thanks

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As to the tempo, write or call the person you got the files from and ask them what the tempo is. Or have them export you a MIDI file containing the tempo maps for each song which you can import into your Logic sessions.

 

Also... why didn't they send you AIFF or WAV? MP3 for production?

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Well I'm not exactly sure why they didn't send .wav or .aiff. I think they assumed that I had my #%$ together and would be able to make everything work, which it does. They sent mp3's with everything I need for reference. It would just be a little bit easier if I could lock it to the bar lines.

 

Here is how their e-mail came to me: As far as clicks and count-offs, all the songs will lock up perfectly to your DAW so you already have it built in to Logic ready to go. The only time people send clicks anymore is when the track has a changing conductor track or when a live drummer played to a battery operated metronome.

Set your tempo accordingly for each song and the tracks will line up to the bars. Then when you've finished your recording just export or bounce each guitar track from the exact start point of the file I gave you and then it will lock up perfect on my end.

 

That is what I got from him. There is one tune where fingerpicking guitar starts the tune off. I'm supposed to copy the synth guitar track sent to me. That one will be difficult trying to figure out or anticipate when it will start with no click or count off. Guess he thinks I'm a genius.

 

Anyway, I'll make it work somehow.

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There are several ways to find the bpm, all of them fairly easy.

 

1. Ask him for the bpm of each mp3 he sent you

 

2. under the metering section there is a bpm counter plug in, insert this on the mp3 channel strip and press play.

 

3. make a perfect loop with the mp3 (i find the marque, snap to transient, tool perfect for this) match the number of bars with the green cycle loop section with the number of bars in the loop and press CMD - T

 

4. Go here http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm and tap the tempo out yourself

 

5. select the mp3 region and go to the audio tap in the arrange page and select detect tempo. (I've found this technique to be extremely unreliable even for simple four on the floor beats, however other members of this forum seem to get success with this technique)

 

Hope this helps

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What I have done in the past is to play the mp3 file in Virtual DJ Home (I am guessing other dj software would work the same) which automatically detects the bpm (a function which is core to the software for mixing and matching waveforms).

 

once you've played it in the dj software both iTunes and the DJ software should tell you the bpm

 

Now I have only used this for tracks that have drum tracks in them so if you are dealing with vocal tracks then that may prove difficult even for the dj software to analyse.

 

Tap tempo is the next best thing using a program that has that feature like Reason (I haven't noticed it in Logic though) or an external MPC (Akai or Native Instruments etc). I am seeing some posts on beatmapping in this forum but I haven't gotten that far with my Logic skill to comment on that

 

Good Luck

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The only time people send clicks anymore is when the track has a changing conductor track or when a live drummer played to a battery operated metronome.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

That's so lame. And untrue.

 

For the future, beware of anyone telling you how things aren't done. You must set your own professional standards and get the client to provide you with what you need whenever possible.

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Thank you guys. I have contacted this guy and apparently the actual writer of the tunes was supposed to send me the tempos. Then I could set the tempos and everything would be fine.

 

I didn't know about inserting the bpm counter plug in. I will also try that just for my own education. Thank you guy's again for the help.

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Until you get the correct tempos...

 

If they were done with no tempo changes within the songs, it should be easy enough to "earball" them with the metronome in Logic.

 

120 bpm way too fast...slow the metronome down considerably until it syncs.

90 bpm not quite fast enough...speed the metronome up a little until it syncs.

 

Beware MP3s!

Some of them have empty space at the top which will throw sync off.

Check them to make sure the first transient starts exactly on the beat.

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