BPM-Detection

[schdudsen]

Hello,

I am very new to QLC Plus and DMX. I have a basic setup running now.
The function I am missing most is a reliable beat detection. My use case of QLC+ will be more or less a nightclub.
I successfully applied the audio trigger plugin already, and I also figured out, that you can have such a solution by setting thresholds on different bands and so on. But as soon the DJ plays another track or changes the volume I have to readjust everything.
I also thought about using some external software to send a virtual MIDI beat signal to QLC+, but I did not find anything appropriate. I am on Ubuntu by the way.

So how do you guys sync your blinking lights to music without having the music playing off the same PC? (I know of the trick with Mixxx)

[esotericaqua]

I actually put a Compressor/Limiter/Expander in the chain before the audio input on the computer.

I know on the mac you can install software to essentially do virtual patching and use a plugin to achieve the same desire - but I wanted to keep it simple and not have much background processing going on.

Here is what I put inline with the audio input to keep the signal more calibrated. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... HwodHGgDTg

[bestdani]

I usually just tap the beat using the speed dial.

What I also did with a friend once who is using Traktor 2, was to use the midi clock signal (distributed via some midi over ethernet tools), we did this with another ligthing software that was able to get midi clock input directly, but you can also find some freeware tools that convert a midi clock signal into a beat tick signal for windows, on ubuntu you could also use pure data for example to convert the midi clock into a midi tick signal, maybe you can also find some simple programs for ubuntu that do this.

Using a compressor also sounds as an interesting idea. I also think it could be a solution just to gain the volume up since the beat detection might also work with a clipped signal.

[hiddentropics]

Hi everyone, new to the forum have been playing with QLC for a few months. Brilliant software.

I have a similiar challenge as the OP.
I like the lightweight aspect of running QLC from a laptop which makes things very mobile.
The music genre is electronic so the BPM is pretty stable as it's usually house music, supposed to be danceable and has a predictable rhythm.

The music can come from any source as I want to set up in different environments, and I dont always have control of the line input /output so I would like to avoid using the audio trigger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PfOXc1Oh6w

I have found that for me, adjusting the bpm is possible and workable when I do it like this:
- I use one speed dial component that I connect to all my chasers
- I control the speed dial value with a fader that I have on my akai apc controller
- I have a visual representation of this on my controller, because I have a chaser that turns on 4 lights sequentially to the tempo of the beat, like 1-2-3-4

This last step mimics a 4/4 rhythm (a metronome basically) which is what is used in most house music. and since Im a dj I am practiced in counting to 4 and seeing if the visual is ahead or behind the tempo of the music.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tuKAhEXVOi4

The nice thing about this is is that it works independently of the quality of my microfone or any timecode signal or the availability of connecting my laptop to any audio source. its very robust in a mobile environment.

The disadvantage of my appraoch is that is imprecise and time consuming.

I was wondering if anyone has any tips for doing this in a smarter and more efficient way (while still avoiding a connecting to an audio source)

A few things that I have thought of myself

Digital DJ equipement usually show the tempo on a screen expressed as a bpm. It would be a big usability improvement for me if I could somehow see the qlc tempo in the same format (beats per minute, instead of duration in miliseconds). Then I could look at the tempo on the DJ equipment, adjust the fader untill the number is the same, and I would be done. The maths for converting duration to bpm is straightforward obviously - (it's 60s / duration), but software is better at that than me doing it in my head.

1. I have not been able to find this representation in the software anywhere. Would it be possible to display the number in another way? perhaps there is a setting I've missed or its possible with a script or a label?
2. I could have a little cheat cheat with common bpm's. Like -> 100bpm = 600ms, 200 bpm = 300ms, and everything in between. But not ideal


I would really appreciate any tips!

[GGGss]

Use a speed dial with a tap button.

In all my projects, I have two tap buttons. One for the 'master tempo', one for the EFX's speed. Most often, they live in a loopback universe and are used where necessary.

Tapping to the beats regularly is a common practice, especially in audio. This sets the reverb and the time to open gates, etc. Working as an LJ, tapping to the beat is my right hand's job.