Another question about tempo...

Pr0 · Post by **Pr0** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:00 pm

I have another problem now. I'm trying to reproduce a certain song into the Oasys. This particular song is mostly a 4/4 signature, but when it reaches a certain measure, it completely breaks itself in a non 4/4 musical phrase... it's all drum breaks, improvisation and stuff and it doens't respect any signature at all. I've tried to count the tempo to see if it could fit a "mathematical" signature mix, like, 6/4 + 6/4 + 4/4 and 6/4 and so on... it just doesn't. In fact there's this 1 tempo cut, just before retaking the original 4/4 signature. So, what can I do in this case?

jg:: · Post by **jg::** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:27 am

Could it be Higher Love by Stevie Winwood?

jg::

Mike Conway · Post by **Mike Conway** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:05 am

I often use some strange breaks or tempo shifts, to break away from a 4/4 beat. If I don't use up a whole measure, I insert Tempo Changes to fit what I need to.

Pr0 · Post by **Pr0** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:57 am

Then, I could I turn a 4/4 into a 3,5/4?

(I mean three beats + half beat)

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:30 am

That would be a 7/8

Mike Conway · Post by **Mike Conway** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:37 am

Pr0 wrote:Then, I could I turn a 4/4 into a 3,5/4? (I mean three beats + half beat)

Yes, you could, duration-wise. By inserting Beats Per Minute (bpm) Tempo Changes into the Master Track. I could make an entire song with 4/4 measures. If I need to shorten a measure, I insert a quick tempo change - say, 240bpm, but only for a beat. At the beginning of the next measure, I insert 120bpm, again, so that the song resumes that speed.

If I need an extra beat in my measure, I'll insert a low number, like 60bpm, then resume 120bpm at the start of the following measure. Obviously, this best works for pauses or drum breaks, as opposed to a section with a constant high hat going.

It's just an idea, but one that I use a lot. If the result is a little off, change the bpm, or use the Event Editor to move the tempo change to a different part of the measure or beat.

Pr0 · Post by **Pr0** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 11:08 am

Mike Conway wrote:Yes, you could, duration-wise. By inserting Beats Per Minute (bpm) Tempo Changes into the Master Track. I could make an entire song with 4/4 measures. If I need to shorten a measure, I insert a quick tempo change - say, 240bpm, but only for a beat. At the beginning of the next measure, I insert 120bpm, again, so that the song resumes that speed.

If I need an extra beat in my measure, I'll insert a low number, like 60bpm, then resume 120bpm at the start of the following measure. Obviously, this best works for pauses or drum breaks, as opposed to a section with a constant high hat going.

It's just an idea, but one that I use a lot. If the result is a little off, change the bpm, or use the Event Editor to move the tempo change to a different part of the measure or beat.

Uhm... it makes some sense, beat per beat, measure per measure... I'll have to do my math though.

Mike Conway · Post by **Mike Conway** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:53 pm

Pr0 wrote:I'll have to do my math though.

It sounds complicated, but I never calculated it. I just stuck in a tempo change, and if it didn't sound right, I went into Song Edit and just moved forward or back, or made it faster or slower.

The other trick is to use a gradual tempo ramp. I had the last few measures of a song play faster and faster. It totally worked for an ending.

Pr0 · Post by **Pr0** » Thu May 01, 2008 12:49 pm

Mike, I've finally done it.

I used "Insert measure" in Track Edit tab and inserted these crazy signature changes (per measure): 2/4 + 2/16 + 3/4 + 2/4 + 2/16 + 4/4 (x5) + 5/4.

It worked EXACTLY as I wanted! I love this keyboard...

Pr0

Mike Conway · Post by **Mike Conway** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:23 pm

That's very cool!