BPM from (externally recorded) Midi recorded drums at incorrect tempo when importing into Garageband?

Question

Level 1

28 points

BPM from (externally recorded) Midi recorded drums at incorrect tempo when importing into Garageband?

Hey there

Yesterday I recorded midi drums to a click track for a song into my iPhone using an IK Multimedia iRig Midi.

I had the click track playing from my iPod (that I had recorded as an mp3 at 148pm) and I recorded the drum beat for the whole song at 148bpm into my iPhone using thr iRig Midi Recorder app.

I exported the file from my iPhone to my Mac.

When I play the file through QuickTime it plays fine at 148bpm OK, but when I import it into a new Garageband song (That Ive set the bpm to 148bpm) it actually plays back the midi drum beat at (approx) 183bpm.

If I import the midi file into iTunes, iTunes plays it at 148bpm, and even if I convert it to an mp3 using iTunes, iTunes STILL plays it at 148bpm.

But, like I said when I import the original midi file into Garageband it plays faster at (approx) 183bpm.

Any suggestions on whats going on here, because something isn't right.

Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Jan 27, 2013 3:48 AM

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Answer 1

shippo_uk Author

Level 1

28 points

Jan 27, 2013 4:14 AM in response to shippo_uk

Just to note

Ive tested the bpm of the song using a little program called VOX (from the exported iTunes mp3 file) and Vox states its 91.51bpm (Making it 183.02 bpm in my mind)

(I initially tested the bpm manually using http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm, so I'm not bad only being 0.02 bpm out)

-------------------

I've had just tried the following but its still not right.

I imported the midi track into Garageband and set the project initially (Before importing) to 183bpm and assumed I could just then change the projects bpm to 148bpm.

This doesnt work either.

Upon import of the midi file to GB with the project set at 183bpm, it then plays the midi drum file at approx 227bpm. So its actually sped it up. (tested manual BPM test using http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm )

If I take the projects BPM down to 148bpm, it then plays it at 182bpm (tested manual BPM test using http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm )

If I take the projects BPM down to 120bpm, it then plays it at 148bpm (tested manual BPM test using http://www.all8.com/tools/bpm.htm ). Ah-ha! You might think, so thats fine. Well, yes it plays the drum beat at approx 148bpm, BUT the system still thinks its 120BPM, so it wont line up to the click track at all.

I NEED this to line up perfectyly with the click track of 148bpm, otherwise I many as well just recorded it live and not to click.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

194,895 points

Jan 27, 2013 4:24 AM in response to shippo_uk

I assume you have checked, if your GarageBand project is set to 143 bpm? 😝

But even with the correct setting of the project the song may play faster, if you have changed the Master Tempo automation curve of the Master Track. Have you checked that too? I noticed that sometimes a midi file will change automation curves on the tracks on import.

If you add an automation to the Master Track, the master tempo will show the tempo for the measure where the cursor currently is, so the part of the song with the click track may play at a different tempo.

Regards

Léonie

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Answer 3

shippo_uk Author

Level 1

28 points

Jan 27, 2013 4:24 AM in response to léonie

leonieDF wrote:

I assume you have checked, if your GarageBand project is set to 143 bpm? 😝

No, but I have checked that it IS set to 148bpm 🙂

But even with the correct setting of the project the song may play faster, if you have changed the Master Tempo automation curve of the Master Track. Have you checked that too? I noticed that sometimes a midi file will change automation curves on the tracks on import.

I have not, not have never used Master Tempo Automation. It is not switched on.

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