BPM

[PeanutVendor]

markydefad: really useful list thankyou muchly. not exhaustive by any means but very handy nonetheless. I know mixers like the Pioneer have a bpm readout function but to me there is no substitute for flipping through a bpm-graded list a few hours ahead of time and visualizing how certain combinations might work. The quest for the Disco Beats lists goes on, though: that's the real deal.

[markydefad]

Oops, maybe I have more brain damage than I thought!!!! :lol:

The book is called "Tribal Rites" (1987/Audiosis Publishing-S.F.) by David Diebold, who was a member of Boystown Gang for a while...or so he says. :grin:

Does that link to the van Roomen BPM list work? I just tried it and couldn't get anywhere???

[PeanutVendor]

sorry forgot to mention that link didnt work, but after some poking around on google i found it on : http://home.conceptsfa.nl/~pvanro/index.htm

enjoy

[PeanutVendor]

Actually I just remembered that BPM printout service was called DISCO BIBLE. I used to get it sent to me regularly for several years but somehow the whole lot got lost. I can find nothing at all about this remarkable service on the internet apart from a couple of times people being interviewed mentioning it in passing reference. That's strange because the service was based on a computerized printout, so all of that data must be on a computer somewhere out there.
I'm on a mission to find it and would appreciate any help from you guys in this esteemed forum.

[QUINNY]

Peanut Vendor: I'm assuming that you're a working DJ. Why don't you just get the records out and start BPMing yourself?
Besides in mixers, there are stand alone BPM counters these days, aren't there? So you don't even have to count the beats for a whole minute. I reckon you could probably do at least 40 in an hour.

The most fastidious BPM guides (in the UK) were those by James Hamilton in Record Mirror. He would have BPMs for different sections of a disc if it changed. Not always accurate, but all BPMs do is give you a vague idea of what might go with what.
e.g. T Connection - Do What You Wanna Do would not go well with say D. Train - You're The One For Me although similar BPMs.
Sorry if this is teaching you how to suck eggs.

OR MAYBE WE SHOULD MAKE OUR OWN BPM BIBLE VIA THIS SITE? see new thread.

[PeanutVendor]

Quinny: I am pretty much up to speed with the BPM's of the stuff I play but I seem to be coming across records that I had lost over time and being lazy and aware that Disco Bible is so utterly complete and comprehensive I decided to look for it again. Of course these days the Pioneer mixers etc do give you a BPM readout, so that does come in handy, but no substitute for a hard copy of Disco Bible, which allows one to 'browse' potential sets in your head by scanning the pages. Excellent idea to buid our own in the meanwhile, though. I will certainly post what I have and can find.

[Mixmachine]

I used to BPM my own records, never used any of those services, you can time them in 30 seconds and double the beats total, you could then use a marker and write in big fonts the record’s name and BPM on a piece of masking tape and taped it across the front cover’s edge, this method made it easy to see and find in the darkness of a DJ booth, the only draw back is that it will deface your covers and cut into the future value of your vinyl. Maybe they have now a different kind of tape easy to remove once you retire the record. (Painters tape?).
I still have here my old beat up handwritten BPM bible, still use it to refresh my memory when posters here mention certain 70’s and 80’s records, I used to scan through it while mixing back in those days, but later around ’83 I gave it up and went directly to my record bins for ideas, it was quite a chore to keep updating it.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mixmachine on 2002-09-27 23:15 ]</font>

[markydefad]

I used to just BPM for 30 seconds and then multiply by 2 for years--BUT, then you always get even numbers...and I found that the final result could vary by one or sometimes two beats up or down--which was frustrating to a "punter" attempting to learn to mix...SOOOO a few years ago, I started timing for a full minute and getting the exact BPM or at least as close as I could get. AND, I figured that if I used the same watch (currently the clock on my microwave, I kid you NOT) at least MY figures would be as accurate or inaccurate as all my others.

I wait til the microwave minute digital reading changes and then start counting until it changes again. Then I double check it with a watch. YES, I AM ANAL. :roll:

But, honestly--except for the few DJ's here--do the rest of the crowd REALLY CARE what the BPM's of certain songs are??? I wonder.

What happened to our plans to establish the Disco encyclopedia here on this site with complete discographies and years of releases, etc.... BPM's, I guess, would fit into that also???

We were all sooo excited...and then....what happened???? I'm just askin!!!

(Idea: we could split into teams and each take certain areas and start compiling data, eh Bernie?...what's the plan????)




_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-09-28 00:20 ]</font>

[PeanutVendor]

If done properly the BPM list is a seperate universe by itself. The best and most comprehensive way would be to see if Tom Lewis is still around and get his OK to put the whole disco bible archive online right on this site. that would be a world first and the most awesome archive ever.

[SandraDee]

Quinnykins, I really miss James Hmilton in Record Mirror. He was so good wasnt he? I didnt start clubbing 'til '84-ish so before that I used to read about all the imported records in his column & try to hear them on Radio Luxembourg or Robbie Vincent's show on Radio 1 (fab fm!), as well as making purchases on his recommendation without hearing them & I was rarely disappointed.
Sorry I've strayed from the topic again Havent I? (slapped wrists)

[Bernie]

On 2002-09-28 00:17, markydefad wrote:

What happened to our plans to establish the Disco encyclopedia here on this site with complete discographies and years of releases, etc.... BPM's, I guess, would fit into that also???

We were all sooo excited...and then....what happened???? I'm just askin!!!

(Idea: we could split into teams and each take certain areas and start compiling data, eh Bernie?...what's the plan????)

Marky and all,

I've been working on this major project practically every day-and night and have been making progress. The thing is that I can't have anyone compile data until the framework is up because if it's done without proper planning and design, the data will have to be input all over again. I'm just trying to be considerate of everyone's time and not take you guys down a road only to find out that it needs to be done over again.

I've been through several models already and believe I've finally settled on one that should work well. I'm trying as hard as I can to build and get it all correct and working before taking it live.

The pieces are coming together slowly, but surely and I feel confident that once the framework is up everyone will jump in and contribute data to the project. I'm also busy working on the Top 500 which is rapidly coming to a close, I have a few interviews cooking and several other major site related projects going on simultaneously as well as my personal endeavours which include learning how to drive at the age of 38! It will all come together soon and will be worth the wait. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

[PeanutVendor]

Bernie - looks like you've got matters well in hand. Looking forward to see what you roll out !