Old 09-10-2014, 11:29 AM   #1
-nicolas-
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Default About Tempo in BPM

Hello all,

The tempo is labeled BPM. This should mean that
- if the signature is 4/4, then 120BPM = 120 quarter notes per minute
- if the signature is 6/8, then 120BPM = 120 eighths notes per minute,
OR 120 DOTTED quarter notes per minutes, i.e. 360 eighths notes per minute

BUT
it seems to me that whatever the time signature, BPM in Reaper represents 2 eighth notes. Which I find very strange.
Am I wrong ? What are your thoughts ?

Nicolas
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Old 09-10-2014, 01:25 PM   #2
VinodXAgent
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A Song at 120BPM in 6/8 Pulse has 40 bars. 40x6= 240 1/8 Notes.
Dotted is a note length Parameter not a pulse. If you refer to a 3/8 Pulse, that are 240 1/8th PM
Or is it me getting something terrible wrong?
Vinod

Last edited by VinodXAgent; 09-10-2014 at 01:42 PM.
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Old 09-10-2014, 02:14 PM   #3
Judders
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VinodXAgent View Post
A Song at 120BPM in 6/8 Pulse has 40 bars. 40x6= 240 1/8 Notes.
Dotted is a note length Parameter not a pulse. If you refer to a 3/8 Pulse, that are 240 1/8th PM
Or is it me getting something terrible wrong?
Vinod
Nope, you're right.

Meter is irrelevant to the number of beats per minute.
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Old 09-11-2014, 08:47 AM   #4
Breeder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Judders View Post
Meter is irrelevant to the number of beats per minute.
Usually, in music score you denote what rhythm value represents a beat. Like this:


If there is no rhythmic value associated with BPM you should use time signature denominator.
So if time signature is 4/8 and BPM is 120, the beat is one quaver and there should be 120 quavers (30 bars of 4/8) in one minute.

Having said that, it seems that some DAW programs (REAPER included) don't follow this rule, but always assume that beat in BPM is a quarter note.
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Old 09-11-2014, 09:32 AM   #5
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When it comes to questions like these,
bpm and time-signature are more about a practical approach and conventions.
So, bpm = quarter notes per minute
in most daws

Breeders image above seems like the correct way to write musical bpm
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