Is there a live beat detector?

[jim nielsen]

When playing live, I would like to know the BPM. I play with a drummer who has a thing connected to his snare drum which does this.
Is there anything that will give me a real time readout of the BPM while playing live? For bass players??
I am particularly interested if we drift.

 

[bassicmike]

I use an app called SimpleBeatDetector.

 

[noahw1]

I play in a group and the BL uses an app called LiveBPM. The drummers aren’t crazy about it but it keeps us aware of our tempos.

 

[Jeff Scott]

 

[Killing Floor]

Shaking booties

 

[Goatrope]

I play in a group and the BL uses an app called LiveBPM. The drummers aren’t crazy about it but it keeps us aware of our tempos.

Same here. I gave the app to our drummer. It's like a speedometer that charts the tempo. It helps him to see how he's speeding up or slowing down, so we don't have to argue about it.

He uses it quite a bit.

 

[bassicmike]

we run a bpm meter we can all see at rehearsal. drummer has one going during shows to keep us steady.

 

[instrumentlevel]

Another vote for LiveBPM. Interface from a decade ago, but I love that it records the beat as a graph, so you can look at the beat over time. Very easily to show the drummer how they are straying…

 

[prndltech]

metronome in IEM’s. It’s the loudest thing in mine.

 

[BBQisgood]

Ears.

 

[Renaissance]

Personally, I think it would be more beneficial to record shows (and rehearsals) and review the tape for inconsistent tempo.

Maintain the groove during the show and discuss technical issues at rehearsal.

 

[pfschim]

another vote for the BPM app. I got turned on to it by a drummer friend of mine. Great tool, very non-intrusive, can really help keep everyone together. The way it displays a realtime beat/time graph line is very helpful IMO/IME.

and to all of those throwing out stuff like "ears" or tape review/practice etc., of course it helps if everyone already has rock solid time, but this can be elusive with multiple players and the various issues with hearing everything very clearly. Even experienced pros use click to keep things tight.

Good luck OP!

 

[mcnach]

When playing live, I would like to know the BPM. I play with a drummer who has a thing connected to his snare drum which does this.
Is there anything that will give me a real time readout of the BPM while playing live? For bass players??
I am particularly interested if we drift.

I use an app called LiveBPM

 

[Smooth_bass88]

this is a dangerous path should you choose to go down it

 

[EliasA]

Personally, I think it would be more beneficial to record shows (and rehearsals) and review the tape for inconsistent tempo.

Maintain the groove during the show and discuss technical issues at rehearsal.

This is the solution. When you're live, live in the moment. When you're improving, then a recording tells you where you need to pick up slack.

 

[BBQisgood]

another vote for the BPM app. I got turned on to it by a drummer friend of mine. Great tool, very non-intrusive, can really help keep everyone together. The way it displays a realtime beat/time graph line is very helpful IMO/IME.

and to all of those throwing out stuff like "ears" or tape review/practice etc., of course it helps if everyone already has rock solid time, but this can be elusive with multiple players and the various issues with hearing everything very clearly. Even experienced pros use click to keep things tight.

Good luck OP!

Pfs:
Renaissance says it best!

Personally, I think it would be more beneficial to record shows (and rehearsals) and review the tape for inconsistent tempo.

Maintain the groove during the show and discuss technical issues at rehearsal.

Using software to analyze BPM is fine after the fact, but while you are playing live, the focus must be on listening and learning together.

Metronomes, clicks and tracks are the tools we use to improve our time. Live BMP monitoring is something you could use, I suppose, but I wonder how valuable it really is. If one used it to provide proof that someone was rushing, for example, then why not address it with a recording after the show?

Hence, “ears.”

 

[Krisfield]

Soundbrenner is a vibrating metronome. Comes with a whole heap of features like multiplayer connectivity, control via smartphone, setlists, decibel meter, sweat resistant. If you don't like the click in IEM's, could be a good alternative.

Soundbrenner

 

[pfschim]

Soundbrenner is a vibrating metronome. Comes with a whole heap of features like multiplayer connectivity, control via smartphone, setlists, decibel meter, sweat resistant. If you don't like the click in IEM's, could be a good alternative.

Soundbrenner

View attachment 7030694

Pfs:
Renaissance says it best!



Using software to analyze BPM is fine after the fact, but while you are playing live, the focus must be on listening and learning together.

Metronomes, clicks and tracks are the tools we use to improve our time. Live BMP monitoring is something you could use, I suppose, but I wonder how valuable it really is. If one used it to provide proof that someone was rushing, for example, then why not address it with a recording after the show?

Hence, “ears.”

I'm going to respectfully disagree here.
Yes, of course it's good to work on time/pulse by working on it through listening to band recordings, and listening and learning together and all that. No argument about that in general. But it's not a simple, or even guaranteed thing to do that and end up with a band with solid time/pulse. A band with 3 - 5 (or more) individuals will have varying degrees of capability when it comes to keeping consistent time/pulse ... even experienced pro's. This is why (at least one reason why) touring pro's regularly use click ... to keep the band on tempo.

LiveBMP is not as intrusive as click, which firmly sets the tempo, but serves a similar function. It pretty accurately shows what tempo a player or band is playing at with a visual, real-time graph line and the band (or just the drummer) can guide itself to a steadier time/pulse quite easily.

Of course, everyone is free to do what they wish, but there is no reason not to use available tools to improve performance.

 

[David Pinton]

LiveBPM is a very powerfull tool for practice and rehearsals.
If you felt someone sped up or slowed down during a song, you can quickly check after the fact and any arguing is moot.
When I practice alone, especially on drums, I try my best to keep a steady tempo for a few minutes. I check the app afterwards to see how well I did. It can be very humbling ;-)
I would not use it for a gig, as there seems to be a 2 second delay (analysing time no doubt) so if you try to adjust on the fly your tempo will start to oscilate when you overcorrect. And, as many of you have said, when playing live, playing TOGETHER is the more important thing.