Requested Videos: Tempo Detection in Cubase

A brief video showing two methods of mapping Cubase's tempo to some recorded audio. Firstly using the Time Warp Tool, and secondly, using Cubase's Tempo Detection, which is a little quirky and needs a bit of manual help, but can work very well on a clear piece of audio such as this drum machine loop or a kick drum recording.

[@slimyelow]

For decades I have been forcing live recording (errors) to warp to a fixed grid tempo. Now I can keep the original tracks pristine without having to add processing tweaks, which sound especially ghastly on drum overheads. Also musicians can now follow the natural drum track instead of that stupid fixed grid click. OMG why didn't I see this video a looooooooong time ago? Thank You so much MTT.

[@craiggoodwin5975]

I always forget how to do this, must be the fifth time I have watched your explanation. Thanks for a brilliant explanation as ever.

[@slbeginner3029]

Thanks for your video.

[@granbyplungar2929]

Excellent as ever

[@antyhingforeverythingnew6285]

I generally use eq and mastering compressors to make cubase recognize the elements in a complex rhythm. There are some times you can’t touch or modify a groove or its elements to not to harm its overall pattern feel. Cubase tempo detection is a bit weak to recognize live complex patterns.

[@mwinyimwenyi]

Quantizing everything to death...LOL!

[@slimyelow]

Note: must also move the tempo track when moving the reference audio track.

[@erikfox8471]

great tutorial, but for me as a new cubase user and long time logic x user this is so complicated comparing to logic tempo detection...in logic i can just drag n drop the song into logic and it will automatically detect the tempo and set the song on the grid..its that simple, i hope steinberg will make this possible in cubase too.....

[@callez2402]

If one want to additionally time warp that time detected piece of audio, can you do that and make everything to fit with the metronome? I can't get it to work as I want..

[@musictechtuition]

You should be able to time *stretch* that audio to the speed you want... it's a little more complex when trying to use the tempo track. Change the selection tool (hit 1) until it has a clock next to it and see how you get on.

[@callez2402]

@@musictechtuition Thanks for replying. Did try that, but with little succeess. Does it work for you? Tried it using a very swinging simple minds-song

[@EminoMeneko]

Thank you for the video.
That said, tempo detection in Cubase seems to be tedious and utter crap. Steinberg should really look at what other DAWs do in that matter. FL Studio gives you a precise number in a few SIMPLE clicks. No messing around. Just pick tempo detection option. A popup will ask you roughly in what range the tempo is which anyone could more or less tell. Then run detection and in no time there is a PRECISE and STEADY number.
Every time I need this, I go back to FL Studio, but I'd love not to need to and also I'd love that tempo detection stop messing around with my project tempo. Should you even delete that tempo track, the tempo still jumps. That's absolutely unpleasant. That means that you should do that in a separate project to avoid ruining the one you're working on. Why on Earth deleting that tempo track has no effect ? How should you delete that tempo change, then?

[@creatiw]

After tempo detection, go to Audio > Advanced > Set Definition From Tempo. Then disable tempo track. You can then make the clip to play on a steady tempo with the project BPM. Is that what you were looking to do? Hope that helps.

[@张连春-z8i]

为什么一首固定速度的歌曲会检测出不停变化的速度线呢？

[@armondtanz]

What happens when the tempo on the file says 124bpm and in pool it says 120.67... In the old days you could punch in the tempo in media bay and it would solve this. Hav 10.5

[@musictechtuition]

If you tick the "musical" column in the Pool, then the sample will run at the prevailing project tempo. So if 120.67 is correct, then it will sync properly.

[@armondtanz]

@@musictechtuition hey thanks. Yes if you type the tempo AND check that box next to it it does change it. Still p*ssed that you cant do this in the mediabay. I still hav ver 5 on an old comp and you can easily do this in mediabay. Not to sure why they changed it?

[@yahslimitlessvisionoftruth3336]

Is Tempo Detection is only offered in Cubase Pro not Elements?

[@musictechtuition]

I believe so - what version (number) are you on?

[@yahslimitlessvisionoftruth3336]

@@musictechtuition Cubase Elements 10.5

[@hilmi_design_officiel]

is there any version of cubase 5 64 bit?

[@musictechtuition]

Hi. I think that 64-bit versions of Cubase started with Cubase 6 (it was definitely present by 7), so I don't think so - bear in mind that Cubase 5 is nearly 12 years old!

[@TheStreetest]

Tempo detection came out in what version? Ive got cubase 5.

[@musictechtuition]

I'm not actually sure... I'd guess 6 or 7 as that's where a fair bit of attention was paid to audio - time stretch algorithm improved, and I think it was 6.5 where vari audio appeared.

[@TheStreetest]

@@musictechtuition yup it was during 6. Im doing it manually in 5 lol. Still fun no less. Barely started using it. Got a few cover songs this vocalist wants to do. .. I'm gonna work my magic. Connect my mpc2500 and work that grid. 👌

[@musictechtuition]

@@TheStreetest Nice! Next time I mention people using older versions, I'll say that V5 is still in good use!

[@brennuvargr4638]

@@musictechtuition VariAudio was in 5 as well. :)

[@uk.leonardosants]

Tempo detection in Cubase is shit. I always use Ableton for bpm detection and then bring the audio back to Cubase .

[@mr-ladi617]

cubase is terrible in this part. Seventy-three are not working on this