New to SoundSwitch 2.9 is the powerful and versatile BPM Detection feature. This enhancement allows you to control your lighting using almost any audio source, making SoundSwitch even more adaptable for various live environments.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How BPM Detection Works
• Setting Up BPM Detection
  • Audio Source Selection
  • Tempo Detection Refresh Rate
  • Light Show Options
  • BPM Detection Range
  • Enabling BPM Detection
  • Edit Mode Compatibility

How BPM Detection Works

BPM Detection lets you route any audio into SoundSwitch via a USB interface, built-in microphone, or virtual audio cable between applications on your machine. This means you can use SoundSwitch with bands, DJs, clubs, venues, and even streaming services like Spotify. It’s especially useful for DJs using software not currently supported by SoundSwitch.

Setting Up BPM Detection

Audio Source Selection

For the best results, provide high-quality, clean audio. We recommend using a USB audio interface. In SoundSwitch preferences under the Tempo Detection tab, select your desired audio input for monitoring BPM. As audio is provided, the VU meter will show audio levels. Aim to set your audio input level in the green range for the most accurate BPM detection. If the audio is in the red zone, it’s too loud or too quiet.

Tempo Detection Refresh Rate

This setting controls how often BPM Detection recalculates the BPM. For dynamic environments like bands or open-format DJs, use the lowest refresh rate (5 seconds) to adapt to frequent BPM changes. For genres with minimal BPM changes, like house music, a higher refresh rate (e.g., 10 seconds) provides more accurate results.

Light Show Options

These preferences determine what happens to your lighting when audio drops below the threshold for three seconds:

• Blackout: All fixtures dim to a blackout.
• Pause Autoloop: The currently playing Autoloop freezes and holds its lighting state.

These options are useful for managing lighting transitions between songs in a performance.

Audio Level Meter - Threshold

In addition to the VU meter, which helps you manage the audio levels input into SoundSwitch, we’ve added a Threshold Control. This control allows you to manually set a threshold level for your audio.

The threshold works in conjunction with the Lightshow Options. When the audio level drops below this threshold for three seconds, the selected Lightshow Option (e.g., blackout or pause Autoloop) will be triggered. Once the audio level rises above the threshold again, your Autoloops will immediately resume playback.

BPM Detection Range

Define the range of BPM that the detection tool will consider. This helps improve the accuracy of BPM detection for your specific audio source.

Enabling BPM Detection

Once you’ve set your preferences, enable BPM Detection via the toggle switch at the top left of the page. SoundSwitch will immediately start detecting the BPM of the provided audio and display it via the indicator. Autoloops will then play in sync with the detected BPM.

Note: To change the audio source preference, disable BPM Detection, select the new source, and then re-enable BPM Detection.

Edit Mode Compatibility

BPM Detection is not exclusive to Performance Mode; it can also be used in Edit Mode with Autoloops. This is beneficial when creating Autoloops that need to sync with an audio source during the creation process.

For additional information regarding BPM Detection setup with Virtual Audio Routing, please see the link below:

BPM Detection with Virtual Audio Routing : SoundSwitch

Additional tutorials on other methods of setting up BPM Detection to follow soon

If you have any questions or require support, please reach out to us at support@soundswitch.com