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Traktor Elastic Beatgrids

This section covers Elastic beatgrids in Traktor

Which tracks have multiple BPMs

Two types of tracks have multiple BPMs:

more lists: list1 list2

What are Elastic Beatgrids

"Elastic beatgrids" is a feature that explicitly allows multiple BPMs in each track.

Without elastic beatgrids, the following becomes impossible to perform without the audience noticing:

  • Beatjumps:
    • Impossible to fix in advance because the jump happens instantaneously
  • FX BPM-synced effects: (eg delay)
    • Impossible to fix in any situation, because FX fully depend on the beatgrid
  • AutoLoops:
    • IN point: with quantize off, you have to enable the loop at precisely the right time
    • OUT point: In this case you have to immediately enter "loop out adjust mode" to fix the out point as fast as you can
  • Sync beatmatch:
    • In this case you HAVE to compensate continuously using the jogwheels on the whole eg. 60s transition (manual beatmatch)

Which softwares support Elastic Beatgrids

Traktor misses elastic beatgrids. This was the #1 request from the Digital DJ Tips interview as well.

Software Elastic Beatgrids Multiple Beatmarkers Video
RekordBox yes yes (see note1) https://youtu.be/aTHFpwSMsZI?t=499
Serato yes yes https://youtu.be/wLt5fhZJGps&t=420
VirtualDJ yes yes https://youtu.be/PrKBerB2n3I?t=49
Traktor no yes main discussion thread
Denon Prime no no (see note2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqhDRX6ghfM&t=598

Note1: Manually beatgriding tracks in rekordbox is tricky because its a strictly left-to-right operation.\ In other words: there is no way to put beatmarkers in front of the track without deleting them at the middle/end as well. more info\ Note2: Denon Prime wraps tracks and has problems with ID3tag whole BPM numbers.

How to emulate Elastic Beatgrids in Traktor

Below a recipe to approximate Elastic beatgrids in Traktor, automatically using Rekordbox conversion.\ The simplest method is presented first, then a more accurate/faster method is presented second.

Important: this is only applicable for unsteady tracks (more info).

Simple method:

  1. Download the free V5 rekordbox: link
  2. Select the tracks with single, but unsteady, BPMs: guide
  3. Analyse these tracks in dynamic mode: guide
  4. Export your collection.xml: guide
  5. Convert your this file from Rekordbox format to Traktor format: guide
  6. Import your files into Traktor: guide

traktor_elastic_beatgrids2

How to emulate Elastic Beatgrids in Traktor - More complex workflow

This is a revised version of the [basic workflow(#How-to-emulate-Elastic-Beatgrids-in-Traktor).

Benefits are more accuracy of the end result because it adds additional beatmarkers every 4 beats, it avoids the 26ms mp3 shift issue and its a lot faster by limiting the tracks and by directly patching the cues in the collection (instead of regular importing the files).

Concrete differences:

  1. Download specifically v5.6.0 rekordbox.
    • This was the last without an XML import bug: guide
  2. Manually remove the non-dynamic tracks from the XML.
    • There is no way to export specific playlists/tracks, you always get the whole collection
    • so by manually removing the tracks the later stages will be a lot faster
  3. Use rekordbox_add_beatmarkers.py
    • This will force a beatmarker every 4 beats.
    • These beatmarkers are very accurate because it still uses the dynamic BPM before conversion.
  4. Use a converter that specifically addresses the 26-ms shift issue: guide
  5. Patch your files into Traktor using Traktor_clone_cues.py

traktor_elastic_beatgrids3

Traktor forum post

Which tracks benefit from emulated Elastic beatgrids?

Unsteady tracks: YES

  • Examples: 80s Pop, 70s DiscoSound, Live drummers (any decade)
  • Typical range: +- 1% bpm error
  • Error: Very small; the error is reset every 4th beat will always reset it

Transition tracks: NO

traktor_elastic_beatgrids1