Finding a Simple Way to Calculate Average event's BPM in Cubase

Cubase
1

Hi everyone,

In Cubase/Nuendo 13, a crucial utility that was formerly part of the old beat calculator was removed: the ability to select part of an audio event, input the number of beats, and let the software calculate the BPM internally using this simple formula:
(Number of beats * 60) / Duration of the selection = BPM

This feature existed for at least six iterations of Cubendo. It allowed me to quickly and precisely calculate the BPM of various electronic music tracks and embed it directly into the audio event properties. This made aligning different audio tracks to a common tempo seamless when creating mashups. Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of these for several large-scale events.

Several alternatives have been suggested in the forums, but none fully address the need:

  1. Tap Tempo: This method is imprecise and initially caused tempo track issues (now fixed). Beyond that, it seems to calculate the average tempo per bar rather than the overall average BPM.
  2. Tempo Detection: While useful in some cases, it creates multiple warp markers instead of providing an average BPM, disrupting the tempo track. Additionally, it requires moving each event to the start of the project for detection, which is inconvenient.
  3. Set Tempo From Event: This method aligns the length of the selected audio event with the ruler’s loop region and adjusts the overall project tempo accordingly. While it technically calculates the tempo, it directly modifies the project tempo. To use it effectively, you must either manually copy the calculated BPM into the audio event’s settings or use Set Definition From Tempo with the Write Definition to Audio option, but then manually revert the project tempo to its original value.

My Question

Is there currently a simple, precise way in recent Cubase/Nuendo releases to:

  • Detect or calculate the average BPM of a selected audio event,
  • Avoid altering the tempo track or overall project tempo, and
  • Achieve this without relying on external tools like an actual calculator?

If there’s a feature I’ve missed or a better workaround, I’d greatly appreciate hearing about it. That said, I believe this utility deserves to be restored in future updates, given its importance to workflows like mine.

Thanks in advance for your insights and suggestions!

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2

Actually yes, there is a way, but it’s definitely a pain in the ass to have the beat calculator removed. Stupid beyond comprehension, impossible not to be pissed off by this, if you’re working with looped samples.

Workaround:

  1. cut/trim the loop section.
  2. convert the cut/trimmed audio event into a single independent audio file and replace the old one.
  3. doubleclick into the newly created audio file/event to open the audio editor
  4. in the audio editor under Definition, manually set the beats and bars of your loop. the tempo should display now. (if you don’t want to alter the tempo of your project session, you can just stop here at step 4)
  5. with your loop selected go back to the project window and go to audio–>extras–>extract tempo from event (this might be called slightly diffrent in english, i’m using the german version). that should set the project tempo to the tempo of your loop (as did “insert at beginning of the track” in classic beat calculator.

Just about 10 times more complicated than in every cubase version up until now. It’s genius! :rofl:

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