The Automated Beat Mixing (ABM) feature makes use of Beat Info gathered from your Ots files. If you haven't yet setup any Beat Info chunks in your Ots files, continue reading this Tutorial, or consult the Ots Studio documentation.
Beat Info chunks contain Intro and Outro Ranges consisting of Range Start, Match Point, and Range End markers, along with BPM (Beats Per Minute) values and NPI (Non-Percussive Intensity) values. All of these components effect how OtsAV executes an Automated Beat Mix. For further information about the above topics, continue reading this Tutorial, or consult the Ots Studio documentation.
The image below provides a summary of how songs are mixed and aligned during an ABM.
In order for the Automated Beat Mixing feature to create perfect beat mixes, the following information must be set correctly in your Ots files.
Accurate BPM (Beats Per Minute) for the Intro and Outro Ranges
Range Start and Range End markers set to suit the characteristics of the song
Match Point markers set on the first beat in a bar, at the point where the song increases intensity within the Intro, and at the point where the song decreases intensity within the Outro.
NPI (Non-Percussive Intensity) values set to suit the characteristics before and after the Match Points in the Intro and Outro Ranges.
Intro and Outro Ranges marked as Active.
Note: All of the above can be set using Ots Studio. Consult the Ots Studio documentation for further details.
How does Automated Beat Mixing work?
The image above shows how ABM aligns songs during a beat mix. The individual steps performed by OtsAV when performing an ABM, are explained below.
Song A is being played in a deck.
As the Outro Range Start marker for Song A is approached, Song B is loaded into the available deck.
The BPM of Song B is adjusted to match the BPM of Song A, using the Tempo slider.
OtsAV calculates how much of the Intro of Song B to beat mix over the Outro of Song A, so that the Match Point from the Outro of Song A perfectly aligns with the Match Point of the Intro of Song B.
The NPI values are compared, and the volume of Song B is adjusted accordingly.
At a calculated moment, Song B will commence playback.
Both songs are now beat mixed together.
Volume levels will adjust internally as the beat mix continues, based on the NPI values.
As the Match Points of both songs are approaching, the BPM of both songs will "slide" back to the native BPM of Song B (This is called Restore Mode. You could continue playing at Song A's BPM by using Maintain Mode instead).
Once the Match Points are reached, Song B will have audio dominance over Song A.
Volume levels will adjust internally as the beat mix continues, based on the NPI values, and the length of the remaining beat mix.
OtsAV calculates how much of the Outro of Song A to beat mix over the Intro of Song B, so that the audio from Song A will have elegantly faded by the time the Range End marker of Song B's Intro is reached, or the Range End marker of Song A has been reached (whichever comes sooner).
The beat mix is complete.
All Automated Beat Mixing is performed using OtsAV's ClearScale Technology™. This revolutionary Time-Scaling technology allows songs to be sped up or slowed down with perfect clarity, while maintaining the original pitch (key) of the song. It's now possible to beatmix from an R&B song (at 90 BPM) into a Dance song (at 130 BPM), while keeping perfectly clear audio.