Back in 2021, I was wrestling with a big problem: I remember walking around the block again, and again, and again, trying to figure out the solution, but something just wasn’t clicking. I’d return to a few scientific papers on the topic, sketch out some plans, run some experiments, try some wild ideas, and then go for another walk. I had a problem to solve, but I was on the wrong track—and wasn’t making progress.

So, I put the problem aside.

But it kept gnawing at me.

So late last year I came back to it. I wanted to add a new way to detect tempo in BeatMirror, one that didn’t require a target tempo. But I wanted it to be good—not just “so so” or “good enough,” but really excellent. And everything I’d tried so far hadn’t hit that mark. At least not yet.

“Essential Tool! (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️). “There are two tools EVERY musician who wants to improve their tempo needs: a metronome and BeatMirror. A metronome trains you to (re)sync with an external reference. BeatMirror shows you what your internal tempo is and how (un)stable it is. The app interprets tempo accuately even when there are complex rhythms. It’s rock solid and works well in a practice room, rehearsal, and on stage! I highly recommend it!!!””

–B’bba from 🇺🇸, July 30, 2023

There are a few other apps that offer this “targetless” feature—you set a nice big range, like 65–130 bpm, and start playing. But these apps were often jumpy and unreliable. I thought BeatMirror could do better—that the musicians who use BeatMirror deserve better. So, I took a few more walks around the block.

And in the months that followed, I stripped back the tempo detection algorithm not just once, but many times, rebuilding it again and again—and really trying to dive into the very nature of what makes us feel tempo. And after several more attempts, many more wild ideas, and some fantastic feedback from our wonderful Beta testers, I think we’ve got it.

And this new BeatMirror is available today!

If you’re already a BeatMirror user, just update the app today to start using the new feature. If you’re not yet a BeatMirror user, then tap the big button below to get started!

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