Music Beat Tracking (BT)

BT accurately extracts music beats and generate beat pulses in real time. The beat pulses can be used to activate sound, image, lights, motors, etc. for many music interactive applications.

Examples of BT application include real-time beat-triggered sound effect, LED light or image display, such as for PMP (portable media player) and MP3 devices; light fixture for speakers; dancing robots/toys; dancing floor pads; laser or strobe light shows; automobile LED/light decor. In fact, the applications are limited only by imagination.

Music fountain audio/visual demo (Light activated by music beat, and water heights controlled by audio intensity)

A BT demo module is shown herein. The module is very compact (2 in x 1 in) even with extra demo circuitry provisions. The module offers a multitude of features, I/O signal and interface options. BT uses 4-kHz bandwidth music input (with 8-kHz sample rate) for low-cost implementation.

FEATURES

• Output #1: beat pulses.
• Output #2: BPM (beat-per-minute) data.
• Output #3: Power-level for each of 8 sub-bands of the music signal.
• Output #4: Silence detection (to stop BT when music stops).
• Fast beat tracking at music start and music end.
• Input format: 16 bit/sample linear PCM, 8-kHz sample rate.