Tempo Difference
Compare two tempos and the pitch ratio needed to go between them.
About Tempo Difference
The speed ratio between two tempos also reveals the pitch change a varispeed produces when the two are linked. Matching two songs for a DJ mix means knowing both the tempo gap and the pitch shift that bridging it causes.
Formula
Tempo Difference
Ratio = B-BPM / A-BPM; pitch = 12 x log2(ratio)
- ratio
- How many times faster tempo B is than tempo A
Worked example
With the default values below, Tempo Difference returns Tempo Difference of 20.00%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Tempo Aaccepts 20–300 BPM
- 100 BPM
- Tempo Baccepts 20–300 BPM
- 120 BPM
Results
- Tempo Difference
- 20.00%
- Speed Ratio
- 1.2000
- Pitch Shift
- 3.16 st
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Tempo Difference
- 3Tempo Difference= 20.00
- 4Speed Ratio= 1.2000
- 5Pitch Shift= 3.16 st
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Tempo Difference calculated?
Ratio = B-BPM / A-BPM; pitch = 12 x log2(ratio) The speed ratio between two tempos also reveals the pitch change a varispeed produces when the two are linked.
Why does Tempo Difference matter?
Matching two songs for a DJ mix means knowing both the tempo gap and the pitch shift that bridging it causes.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 2 inputs: Tempo A, Tempo B. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.