RecordBeater - Music matching your steps

RecordBeater detects your running rhythm and plays music with a matching rhythm. Experience the feeling of running "in the zone" - when the beats from the music matches your cadence!

RecordBeater is just updated with a new design, and from the same release it is now also free. Enjoy running with RecordBeater.

Top features

• Automatically synchronize your music to your running steps
• Pace yourself with faster music
• Interval training and speed play with fast music
• Race against your own records!
• Voice feedback during workouts 
• Auto start. Run and the timer will start.
• Running programs for 5K, 10K and 1/2 marathon training
• Heart rate monitoring: Music matching your target zone
• And more...

The purpose of RecordBeater is to motivate you to run faster by running to music matching your steps. Available on the Android Market.

Running music
Looking for good running music? Read here!

User reviews

• Makes pacing yourself easy. Never realised the effect high paced music has on my ability to push myself. (Rikke Salbøl)
• I am new at running, but this app has motivated me getting started. Super cool with bpm features. (Brisling)
• Super program incredibly easy. (handsen.lund)  
• I paid for CardioTrainer, i paid for Runkeeper. One run with @recordbeater made me realize i wasted my money. (...) (RecordBeater) is so many levels above what's out there now (WhoHasTheRuns)
• Recordbeater (...) automatically ajusts the music so it follows your pace. A quite brilliant feature, so you don't need to fiddle with the phone while you are running. (...) At our test run Recordbeater worked almost flawlessly (Anders Brandtoft)

Find music for RecordBeater

RecordBeater will play the music stored on your phone. You can workout to your own existing music - or you can download free workout mixes.

Find new music
A normal running pace is typically 150-180 steps pr min. Your music must have the same or the half number of beats pr min (BPM) to match your run (That is 75-90 and 150-180 BPM). If you don't have music at this pace check out music libraries like:

• Sportunes
• Buy music for in all BPM special produced for running
• Top 50 running songs
• List of good rock running music
• 100 best workout songs
• List of good running music
• JogTunes
• BPM index of running music by genre
• BPM4DJs
• BPM index of music
• Your Fitness Music
• BPM index of fitness music
• DJ BPM Studio 
• BPM  index of music
• 5-For-Sports
• BPM index of sport music

Or try these fixed BPM workout music podcasts:

• Steve Boyett,
• Non stop house, dance, trance mixes
• 130 - 180 BPM in 1 BPM resolution. 
• Go for the fixed BPM mixes. 
• Deekron "The Fitness DJ"
• High energy non-stop dance music mixes 
• 130 - 180 BPM in 5 BPM resolution.
• Go for the fixed BPM mixes.
• Step to the Beat
• Non stop dance music mixes
• 122 - 165 BPM in 2-5 BPM resolution.
• Go for the fixed BPM mixes.

Running programs

In RecordBeater you can find a running program module. In this module you will find running programs for:

From couch to 5 km (0 km to 5 km) in 8 weeks.
    Run your first 5 km in 8 weeks. From 0 km to 5 km. For beginning runners who are not active. 
From 0 to 10 km in 12 weeks.
    Run your first 10 km in 12 weeks. For beginning runners who are active.
From 10 km to 1/2 marathon in 12 weeks.
    Run your first 1/2 marathon in 12 weeks. For runners already running 10 km and running 3 times/week.
Run your fastest 5 km in 12 weeks. 
    Run your fastest 5 km in 12 weeks. For runners already running 5-10 km and running 2-3 times/week.
Run your fastest 10 km in 12 weeks.
    Run your fastest 10 km in 12 weeks. For runners already running 5-10 km and running 2-3 times/week.
Run your fastest 1/2 marathon in 16 weeks. 
    Run your fastest 1/2 marathon in 16 weeks. For runners already running 1/2 marathon and running 3-4 times/week.

With the running program module in RecordBeater you can try several different types of running each of which is all supported with unique music features and GPS support. Read more about the types and the music support below:

Press play for music match-

ing your cadence. Suitable

for ordinary, tempo and

target sessions.

Ordinary run
Run in a slow pace where you are able to have a conversation with a running partner.
Music tip: After finding a suitable pace you can use the ordinary play-button to play music matching your cadence.

Tempo run / race at a competition
Run with a constant fast pace where you only are able to give short comments a running partner.
Music tip: After finding a suitable pace you can use the ordinary play-button to play music matching your cadence. You can also go into Settings and fix the BPM of the music to 5 BPM faster than your ordinary cadence.

Run at target-pace
Set your self the target pace you want to be able to hold for a complete run. If you want to run 10 km in 50 min or 5 km in 25 min, then your target pace is 5 min/km.
Music tip: After finding a suitable pace you can use the ordinary play-button to play music matching your cadence. Or you can go into Settings and fix the BPM of the music to 5 BPM faster than your ordinary cadence.

Pace yourself with faster music.

Suitable for progressive run

and for a strong finish.

Progressive run
Start with a slow jog and continue to increase your pace throughout your run. The last km should be hard/in high pace. After a progressive run you should to jog 2 km to loosen your legs.
Music tip: Start slow and then use the pace-button to play music a bit faster than your current cadence. After each music track a new will follow again a bit faster than your current cadence. You can specify how much faster the music will be in Settings - look for the 'Extra pace tempo' setting.

Fartlek
Fartlek means "speed play". Run fast in the intervals and run slow in the breaks. Your interval pace should be faster than your target pace and slower than in interval. In RecordBeater you can specify distance and duration based Fartlek in the Interval module.
Music tip: Run to music 5-10 BPM faster than your ordinary running cadence in the intervals and 0-5 BPM slower in the breaks. (165-170 BPM in the intervals and 155-160 BPM in the breaks if you normally are running 160 BPM).

For music during fartlek, 

interval training and a Cooper

test you can specify a fixed

fast tempo.

Interval training
Run fast in the intervals and stand still or walk in the breaks. Your pace in all the intervals should be the same. Your pace should be faster than in Fartlek.
A good warm up and cool down session is important.
Your legs will hurt a bit the day after your interval workout. Rest for at least 1 day after an interval session.
Music tip: Run to music 10-15 BPM faster than your ordinary running cadence. (170-175 BPM if you normally are running 160 BPM).

Cooper test
This is a test of your fitness. In a Cooper test you should run as far a you can within 12 minutes. Use the interval module for this test, and set up a 12 min interval. Your distance is measured by the GPS. Write down your result (the distance) for future reference.
A good warm up and cool down session is important. Rest for 2 days after a Cooper test (1 day if you are experienced).
Music tip: Run to music 5-10 BPM faster than your ordinary running cadence. (165-170 BPM if you normally are running 160 BPM).

Heart rate monitors

With RecordBeater and a heart rate monitor from Zephyr you can get RecordBeater to pace you into a target heart rate training zone by playing faster or slower music.

RecordBeater supports the Zephyr Bluetooth Heart rate monitor. You need Android OS version 2.0 or newer to connect to this Bluetooth device with RecordBeater.

Follow this guide to pair your HxM device with your phone: Zephyr Android HxM Tips.
When your HxM device is paired with your phone then start RecordBeater and enter the settings window. Enable "Heart rate monitor" and go into the Workout module. If your heart rate is shown on the "Stats" tab, then your HxM is correct connected. If you have problems return to the guide Zephyr Android HxM Tips.

Under Settings in RecordBeater you can also specify your min and max heart rate.
During a workout you can see your heart rate in percent of your min and max heart rate.

If you check "Match music to pulse zone" and specify your target training zone with a min and max percent, then RecordBeater will record your heart rate and compare it to your target heart rate zone. It you are outside your target zone the app will adjust the music up or down in tempo to guide you into your target zone. This is all done automatically during your workout. All you have to do is run and follow the beat of the music.

Privacy Policy

We do not store individual data about specific users.

RecordBeater Pro released

We just released "RecordBeater Pro" to Android Market.
RecordBeater Pro is an unlimited version of RecordBeater.

Check out all the features of RecordBeater.

Right now you can download 2 versions of RecordBeater:

• RecordBeater: A full but time limited version of RecordBeater which will expire by the end of 2010.
• RecordBeater Pro: An unlimited version of RecordBeater for only 19,95DKK (about 2.7 EURO or 3.68 USD). This is a special price for 2010.

At the moment the features of the free and full version of RecordBeater are the same - except for the time limitation.

Automatically BPM detection of your songs

With the newest feature of RecordBeater it is now easier getting started working out to your own music.
RecordBeater now integrated with EchoNest to automatically determine the BPM of your existing songs.

If you music are not in the EchoNest library you can still analyse it with tools like MixMeister BpmAnalyzer.

Supported devices

RecordBeater is just tested and found working at Samsung Galaxy, Sony Ericson Xperia X10 mini pro and HTC Wildfire.

The list of tested and supported devices now includes:

• Google Nexus One
• HTC Desire
• HTC Hero
• HTC Legend
• HTC Tattoo
• HTC T-Mobile G1
• HTC Wildfire
• Samsung Galaxy
• Sony Ericson Xperia X10 mini pro

RecordBeater will work on Android v1.5 and higher.

Support for miles

RecordBeater is just updated. With the newest release are miles supported.

Happy running in the States :-)

The process to set up your music in RecordBeater are also simplified and better error handling is included.

Troubleshooting: Cadence detection

If you experience problems with the cadence detection in RecordBeater please check the following:


Does the music not change to your new pace? RecordBeater will not change the played music track just because you chance your cadence. RecordBeater will only change the music when your track is played to the end - or if you have heard the same track five minutes and your cadence changes significant. The new track will match your current cadence at the time the track starts. You can always force RecordBeater to start a new track matching your current pace by pressing the play button. If you want the music to change every time you change your cadence you can change the "cadence tolerance" and "minimum playtime for each track" in Settings.

Are you tracking a workout? RecordBeater are only listening for steps when you are tracking a workout. In this way the steps/min result from your last workout are still displayed on the music tab - ready for your next workout. Activate the GPS on your phone and press "Go!" on the Workout module in RecordBeater to start the cadence-detection in RecordBeater.

Are you running? The step-detection of RecordBeater are optimized to runners. So it will only detect cadences between 125 and 210 steps/min - it should cover almost all medium to long distance runners.

Do you hold the phone in your hand or on your arm? The cadence
is calculated based on sensor input form the motion sensor in your phone. You need to expose your phone to a forward/backward movement synchronized to your steps - e.g. by holding your phone in your hand. It should not be placed in a lose pocket.
The cadence are only calculated once or twice every minute and the latest result are displayed on the music tab to the left of the green play-button (e.g. "Play AAA bpm", where AAA is your cadence). The displayed cadence is the most dominate cadence.

Have you selected BeatFit? You can set up RecordBeater to detect your cadence

automatically or to act as if you where running at a fixed cadence. Make your choice in Settings > Cadence-music match > Cadence detection. If RecordBeater automatically should detect your cadence you should select "BeatFit".

Is no music played? When you press play in RecordBeater, the program will select a music track from the folder you specified in Settings. Your tracks need to be bpm-analyzed. The fixed bpm podcasts by Steve Boyett are already bpm-analysed. But if you want to use your existing music you might want to read this guide: Analyse your own music.

Is the music not matching your pace/cadence? If RecordBeater can not find a track with a bpm perfectly matching your cadence, then it will select a second best match.

Is the music not matching each of your steps? The music can not match each and every of your steps. But if you have some good workout music with a constant fixed rhythm (bpm) and the music is bpm-analysed then RecordBeater can select and play music with as many beats per minute as you have running steps per minute. In this way you can easily match your running steps to the beat of the music.

Do you still have problems? If you still have problems with the music part of RecordBeater after you have followed this guide, then RecordBeater might not support your phone. If so - please contact me (oleslir-sillyA-gmail-dot-com).

Meet me in Trifork Podcast (danish only)

I gave an interview to Mogens Heller Grabe about Android development and the creation of RecordBeater. Listen to it in Trifork Podcast.

It is a technical talk for software developers. We are talking about the Android platform - potentials and challenges. And how the Android platform are utilized in RecordBeater.

The interview are in danish only. There will be 3 episodes, where the first is just released. The second and third are released in the next weeks.

Enjoy

Download workout music

For the best possibly utilization of RecordBeater you need to (1) determine your running rhythm and then (2) download podcasts to your Android phone in a pace near to your running rhythm.

We know of several DJs making free workout music mixes perfect for RecordBeater. Go for the fixed BPM mixes for beat utilization in RecordBeater.

• Steve Boyett,
• 130 - 180 BPM in 1 BPM resolution. 
• Step to the Beat
• 122 - 165 BPM in 2-5 BPM resolution.
• Deekron "The Fitness DJ" 
• 130 - 180 BPM in 5 BPM resolution.

Your steps/min are shown here.

1: Determine your running rhythm:

• Verify that the GPS is turned on. Press GO on the Stats tab. This will start the cadence detection. Run for some minutes with your phone in your hand. Your cadence (steps/min rhythm) is now displayed on the Music tab as shown in the screen-shot.
• Or: Run for some minutes, and then count your steps for exactly 60 seconds.

2: Download music:

1. On your computer:  
• Go to the site of the fixed bpm podcast by Steve Boyett on a computer.
• Download some of the podcasts with a bpm around your workout rhythm. It is essential that you download the fixed bpm podcasts - not the interval podcasts. So if you are running 165 steps/min download some podcasts from say 155 to 175 bpm in steps of 2-3 bpm.
• Connect your phone to the computer with the USB cable.
2. On your phone: 
• Specify that you want to copy files between your computer and your phone.
3. On your computer: 
• Copy your music to a folder on the SD Card of your phone.
• Disconnect your phone from the computer.
4. On your phone
• (Optional) Specify your music folder in Settings in RecordBeater: Settings > Music folder > Select your folder with running music.

That's it.
Enjoy running with RecordBeater

BeatFit: Auto detection of steps/min

BeatFit is what makes RecordBeater unique to other mobile GPS tracking applications. It is a unique technique to detect your steps/min rhythm when you are running.

Running to music exactly matching your steps makes it easier to maintain a constant pace. And it is scientifically show that working out to synchronised music decreases your need for oxygen by 7% compared to working out to arbitrary music [1].

Running to synchronised music helps you to get a flow in your workout. And you can easily hit "the zone" where everything is everything is working like a well-oiled machine. Your steps, your air flow and the music - all synchronised!

BeatFit: Steps-per-min detection in RecordBeater
Your steps/min is detected by the accelerometer in the smart phone. Your steps/min rythm is calculated about one time each minute. For this calculation to work you need to expose your mobile phone to a periodically forward/backward movement synchronised with your steps. This is typically done by holding your phone in your hand or attaching it to your arm with an armband.

If you want to store your phone in a floating pocket while running the auto detection might not work properly. Instead you can tell RecordBeater how many steps you are taking per minute. You can always detect your steps/min manually by counting steps in one minute while running. Use the Settings ("Cadence-music match" > "Cadence detection" > "Fixed steps/min") to enter your fixed workout rhythm.


[1] C Karageorghis, D. Priest: Music in Sport and Exercise: An Update on Research and Application, Brunel University, 2008

Release!

RecordBeater can now be downloaded from Android Marked (free).
Download it today!

RecordBeater is still in beta. You can download a beta version from Android Market today. It will expire with the end of 2010. At that time you can download the app. again.

RecordBeater now supports Twitter

With RecordBeater you can now impress your friends by sharing your workout on Twitter.

This feature is a result of the feedback from the test team :-)
Thanks

Have fun with this new feature.

Beta testing in progress

RecordBeater are still under beta testing. Do you want to join the test? Then send me an email at oleslir-sillyA-gmail-dot-com.

I think RecordBeater will soon be ready for Android Market.

Tested at HTC Tattoo

RecordBeater is now tested at HTC Tattoo. Everything seems to work fine except the feature that allow skipping 3 minutes of the music stream. This is a bug in the Android platform version 1.6 to 2.1. Sorry.

Tested at HTC Legend

I have just tested RecordBeater on an HTC Legend. Everything works just fine :-)
And the design is improved to be even more cool :-D

Ready for beta testing

RecordBeater is now ready for beta testing.

RecordBeater is already tested on HTC Hero and HTC G1. The program is written for Hero, where everything is working. The mobile network connection at the G1 phone seems to be to slow for music streaming outsite of the cities... but it is working on Wifi - the rest of the features are working fine at G1.

Contact me (oleslir-sillyA-gmail-dot-com) if you want to be a beta tester of RecordBeater.

RecordBeater has now a Fanpage at Facebook

Join the Fanpage.