BPM Readings
ok, i was wondering if there is a good program that has the most accurate BPM reading. i tried using traktor scratch pro to analyze for BPM but they were waaaaaaay off. so i relied on Virtual DJ and BPMDatabase.com. I spin mostly hip hop. any help will be appreciated. 
There are other applications that can handle finding BPM, but Traktor’s been working fine for me. Most of the time its calculation is correct or close to it, but when it’s wrong a quick beatgrid adjustment gives the correct figure.
Mixed In Key will evaluate BPM, http://www.mixedinkey.com/
There was also a recent article on the front page that suggested Rapid Evolution as a free alternative. I’ve not tried it, but you can find it at http://www.mixshare.com/wiki/doku.php?id=installation
between traktor, mixed in key and your own ears you should be fine. Remember sometimes in traktor the bpms get shown as being HALF the actual bpm, in that case go to the grid view and change it to x2 
happens in mixed in key as well actually.
Change the ranges that the bpm detects in traktor to get a more accurate tempo detection, I personally think trakors bpm detection is fine - its good at getting the ballpark figure so all i need to do is some minor adjustments.
Also it doesnt matter what program your using you need to make adjustments- stick with Trakors inbuilt bpm detection and learn how to use it efficently.
i tried using traktors bpm but sometimes their really off. but thanks i will take those two programs into consideration.
If the BPM is detected incorrectly, just use the TAP function for a few seconds and you’ll be in the ballpark (assuming you are like me and can never seem to get it right on with tapping). Then a quick fine tune and your set.
I used to have so many programs to do all these little things. For example, Mixed in Key to find the key, Platinum Notes to fix the sound, Jaikoz to fix the tags, MediaMonkey to rip my CDs, Traktor for playing the tunes. What I found was that I had to put so much time into getting everything ready, that I didn’t feel like doing any actual DJ’ing afterwards.
Now, I pretty much just use Traktor and MediaMonkey. I will use Platinum Notes if the sound is really bad (i.e. a lot of clipping or distortion) or if I have a lot of tracks (so I can just do them all at the same time). I rarely use MiK anymore (I can mix in key with my ears just fine thanks), and Jaikoz now gets no love (I just make sure everything is tagged right from the get go).
I also used to have all these cue-points and markers all over my tracks so I knew exactly what was going to happen and when. Now, not so much, usually just the grid marker and the load marker with a couple of key cue points. I these marks were taking the fluidity out of my mixing (i.e. I would always do the same things since I knew exactly when to do them). Now it’s better.
Honestly man, do like Bento said, reduce the BPM range in Traktor and stick with that one. Using other programs really only adds more hassle and mixed in key can be very very slow especially if you’re analysing the key of the track aswell. A lot of the time for me Traktor has the correct BPM but the grid in the wrong place so it’s a simple matter of changing that.
If all else fails, break out your stopwatch and count it yourself, it’s not hard in the slightest. Start the track somewhere there is a consistent beat, count how many beats in 30 seconds (or 15 if you like) and then multiply by 2. You can then type that value into the BPM box in Traktor. Make any necessary adjustments with the grid buttons and it should be perfect. Beats opening another program and waiting for that to do it for you!
i have my bpms on traktor set to 80 to 180 bpms, so anything above or under I have to manually adjust. The tracks that are off on traktor I usually have to either x2 or /2 to get the correct bpm. Traktor is pretty good at detecting the correct bpm but most of the time you have to make those fine adjustments.
http://www.mixmeister.com/bpmanalyzer/bpmanalyzer.asp
free and will write info to tags
@charo, nothing beats a free beats per min program (bad joke sorry)
is BPM analyzer pretty accurate?
@zarazuat its good, but not dead on
is it more accurate than virtual dj
i havent used vdj in years, so i cant comment on it.
i am fairly sure MIK analyzes tempo even if you dont have it shown in the library.
never trust any program do your beatmatching. always preview it, make sure it is on time. this is why learning to beatmatch by ear is so important.
Mixmeister BPM analyzer is always exactly, a lot better than everything else and it’s free.