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Making Interval Music
Apr. 10th, 2011 05:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
daedalaI already knew how to limit song lengths in iTunes (I've made a few ringtones that way), but I didn't think about using the technique for intervals until I saw someone link to this post. It's pretty easy.
A few notes:
Rather than burning a CD, you can also right-click each shortened song and select "Create mp3 version." This works fine on songs that are already mp3s. (If the option isn't available, that's because iTunes can only convert one at a time.) Then find your new creation, which will have the same id3 tags as the original. You can recognize yours by the short length of the song. Rename it, e.g. "Folk Bloodbath Interval."
If use a playlist, iTunes will keep the songs in the order you specify. If you turn your intervals into an album instead (I'm weird and hate playlist clutter), they will be in disc order, then track order. If your album is in some crazy wacky order on your iDevice, make sure the tracks are in order and they all say "disc # 1 of 1."
If you're doing something that's fast/slow/fast/slow, rather than changing exercises, you don't really need the "fill" music described in the post -- I just used fast songs for the one minute work periods and slower songs for the two minute recovery period.
I just finished my first one, and while the transitions aren't perfect or anything, it does the job of cueing me for interval changes and giving my mind something to occupy itself. They also work great for timing planks and cobras, where for me a big part of the problem is spaciness/boredom.
(By the way, murder ballads make excellent workout music. Just sayin'.)
A few notes:
Rather than burning a CD, you can also right-click each shortened song and select "Create mp3 version." This works fine on songs that are already mp3s. (If the option isn't available, that's because iTunes can only convert one at a time.) Then find your new creation, which will have the same id3 tags as the original. You can recognize yours by the short length of the song. Rename it, e.g. "Folk Bloodbath Interval."
If use a playlist, iTunes will keep the songs in the order you specify. If you turn your intervals into an album instead (I'm weird and hate playlist clutter), they will be in disc order, then track order. If your album is in some crazy wacky order on your iDevice, make sure the tracks are in order and they all say "disc # 1 of 1."
If you're doing something that's fast/slow/fast/slow, rather than changing exercises, you don't really need the "fill" music described in the post -- I just used fast songs for the one minute work periods and slower songs for the two minute recovery period.
I just finished my first one, and while the transitions aren't perfect or anything, it does the job of cueing me for interval changes and giving my mind something to occupy itself. They also work great for timing planks and cobras, where for me a big part of the problem is spaciness/boredom.
(By the way, murder ballads make excellent workout music. Just sayin'.)
