Guide
How Cadencia works on your phone.
What Cadencia does
Import a song, lock tempo and beat 1, then mark sections and phrases yourself. The app shows a live count in sync with the music and lets you jump to any part. Practice mode loops sections and can slow the track down.
Adding songs
Tap Import in the library, share or open an audio file with Cadencia, or copy files into the Inbox folder on a connected iPhone. New Inbox files import when you open the app.
Preparing audio files
Cadencia copies files into the library without re-encoding when it can. Best path: constant-bitrate MP3 or M4A with BPM in the tags. Variable-bitrate MP3, OGG, and some AAC files may convert before analysis. Beat detection still runs for every song.
Beat detection and calibration
Cadencia finds beats and an estimated BPM. On calibration, adjust BPM, shift beat 1, and fine-tune if needed. Tap on 1 is a quick way to set tempo and where the count starts.
How songs are structured
Beats are the pulse. Blocks are short slices (usually 8 counts, sometimes 4 for a phrase break). Phrases group blocks. Sections are the big labeled parts of the song. Work large to small: tempo and beat 1, then sections, then phrases and blocks.
Editing the structure
Long-press a block to split, merge, mark phrase breaks, accents, breaks (sudden holes in the music), or start a new section. Undo and redo are available while you edit.
Practice mode
Switch to Practice to loop part of the song and change speed. Long-press a block to set loop in or out. Loop and speed are saved per song.
Section types
Section labels differ by dance style. Open yours for short descriptions that match the app picker.