Arena of the Unwell
30s preview
- BPM
- 138
- Open Key
- 9d
- Energy
- 95/100
- Pop
- 0/100
- Length
- 5:11
- Released
- 2012
- Album
- Smoke Machine
- Genre
- Techno
- Label
- Theory Recordings
- Loudness
- -6.9 dB
- Dynamics
- 10.0 dB
- ISRC
- NLMH61200003
Key, BPM and audio features: model-based audio analysis · how we measure · catalogue updated July 2026
At 138 BPM in A♭ major (4B), Arena of the Unwell is a driving up-tempo techno production. The feel is dark and driving. The mix is almost entirely instrumental. Its spectrum is weighted to the sub and kick, with a heavy low end. A 2012 production that still circulates in sets. More underground than 99% of Ben Sims's catalogue. In a set it works best as a peak-time weapon.
- Tempo:
- faster than 94% of Ben Sims's catalogue
- Energy:
- hotter than 76% of Ben Sims's catalogue
Sonic profile
Frequency spectrum
amplitude · bass → treble
- 37%
- Low
- 30-130 Hz
- 26%
- Low-mid
- 130-570 Hz
- 20%
- Upper-mid
- 570 Hz-2.5 kHz
- 17%
- High
- 2.5-11 kHz
FAQ
What key is Arena of the Unwell in?
Arena of the Unwell by Ben Sims is in A♭ major, or 4B on the Camelot wheel.
What BPM is Arena of the Unwell?
Arena of the Unwell runs at 138 BPM, a driving up-tempo track.
What mixes well with Arena of the Unwell?
From 4B it blends harmonically with 5B, 4A, 3B. Moving to 5B lifts the energy a step.
Is Arena of the Unwell good for peak time?
With energy 95 out of 100 at 138 BPM, it works best as a peak-time weapon.
Mixes harmonically
4B → 3B · 5B · 4AFrom 4B, 5B (E♭ major) lifts the energy a step; 4A (F minor) settles into the relative minor; 3B (D♭ major) cools the energy down a step.
How to mix it
In 4B at 138 BPM: 5B (E♭ major) — move to 5B to push the floor harder; 4A (F minor) — switch to 4A for a mood change without losing the groove; 3B (D♭ major) — drop to 3B to bring the room down gently.
Pitch range at ±6%: 130-146 BPM — anything in that window beatmatches without sounding stretched.
Key on the fader: without key lock (Master Tempo on CDJs), above roughly +5% it plays a semitone higher, so treat it as 11B rather than 4B; below -5% it reads as 9B. With key lock on, it stays 4B across the whole range.
Programming: a peak-time weapon — save it for the main stretch (energy 95/100).
Similar tempo
Within ±3 BPM of 138 — beatmatch without a big tempo pull.
More techno
More from Ben Sims
Full profile
Other recommendations
Beyond strict key and genre matches: tracks that still sit in beatmatch range of 138 BPM with a compatible energy and groove — candidates for a key jump or a genre crossover.
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