Side Effect
30s preview
- BPM
- 170
- Half-time
- 85
- Open Key
- 8d
- Energy
- 58/100
- Pop
- 3/100
- Length
- 8:01
- Released
- 2005
- Genre
- Drum N Bass
- Loudness
- -11.3 dB
- Dynamics
- 17.6 dB
- ISRC
- GBTKW0590517
Key, BPM and audio features: model-based audio analysis · how we measure · catalogue updated July 2026
At 170 BPM in D♭ major (3B), Side Effect is a very fast drum n bass production. The mix is almost entirely instrumental. Its spectrum is centred in the low-mids, warm and bass-forward. The master keeps real dynamic headroom. The master keeps unusual dynamic range for club music (crest 18 dB). A 2005 production that still circulates in sets. Calmer than 95% of Optical's catalogue. In a set it works best as a high-intensity peak cut.
- Low end:
- more bass-heavy than 82% of Optical's catalogue
- Brightness:
- darker than 76% of Optical's catalogue
Sonic profile
Frequency spectrum
amplitude · bass → treble
- 33%
- Low
- 30-130 Hz
- 35%
- Low-mid
- 130-570 Hz
- 27%
- Upper-mid
- 570 Hz-2.5 kHz
- 5%
- High
- 2.5-11 kHz
FAQ
What key is Side Effect in?
Side Effect by Optical is in D♭ major, or 3B on the Camelot wheel.
What BPM is Side Effect?
Side Effect runs at 170 BPM, a very fast track.
What mixes well with Side Effect?
From 3B it blends harmonically with 4B, 3A, 2B. Moving to 4B lifts the energy a step.
Is Side Effect good for peak time?
With energy 58 out of 100 at 170 BPM, it works best as a high-intensity peak cut.
Mixes harmonically
3B → 2B · 4B · 3AFrom 3B, 4B (A♭ major) lifts the energy a step; 3A (B♭ minor) settles into the relative minor; 2B (F♯ major) cools the energy down a step.
How to mix it
In 3B at 170 BPM: 4B (A♭ major) — move to 4B to push the floor harder; 3A (B♭ minor) — switch to 3A for a mood change without losing the groove; 2B (F♯ major) — drop to 2B to bring the room down gently.
Pitch range at ±6%: 160-180 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 10B rather than 3B; below -5% it reads as 8B. With key lock on, it stays 3B across the whole range.
Programming: a high-intensity peak cut.
Similar tempo
Within ±3 BPM of 170 — beatmatch without a big tempo pull.
More drum n bass
More from Optical
Full profile
Other recommendations
Beyond strict key and genre matches: tracks that still sit in beatmatch range of 170 BPM with a compatible energy and groove — candidates for a key jump or a genre crossover.
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