How to Mix Music for Step Aerobics

Step aerobics is one option if you're looking to burn calories and have a little fun at the same time. A step aerobics class incorporates aerobic movements performed on a small step; the addition of the step increases the intensity of the workout by forcing you to use more muscles. One of the key ingredients of any step aerobics workout is music; if you can't find the exact track you want, you always have the option of editing -- or "mixing" -- the music yourself.

Things You'll Need

  • Music editing software
  • Music in MP3 format (licensed)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a song or a combination of songs to mix. When selecting music for step aerobics, you are looking for two key elements: speed and beat. The website ShapeFit recommends you select music with 120 to 127 beats per minute (BPM). Since the step combinations are performed in time with the beat of the music, this fast tempo ensures a pace that will get your heart pumping.

    • 2

      Download music editing software, such as Audacity or MEF, to your computer, if you don't already have a program installed. Follow the instructions on the software website for specific download directions.

    • 3

      Upload the songs you chose in Step 1 to the music editing software you downloaded in Step 2.

    • 4

      Begin editing your selected songs. This is where you can have fun and express your creativity, as there is no wrong way to mix your songs. First, open the audio file that contains the desired beat. Opening the selected song will place it on a time line; this will be the actual track you can edit. If neither of your selected songs has the right beat (120 to 127 beats per minute), use one of the editing tools to alter it. In MEF, this tool is labeled "Time and Pitch." Clicking on this tool -- located in the effects box on the left side of the screen -- will allow you to speed up or slow down a song to a specified number of beats per minute.

    • 5

      Overlay multiple songs onto one track. To do this, look for an editing option that says "Add additional audio layer" or something similar; this will enable you to upload multiple songs without erasing the edits you've already made to other music on that track. Audacity allows users to record audio onto 16 channels at once, meaning you'll have the ability to layer 16 different pieces of music onto a single track.

    • 6

      Fade different songs in and out throughout the track. Do this by simply increasing the audio for one song while decreasing the audio level for another. Look for an editing tool that says "Edit volume" or something similar.

    • 7

      Don't be afraid to experiment; try combining songs you might not think would work together. You can also try mixing songs with different beats. For example, mixing a song with a standard step aerobics pace of 120 to 127 beats per minute with a "super step aerobics" song with beats of 126 to 138 per minute can really increase the cardio intensity of your workout.

    • 8

      Look for opportunities to sync the music with the step choreography. For example, if you know there is a high-kicks sequence eight measures into the routine, look for music that will accentuate the kicks and edit it into the track at that point.