Automatic tempo detection is a useful starting point, but it should not be treated as the final answer. The most common mismatch is not a random error: one tool may report 90 BPM while another reports 180 BPM because both are following valid levels of the same pulse.
To check the tempo, set a metronome to the detected value and listen for drift over at least thirty seconds. If the clicks line up with every second strong beat, try doubling the number. If the metronome feels too busy, try half-time. Live recordings and tracks with tempo changes need extra care because one number can only describe part of the performance.
I also compare the exact audio file I plan to use, rather than relying on a database entry for a song title. A BPM finder can analyze that recording and provide an initial tempo, key, and Camelot code, but the result is most useful when paired with listening.
For key, play the suggested tonic and basic chord on an instrument or in a DAW. If the track repeatedly resolves somewhere else, test the relative major or minor and nearby keys. Finally, write down the file version with the result. A radio edit, live take, or remix may differ from the original, and those details prevent confusion later.
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