October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard has been added to the wiki.

Difference between revisions of "Tempo"

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__TOC__
 
__TOC__
=Tempo menu=
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=Tempo button=
  
When tapping the Tempo button on the processor hardware or Tempo switch, the Tempo menu appears on the hardware GUI. It will disappear after a few seconds. Some devices let you specify how long it stays on-screen, which is configured in the Global menu.
+
When tapping the Tempo button on the device, the Tempo menu appears on the hardware display.
  
On the Axe-Fx III, FM9, and FM3, the Tempo button is also a shortcut to the Controllers menu.
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=Tap tempo=
  
=Global or per preset=
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The [[Setup menu]] lets you specify how tapping tempo works:
  
You can specify this in the Tempo menu ("Tempo To Use") if you want the set tempo to apply to all presets ("Global") or per preset ("Preset").
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; '''Average''' : Averages the tempo to the last 10 taps. Average is usually a wise choice if you can't get the first taps right, and is the default setting.
  
=Channels=
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; '''Last Two''' : Uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. This acts faster but is also less precise.
  
The Controllers block in firmware Ares and later has 4 channels. This means that presets can have 4 different tempos. This allows setting separate tempos per scene.
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Tap Tempo needs at least two taps to calculate.
  
=Tap tempo calculation=
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See the <q>[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/tap-tempo-issues.151565 Tap tempo issues]</q> discussion for more information.
  
The Global menu lets you specify how Tap Tempo works:
+
=Tempo per preset or global=
  
'''Average''' — averages the tempo to the last 10 taps. Usually a wise choice if you can't get the first taps right, and the default setting.
+
You can specify whether you want to the tempo to apply to all presets (global) or per preset.
  
'''Last Two''' — uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. Acts faster but also less precise.
+
=Tempo per channel or scene=
  
Tap Tempo needs at least two taps to calculate.
+
Tempo is part of the [[Controllers_and_modifiers|Controllers block]]. On the Axe-Fx III, FM3 and FM9, the Controllers block has 4 channels. This means that a preset can have 4 different tempos, which allows setting separate tempos per scene.
  
See the [https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/tap-tempo-issues.151565 Forum discussion] for more information.
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=Sync to tempo=
  
=Syncing effects to tempo=
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You can assign effect parameters such as TIME or RATE to a specific tempo, as 1/4 or 1/8 Dotted, instead of specifying the number of milliseconds. That will make the effect depend on the global or preset tempo. Tapping a different tempo will change the rate of the effect.
  
You can assign effect parameters such as Time or Rate to a specific tempo, like 1/4 or 1/8 Dotted, instead of specifying the number of milliseconds. That will make the effect depend on the global or preset tempo. Tapping a different tempo will change the rate of the effect.
+
Important: After assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect manually!
  
Important: after assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect manually!
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=Metronome=
  
=Accuracy of the tempo LED=
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The Tempo menu contains a metronome. Read this: [[Metronome]].
  
<blockquote>"The tempo LED is handled by a low-priority thread so it isn't rock solid and the higher the CPU usage the less solid it will be." [https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/does-the-tempo-led-actually-flash-in-time.51049/#post-658471] </blockquote>
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=Remote control=
  
=Metronome=
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==Onboard switch==
 +
 
 +
Read the [[Owners_Manuals|Owners manual]] of the product.
  
The Tempo menu contains a metronome. Read this: [[Metronome]]
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==FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers==
  
=Remote control=
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The [[FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers]] have a dedicated Tempo action.
  
==Footswitch==
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==External switch==
  
Scroll to the Tempo CC in the [[I/O menu]] and hit Enter. Click the switch on the footswitch that you want to assign the Tuner to.
+
Scroll to the Tempo CC in the Setup menu and hit Enter. Click the switch on the footswitch that you want to assign the Tuner to.
  
Or configure it manually by assigning the Tuner MIDI CC to a switch on a MIDI controller.
+
Or configure it manually by assigning the Tuner MIDI CC to a switch on a MIDI controller. The default MIDI CC for the Tuner is 14 on the Axe-Fx II, AX8, and FX8. Keep it like this to avoid issues. The Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3 and VP4 let you set the Tuner CC manually in the Setup menu.
  
==MIDI CC==
+
Read <q>[[Expression pedals and external switches]]</q> for more information.
  
The default MIDI CC for the Tuner is 14 on the Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8. Keep it like this to avoid issues.
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==MIDI Clock==
  
The Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3 let you set the Tuner CC manually in the [[I/O menu]].
+
Read <q>[[MIDI#MIDI_Clock|MIDI Clock]]</q> for more information.
  
==MFC-101==
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==DAW==
  
The [[MFC-101 MIDI foot controller]] has a dedicated Tempo command for the Axe-Fx II, when it's running in Axe-Fx Mode.
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<blockquote>
 +
'''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES'''
 +
<HR>
  
==FC controllers==
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<blockquote>
 +
[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/bug-audible-glitch-when-using-midi-tempo-linked-to-the-delay-time.161248/post-1931097]
 +
It all depends on the accuracy of your DAW. If I set the BPM to 130 and the accuracy is 5ms it will occasionally go to 131 BPM on my system here. If I lower the accuracy to 2ms then it doesn't do that. And this is as would be expected. 130 BPM is 2.167 beats per second. MIDI Clock is 24 messages per beat. So that's 52 messages per second or a message every 19.2 ms. 129 BPM translates to 19.38 messages per second. So your messages need to be accurate down to fractions of a ms.
 +
</blockquote>
 +
</blockquote>
  
The [[FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers]] have a dedicated Tempo command.
+
==MFC-101==
  
==MIDI Clock==
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The MFC-101 MIDI foot controller has a dedicated Tempo command for the Axe-Fx II when it's running in Axe-Fx Mode.
  
Read this: [[MIDI#MIDI_Clock|MIDI Clock]]
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=Tips, tricks and troubleshooting=
  
==DAW==
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==LED accuracy==
  
<blockquote>"It all depends on the accuracy of your DAW. If I set the BPM to 130 and the accuracy is 5ms it will occasionally go to 131 BPM on my system here. If I lower the accuracy to 2ms then it doesn't do that. And this is as would be expected. 130 BPM is 2.167 beats per second. MIDI Clock is 24 messages per beat. So that's 52 messages per second or a message every 19.2 ms. 129 BPM translates to 19.38 messages per second. So your messages need to be accurate down to fractions of a ms." [https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/bug-audible-glitch-when-using-midi-tempo-linked-to-the-delay-time.161248/post-1931097]</blockquote>
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<blockquote>
 +
'''PREVIOUS GENERATIONS'''
 +
<HR>
  
=Tips and tricks=
+
<blockquote>
 +
[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/does-the-tempo-led-actually-flash-in-time.51049/#post-658471]
 +
The tempo LED is handled by a low-priority thread so it isn't rock solid and the higher the CPU usage the less solid it will be.
 +
</blockquote>
 +
</blockquote>
  
 
==Tempo and Beats Per Minute (BPM)==
 
==Tempo and Beats Per Minute (BPM)==
  
The [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Owners_Manuals Owner's Manuals] lists the Tempo values with the BPM equivalents.
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The [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Owners_Manuals Owner's Manuals] list the tempo values with the BPM equivalents.
 
 
==BPM on the Performance Pages==
 
  
If you add Controllers > Tempo as the first control on a Performance Page on the Axe-Fx III, FM9 or FM3, you'll always see the preset's BPM value when switching presets from your foot controller.
+
==Show BPM on Performance page==
  
==Auto-activate a delay by tapping Tempo==
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If you add Controllers > Tempo as the first control on a Performance Page on the Axe-Fx III, FM9, or FM3, you'll always see the preset's BPM value when switching presets from your foot controller.
  
Read this: [[Delay block]]
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==Auto-activate delay by tapping tempo==
  
==SysEx commands for tempo==
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Search the [[Delay block]] page for <q>auto delay</q>.
  
[[media:Axe-Fx-II-XL-Delay-Tempos.pdf |Here's a list of all SysEx commands]] for each tempo setting in the [[Delay block]] in the Axe-Fx II XL.
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==MIDI SysEx==
  
Forum member Kamil Kisiel provides this [http://www.kamilkisiel.net/axefx_tempo.html Tempo SysEx Generator for the Axe-Fx III and FM3].
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These are useful:
 +
* Fractal Audio: <q>[[media:Axe-Fx-II-XL-Delay-Tempos.pdf|List of all SysEx commands for each tempo setting in the Delay block in the Axe-Fx II XL]]</q>
 +
* Kamilkisiel.net: <q>[http://www.kamilkisiel.net/axefx_tempo.html Fractal Audio Tempo SysEx Generator]</q>
  
==Bleed-through tempo noise==
+
==Bleed-through noise==
  
 
Audible bleed-through of the tempo signal can occur if the MIDI cable is not properly shielded. Use high-quality, properly shielded MIDI cables.
 
Audible bleed-through of the tempo signal can occur if the MIDI cable is not properly shielded. Use high-quality, properly shielded MIDI cables.
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[[category:FM3]]
 
[[category:FM3]]
 
[[category:FM9]]
 
[[category:FM9]]
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[[category:VP4]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:FX8]]

Latest revision as of 11:11, 8 November 2024

Tempo button

When tapping the Tempo button on the device, the Tempo menu appears on the hardware display.

Tap tempo

The Setup menu lets you specify how tapping tempo works:

Average 
Averages the tempo to the last 10 taps. Average is usually a wise choice if you can't get the first taps right, and is the default setting.
Last Two 
Uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. This acts faster but is also less precise.

Tap Tempo needs at least two taps to calculate.

See the Tap tempo issues discussion for more information.

Tempo per preset or global

You can specify whether you want to the tempo to apply to all presets (global) or per preset.

Tempo per channel or scene

Tempo is part of the Controllers block. On the Axe-Fx III, FM3 and FM9, the Controllers block has 4 channels. This means that a preset can have 4 different tempos, which allows setting separate tempos per scene.

Sync to tempo

You can assign effect parameters such as TIME or RATE to a specific tempo, as 1/4 or 1/8 Dotted, instead of specifying the number of milliseconds. That will make the effect depend on the global or preset tempo. Tapping a different tempo will change the rate of the effect.

Important: After assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect manually!

Metronome

The Tempo menu contains a metronome. Read this: Metronome.

Remote control

Onboard switch

Read the Owners manual of the product.

FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers

The FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers have a dedicated Tempo action.

External switch

Scroll to the Tempo CC in the Setup menu and hit Enter. Click the switch on the footswitch that you want to assign the Tuner to.

Or configure it manually by assigning the Tuner MIDI CC to a switch on a MIDI controller. The default MIDI CC for the Tuner is 14 on the Axe-Fx II, AX8, and FX8. Keep it like this to avoid issues. The Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3 and VP4 let you set the Tuner CC manually in the Setup menu.

Read Expression pedals and external switches for more information.

MIDI Clock

Read MIDI Clock for more information.

DAW

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES


[1] It all depends on the accuracy of your DAW. If I set the BPM to 130 and the accuracy is 5ms it will occasionally go to 131 BPM on my system here. If I lower the accuracy to 2ms then it doesn't do that. And this is as would be expected. 130 BPM is 2.167 beats per second. MIDI Clock is 24 messages per beat. So that's 52 messages per second or a message every 19.2 ms. 129 BPM translates to 19.38 messages per second. So your messages need to be accurate down to fractions of a ms.

MFC-101

The MFC-101 MIDI foot controller has a dedicated Tempo command for the Axe-Fx II when it's running in Axe-Fx Mode.

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

LED accuracy

PREVIOUS GENERATIONS


[2] The tempo LED is handled by a low-priority thread so it isn't rock solid and the higher the CPU usage the less solid it will be.

Tempo and Beats Per Minute (BPM)

The Owner's Manuals list the tempo values with the BPM equivalents.

Show BPM on Performance page

If you add Controllers > Tempo as the first control on a Performance Page on the Axe-Fx III, FM9, or FM3, you'll always see the preset's BPM value when switching presets from your foot controller.

Auto-activate delay by tapping tempo

Search the Delay block page for auto delay.

MIDI SysEx

These are useful:

Bleed-through noise

Audible bleed-through of the tempo signal can occur if the MIDI cable is not properly shielded. Use high-quality, properly shielded MIDI cables.