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Difference between revisions of "Tempo"

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=Tempo menu=
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=Tempo button=
  
When tapping the Tempo button or switch, the Tempo menu appears. It will disappear after a few seconds. Some devices let you specify how long it stays on-screen (Global menu).
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When tapping the Tempo button on the device, the Tempo menu appears on the hardware display.
  
On the Axe-Fx III, it's also a shortcut to the Controllers menu.
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=Tap tempo=
  
=Gobal or per-preset tempo=
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The [[Setup menu]] lets you specify how tapping tempo works:
  
You can specify in the Tempo menu whether you want the tempo to operate globally (across all presets) or per preset.
+
; '''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.
  
=Tapping the tempo=
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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 Global menu lets you specify how Tap Tempo works:
+
Tap Tempo needs at least two taps to calculate.
  
* '''Average''' — averages the tempo to the last ten taps. Usually a wise choice.
+
See the <q>[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/tap-tempo-issues.151565 Tap tempo issues]</q> discussion for more information.
* '''Last Two''' — uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. Acts faster but also less precise.
 
  
=Syncing effects to the tempo=
+
=Tempo per preset or global=
  
You can assign effect parameters such as Time or Rate to a specific tempo, like 1/4 or 1/8 Dotted, instead 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 specify whether you want to the tempo to apply to all presets (global) or per preset.
  
Important: after assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect!
+
=Tempo per channel or scene=
  
=Accuracy of the Tempo LED=
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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.
  
<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." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/51049-does-tempo-led-actually-flash-time.html#post658471 source] </blockquote>
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=Sync to tempo=
  
=Axe-Fx III and 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.
  
Tempo is part of the internal controllers. The Controllers block on the Axe-Fx III has 4 channels. This means that each preset can have 4 different tempos.
+
Important: After assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect manually!
  
=Auto-activating a Delay=
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=Metronome=
 +
 
 +
The Tempo menu contains a metronome. Read this: [[Metronome]].
 +
 
 +
=Remote control=
 +
 
 +
==Onboard switch==
  
[[Delay_block#Auto-activate_the_Delay_block|Read this.]]
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Read the [[Owners_Manuals|Owners manual]] of the product.
  
=Tempo and MIDI=
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==FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers==
  
==MIDI CCs==
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The [[FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers]] have a dedicated Tempo action.
  
* '''Tempo''': defaults to CC 14 on the Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8. Keep it this way to avoid issues. The III lets you assign the Tempo CC manually.
+
==External switch==
* '''Metronome''': CC 122. The Axe-Fx III does not provide a metronome.
 
  
==Showing the tempo on a foot controller==
+
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.
  
The Axe-Fx II, MFC-1010, AX8 and FX8 show the tempo.
+
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.
  
Fractal Audio's FC series indicate the preset tempo on an Axe-Fx III. 3rd-party MIDI controllers can also show tempo when they have been programmed to act as a client to the Axe-Fx III, using Fractal Audio's protocol, or when using real-time sysex as [http://www.fractalaudio.com/downloads/misc/Axe-Fx%20III%20MIDI%20for%203rd%20Party%20Devices.pdf documented here].
+
Read <q>[[Expression pedals and external switches]]</q> for more information.
  
 
==MIDI Clock==
 
==MIDI Clock==
  
The Axe-Fx II and III, FX8 and AX8 do not transmit MIDI Clock to other devices. They can process an incoming MIDI Clock signal.
+
Read <q>[[MIDI#MIDI_Clock|MIDI Clock]]</q> for more information.
 +
 
 +
==DAW==
 +
 
 +
<blockquote>
 +
'''FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES'''
 +
<HR>
 +
 
 +
<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>
 +
 
 +
==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=
  
=Tempo guide=
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==LED accuracy==
  
The [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Owners_Manuals Owner's Manuals] contain a Tempo Cross Reference guide.
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<blockquote>
 +
'''PREVIOUS GENERATIONS'''
 +
<HR>
  
=SysEx commands for tempo=
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<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>
  
[[media:Axe-Fx-II-XL-Delay-Tempos.pdf | Llist of all SysEx commands for each tempo setting in the Delay 1 and Delay 2 blocks]]
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==Tempo and Beats Per Minute (BPM)==
  
=Metronome=
+
The [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Owners_Manuals Owner's Manuals] list the tempo values with the BPM equivalents.
 +
 
 +
==Show BPM on Performance page==
  
The Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8 can emit a metronome signal. It is located in the Tempo menu. The Axe-Fx III does not provide a metronome.
+
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.
  
Start the metronome by pressing a switch, assigned to the Metronome's MIDI CC, or in the Tempo menu.
+
==Auto-activate delay by tapping tempo==
  
The metronome plays through Output 1 only!
+
Search the [[Delay block]] page for <q>auto delay</q>.
  
If the metronome starts automatically and cannot be stopped, it's probably triggered by a MIDI CC transmitted by your DAW. Disable this in your DAW, or set the Metronome's MIDI CC to NONE in I/O.
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==MIDI SysEx==
  
=Troubleshooting=
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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>
  
==Ticking tempo noise==
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==Bleed-through noise==
  
Audible bleed-through of the tempo signal can occur if the MIDI cable is not properly shielded.
+
Audible bleed-through of the tempo signal can occur if the MIDI cable is not properly shielded. Use high-quality, properly shielded MIDI cables.
  
 
[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
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[[category:FM3]]
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[[category:FM9]]
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[[category:VP4]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:AX8]]
 
[[category:AX8]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 +
[[category:Remote]]
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[[category:All]]

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.