Tempo

Tempo menu

When tapping the Tempo button or switch, the Tempo menu appears. It will disappear after a few seconds. You can specify in the Global menu how long it should stay on-screen.

It is also a shortcut to the Controllers menu on the Axe-Fx III.

Global and Preset tempo

You can specify in the Tempo menu whether you want tempo to be set globally (across all presets) or per preset.

Tap tempo modes

The Global menu lets you set the Tap Tempo operating mode:

• Average: averages the tempo to the last ten taps.
• Last Two: uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. Acts faster but also less precise.

Setting tempo in effects

You can assign 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.

Note: after assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time!

Tempo LED accuracy

"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." source

Tempo on the Axe-Fx III

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.

Auto-activate a Delay

Read this.

Tempo and MIDI

MIDI CCs

• Tempo: CC 14 (assignable on the Axe-Fx III in Setup > MIDI/Remote > Other).
• Metronome: CC 122 (not on Axe-Fx III).

Showing the tempo on a foot controller

Fractal Audio FC series indicate the preset tempo.

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. Regular MIDI does not suffice to accomplish. The Axe-Fx III does not provide a Send Realtime Sysex parameter anymore.

MIDI Clock

The Axe-Fx II, Axe-Fx III, FX8 and AX8 do not transmit MIDI Clock to other devices. They can process an incoming MIDI clock signal.

Tempo Cross Reference

The Owner's Manual contains a guide a Tempo Cross Reference guide.

Metronome

The Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8 can emit a metronome signal. The metronome is located in the Tempo menu. You can start the metronome using a switch (assigned to the Metronome's MIDI CC) or through the Tempo menu. The metronome plays through Output 1 only.

The Axe-FX III does not provide a metronome.

Troubleshooting

Ticking tempo noise

Audible bleed-through of the tempo signal can occur when the MIDI cable is not properly shielded.