Tempo

Tempo menu

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 (Global menu).

On the Axe-Fx III, the Tempo button is also a shortcut to the Controllers menu.

Tempo: global or per-preset

You can specify in the Tempo menu if you want the set tempo to apply to all presets or per preset.

Tapping tempo

The Global menu lets you specify how Tap Tempo works:

Average — averages the tempo to the last ten taps. Usually a wise choice

Last Two — uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. Acts faster but also less precise

Syncing effects to tempo

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!

Accuracy of the tempo LED

"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 in firmware Ares

Tempo is part of the internal controllers. The Controllers block in firmware Ares has 4 channels. This means that each preset can have 4 different tempos.

Auto-activating a Delay by tapping Tempo

Read this: Delay block

Tempo and MIDI

MIDI CCs

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. FM3: ?

Metronome: CC 122. FM3: ?

Showing the tempo on a foot controller

The Axe-Fx II, MFC-1010, AX8 and FX8 show the tempo.

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 documented here.

MIDI Clock

Read this: MIDI Clock

Tempo guide

The Owner's Manuals contain a Tempo Cross Reference guide.

SysEx commands for tempo

Here's a list of all SysEx commands for each tempo setting in the Delay block in the Axe-Fx II XL.

Ticking tempo 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.