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March 2024: all pages have been checked and are up-to-date

Difference between revisions of "Tempo"

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=Tempo menu=
+
=Channels or X/Y=
  
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).
+
*''' Axe-Fx III''', '''FM9''', '''MF3''': 4 channels
 +
* '''Axe-Fx II''', '''AX8''', '''FX8''': no
  
On the Axe-Fx III, it's also a shortcut to the Controllers menu.
+
=Tempo button and menu=
  
=Gobal or per-preset tempo=
+
When tapping the Tempo button on the device, the Tempo menu appears on the hardware display.
  
You can specify in the Tempo menu whether you want the tempo to operate globally (across all presets) or per preset.
+
On the Axe-Fx III, FM9, and FM3, the Tempo button also is a shortcut to the [[Controllers_and_modifiers|Controllers menu]].
  
=Tapping the tempo=
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=Global tempo or per preset=
  
The Global menu lets you specify how Tap Tempo works:
+
You can specify whether you want to the tempo to apply to all presets (global) or per preset.
  
* '''Average''' — Averages the tempo to the last ten taps. Usually a wise choice.
+
=Tempo per channel or scene=
* '''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 is part of the [[Controllers_and_modifiers|Controllers block]]. That block has 4 channels, so a preset can have 4 different tempos which allows setting separate tempos per scene.
  
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.
+
=Tapping tempo=
  
Important: after assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect!
+
The [[Global Settings menu]] lets you specify how tempo tapping works:
  
=Accuracy of the Tempo LED=
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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.
  
<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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; '''Last Two''' : Uses only the most recent two taps to determine the tempo. This acts faster but is also less precise.
  
=Axe-Fx III and Tempo=
+
Tap Tempo needs at least two taps to calculate.
  
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.
+
See the <q>[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/tap-tempo-issues.151565 Tap tempo issues]</q> discussion for more information.
  
=Auto-activating a Delay=
+
=Syncing an effect to the tempo=
  
[[Delay_block#Auto-activate_the_Delay_block|Read this.]]
+
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 and MIDI=
+
Important: After assigning a parameter to a tempo, you can no longer adjust the time in the effect manually!
  
==MIDI CCs==
+
=LED accuracy=
  
* '''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.
+
<blockquote>
* '''Metronome''': CC 122. The Axe-Fx III does not provide a metronome.
+
'''PREVIOUS GENERATIONS'''
 +
<HR>
  
==Showing the tempo on a foot controller==
+
<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>
  
The Axe-Fx II, MFC-1010, AX8 and FX8 show the tempo.
+
=Metronome=
 +
 
 +
The Tempo menu contains a metronome. Read this: [[Metronome]]
 +
 
 +
=Remote control=
 +
 
 +
==Footswitch==
 +
 
 +
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.
 +
 
 +
Or configure it manually by assigning the Tuner MIDI CC to a switch on a MIDI controller.
 +
 
 +
Read <q>[[Expression pedals and external switches]]</q> for more information.
 +
 
 +
==MIDI CC==
 +
 
 +
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, and FM3 let you set the Tuner CC manually in the I/O menu.
 +
 
 +
==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.
 +
 
 +
==FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers==
  
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].
+
The [[FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers]] have a dedicated Tempo action.
  
 
==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>
  
=Tempo guide=
+
<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 [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Owners_Manuals Owner's Manuals] contain a Tempo Cross Reference guide.
+
=Tips, tricks and troubleshooting=
  
=SysEx commands for tempo=
+
==Tempo and Beats Per Minute (BPM)==
  
[[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]]
+
The [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Owners_Manuals Owner's Manuals] list the tempo values with the BPM equivalents.
  
=Metronome=
+
==BPM on the 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 a 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.
+
==SysEx commands for tempo==
  
=Troubleshooting=
+
These are useful:
 +
* Fractal's <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> .pdf page.
 +
* kamilkisiel.net's <q>[http://www.kamilkisiel.net/axefx_tempo.html Fractal Audio Tempo SysEx Generator]</q> page.
  
==Ticking tempo noise==
+
==Bleed-through tempo 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]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
 
[[category:FX8]]
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[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:Remote]]
 
[[category:Remote]]
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[[category:All]]

Latest revision as of 23:38, 5 March 2024

Channels or X/Y

  • Axe-Fx III, FM9, MF3: 4 channels
  • Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8: no

Tempo button and 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 also is a shortcut to the Controllers menu.

Global tempo or per preset

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. That block has 4 channels, so a preset can have 4 different tempos which allows setting separate tempos per scene.

Tapping tempo

The Global Settings menu lets you specify how tempo tapping 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.

Syncing an effect to the 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!

LED accuracy

PREVIOUS GENERATIONS


[1] 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.

Metronome

The Tempo menu contains a metronome. Read this: Metronome

Remote control

Footswitch

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.

Or configure it manually by assigning the Tuner MIDI CC to a switch on a MIDI controller.

Read Expression pedals and external switches for more information.

MIDI CC

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, and FM3 let you set the Tuner CC manually in the I/O menu.

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.

FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers

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

MIDI Clock

Read MIDI Clock for more information.

DAW

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES


[2] 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.

Tips, tricks and troubleshooting

Tempo and Beats Per Minute (BPM)

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

BPM on the 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 a delay by tapping Tempo

Search the Delay block page for auto delay.

SysEx commands for tempo

These are useful:

Bleed-through 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.