ardour-tutorial/content/editing-sessions/setting-up-time-signature/index.en.md

+++
title = "Setting up time signature"
description = "How to set up time signature in Ardour"
chapter = false
weight = 3
+++

The _time signature_ determines the musical speed of the passage we are 
composing and is measured in _beats per bars_.

If we are composing something rhythmic, it will also determine the lengths of
the sound samples we use to some extent. So it is important to be able to set
up the time signature before we continue.

To see the time-signature-related timelines for the session, you can
right-click anywhere in the "header" of the rulers and check the following
options: _Time Signature_, _Bars & Beats_, and _Tempo_.

{{< figure src="en/ardour7-ts-timeline.png" alt="Time signature">}}

There is always at least one marker for both the time signature and the tempo 
in the session, right in the beginning of the timeline. You can change either
of the two further in the session. To do that, you need to pick either time
or bar and beat on the timeline, right-click on the dedicated timeline lane,
choose _New Time Signature_ or _New Tempo_, and provide a new value in the
newly opened dialog.

{{< figure src="en/ardour7-new-time-signature.png" alt="New Time Signature" >}}

You can also easily change the latest time signature or tempo even if you 
scrolled past the point in time where you can see the marker on the timeline. 
Simply click on either tempo or TS button right below the secondary clock and 
provide a new value in the newly opened dialog.

![Tempo and Time Signature](en/Ardour5_Edit_TS_and_Tempo.png?width=25vw)

For the tempo (button on the left), choose the number of beats per minute (bpm)
for your session.

For the _time signature_ (button with "TS" caption on the right), you can 
enter new values for the _beats per bar_ as well as the _note value_.

## Continuing

Next, we will explore using ranges to set up a loop we can listen to while we
arrange the rhythm.

Next: [USING RANGES](../using-ranges)