manual/include/tempo-ruler.html

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<p>
The Tempo ruler allows changing tempo within one session, either abruptly or
gradually over time. This is done by placing tempo markers on the ruler and
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setting up how exactly the transition happens. Alternatively, in the
<a href="/ardours-interface/the-toolbox#grid">Grid mode</a>, markers can be
added and edited directly on the timeline.
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</p>
<p>
On the screenshot below, there are 4 bars of music at 120bpm starting at bar 27,
then the tempo changes abruptly to 140bpm and goes on for another 4 bars at that
tempo, then abruptly changes back to 120bpm and within the next 4 bars gradually
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goes back to 140bpm, then continues at 140bpm until the end of the session.
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</p>
<figure>
<img style="width:75%;" width="50%" src="/images/multiple-tempo-markers.png"
alt="Changes in tempo over time">
<figcaption>Changes in tempo over time</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Anatomy of tempo markers</h2>
<p>
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Each tempo marker exposes several editable properties:
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</p>
<ul>
<li>
BPM at the start, sets a new tempo value.
</li>
<li>
BPM at the end <em>(only available for gradual transitions)</em>, defines
the tempo value at the end of a tempo ramp.
</li>
<li>
Tempo (transition) type, defines whether the tempo is the same (constant)
until the next tempo marker or whether it gradually changes (ramps up
or down) towards the next tempo.
</li>
<li>
Location of the tempo marker, defined in musical time.
</li>
<li>
Lock style, defines whether tempo is locked to musical time (bars and
beats) or real time (minutes and seconds).
</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Working with tempo markers on the ruler</h2>
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<h3>Adding Tempo Markers</h3>
<p>
To add a tempo marker, hover a bar or a beat line, press <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>
and single-click. Newly created tempo marker will have the same tempo value
as the previous one.
</p>
<h2>Shifting tempo markers</h2>
<p>
To change the position of a tempo change, do one of the two things:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
Click and drag a marker left or right. Ardour will increment the change
by one beat.
</li>
<li>
Double-click the marker or right-click it and choose
<kbd class="menu">Edit</kbd> to open the marker properties dialog, then
change the bar and the beat where tempo change should occur.
</li>
</ul>
<figure>
<img style="width:50%;" width="50%" src="/images/tempo-marker-change-location.png"
alt="Changing location of a tempo marker">
<figcaption>Changing location of a tempo marker</figcaption>
</figure>
<h3>Editing tempo value</h3>
<p>
The tempo start value can be changed directly on the timeline or using the
tempo marker properties dialog.
</p>
<p>
To change the tempo value directly on the timeline, hover the marker, press
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>, and drag the marker left or right. The bpm start value will
change, and the grid will be adjusted accordingly.
</p>
<p>
Alternatively, double-click the marker or right-click it and choose
<kbd class="menu">Edit</kbd> to open the marker properties dialog, then
change the "Start beats per minute" value.
</p>
<p>
Additionally, you can set the new tempo by tapping it in one of the two ways:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
By repeatedly clicking the <kbd class="button">Tap tempo</kbd> button
in the dialog.
</li>
<li>
By selecting a connected MIDI keyboard and repeatedly pressing either
a piano key or a silicon pad.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
In some cases, an existing tempo marker needs to get the same value as the
tempo marker before it, typically to start a ramp. To do that, right-click
the tempo marker that needs to change and select the
<kbd class="menu">Continue</kbd> menu item.
</p>
<h3>Constant vs ramped tempo</h3>
<p>
The tempo between two tempo markers with different bpm start values can stay
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the same (constant) or change gradually (ramped).
</p>
<p>
When the tempo type is constant, the line between two markers stays
horizontal:
</p>
<figure>
<img style="width:75%;" width="75%" src="/images/tempo-type-constant.png"
alt="Constant tempo">
<figcaption>Constant tempo</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
When the tempo is ramped, the line between two markers is diagonal:
</p>
<figure>
<img style="width:75%;" width="75%" src="/images/tempo-type-ramped.png"
alt="Ramped tempo">
<figcaption>Ramped tempo</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>
The toggle between constant and ramped types is available in the tempo marker
properties menu and applies forward in the timeline. Alternatively, you can
right-click a tempo marker and select the <kbd class="menu">Ramp to Next</kbd>
menu item. Tempo will gradually accelerate or decelerate until the target
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tempo is reached, resulting in a musical <em>accel.</em> or <em>ritard.</em>
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</p>
<p>
To switch from the ramped type to the constant type, either open the tempo
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marker properties dialog and switch it, or right-click a tempo marker and
select the <kbd class="menu">Set Constant</kbd> menu item. The tempo will
change abruptly at the next tempo marker.
</p>
<h3>Removing Markers</h3>
<p>
To remove a tempo marker, either single-click it and press <kbd>Del</kbd>
or right-click it and select the <kbd class="menu">Remove</kbd> menu item.
</p>
<h3>Locking to music vs audio time</h3>
<p>
Audio-locked tempo markers stay in their frame position as their neighbor's
positions are altered. Their pulse (musical) position will change as their
neighbors move. Music-locked tempo markers move their frame position as their
neighbors are moved, but keep their pulse position (they will move as the
music is moved).
</p>
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<h2>Working with tempo markers in the Grid mode</h2>
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<p>
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For documentation on editing the tempo map in the Grid mode, please see
the <a href="/ardours-interface/the-toolbox#grid">relevant part</a> of the
Toolbox chapter.
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</p>
<h2>Further Information</h2>
<p>
For more details on the workflow, please refer to the
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<a href="@@tempo-and-meter">Tempo and Time Signature</a> chapter.
</p>