153 lines
4.9 KiB
HTML
153 lines
4.9 KiB
HTML
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<h2>Matching a recorded tempo with a tempo ramp</h2>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_1.png" alt="Initial state">
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<figcaption>Initial state.</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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As a general approach, the best way to control tempo ramps is to use them in
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pairs.
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</p>
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<p>
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One typical use of tempo ramps is to match the click to a drum performance
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recorded in 'free time', like in the (admittedly bad) 4/4 example on the left.
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 1: First time signature</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_2.png" alt="Step 1/5">
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<figcaption>Placing the first time signature</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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The first thing needed is determining where the first beat is in the recording
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and <kbd class="mouse">left</kbd> dragging the first time signature to that
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position.
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 2: Locating the <em>n</em>th bar</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_3.png" alt="Step 2/5">
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<figcaption>Locating a known beat</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Now the first click will be in time with the first beat. By listening to the
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recorded drums, the position of bar <em>n</em> (here, 9th beat, 3rd bar) is
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visually located (the playhead may be moved to this location to "pin" it).
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 3: Aligning the ruler with the tempo</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_4.png" alt="Step 3/5">
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<figcaption>Matching the tempi</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Holding the constraint modifier (<kbd class="mod3n"></kbd> by default, may be
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changed in <kbd class="menu">Preferences > Editor > Modifiers</kbd>),
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the third bar marker in the BBT ruler is dragged at the position of the third
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bar in the recording (where the playhead is located). This drag can be done
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either in the Time Signature or in the Tempo rulers. The tempo (on the first
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and only tempo marker) reflects the new value based on this change.
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</p>
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<p>
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The click now matches the first 8 beats, but after that it can wander off,
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which will be reflected in the tempo lines thet won't quite match the drum
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hits.
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 4: Placing a new tempo marker</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_5.png" alt="Step 4/5">
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<figcaption>Creating a tempo marker</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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A new tempo marker is placed on the last position where the click matches the
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recorded audio, by <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd>-clicking the Tempo ruler. This
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will "anchor" the value of the tempo at that position.
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 5: Placing another tempo marker at the <em>n</em>th beat</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_6.png" alt="Step 5/5">
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<figcaption>Placing another marker</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Another tempo marker is placed <em>n</em> beats after the previous marker
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(here, 4 beats, 1 bar).
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 6: Changing the tempo to a new value</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_7.png" alt="Step 5/5">
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<figcaption>Adjusting the tempo</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Now, <kbd class="mod3n"></kbd>-dragging any beat <strong>after</strong> the
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second new tempo marker will allow to align the drum audio and tempo after the
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second marker.
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</p>
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<h3 class="clear">Step 7: Ramping the tempo change</h3>
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<figure class="left">
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<img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_8.png" alt="Step 5/5">
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<figcaption>Ramping the change</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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Although it may be unnecessary in some cases where the tempo changes abruptly,
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most of the time, the tempo change is progressive in time, like an
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instrumentist drifting in tempo. In those cases, the tempo change should be
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progressive too, and Ardour allows that by ramping the tempo change.
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</p>
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<p>
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<kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking the first tempo marker, a menu appears,
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allowing to <kbd class="menu">Ramp to Next</kbd>. This will make the tempo
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between the two markers linearly change from the first marker's value to the
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second's.
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</p>
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<p>
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Again, some time later the click will probably drift again, so the same
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technique has to be repeated: adding two new tempos and dragging the BBT ruler
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<strong>after</strong> the newest tempo so that the beats align with the audio
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again.
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</p>
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<p>
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In a general sense, adding tempo markers in pairs allows to 'pin' the tempo at
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the marker's location while moving further to the right.
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</p>
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<h2>Other use cases</h2>
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<p>
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Audio-locked time signatures can be useful when composing, as they allow a
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continuous piece of music to be worked on in isolated segments, preventing the
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listening fatigue of a fixed form. Reassembly is left as an exercise for the
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reader.
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</p>
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<p>
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Tempo ramps can also be used in a video context, e.g. for an accelerando, by
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snapping to TC frames and dragging the ruler so that a bar ends up on a
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significant video frame.
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</p>
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