Tap Tempo from a MIDI Keyboard

[richardein]

I posted this on the DP FB forum and thought I'd do so here as well.

Tap Tempo in DP: I’ve found a quirk that I don’t believe is covered in the manual. If someone very knowledgeable about DP could confirm this, I’d be grateful.

The short version: Enter Tap Tempo only from Tempo Slider Mode in the Control Bar. If you enter Tap Tempo when the Control Bar is in Conductor Track mode, the tempo at which you tap has to be lower than the tempo entered into the sequence’s conductor track (or if a tempo hasn't been entered, then lower than qn=120). If your tapping isn’t slower, then tap tempo won’t work properly in real time.

Here’s the long version, ie., how I discovered and I believe fixed the problem:
Task: A MIDI performance of a piece of music is too stiff. I’d like to “perform” the music by tapping it into the Conductor Track. The tempo of the piece should be roughly qn=151 but I’ve recorded it at 120. The tempo is entered into the conductor track.

Setup: I set up Receive Sync as per the manual. I enable Slave to External Sync (cmd-7) and record enable the conductor track.

Flawed procedure: Conductor Track Mode is enabled in the Control Bar. I hit record (numpad 3) and begin tapping at roughly 151. The tempo is not followed.

Fixed procedure: I enter a tempo value in the Conductor Track higher than the highest conceivable speed that I’ll be tapping at… say, qn=200. Tapped tempo is followed.
Alternate fixed procedure: Before enabling Slave to External Sync, I switch to tempo slider mode in the Control Bar. Tapped tempo is followed.

UPDATE This worked well with a test project file I created. However, I still have quirky behavior with some pre-existing projects. Could anyone with some experience with Tap Tempo weigh in on this? Thanks!

[richardein]

A little more research and testing with Tap Tempo from a MIDI Keyboard:

I found a MotuNation thread with Shooshie and Magic Dave about Tap Tempo and, confirming what Shooshie says, with simple files using MIDI, it works fine. However, with larger sequences, it's very quirky.

In addition, Tap Tempo (not surprisingly) will not work in real time with audio files. That is, the audio files will not stretch as you tap. You have to turn the audio files off (which Matt LaPointe does in his explanatory video) and just listen to the MIDI data. When you turn the audio files back on after a tap tempo attempt, the audio does conform to the tempo changes (assuming stretch in turned on for the audio tracks). While this could have its uses, it makes for a less than optimal work experience.

Conclusion: Tap Tempo would be a fantastic feature if (1)it worked with audio tracks (which I know is technically daunting) and (2) if it worked reliably with older and larger files. As it is, it simply can't be used in my workflow, which is a drag. Related features like record and adjust beats, however, work very nicely.

If I'm missing something, or if there is a workaround that I don't know about (both are more than possible), please let me know. Thanks!

[bayswater]

A little more research and testing with Tap Tempo from a MIDI Keyboard

You've probably explained why I found tap tempo erratic and gave up on it in favour of recording and adjusting beats. On tap tempo affecting audio, if not logically impossible, it would seem pretty much technically impossible without quantum computing and time travel.

[FMiguelez]

I've been using Tap Tempo a lot lately, and I haven't found what you mentioned. It works fine here (no need to adjust a previous tempo). Granted, it's just a piano solo track, but it works as intended, much better than I remember it working with longer and track-heavy sequences.
I assume you're giving yourself at least four count-in taps prior to recording?

At that time, and until recently, my work around was to use Record Beats and force myself to hearing the music in my head, and just follow along. It worked perfectly. Taping shorter values always helped.

[richardein]

Yes, it works fine with simple sequences of a few tracks. But with older project files, or long ones, it gets flaky.

I've been using Tap Tempo a lot lately, and I haven't found what you mentioned. It works fine here (no need to adjust a previous tempo). Granted, it's just a piano solo track, but it works as intended, much better than I remember it working with longer and track-heavy sequences.

[stubbsonic]

I can remember trying to tap tempo while listening to an audio track, and sometimes the audio would not come on until the 4th or 5th bar. I'd just keep retrying it. Eventually it would work and I'd get a good pass.

[FMiguelez]

Setting the taps to be 8th or 16th notes really helps DP to follow better (then changing the result with Scale Time is a breeze). This also gives your tempo map much more resolution .

If DP can’t do Tap Temp we’ll with very big sequences, a workaround is to duplicate the needed sequence and delete everything except the one or two needed tracks for tap tempo and work from there. After you’re happy with your tempo map, then port it back to the original sequence.