2 <h2>Matching a recorded tempo with a tempo ramp</h2>
5 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_1.png" alt="Initial state">
6 <figcaption>Initial state.</figcaption>
10 As a general approach, the best way to control tempo ramps is to use them in
15 One typical use of tempo ramps is to match the click to a drum performance
16 recorded in 'free time', like in the (admittedly bad) 4/4 example on the left.
19 <h3 class="clear">Step 1: First time signature</h3>
22 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_2.png" alt="Step 1/5">
23 <figcaption>Placing the first time signature</figcaption>
27 The first thing needed is determining where the first beat is in the recording
28 and <kbd class="mouse">left</kbd> dragging the first time signature to that
32 <h3 class="clear">Step 2: Locating the <em>n</em>th bar</h3>
35 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_3.png" alt="Step 2/5">
36 <figcaption>Locating a known beat</figcaption>
40 Now the first click will be in time with the first beat. By listening to the
41 recorded drums, the position of bar <em>n</em> (here, 9th beat, 3rd bar) is
42 visually located (the playhead may be moved to this location to "pin" it).
45 <h3 class="clear">Step 3: Aligning the ruler with the tempo</h3>
48 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_4.png" alt="Step 3/5">
49 <figcaption>Matching the tempi</figcaption>
53 Holding the constraint modifier (<kbd class="mod3n"></kbd> by default, may be
54 changed in <kbd class="menu">Preferences > Editor > Modifiers</kbd>),
55 the third bar marker in the BBT ruler is dragged at the position of the third
56 bar in the recording (where the playhead is located). This drag can be done
57 either in the Time Signature or in the Tempo rulers. The tempo (on the first
58 and only tempo marker) reflects the new value based on this change.
62 The click now matches the first 8 beats, but after that it can wander off,
63 which will be reflected in the tempo lines thet won't quite match the drum
67 <h3 class="clear">Step 4: Placing a new tempo marker</h3>
70 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_5.png" alt="Step 4/5">
71 <figcaption>Creating a tempo marker</figcaption>
75 A new tempo marker is placed on the last position where the click matches the
76 recorded audio, by <kbd class="mod1n"></kbd>-clicking the Tempo ruler. This
77 will "anchor" the value of the tempo at that position.
80 <h3 class="clear">Step 5: Placing another tempo marker at the <em>n</em>th beat</h3>
83 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_6.png" alt="Step 5/5">
84 <figcaption>Placing another marker</figcaption>
88 Another tempo marker is placed <em>n</em> beats after the previous marker
89 (here, 4 beats, 1 bar).
93 <h3 class="clear">Step 6: Changing the tempo to a new value</h3>
96 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_7.png" alt="Step 5/5">
97 <figcaption>Adjusting the tempo</figcaption>
101 Now, <kbd class="mod3n"></kbd>-dragging any beat <strong>after</strong> the
102 second new tempo marker will allow to align the drum audio and tempo after the
106 <h3 class="clear">Step 7: Ramping the tempo change</h3>
108 <figure class="left">
109 <img class="mini" src="/images/tempo-ramp_8.png" alt="Step 5/5">
110 <figcaption>Ramping the change</figcaption>
114 Although it may be unnecessary in some cases where the tempo changes abruptly,
115 most of the time, the tempo change is progressive in time, like an
116 instrumentist drifting in tempo. In those cases, the tempo change should be
117 progressive too, and Ardour allows that by ramping the tempo change.
121 <kbd class="mouse">Right</kbd>-clicking the first tempo marker, a menu appears,
122 allowing to <kbd class="menu">Ramp to Next</kbd>. This will make the tempo
123 between the two markers linearly change from the first marker's value to the
128 Again, some time later the click will probably drift again, so the same
129 technique has to be repeated: adding two new tempos and dragging the BBT ruler
130 <strong>after</strong> the newest tempo so that the beats align with the audio
135 In a general sense, adding tempo markers in pairs allows to 'pin' the tempo at
136 the marker's location while moving further to the right.
139 <h2>Other use cases</h2>
142 Audio-locked time signatures can be useful when composing, as they allow a
143 continuous piece of music to be worked on in isolated segments, preventing the
144 listening fatigue of a fixed form. Reassembly is left as an excercise for the
149 Tempo ramps can also be used in a video context, e.g. for an accelerando, by
150 snapping to TC frames and dragging the ruler so that a bar ends up on a
151 significant video frame.