Fractal FM3 - 11 TEMPO; THE GLOBAL TEMPO; PRESET TEMPO

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11 TEMPO
Tempo is used in electronic music for synchronizing different rates and times, whether inside one machine or
across several. Tempo on the FM3 allows for both internal and external synchronization, providing effects with
a central BPM clock that can stand alone or follow MIDI Beat Clock from a connected device. The FM3 does not
transmit MIDI Clock itself. The Tempo can be set to any whole number value in the range 20–250 BPM. The FM3
flashes its current tempo on a front-panel LED.
THE GLOBAL TEMPO
The Global Tempo value is a system setting outside of any presets, scenes or channels.
You can change it in any of several ways:
1. Tap two or more times on the front panel TEMPO button.
NOTE: By default, the tempo averages across ten taps, but you can set it to use only two taps with an option
found under SETUP: Global: Cong: Tap Tempo.
2. Tap an onboard or FC footswitch assigned to the Utility: Tempo function.
3. Tap the TEMPO button once and use the Tempo knob (B).
4. Use an external MIDI device to transmit MIDI Clock to the MIDI IN port of the FM3.
5. Use a MIDI CC# or external switch assigned to Tempo Tap, located on the Other page of the MIDI/Remote
menu under SETUP. (See NOTE under #1 above).
Be aware that whenever you change the Global Tempo, you are also changing the current Preset Tempo, which will
be saved if you store the current preset (see below). Be on guard not to over-write saved tempos.
PRESET TEMPO
By default, a given preset will ignore the Global Tempo and use its own saved Preset Tempo instead. Notice that a
preset’s Tempo page contains two parameters: one is an actual Tempo (BPM) value, and the other is a setting called
Tempo To Use, which determines what will happen when that preset is loaded.
When you load a preset whose Tempo To Use is “PRESET,” the saved Preset Tempo takes over: the tempo LED
flashes accordingly and all tempo-dependent time/rate parameters are re-calculated. In fact the Global Tempo
has not changed; it remains in the background and will be used when you load a different preset
with Tempo to
Use set to “GLOBAL”.
Be aware that whenever you alter a preset’s own Tempo, you are also updating the Global Tempo.
Remember that each of the four channels of the Controllers menu has its own settings for both Tempo (BPM) and
Tempo to Use. You can use this to have some Scenes or Channels change the tempo while others do not.
TO SET “TEMPO TO USE”...
1. Load the preset.
2. Tap once on the TEMPO button.
3. Change TEMPO TO USE as desired to either “GLOBAL” or “PRESET”.
4. STORE the preset.
11 TEMPO