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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 FM9 allows for both internal and external synchronization, providing effects with
a central BPM clock that can either work standalone or chase incoming MIDI Clock from 5-pin or USB. The FM9
does not transmit MIDI Clock. The Tempo can be set to any whole number value in the range 20–250 BPM. The
FM9 flashes its current tempo on a front-panel LED and any footswitch assigned to Tempo.
THE GLOBAL TEMPO
The Global Tempo is a system setting outside of any presets, scenes or channels.
You can change it in any of several ways:
1. Tap any onboard or FC footswitch assigned to the Utility: Tempo function.
2. Tap two or more times on the front panel TEMPO button.
3. Tap the TEMPO button once and use the Tempo knob (B).
4. Use an external MIDI device to transmit MIDI Clock to the FM9 over 5-pin or USB.
5. Use a MIDI CC# or external switch assigned to Tempo Tap.
Find this assignment in Setup: MIDI Remote: Other.
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.
TIP: By default, Tap Tempo uses an “AVERAGE” of ten taps, which is forgiving but gradual. You can change this
so it uses only the “LAST TWO” — a more abrupt but precise method.
Find this Tap Tempo option under SETUP: Global Settings: Cong: Tap Tempo.
PRESET TEMPO
By default, a given preset will ignore the Global Tempo and use its own saved Preset Tempo instead. Tap the
top panel tempo button (not a footswitch) and 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 happens
whenever that preset is loaded.
When you load a preset whose Tempo To Use is “PRESET,” the saved Preset Tempo takes over: the tempo display
updates and all tempo-dependent time/rate parameters are recalculated. 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”.
NOTE: Be aware that whenever you manually change a preset Tempo, you are also updating the Global Tempo.
Remember that each of the four channels of the Controllers block 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
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