Tempo Map in Pro Tools

 

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Getting started with the Tempo Map in Pro Tools

Pro Tools is a software that lets you produce, record, edit and mix audio as well as MIDI performances.

If you are producing music in Pro Tools, you will benefit from recording following a tempo map, specially if there are tempo changes within the song.

These tempo changes should be programmed before you actually start recording, so that all musicians follow the same tempo reference.

Pro Tools lets you program these tempo changes by using the Tempo Map.

On this tutorial, we will explore an overview the Tempo Map in Pro Tools:

 

1. Create or open an existing Pro Tools session with at least a Click track:

 

 

2. Locate the tempo ruler area:

 

 

3. Click on the drop-down arrow to open the tempo map:

 

 

The tempo map will open as:

 

 

It can be seen from the tempo map, our tempo has been set fixed to 155 bpm.

If you want to add a tempo change, locate your cursor (on grid mode) at the desired location.

For the purpose of this turorial we will set our tempo change at the start of measure #3

 

4. Locate the cursor at the start of measure #3:

 

 

5. Click on the “+” sign to the right of the word “tempo” to add a tempo change:

 

 

The tempo change window will appear as:

 

This window has some parameters that can be defined as:

• Snap to bar: When this is checked, the tempo change will happen on the start of the bar.
• Location: This determines the location of the tempo change
• BPM: This determines the BPM of the new tempo
• Resolution: This determines the resolution of the new tempo as a note value.

 

For the purpose of this tutorial we will se the new tempo to 85 BPM as:

• Snap to bar: Checked.
• Location: 3|1|000
• BPM: 85.
• Resolution: Quarter note.

 

6. Apply these parameters and press “OK”:

 

Once we press OK, the window will close and the tempo map will look like this:

 

 

It is easy to see how the tempo map shows the tempo change in a graphic way.

However, you can press play and the click will adapt accordingly. The sonic differences will be obvious when the song changes from 155 to 85 bpm.

 

 

7. Repeat the process as many times as needed for other tempo changes:

 

 

And that is it!

We have successfully programmed the Tempo Map in Pro Tools.

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