Specifications

Chapter 20: Record Setup 439
Setting the Session Tempo
When opening a new session in Pro Tools, the
tempo defaults to 120 BPM. If you intend to record
with a click at a tempo other than 120 BPM, make
sure to set the tempo accordingly.
To change the session tempo:
1 Double-click the Song Start Marker in the Edit
window (see “Song Start Marker” on page 770).
2 Enter the BPM value for the session.
3 Set the Location to 1|1|000 (to ensure that the in-
serted tempo event replaces the default).
4 From the Resolution pop-up menu, select the
note value for the beat. (For example, if you are
in 6/8, select a dotted-quarter note.)
5 Click OK.
Using Manual Tempo Mode
In Manual Tempo mode, Pro Tools ignores tempo
events in the Tempo track and instead plays back a
Manual Tempo. This tempo can be set with the
Tempo slider, or if you are not sure of the actual
tempo, by tapping in the tempo.
While you can adjust the Manual Tempo during
playback, doing so momentarily interrupts play-
back.
To set the Manual Tempo with the Tempo slider:
1 To view the MIDI controls in the Transport win-
dow, select
View > Transport > MIDI Controls.
2 In the Transport window, click the Tempo Ruler
Enable button (Conductor) button so it becomes
unhighlighted. Pro Tools switches to Manual
Tempo mode. In this mode, any tempo events in
the Tempo track are ignored.
3 To base the BPM value on something other than
the default quarter-note, click the Tempo Reso-
lution selector and select a different note value.
(For example, if you are in 6/8, select a dotted-
quarter note.)
4 To enter a new tempo, do one of the following:
• Drag the Tempo value up or down. For finer res-
olution, press Control (Windows) or Command
(Mac) while dragging.
• Click the Tempo value, type a new number, and
press Enter.
Tempo events, which can occur anywhere
within a Pro Tools session, appear in the
Tempo ruler. For more information on
inserting and editing tempo events, see
“Tempo” on page 771.
You can type in a specific tempo, or you can
use the T key to tap in the tempo.
Tempo Change window
Manual Tempo mode
Tempo value in BPM
Tempo Ruler
Enable button
Tempo Resolution selector