Testing the Kemper tap tempo clock - too accurate? What's 121.3 bpm?

I haven't fired up Digital Performer in a long time, but IIRC you can set tempo to at least 1/10 accuracy (120.x) right there in the transport panel.

So, it's not necessarily-unusual.

Consider that before reliable (good-sounding) time stretching and compression reared its head, folks who worked to picture, and especially jingle makers, had to tweak their MIDI tracks to play for exactly the right length of time. So, you'd make the major adjustments on a bar level, arrangement-wise, then fine-tune the BPM value to fit. The difference between 90 and 91 BPM when you're making a 1-minute or even 30-second commercial is significant.

Also, there's the question of feel. It can happen that a groove sits perfectly in the pocket at a non-integer value.

Quote from nightlight

I can't even programme that kind of bpm in Logic, so it's obviously not a common thing.

Have you tried this, AJ?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5906060

That's a separate issue 'though, isn't it, AJ?

Hopefully you're satisfied that the 1/10 BPM resolution isn't unreasonable.

If I'm understanding what you're saying, I think the clock is fine especially if you're adding something to a live recording with live musicians. Making the clock more coarse could really screw you in that situation. Tap tempo 121.3 bpm might be the exact groove you need.

OTOH, an option to make it whatever you want is always a good thing.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a rounding feature.
I only use the tap tempo for "free songs" that we play without a click. The others all are programmed to the right tempo.
I've never used a .x tempo but I guess that most analog delays also won't round to the next full bpm

Indeed, none of them would 'cause there is no quantisation-to-integer-BPM ability on any of them AFAIK.

MPB speculated about analogue delays (the last sentence he said), which I responded to, AJ.

The Virus isn't analogue, nor is the delay therein. Analogue-modelled, sure, but not analogue.

EDIT:
My guess is that MIDI gear would use MIDI clock for this.

The Virus? Yeah, I'd assume so, as long as the KPA can send a MIDI clock stream, which I expect it can. Practically all outboard synths and FX units can respond to it. You'll have to set the clock source in the Virus to MIDI / external 'though or else nothing will happen.

The analogue delays MPB and I alluded to however... I doubt it, 'cause they use analogue circuitry to "generate" the delay times.

Quote from Monkey_Man

The Virus? Yeah, I'd assume so, as long as the KPA can send a MIDI clock stream, which I expect it can.

Yes, the Virus syncs quite nicely to MIDI "Beat Clock", at least coming out of my DAW.

I think even if the Virus doesn't have decimal point Accuracy on its own it will probably sync up to Midi-Clock regardless of what the rate is in BPM.
I think that implementing the device to round the midi-clock to anything else than the actual beat it gets over midi-clock would be something that nobody in their right mind would do.

I believe you're correct on both counts, mate.

Our Tap Tempo is probably the most advanced that you can find.
It is made for catching the tempo with more precision, when you tap more than four times.

Try to tap longer to an external metronome. After a while it will show the exact tempo, even if your tapping was not accurate.

With tapping just four time no human being will be accurate.
The Virus Tap Tempo is actually the same code.