Support for other time signatures (6/8, 2/2, 4/2, etc.)

[Simon]

Hi guys

This topic is about adding a setting in the Midronome supporting other time signatures, basically adding a "denominator" to the "bar" setting, which is for set to 4.

My idea would be that in the settings, you can select "bar" as before, but after pressing the knob you can select the denominator, between 2, 4 and 8.
Or maybe it should be a long press of the knob (thinking you would rarely change the denominator)?

What do you guys think?

Cheers
Simon

PS: this is created because of HappyClocker's suggestion to get the plugin to support x/8 time signatures (see viewtopic.php?t=283 ).
See also viewtopic.php?t=386 and viewtopic.php?t=48 which would both be solved by implementing this.

[tom]

Hi Simon. Thanks for your efforts in this space.

Quick answer: Yes please!

I came here exactly because of this. This is my first post here. Because this feature really matters to me.

I faced a challenge during my previous band rehearsal. The tune is in 7/8, and we're running some drum machine track that is started by the midronome so I can have a nice click track. So I thought shifting to the 7 bar setting in the midronome and doubling the tempo would be sufficient, but of course this made the drum machine sequence run twice as fast.

So I currently have to run a one bar setting to not have to change any other settings and to not be confused by the 1 count moving across the bar.

Would we very nice to be able to choose between 7/8 and 7/4, 5/8 and 5/4 and so on due to this.

Coupling this denominator setting to the proposed "setlist" feature I see mentioned would be very nice, making playing such a tune live a breeze.

Coming from an E-RM midiclock + Boss DB 90 setup, this is something I really miss.

As for how it should be implemented, It's hard to say. If you need to go to 8, you'd probably want to switch back to 4 during the same gig. (We have a 5/4 tune as well )

[Simon]

Thanks for the feedback Tom!

I'll see what I can do

[Simon]

FYI - this has been discussed in both these topics: viewtopic.php?t=386 and viewtopic.php?t=48

Both topics are closed, please add comments into this topic instead.

Simon

[vmanari]

I agree on this request. Besides different time signature it woul dbe great also to have different time divisions (basically a 1/8 besides the current 1/4).

Victor

[Ben_C]

Hi - just snagged an SH-101 and immediately ran into the issue of the clock output being too slow for practical purposes. So, yes, would love to see either a clock divider function and/or time sig denominator support. Ideally, it would be a setting you could “ride” in realtime.

[Simon]

Ideally, it would be a setting you could “ride” in realtime.

Do you mean bein able to change the time signature on the go, while the clock/song is running, without disrupting the timing?

Simon

[Ben_C]

Hi Simon,

Apologies for the slow response! Yes, I think that could be a lot of fun for live jamming with arps and sequences - doubling/halving the tempo on the fly. But, really, just the option of doubling the internal rate to have a normal tempo range for clocks like the SH-101 implementation would be a huge improvement.

[Simon]

Yes, I think that could be a lot of fun for live jamming with arps and sequences - doubling/halving the tempo on the fly.

I see - but this is not what this topic is about. The time signature will only affect the metronome (i.e. what comes out of the "AUDIO" output), not the clocks, same as when you change it in your DAW. That's the way time signatures work and I would think most people expect it to work this way (and would be confused if it started doubling the tempo!)

Halving the MIDI clock on the fly could be an interesting and easy feature to add though, in fact it is already there on the ANLG clock (setting "An.1" and "An.2") and yes you can "ride" that setting real time without disrupting the timing
It has already been suggested on this topic: viewtopic.php?t=376

Simon

[Simon]

So - for those who have not noticed, this will be implemented as part as FW 4.0.

Unless there is a strong will for it, time signatures with a not-whole amount of beats or quarters will not be supported.
Meaning 5/8 (2.5 quarters per bar), 10/16 (same), 3/8, etc.

[Simon]

The display in the settings will show "xx.Y" with xx the numerator and Y the denominator.
Since there is only one digit for 16, a denominator of 16 will show as ō.

So for example:

• 4.4 means 4/4
• 6.8 means 6/8
• 12.2 means 12/2
• 8.ō means 8/16

To edit the denominator, you have to go through the whole list, i.e, from 1/2 to 32/2, then from 1/4 to 32/4, etc.

Let me know if you have any comments about that

[Simon]

Here is another thought: how should the tempo tapping be when the time signature is not x/4 ?

There are 2 approaches:

1. Consider taps are always quarternotes, so for example with a time signature in x/8, you will need to tap twice as slow compared to the metronome
2. Any tapping should match the time signature, i.e.:
   • A time signature in x/2 expects a tapping in half-notes
   • A time signature in x/4 expects a tapping in quarternotes
   • A time signature in x/8 expects a tapping in eighth-notes
   • A time signature in x/16 expects a tapping in sixteenth-notes

I like the second option, which is clearly more complex to implement and could make into a new feature, or better, be combined with the smart tap tempo feature and in particular armmaster's suggestion - see viewtopic.php?p=2332#p2332

Note that this would also affect tapping the time signature on the drum pad (in "P.A.d." mode).

For FW 4.0, only the first option (quarternote tapping only) will be implemented, but please let me know your thoughts!