Tap Tempo - Alesis ModFX Reference Manual

Tap Tempo

This button affects the speed of the effect whenever the
[MODULATION] switch is set to a TEMPO SYNC mode. At
any time you can tap this button along with the music to set a new
tempo. The Tap Tempo light will flash at the current tempo.
Tap Tempo technique
For a reliable tempo setting, make several taps in a row at a
consistent speed, especially if you're changing the tempo
drastically. Watch the flashing of the light to see the current
tempo of the Philtre.
Adjusting tempo with audio input
After the basic tempo has been set using the [TAP TEMPO]
button, the Philtre will automatically make small adjustments to its
tempo by "listening to" the audio input. You try this out by
"tapping" on an instrument (playing sharp chords, or beats,
without sustain or notes inbetween) at almost the same speed as
the Philtre's tempo LED, or by slightly changing the speed of a
drum machine feeding the inputs. The Philtre can derive a beat
from a complex musical input, as long as it is reasonably close to
the original "tapped" tempo. The tempo can adjust up or down
about 15% from the original tempo tapped in.
How Tap Tempo works with Tempo Sync and
the Rate knobs
When TEMPO SYNC mode is enabled, the rate of the modulation
will be based on the tempo currently being flashed, multiplied by
the position of its [RATE] knob: when it's in the middle position
(around "12 o'clock"), the speed of the triangle, sample/hold, or
the pattern, will be the same as the tempo. (Tap Tempo has no
effect on Triggered or Envelope modulations.) See the earlier
descriptions of the [RATE] knob and Tempo Sync for more
information.
Using the Philtre
To get fast
modulations...
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tur n th e [ RATE] k no b to the
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Tem po .
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