This article will show you how to change the tempo of any ableton track utilizing a tempo track.
Part 1: Terms
Part 2: Adjusting the Tempo Track
Part 3: FAQ / Best Practices
Part 1: Terms
- The Sample Box : Where audio clips can be warped and adjusted (i.e. tempo changes, leader/follow toggling).
- Control Bar : Area where the sessions tempo information is displayed.
- Tempo Leader / Follower : Control that assigns a clip to either control the tempo of a track (for the duration of the clip) or assigns a clip to “follow” the session's current tempo.
- Tempo Track : An empty audio file spanning the entirety of a song or click track. This is used to create an easy access point for song tempos during a live set.
Part 2: Adjusting the Tempo Track
- Step 1 : Locate the Tempo Track directly above the “Guide / Markers”
- Double click the Tempo Track Clip so the Sample Box pops up at the bottom of the screen.
- Step 2 : Set the Tempo Track to “Leader”
- If it isn’t already set to leader, click on the button underneath the “Warp” button and set it to “leader”
- Step 3 : Change the tempo
- Underneath the “leader” button, change the number in the “Seg. BPM” box to the desired tempo.
- Step 4 : Toggle the Leader / Follow Button
- To have Ableton recognize a tempo change toggle the leader / follower control off and back on.
- Step 5 : Check that the tempo
- Play the song that was adjusted and check the top left corner to confirm that the tempo has changed.
Part 3: Frequently Asked Questions / Best Practices
- Make sure that there are no splits in the tempo track.
- If the tempo track has been chopped up during editing you will either have to change the tempo to each individual clip OR join all the clips together with “CMD + J” to create one tempo track.