Community: Message List - Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:29:45 GMT

Hello,

I just got my pod HD500. hope this patch helps God Bless You.

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:57:29 GMT

All of these folks have given you good and accurate advice. I would like to maybe simplify things for you (that works best for my simple mind). The beauty of tap tempo is this: if the drummer speeds up or slows down, or if the song gets played a little faster or slower each time you do it (which is what always happens if you don't use a click track) then you simply tap in the tempo (usually two or three taps gets it) and the device just synchronizes with that tap - and off you go in perfect time! If the drummer speeds up or slows down during the song, just tap his new tempo in on the fly - walla - perfect timing again! You can also tap the tempo in time with a click track if you are using one. It makes your time based effects sound really cool. Just tap your foot to the rhythm of the song.

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:22:19 GMT

That post about the bug with delay was in fact about HD500 Edit. It loses the setting when you add an amp but you can put it back. I'll have to test it on the pod to see if it's just HD500 edit.

The one thing I didn't see when skimming this thread was anyone explaining what a dotted eighth note actually is. Maybe I missed it, but here it is:

A dotted note means that the note is now 150% or 1.5 times as long as it was before.

A dotted eighth note is 3/16th's long instead of 2/16th's.

A dotted quarter note is 3/8th's long instead of 2/8th's.

A dotted half note is 3/4's long instead of 2/4's.

In case you also wanted to know, a triplet or the "3" that shows up on some of the delay settings is where you squeeze 3 of that note into the space where 2 would normally occur.

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:42:02 GMT

It sounds like you're getting the basic gist of it. Unless you're playing with a click track, and you know you're going to do songs at the exact same tempo everytime you play them, you probably want to have the delay times (and other time-based effects) tied to the tap tempo. So, yes, during a show, you do tend to have to tap in the tempo for every song, or at least every song where doing rhythmic delay things. With dotted eighth note delays, being in sync with the rest of the band is particularly important, because if you're out, it can be very bad.

The tempo you tap in can be either global, or it can be on a patch per patch basis. If you have it on a per patch basis, the tempo of the patch will come up with whatever tempo it was saved with when you bring it up. It will change once you tap it in. If you're using different patches in the same song, sticking with the global tap tempo is probably more useful.

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:29:51 GMT

You don't store tap tempo. The point is you tap it, it's the speed that you're playing at. If you want set delay times - perhaps because you always play those songs at the same pace - you're using a backing track or the drummer is using a click, then you may be better actually setting the delay lengths in milliseconds rather than using the tap and note values.

It's worth investigating some basic music theory and you'll get a better understanding what is meant by dotted notes and the like. All these values in the HD aren't specific technical terms about delays, but are aspects of musical notation. Even as guitarists who often don't need to read music it's worth learning the basic principles so we can communicate with "proper" musicians.

There are quite a few other FX that use tempo settings - such as phasers, chorus and flangers. But quite often you'll want a specific sound rather than trying to match these to a tempo of a song, and in that case you'll be better off once again setting time based rather than note based values.

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:43:31 GMT

phil_m

thanks my understanding is increasing. Let me see if i understand....... lets say I take a preset where I have a delay with dotted eight notes, I would tap the tempo of the song (most our songs are 4/4 time) the POD would then set the delay (dotted 8ths or whatever I have chosen) and will put it "in time" with the overall tempo of the song (the tap tempo i tapped in). If this IS right then please answer one more question.... it would seem that for every song I want to play with the band if I intend to use delay I need set the tap tempo even if I use the same preset but the tempo of the songs are different. is this correct? Let me ask in another way... every song we play should I try to tap the tempo before playing to make all the delays correct? If the tap tempo sets the effects timing to be correct it would seem every song we ever play I will need to be setting the tap tempo live during each song?? Or are you saying the tap tempo ONLY needs to be used when using two effects that have different time based note values (a 1/4 note and 1/8 note for example)

also does the tap tempo store with each patch? It seems every patch has a tap tempo already put in. Can you tell me when I need to use tap tempo... is it only for delay, chorus and flanger??

thanks....for all your help in this matter

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 01:01:38 GMT

Sorry about that - when I said eight note delay in my first reply, I did indeed mean dotted eighth note. But as far as why you'd run two delays with different timing, I find it just adds more texture to the sound. I like putting a higher mix and lower feedback on the shorter delay with a lower mix and higher feedback on the longer one.

Sorry for my ignorance I don't understand how the tap tempo controlls all the time based effects yet you can have each time based effect such as delay at it's own 1/4 note etc. So I assume "dotted 1/8th" note means the same thing as "1/8th note"??

It's OK - it can be confusing if you're new to this stuff. In the delay time parameter, you are able to either select a note subdivision or an actually millisecond value. If you hit a note subdivision, like a dotted eighth note, the POD will calculate the delay time for based on the tempo you tap in. That way, you only tap in quarter notes, and the POD does the hard work. This also means that you can have different time-based effects like the Bias Tremolo or Seeker, just for sake of example, with time parameter set to different not subdivisions. This allows you to do some very cool rhythmic stuff with these effects that would be difficult to near impossible with standalone effects.

If you're going to be using the tap tempo, I'd recommend leaving the flashing light on. It just makes it easier to see what you're doing.

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:03:19 GMT

Thanks for the fast reply,

So I want to run the 1/8th note into the 1/4 note correct? What is this actually doing out of curiosity?? Why would someone run two delays with different timing?

As far as you set the tempo, you just select the note value you want the delay to be set up under the time parameter. If you select a note value, the timing will be tied into the tap tempo. This works for delays or any other effects that have a time-based parameter, basically.

Friend, would you mind expanding on this. Sorry for my ignorance I don't understand how the tap tempo controlls all the time based effects yet you can have each time based effect such as delay at it's own 1/4 note etc. So I assume "dotted 1/8th" note means the same thing as "1/8th note"?? I have read the advanced manual also, can you spell it our for me? Is the tap tempo always on?? I have the tap tempo selected to NOT light up so I don't know when it's on, I may change the settings to always have it flash.

I would be lost without this forum thanks so much......

Re: Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:40:24 GMT

Hi,

It's very easy to set up multiple synced delays in a tone on the HD500. I've found for a delay like the one you're talking about, I like running the dotted eighth delay into a quarter note delay. I actually like that better than dealing with stereo delays. You could do that with a dual amp setup, though. It basically is all up to you. As far as you set the tempo, you just select the note value you want the delay to be set up under the time parameter. If you select a note value, the timing will be tied into the tap tempo. This works for delays or any other effects that have a time-based parameter, basically.

As far as bugs specifically related to the delay, I haven't noticed any. I think that thread you linked is dealing with the software editor more than the unit itself.

As far as panning and what outputs to use, if you're not going to use stereo, I would try panning everything to one side for your tones. You could run two outputs to the board if you wanted, though, and keep everything panned the way you want.

Dotted 8th notes and tap tempo.... newbie question HD500

support@line6.com — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 20:28:26 GMT

Hi Everyone,

It seems one of my favorite bands for church play (Hillsong Or Hillsong United) uses dotted 8th notes for delay. Can someone explain the following:

1. How do I set "dotted 8th notes" for my delay and what is a "dotted note"

2. The Hillsong guitarist frequently uses two delays one at 1/4 note one at the 1/8th "dotted note". How would I set this in my HD 500? Would I run two amps and put a delay in front of each amp (1/4 for one and 1/8th for the other) or should I just run one line with two delays at the different settngs (1/4 and 1/8th)

3. I read that Tap Tempo controls all the effects, can someone explain how the tap tempo would effect the dotted 1/8th notes and how to use the tap tempo (sorry this is my first multi fx board)

4. This poster seems to think there is a bug with the delay's is this true?? http://line6.com/community/thread/48720

if you have the time one more.....

Our PA at church has the bass amps on stage and flies 3 speakers in the center of the church that are all right next to each other, being there is no speaker separation in the church pa speakers, should I run 1 XLR left out or should I run both L & R XLR outs. It seems most of the patches are hard panned left and or right. SO i am guessing I need to run both L & R outs.