Tempo and session settings

This chapter explains the settings that apply to a whole session: its tempo, time signature, sample rate and pan depth. You will learn how to change each one in the Session Settings window, how to move a tempo change in a song that has a tempo map, and what a tempo change does to your MIDI and audio.

Open Session Settings #

1. Open a session.
2. Choose Settings > Session Settings…, or press ⌘ Num 2 (2 on the numeric keypad).

The window has two parts: Tempo and Time Signature, and Session Audio. Make your changes, then click Apply. Cancel closes the window without changing anything. Session Settings is unavailable while you record.

Applying is one step in the edit history, so Edit > Undo puts the previous settings back.

The status line at the bottom right of the window shows the current settings, for example 48.0 kHz · 120 BPM · 4/4.

Set the tempo #

1. In Tempo / BPM, type the tempo in beats per minute, for example 120 or 92.5.
2. Click Apply, or press Return.

Head Chef keeps the original tempo until you change this field. It stores the tempo exactly as you type it, so a value with a very long decimal can be refused with This tempo cannot be saved exactly. Shorten the decimal or choose another BPM value.

Decimal separators #

The BPM field and the tempo in the status line use the decimal separator of your Mac's region settings. If your region uses a comma, the field shows 92,5 for ninety-two and a half. You can type either your region's separator or a period, so 92,5 and 92.5 give the same tempo. Other number fields in Head Chef use a period.

What a tempo change does #

Changing the tempo changes the musical timing of the session:

• MIDI clips and notes are placed in bars and beats, so they follow the new tempo. A faster tempo makes them play sooner and closer together.
• Audio clips are placed at fixed sample positions, so they stay exactly where they are in time and keep their speed and pitch. The bar lines move around them.
• The metronome and count in follow the tempo and time signature.

Set the time signature #

1. Under Time Signature, type the number of beats per bar (from 1 to 32) in the first field.
2. Choose the beat unit in the menu after the /, for example 4 or 8.
3. Click Apply.

The menu lists the beat units that fit the song's musical grid. If a song uses a beat unit that the menu does not list, Head Chef keeps it and shows The current beat unit is kept. Choose another beat unit before changing the Time Signature numerator.

An assumed time signature #

Some imported songs do not store a time signature. Head Chef then counts bars in an assumed time signature, and the window shows a note such as This song did not store a Time Signature, so 4/4 is assumed. The status line adds assumed, for example 4/4 assumed.

• If the assumed time signature is right, click Keep 4/4 (the button names the assumed time signature) and then Apply. Head Chef stores it with the song and stops calling it assumed.
• If it is wrong, enter the correct time signature and click Apply.

Songs with a tempo map #

A song that carries tempo changes, such as some imported songs, has a tempo map: a list of tempos, each starting at its own position. For these songs:

• The field reads Initial Tempo / BPM and shows the first tempo. It is read only.
• The status line shows the tempo at the cursor and adds map, for example 92.693 BPM · map · 4/4.
• Each tempo value is kept exactly when you move a change or edit the time signature.

Move a tempo change #

1. In Session Settings, apply any other changes first. Move Tempo Change... is unavailable while other settings are waiting to be applied.
2. Click Move Tempo Change....
3. In Tempo change, choose the change to move. Each entry shows its position as bar, beat and tick, and its tempo. The initial tempo is not in the list.
4. Enter the new position in Bar, Beat and Tick. The window shows where the song's musical range ends.
5. Click Apply.

Head Chef moves the change using the song's current time signature. Its tempo value and every other change stay exactly as they were. The new position must come after the initial tempo, lie within the song's musical range, and not land on another tempo change.

Choose the sample rate #

1. Under Session Audio, open Sample Rate.
2. Choose 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz or 192 kHz.
3. Click Apply.

You can change the sample rate only while the session has no audio clips. Once it has audio, the menu is unavailable and the window explains: Sample rate is fixed because audio clips keep their source sample rate. Choose the rate before you record or import audio.

When the session rate and your audio device's rate differ, Head Chef switches the device to the session rate when you play, if the device supports it. The Audio Engine window (Settings > Audio Engine…) shows both rates. To record, the input's rate must match the session rate; see Recording audio.

Choose the pan depth #

Pan depth sets how much quieter a mono track is when it is panned to the center than when it is panned fully to one side.

1. Under Session Audio, open Pan Depth and choose a setting.
2. Click Apply.

Pan depth applies to mono tracks. Stereo channels use balance, which turns down one side as you pan toward the other. You can change pan depth whenever you are not recording, even after the session has audio.