Tempo programming
RiyazStudio has always let you change the tempo as you play - with controls on RiyazStudio's window and also keyboard commands; Up / Down keys (whilst holding Ctrl
for smaller changes); tapping the 'B' key three times to set a new tempo.
Now our Standard version's tempo programming lets you gradually increase the tempo - as you continue playing - giving a greater feeling of building excitement than
having to stop playing to make deliberate step changes in tempo.
(this simpler programming is distinct from the Semi-Classical version's variation programming)
So how does the programming work?
In its simplest and most flexible form:
100 500bpm
The tempo gradually increases (at a rate given by the first number '100' in bpm per minute) until the destination '500bpm' is reached.
Once you've started your practice session, hit the 'P' key (or 'Pause' button) to hold the
tempo constant for a while.
Hit the 'P' key once more to let it speed up again.
Feel free to edit the numbers to get an 'acceleration' and 'destination' that suits a particular practice session
(of course you can leave the programming 'paused' before reaching your 'destination' tempo).
To specify a fixed starting tempo, use:
50bpm 100 500bpm
The tempo starts at 50bpm. Hit the 'N' key (or 'Next' button) to move on to the acceleration stage,
Increase the tempo by a fixed amount:
100 +20bpm
Increase the tempo by 100bpm per minute, until the tempo is 20bpm higher than at the start.
Once the new tempo has been reached, the tempo will remain constant until you hit the 'N' key to begin the next 20bpm increase..
Of course, you can boost the tempo more rapidly by using a higher initial 'acceleration rate':
1000 +20bpm
Or just jump straight to the new tempo (each time you hit 'N'):
+20bpm
Carry on to the next stage after a specified time:
100 +20bpm(1min)
Increase the tempo by 100bpm per minute, until the tempo is 20bpm higher than at the start.
After 1 minute the accelerando automatically begins again. This interval can also be specified in seconds; '(30sec)'.
Hitting the 'N' key will prematurely move to the next stage of acceleration.
You can also specify percentage changes:
100% +20%(90sec)
means increase the tempo by 100% per minute, until the tempo is 20% higher than at the start.
After 90 seconds, start speeding up again.
You can also specify a number of cycles that you'd like each stage to take:
100bpm(1cycle) 200bpm(2cycle) 400bpm(4cycle)
or more simply:
100b(1c) 200b(2c) 400b(4c)
You can also use 'a' or 'avertan' instead of 'cycle'
To start your practice with a constant (but not preset) tempo, try this (so you don't have to hit 'P' immediately after the taal starts):
+0bpm 100 500bpm
You'll need to hit the 'N' key to start accelerating.
Instead of writing out 'bpm' in full - you can shorten it to 'b'.
Likewise, 'm' and 's' instead of 'min' and 'sec'.
If you know in advanced exactly how you want the tempo to change, you can string together the instructions.
To move gradually between a series of fixed tempos:
60b 50 100b 100 200b 100 400b
The programming can be paused 'P' or moved on to the next 'N' stage at any time.
To jump from one preset tempo to another without any gradual increase use:
60b 100b 200b 400b
Although it's not usual in Indian Classical music, our tempo programming could also be used to decrease the tempo:
300b 100 90b
Or increase then decrease:
60b 100 300b 50 90b