Hey Zaskar,
great question - the word "sync" is the clue.
[If I'm not mistaken] The metronome is not coupled per se to the delay - you can though, type in any numbers that mathematically or otherwise make sense for what bpm you choose, without sync selected.
Here's a quick rundown on things which hopefully reveal the sense of it when using sync with a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
When we mouse hover over the sync dot, the info box says
"Synchronize with your host tempo"
This is mostly used in a DAW. Let's say, you begin a new song/project in a DAW you like, in the DAW song/project settings, you select things like 60 beats per minute and 6/8 timing or 4/4 and whatever other preferences available that you want.
That's the data Pianoteq sync will sync up with - that way, in your DAW project, if you change from 60 bpm to 64 bpm or 256? (theoretically any other number), you do not then also need to manually change your numbers in Pianoteq, it will still "sync" to give "swing" etc which makes sense to the numbers you change in your DAW project.
(There will be mathematical theoreticals internally which really might not sound human in some cases where the higher the number the more 'impossible' it might be to sound human - some articulation might not be a bad thing depending on whatever numbers you experiment with - it gets pretty hard to feel some measure of convention in the swing over a certain bpm - but whatever works, works).
The letter "T" refers to "Triplet" timing convention - and you can use it for automatically giving your echo timings some "Swing" (most basically fitting 3 into the space of 2 - and as humans, we each bring our own 'feel' to this when playing - like swing within the swing, varying the placement of the notes to kind of accelerate the 3 notes, or stretch the drama etc.).
The "D" refers to "Duplet", or "Dotted" notes where a dot after a note adds 1/2 the note length onto it. (outside the Pianoteq tools and in wider music theory, every subsequent dot = half of that again.. so the scheme goes, half, quarter, eighth and so on - not sure how far down that rabbit hole is possible - but at some point, it's best to simplify the theoretical with more plain notation anyway - each DAW or midi tool will probably function within their own limits but give interesting results when given 'pointy-headed' data - what's humanly or technically possible is another story of course).
That's some of the "what" in a nutshell, here's a "how":
In a DAW, you choose your project's beat/bar settings (like 6/8 or 4/4 at 60bpm).
Load Pianoteq as a VST instrument on a track.
Open Pianoteq's interface and select the effect button and choose "Sync" and the timing you want.
Then A/B test what the difference between the ones marked with and without the "T" and "D"
But, if you just want to use Pianoteq in standalone mode and choose an echo like one synced with "T" etc., I'd really recommend disabling the "sync" mode and just choosing (with or without maths) some different delay times, with slider, or right-click and type in numerically in the input box that pops up.
Some charts might be found online with keywords like "music beat timing sync chart".. some good ideas out there, as well as some music theory sites.
Using 60 bpm and with the metronome going, some interesting numbers to use for your delay, without sync, might be (try out increasing also "feedback" to something like 50 to hear subsequent echos and examine how they diminish in time):
666ms for a quarter note triplet.
333ms for an 8th note triplet.
166ms for 1/16th triplets.
LINKS of interest:
Here's a nice page about the Tuplet in Wikipedia.
Likewise, the Duple and Quadruple in Wikipedia.
Here's a concise online BPM tempo and delay to time and frequency calculator - good links from this page and the chart is clear and in view, rather than needing just user input.
But, there are others, an interactive online delay calculator by Nick Fever <--here.
I like this blog post with some rhythm-ready tips for a primer and links.
In your web searching, you'll find much more sticking to terms like: how to, tuplet, duplet, midi, beats, bars, charts, timing, music theory etc.
Just some added opinion for anyone reading who may be new to music and music theory, it's my view that everyone takes a path due to their own reasoning, experiences and expectations/goals and nothing may ultimately be correct per se, but music theory is undoubtedly valuable for any particular career, genre, collaborating etc. and it's one thing to grok theory and yet another thing to play musically, and with enough time and application most everyone can develop their own interpretive or non-interpretive nuances no matter the instrument or tech, genre - the human factor is you
Best of luck! Hope some of that helps you out.
[Edit - spelling rhytm to rhythm]
Last edited by Qexl (30-07-2019 07:37)
Pianoteq Studio Bundle (Pro plus all instruments) - Kawai MP11 digital piano - Yamaha HS8 monitors
