Turning off automatic tempo detection.

[DavidBailes]

In the description of major features for 3.5, it is stated that:
"Automatic tempo detection can be turned off via Preferences -> Import/Export."

This is not completely accurate. See the table on this page:
audacity/audacity#5570
If the pref is set to "do nothing" and the timeline is set to "beats and measures", then automatic tempo detection is used.

It can only be turned off if the pref is set to "do nothing" and the timeline is set to "minutes and seconds".

[petersampsonaudacity]

@DavidBailes is this just a documentation issue (as implied by you listing it here) ?

Or is it a more fundamental issue that should be logged as a bug in the app (but maybe it's a "design feature") ?

[DavidBailes]

app (but maybe it's a "design feature") ?

This issue logged is a documentation issue. At least for me, I had to look at the documentation contained in the pull request, and some of the code, to work out what was meant to be happening - and used that info for a section in my guide for screen readers: https://vip.chowo.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/jaws/Audacity-3.5.1-Guide.html#automatic-tempo-detection

Steve has raised an issue about the design here: audacity/audacity#6425

[petersampsonaudacity]

Hi @DavidBailes

So this is what is says in the Manual on the Import/Export prefs page:

Are you saying that this is wrong/misleading too?

[DavidBailes]

Are you saying that this is wrong/misleading too?

It's probably worth mentioning changes in project tempo, as well as the Timeline view:

• in the first option, the project tempo is set to be the detected tempo.
• in the last option, the project tempo is not changed.

I find the "do nothing" slightly misleading, and in need of clarification, but @saintmatthieu doesn't - see: audacity/audacity#6425 (comment)

[saintmatthieu]

I believe that the dialog does what it says, yes, but I didn't say what it said wasn't misleading, did I ? :D Hence the enhancement request tag to that issue.

[petersampsonaudacity]

Haha - but I'm thoroughly confused now (but that is easily done these days) ;-)

[DavidBailes]

but I didn't say what it said wasn't misleading, did I ?

Sorry, I misunderstood what you were saying.

[petersampsonaudacity]

the 3.6.0 Beta manual now says:

[SteveDaulton]

So, a simple question that I've seen a few people asking: How do you turn off automatic tempo detection?

[DavidBailes]

So, a simple question that I've seen a few people asking: How do you turn off automatic tempo detection?

Set the Timeline view to minutes and seconds, AND set the music imports preference to do nothing.

[SteveDaulton]

Thanks for the clear answer David. I hate that design, but at least I know the answer now.

[petersampsonaudacity]

The alpha manual now has (for added clarity)