Tutorial #3 · 1:50 · Getting started

Play, Loop and Set the Tempo in Atomik Rack

Control playback in Atomik Rack: play and stop, set a loop with the L and R flags, turn on the metronome and change the tempo and time signature.

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What you'll learn

  • Play, stop and move the playhead from the transport bar
  • Set a loop with the L and R flags, and switch it on and off with L
  • Turn the metronome on with C
  • Change the tempo and time signature by typing, or tap the tempo in
  • Zoom the timeline with H and G

Overview

This guide covers controlling playback with the transport bar: start and stop, move the playhead, loop a section, switch on the metronome, and change the tempo and time signature.

Step by step

1. Play and move the playhead

  1. Press Space to start and stop playback. The play button turns green and the playhead runs along the timeline.
  2. The first transport button jumps back to the beginning.
  3. Forward and rewind move the playhead one bar at a time.

2. Set a loop

  1. The loop is marked on the ruler by two flags: L for where it starts and R for where it ends. The blue E flag is the end of the song.
  2. Drag the R flag to choose where the loop ends.
  3. Or click on the ruler: Ctrl+click sets the left flag and Alt+click sets the right flag. The L and R boxes in the transport follow.
  4. From the menu: put the playhead where you want it, then use Transport > Set Left Locator at Playhead or Set Right Locator at Playhead.
  5. Press L to switch looping off, and press it again to switch it back on. The loop button lights up when looping is on.

3. Use the metronome

Press C to turn the metronome on, handy when you record. Its button lights up blue, and the CLICK slider beside the locators sets how loud the click is.

4. Change the tempo and time signature

  1. Double-click the tempo, type a new value and press Enter.
  2. Prefer to tap it in? Tap the TAP button along with the beat, a few times, and the average of your last taps sets the tempo.
  3. Change the time signature the same way: double-click it, type 3/4 and press Enter.

5. Zoom the timeline

Click in the arrangement, then press H to zoom in on the timeline. Press G to zoom back out.

Shortcuts from this tutorial

Key What it does
Space Play and stop
Ctrl+click on the ruler Set the left loop flag
Alt+click on the ruler Set the right loop flag
L Loop on and off
C Metronome on and off
Ctrl+Z Undo, including a tempo change
H / G Zoom in / zoom out on the timeline

Common mistakes

  • Playback keeps repeating. The loop is still on. Press L to switch it off and play straight through.
  • Typed the wrong tempo. Press Ctrl+Z and the tempo goes back to the previous value.

Next: how projects are opened and saved.

Shortcuts shown are for the Windows/Linux default profile. On macOS, Cmd replaces Ctrl.

Read the full transcript

Now let's control playback: play, loop, and tempo. Space starts and stops playback. The play button turns green and the playhead runs along the timeline, and on your computer you hear the music. The first button jumps back to the beginning.

Forward and rewind move the playhead one bar at a time. The loop is marked on the ruler by two flags: L for where it starts and R for where it ends. The blue E flag is the end of the song. Drag the R flag to choose where the loop ends.

Control and click on the ruler sets the left flag, and Alt and click sets the right flag. The L and R boxes in the transport follow.

Tip: Set a flag from the menu. Put the playhead where you want it, then use Transport > Set Left Locator at Playhead or Set Right Locator at Playhead.

Press L to switch looping off, and press it again to switch it back on. The loop button lights up when looping is on.

Common mistake: Playback keeps repeating? The loop is still on. Press L to switch it off and play straight through.

Press C to turn the metronome on, handy when you record. Its button lights up blue, and the CLICK slider beside the locators sets how loud the click is. Double-click the tempo, type a new value, and press Enter.

Tip: Undo a tempo change. Press Ctrl+Z and the tempo goes back to the previous value.

Prefer to tap it in? Tap the TAP button along with the beat, a few times, and the average of your last taps sets the tempo. The time signature is changed the same way: double-click, type three, slash, four, and press Enter. Click in the arrangement, then press H to zoom in on the timeline.

Press G to zoom back out. Now you can shape playback. Next, how projects are opened and saved.

Try it yourself

Atomik Rack is a free, open-source DAW. Download it and follow along.

Download Atomik Rack Subscribe on YouTube

More in Getting started

Atomik Rack is made by the producer behind Atomik Circus. Hear the music

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