So I have just renewed my Sonar Platinum membership and also upgraded to Melodyne 4 Studio.  Looks like the tempo detection in Melodyne is spectacular - it doesn't even need transients to find tempo - Wow!
 
Just wondering if, via ARA, we will be able to use this feature within Sonar and how that will work?  I am yet to install my Melodyne upgrade - just been watching some videos of the new tempo detection at work in Melodyne.  This has the potential to revolutionize how I record - could be the end of click tracks forever!
 
Just keen to know if there is a way to match Sonar to the detected tempo in any automated way?  Anyone know?
 
Bill.

Here's what Noel said in reply to my query about interaction with Melodyne's tempo map in another thread...

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]

subtlearts
That sounds like a reasonable workaround, but it would be even more brilliant if it could all be done internally with Studio running as a plugin. Hmm. I'm going to install the demo and play around a bit... 

We have plans of improving this part of the ARA integration in a future release. It shouldn't be very difficult.

I just upgraded to studio as well. I'm looking forward to new functionality and I'm psyched Noel is going to help integrate it.

Do remember that one advantage of a click track is that the tempo doesn't vary. Most tempo sync VSTs may click when forced to change tempo within the song. For that reason, I have long since been content to approximate song tempo for songs not recorded to a click or drum track. A constantly varying tempo is a problem for most tempo sync VSTs.

gswitz
Do remember that one advantage of a click track is that the tempo doesn't vary. Most tempo sync VSTs may click when forced to change tempo within the song. For that reason, I have long since been content to approximate song tempo for songs not recorded to a click or drum track. A constantly varying tempo is a problem for most tempo sync VSTs.

That's a good point. Might take a little massaging to get things to sound right...

gswitz
I just upgraded to studio as well. I'm looking forward to new functionality and I'm psyched Noel is going to help integrate it.

Do remember that one advantage of a click track is that the tempo doesn't vary. Most tempo sync VSTs may click when forced to change tempo within the song. For that reason, I have long since been content to approximate song tempo for songs not recorded to a click or drum track. A constantly varying tempo is a problem for most tempo sync VSTs.

 
Actually, to the contrary, I have on a few occasions mapped out the tempo of a non-clicktrack-sync'd song in Sonar, either by playing in my own tempo midi part and using fit to improvisation, or by right clicking and setting beat-1, bar-1 here and so on.  This results in Sonar's tempo meter changing continuously during the song, but each beat falls in line with the grid.  When I have used tempo-based synths or effects on these projects, they have followed the tempo beautifully with no artifacts or clicks whatsoever.  What particular VST FX have given you trouble?
 
I note that Melodyne 4 can actually generate a variable click-track as an exported midi file.  With this, we should be able to use the fit to improvisation tool to set the tempo to a non-sync'd recording.  Ultimately, though, if this can be engineered as an automated process by the bakers, I would be in heaven!
 
Bill.

BRuysWhen I have used tempo-based synths or effects on these projects, they have followed the tempo beautifully with no artifacts or clicks whatsoever.  What particular VST FX have given you trouble?

I usually notice it with Delays (like the VX64-VocalStrip). Tempo Sync'd delays are often problems (even Amp Sim related tempo Sync'd Delays.
 
I'll try to make an example file for you to hear.

I would be interested in hearing that too, gswitz. I'm very excited about the prospect of using Melodyne's tempo detection and being able to play the first track freely.
 
So it will be important to understand how different VSTs may react to the tempo map and its continual fine variations.

http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20160120_TempoTest.mp3
 
http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20160120_TempoTest.png

 
I believe that there is some shortcoming associated with tempo sync'ing a VST that prevents it from working as smoothly as changing the time dial while not in tempo sync mode. I'm not sure why. Lots of tempo sync'd effects (used to be this one) pop and click. I reported this maybe 4 years ago? Some long time ago. And they apparently made it so it works less badly now when there are changes to tempo (doesn't click, races to a zero crossing and starts over - haha). But this isn't what we would expect as users.
 
As a user, I would expect all material that was into the effect at a certain tempo to play through the effect at that tempo while new material would play through at new tempos. I would expect that the time value could be changed without issue.
 
Really, if you want to use a tempo sync'd effect, you should mute the effect through tempo changes unless you are sure it properly handles them.
 
For me, when mixing performances recorded live without a click, I just listen in the middle of the tune, tap the tempo onto the tempo setting form within Sonar and let the whole song be at that tempo. This is not useful for aligning drum beats etc, but I really don't bother with that.

Changing tempo on the fly can certainly make a tempo-sync'd delay go squirrelly. Ideally it shouldn't pop or click, but there may be some wonky pitch artifacts as, in effect, the delay time is changing mid-operation. There are dub tunes where this was done intentionally to create weird pitch/delay effects. Subtle continuous change in tempo is unlikely to generate anything over the top, but it might be noticeable on close listening. 

This is what the Sonitus Delay sounds like.
 
http://stabilitynetwork.blob.core.windows.net/g-tunes/20160120_TempoTest_Sonitus.mp3
 
I tried TH3 and it did the same thing as the VX-64. The Sonitus Delay pops and clicks.