Tap Tempo via computer keyboard

General discussion about Gig Performer
1

I’m wondering about the easiest way to trigger “Tap Tempo” via keyboard shortcut. What I want to to is to use the Elgato Stream Deck for tapping the tempo. As far as I know, there’s no keyboard shortcut assigned to this function but it can be accessed via MIDI Learn or by creating a widget for it.

So all I can think of to make that work are rather tedious:

  • Using a software that generates MIDI events from (global) hotkeys. But I’d need a virtual MIDI port for that.
  • See if there are plug-ins or external solutions to send MIDI events directly from the Stream Deck. But I’d need a virtual MIDI port for that as well.
  • Using the lowest or highest key on my stage piano (unfortunately, it hasn’t any buttons that can be used to send CC oder Note On or Note Off events
  • Creating a big widget and trying to simulate mouse clicks to tap tempo. It might work to use absolute X, Y screen positions when GP is maximized - but it feels rather hacky and I’m not sure if latency might be an issue here (yeah, I know that latency is usually overrated :wink: )

Do I think too complicated? Is there a much easier way I’ve missed?

Lukas

2

Okay, I totally forgot that GP Script has callbacks for keystrokes. I could delete this thread - but maybe this is helpful for people that find this via Google.

Open the script editor (Gig Script) and enter:

On Keystroke matching "T" Description "Tap Tempo"
    Tap()
End

Done :wink: This makes Tap Tempo respond to the ‘T’ key. Of course, it can be replaced with any other key (for example “spacebar” if you want to override the spacebar triggering Start/Stop).

1 Like
3

Yes, there is an easier way :grinning:

Use a keyboard callback in a gigscript and call the Tap function.
In fact, if you open the gigscript editor, I think it’s one of the template examples there.

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4

I tend to think complicated :smiley: I knew the callback but haven’t used it for too long.