Tap tempo switch
The footswitch a player strikes repeatedly to set a delay or modulation effect's rate, which the device then measures.
Its behaviour is worth understanding because devices differ: some average two taps, others several, and holding the switch often selects a different division such as a dotted eighth. Accuracy depends on the player's timing, and an average over several taps is more reliable than one. On units with a dedicated jack, an external switch can be added so the tap function does not consume an onboard switch.
Example: tapping four steady beats during a song's count-in gives the delay a rate that stays locked to the music.
See also
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