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FamiTracker
60 Hz is the default frequency of the tracker & number of beats per minute isn't something that's actually consistent in this tracker (mainly because the true frequency of an NTSC TV isn't exactly 60 Hz).
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I don't think your OS is at fault. Here's a long-winded lesson in tempo.
Unfortunately, when tempo is set to 140, each row will not last an equal amount of time.
Tempo = 150*24/x (x = frames per quarter note)
set x = 25, tempo is 144
set x = 26, tempo is 138.46
See, there is no integer for x that gives a tempo of 140. If you use 140, some quarter notes will last 26 frames, and others will last 25 - hence the song 'speeding up and slowing down'.
If you end up using 25 or 26 frame quarter notes, you still are going to run into problems if you are using smaller note durations than quarter notes.
For example, if 25 frames = 1 quarter note, then 8th notes will have to alternate between 13 and 12 frames. 16th notes will be 7, 6, 6, 6.
The trick to remember is:
When tempo is set to 150, and speed set to 1, each row will last exactly 1 frame. Set speed to 2, each row lasts exactly 2 frames, etc.
In the attached FTM, I show an example of setting up 26 frames/quarter note, where a quarter note is 8 rows. Check out the Fxx commands in the DPCM channel. The 8th notes durations alternate between 6 and 7 frames.
So given what you've told me, here's my next question: When I set the tempo to 138 in Famitracker, what exactly happens? Does it round somehow? How does it divy up the frames? I did some experiments:
I put a quarter note kick on at 138 bpm and pushed play at the same time as your file, and noticed they were almost exactly the same, but not quite....they drifted apart really slowly over time.
I also listened very closely at 138 bpm with both quarter notes, and then 8th notes, and then 16th notes....it sounded good. I then switched it to 140 bpm and it sounded bad, which makes sense given what you've told me. These tempos should all sound good up to 8th notes:
100
105.88
112.5
120
128.57
138.46
150
163.63
etc
because of this formula:
Tempo = 150*24/x (x = frames per quarter note)
Only a few of those would sound perfect at 16th notes.
Last question: I still can't get my head around the relationship between "speed" and "tempo." How is tempo defined? I feel like maybe you've already given me all the pieces I need, but it's still stumping me.
1.) When you set the tempo to 138, some of the rows will last longer than others. It's going to be a pain figuring out which. That's why I would recommend always leaving the tempo at 150. Then you know exactly how many frames each row lasts (it equals the speed setting used for that row!). Instead of worrying about your global tempo setting, worry about how many frames you want per quarter note.
2.) Speed vs. Tempo: The speed is actually a tempo MULTIPLIER. A speed of '6' is 6x slower than a speed of '1'. A speed of '2' is twice the speed of '4'.
That's why at t150, a row at speed 4 lasts 4 frames, while a row at speed 1 lasts 1 frame, etc.
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