tempowith

tempowith is a term that has emerged in discussions surrounding music production and performance, particularly in digital audio workstations (DAWs). It refers to the practice of deliberately altering or manipulating the tempo of a musical piece or section in a way that is not strictly tied to a metronome or a rigid grid. This can involve subtle accelerations or decelerations, or more pronounced shifts in speed, often used for expressive or stylistic purposes.

The concept of "tempowith" is often contrasted with traditional quantization, where musical events are snapped precisely to a grid. Instead, tempowith embraces a more organic and human feel. Producers might use tempowith to create a sense of urgency, release, or emotional build-up within a track. Live performers might employ tempowith to respond to the energy of an audience or to add dynamic variation to their performance.

Tools within DAWs, such as tempo automation or flexible tempo mapping, facilitate the implementation of tempowith. These features allow for the creation of gradual or sudden tempo changes over time. The goal is typically to enhance the musicality and expressiveness of the audio, moving beyond a purely mechanical or robotic execution. While the term is relatively new, the practice itself has historical precedents in various musical genres where flexible tempi were common.