quantise
techniquesKWON-tyz
To snap recorded notes or beats to a rigid timing grid, correcting rhythmic imprecision.
Quantisation in a DAW aligns MIDI notes or audio transients to the nearest grid division (eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc.). Full quantisation produces perfectly timed but often sterile-sounding results. Partial quantisation moves notes partway to the grid, tightening the timing while retaining some human feel. The debate over quantisation mirrors broader questions about perfection versus humanity in music production.