Arrange with Time Stretching

Fit Your Material to the Song

In this article, we will introduce an arrangement technique using time stretching.

As we briefly mentioned in the previous article on fill arrangements,
you can freely change the length of audio and MIDI material with this feature.

For example, you can use it to adjust the timing of sound effects or change drum patterns.

Sound example

Creating the Sound

Adjusting the Length

Have you found a sound effect you like, only to find that its timing does not fit?
In that case, use time stretching to adjust its timing.

Time Stretching in Different DAWs

Changing a Drum Pattern

By halving or doubling the length of a drum pattern, you can quickly try out a variety of patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is time stretching?

Time stretching is a way to lengthen or shorten audio or MIDI material along the timeline. It can adjust playback speed without changing pitch and can be used to correct sound-effect timing or change drum patterns.

Q2. What are the benefits of time stretching?

It makes it easy to adjust the timing of sound effects and quickly try multiple drum patterns by halving or doubling their length, saving time during production and experimentation.

Q3. Does time stretching work the same way in every DAW?

The basic idea is shared, but the controls differ by DAW. The settings and steps depend on the software, such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One or FL Studio.

Q4. What can I do if a sound effect is out of time?

Use time stretching to adjust the length of the sound effect by double-clicking it, so that it fits the song’s tempo or timing.