Nat 5HigherAdvanced Higher

Quantisation

Quantisation moves notes or events closer to a timing grid to make a performance tighter.

Level relevance: introduced at Nat 5; tagged for every later level where the same concept remains useful.

Explanation

Quantisation is used to correct timing in a sequenced performance. When notes are recorded slightly early or late, the DAW can move them towards the beat or another rhythmic value such as quavers or semiquavers. Heavy quantisation can sound mechanical, so it should be used carefully. In Music Technology, it is often a balance between technical accuracy and preserving musical feel.

Topics

SequencingEditingTiming
Curriculum statussupporting vocabulary
Review statusdraft

Related terms

MIDI

MIDI is performance and control data that tells devices what to play, rather than storing recorded sound.

View term

Sequencer

A sequencer records and organises MIDI or audio events in time so they can be played back accurately.

View term

Tempo

Tempo is the speed of the music, usually measured in beats per minute.

View term

Synchronisation

Synchronisation means keeping events accurately aligned in time.

View term