Quantisation
When you play notes on a MIDI keyboard, your timing is never perfect. Quantisation snaps those notes to the nearest grid position, tightening up the rhythm. It's like spell-check for timing - fixing the small errors while preserving what you meant to play.
Before & After
Here's what quantisation looks like. The notes on top are as played - slightly off the grid. The notes below have been snapped to exact positions.
Grid Size
The grid you snap to determines how precise the quantisation is. A larger grid (like 1/4 notes) only allows notes on the beat. A finer grid (like 1/16 notes) allows notes on subdivisions too.
1/4
Quarter notes - only on the main beats (1, 2, 3, 4). Very strict. Good for whole-note chords or slow bass lines.
1/8
Eighth notes - twice as many positions. The standard grid for most pop and rock music. Balances tightness with flexibility.
1/16
Sixteenth notes - the most common grid for detailed work. Hi-hats, arpeggios, and intricate rhythms. The default choice in most DAWs.
1/32
Thirty-second notes - very fine. Useful for fast rolls, detailed percussion, and glitchy patterns.
Quantise Strength
You don't have to snap notes 100% to the grid. Most DAWs let you set a strength percentage. At 50% strength, notes move halfway toward the grid - tighter, but still with some human feel. Think of it like adjusting seasoning to taste rather than dumping in the whole pot.
100%
Perfectly on grid
Tight, mechanical
50%
Halfway to grid
Tighter but human
0%
No change
As played
Swing
Swing shifts every second grid position slightly later, creating a bouncy, groovy feel instead of a straight mechanical rhythm. It's the musical equivalent of an uneven simmer versus a perfectly even boil - the slight irregularity is what gives it character. Essential for genres like hip-hop, jazz, soul, and lo-fi.
When Not to Quantise
Not everything needs quantising. Some parts benefit from loose timing - especially if you're going for a natural, organic feel. Overly quantised music sounds robotic. Genres like jazz, soul, and lo-fi actively avoid tight quantisation. Even in electronic music, some producers intentionally leave drums slightly off-grid for groove. The goal is for the timing to feel intentional, not sloppy.
Try it in your DAW
Quantisation is a timing concept - it moves notes to the nearest grid line without changing the notes themselves. To hear the difference:
Record a chord or melody freely (don't worry about timing)
Select the notes and quantise to 1/4 or 1/8 - hear how it tightens up
Undo and try a lower strength (50-75%) - notice the feel stays more natural
Key takeaway
Quantisation snaps notes to a timing grid for accuracy. Swing quantisation offsets alternate notes for groove. The key is balancing precision with human feel - too tight sounds robotic, too loose sounds sloppy.
Next: the software that brings it all together - what is a DAW.
Generate quantised patterns
Starts creates perfectly timed MIDI patterns you can humanise in your DAW.