Recording without a click with Smart Tempo

While it certainly is possible to record to a click without the result sounding mechanical, it is freeing to record without one. Musicians refer to this technique as Rubato, the traditional Italian name.

You can record both audio and MIDI with software instruments freely, but let's try it here with audio with a Logic Pro feature that I believe is simply amazing:

1. Set your project tempo to approximately what you want it to be.
2. In the Control bar's LCD, change the setting from Keep Tempo to Adapt Tempo.
3. Record!

I recorded the first phrase of the Battle Hymn of the Republic because it's public domain and has strong downbeats, which really helps Smart Tempo's analysis. Here, you can see the result:

Figure 3.12 – A Rubato vocal recording

Smart Tempo has correctly analyzed the tempo I sang and created a tempo map. Now I can play subsequent parts and hear the tempo...