How is MIDI data affected by tempo changes on a sample-based track? On a tick-based track?

How is MIDI data affected by tempo changes on a sample-based track? On a tick-based track?

• A. MIDI set to sample-based timebase will be unaffected by tempo changes; tick-based will be moved.
• B. MIDI set to sample-based timebase will be unaffected by tempo changes; tick-based will be moved.
• C. MIDI is always affected by tempo changes regardless of timebase.
• D. MIDI data is never affected by tempo changes.

Answer: (B)

Tempo changes shift MIDI timing only when the data is defined in musical time (ticks/beats). If MIDI data is set to a sample-based timebase, the events sit at fixed sample offsets, so changing tempo doesn’t move them. The playback speed or tempo grid might change, but the actual MIDI events stay anchored to their sample positions. Conversely, with a tick-based timebase, MIDI events are placed in musical time, so altering tempo changes how many ticks occur per second. That redefines when those notes happen in real time, so the MIDI events move on the timeline as tempo changes. For practical understanding, this means you’ll see MIDI stay put with tempo tweaks on a sample-based track, but drift to align with the new tempo on a tick-based track.

Tempo changes shift MIDI timing only when the data is defined in musical time (ticks/beats). If MIDI data is set to a sample-based timebase, the events sit at fixed sample offsets, so changing tempo doesn’t move them. The playback speed or tempo grid might change, but the actual MIDI events stay anchored to their sample positions. Conversely, with a tick-based timebase, MIDI events are placed in musical time, so altering tempo changes how many ticks occur per second. That redefines when those notes happen in real time, so the MIDI events move on the timeline as tempo changes. For practical understanding, this means you’ll see MIDI stay put with tempo tweaks on a sample-based track, but drift to align with the new tempo on a tick-based track.