Time Stretch
Definition
The process of changing the duration of an audio signal without affecting its pitch, used for tempo matching, creative effects, and audio quantization.
Context
Time stretching is a core capability in every modern DAW, implemented through various algorithms optimized for different material types (drums, vocals, polyphonic content). Each DAW has its own implementation — Pro Tools uses Elastic Audio, Ableton Live uses Warp, Logic Pro uses Flex Time, and Cubase uses AudioWarp. Algorithm quality varies, and extreme time stretching introduces audible artifacts that can be used creatively or avoided depending on the application.