How to edit tempo with the editing tool
CueWee’s tempo tool lets you adjust a song’s BPM, create speed-up/slow-down curves, and change the time signature at any point.
When to use it
- Adapt the song’s original BPM for your rehearsal
- Create transitions with smooth acceleration or deceleration (rallentando, accelerando)
- Adjust passages with free tempo (e.g., a solemn intro)
- Change the time signature (4/4 → 3/4) on a bridge
How to open the tempo editor
There are two ways:
- From the tempo control in the player header: click the BPM display (e.g., “120 BPM”).
- From the track toolbar: click the Tempo Tool button (🕐 icon).
When activated, the tempo curve view appears over the timeline, showing the BPM throughout the song.
Add a breakpoint
A breakpoint is a point on the timeline where the BPM changes.
- Click the tempo curve timeline at the position where you want to change tempo
- A marker appears on the curve
Edit a breakpoint
Right-click (or long-press) on the breakpoint. The breakpoint popup opens with:
- BPM — numeric input to set the BPM at that point
- Time signature — input to change the time signature (4/4, 3/4, 6/8, etc.)
- Interpolate to next — checkbox to create a smooth ramp (interpolation) up to the next breakpoint
- Delete — removes the breakpoint
Constant tempo vs interpolation
- Without interpolation: BPM changes abruptly at the breakpoint.
- With interpolation: BPM transitions gradually from the current value to the next breakpoint’s BPM, creating an accelerando or rallentando.
Live preview
Play the song while you edit — CueWee applies the changes in real time, so you hear the result immediately. The current effective BPM is shown in the player header.
Reset the tempo
To return to the original tempo CueWee detected:
- Open the Tools ⚙ menu in the toolbar
- Click Reset Tracks
This action also resets volume, pan, and other player adjustments. If you only want to remove specific breakpoints, open each one and click Delete.
Tips
- For ballads: add a breakpoint at the beginning of the song with a slightly lower BPM for a more “breathing” feel.
- For outros and intros: use 2 breakpoints with interpolate for a smooth rallentando in the final bars.
- For tempo changes within the song: use the auto-detected tempo as your baseline and adjust selectively.
Limitations
- The tempo tool depends on the device’s “DSP.” On very old browsers, it may show “DSP not available” and the control will be disabled.
- Tempo changes affect playback and export if you check “Apply Mixer Adjustments” in the export dialog.