Tempo problem in SONAR... can my arrangement be saved?

It's like this: I'm working on a complex many-tracked pop arrangement in SONAR 6.

I initially set the tempo by playing a drum track in, then synching up every other track with the new AudioSnap feature (which is very kewl). What this means is, the Tempo listed on the tempo counter is not constant (nor would I want it to be).

The upshot is, everything sounds really good-- with one exception: on the second CHORUS, my tempo takes off a little too fast... subtly, but noticeably so. Eventually it gets back into a good, correct tempo, but those two or three measures sound like the tempo is galloping away a little bit.

My problem is, I noticed this slight speed-up too late in my tracking process...

Can global tempo problems be solved after-the-fact in SONAR? It would be a shame to scrap everything, 'cause everything else about the arrangement sounds excellent.

P.S. How did they used to solve these problems in the "old days' of tape?

Thanks, ras

The fix depends on the problem. You can just Ctrl-slip edit the track to stretch it...I think your best bet at this point might be to do it during the mastering process. In other words, mix the tune as it is, then work on that one section, mix it down, and insert it in place of the wrong part.

Playing devil's advocate: If you didn't notice it until all of the instruments were tracked, is it really bad enough to worry about fixing it? It sounds like you have real musicians playing real instruments, so a slight shift in tempo for a couple of measures may not be such a bad things.

If you do want to fix it, you can just split all of the audio clips at the transients and shift them over in time. You can also smooth out the tempo map a bit. This will take a fair amount of time, but it can be done.

Note that simple stretching may not fix the problem, only alter it. If those few measures are constant in tempo, only too fast then you will be okay. If there is a gradual change in tempo as those measures adjust back to the common tempo then you may need to break it down into beats before making alterations.

Another option is to open the tempo map, and (after saving a backup copy) try nudging the tempo line with your pointer to change the sudden jump in tempo to a curve or a (straighter) line. Audition it, repeat, lather, rinse, repeat, till you're happy with it.

It's a good idea to zoom way in on it first.