The optimal swing percentage varies with tempo and pattern, so it must be dialed in by ear

Linn explains that MPC3000 groove templates — preset swing values marketed as the secret to MPC groove — didn’t work well because a particular swing percentage that sounds right at one tempo sounds wrong at another. There is no universally correct swing percentage: the right setting emerges from listening to the beat while adjusting swing in real time. This is why Linn’s Tempest drum machine included a real-time swing knob, so the performer could find the pocket interactively. Preset template approaches bypass this listening process and produce inconsistent results across different tempos.

Examples

Load the same beat pattern at 80 BPM and 120 BPM. Apply a fixed groove template swing (e.g. 62%). The 80 BPM version may sound right but the 120 BPM version may feel too swung or too stiff.

Assessment

Why does Linn argue that groove templates are a ‘swing for dummies that didn’t work so well’? What approach does he recommend instead, and what tool did he add to the Tempest to support it?