Tighten timing to the groove of a chosen reference instrument, and don't neglect vocal timing

When correcting timing, the reference is the feel of the key rhythmic instrument, whose own waveform provides a visual template for editing the other layers. The author errs toward accurate timing for rhythm-section parts (rarely a musicality cost if the reference has a good feel), demands extra precision for double-tracked parts panned to opposite sides (the brain is very sensitive to timing disparities between similar sounds from different directions), and warns that lead-vocal timing is a common small-studio blind spot that undermines the groove.

Examples

Editing guitars and keys to the drummer’s waveform tightens the pocket; hard-panned double-tracks need especially tight alignment to avoid distracting flams.

Assessment

Describe how to choose the timing-reference instrument and two cases (double-tracks, lead vocals) needing extra timing care.