Arranging : Time, Tempo, Meter, Key, and Chords : Changing the Linearity Display Mode

Changing the Linearity Display Mode
For more information, see the following topics:
The Timeline can be viewed in either a Linear Tick (relative) scale or a Linear Sample (absolute) Time Scale. MIDI and Instrument tracks, audio tracks, and Tempo curves can appear and function very differently depending on the timebase display settings.
 
The Linearity Display Mode pop-up menu determines whether the Tempo Editor displays tempo events in an absolute (samples) timebase or a relative (ticks) timebase.
Linear Sample Display
The display of the Timeline is sample-based and the location of tick-based events (like Bars and Beats) shift after a tempo curve is drawn. That is, as you change tempo, the location of bars and beats move against the fixed sample-based Timeline (such as Minutes:Seconds). When working with sample-based material, such as when you are tracking or mixing, make sure that Linear Sample Display is selected. This is especially true if you intend to align the tempo and meter map to sample-based events.
Linear Tick Display
The display of tempo events is tick-based and tempo event Bar|Beat locations remain constant after the tempo curve is drawn and all sample-based events move against bar beat locations in the Timeline. When working on any tick-based material, such as MIDI notes or Elastic Audio events, make sure that Linear Sample Display is selected. This is especially true if you will be making tempo changes, but want the bars and beats to remain fixed in the Timeline.
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Drawing tempo events using the Linear Sample Display causes Bar|Beat based material to move. This can make it difficult to work on tick-based material. In most cases, you will want to use Linear Tick Display when drawing tempo changes.
To change the timebase display:
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Click the Linearity Display Mode selector and select a timebase from the pop-up menu.