How to use Interpret (AI Tempo): play expressively with tempo-following

Interpret (AI Tempo) lets Metronaut follow your playing in real time. With an accompaniment, the backing track follows your tempo; without accompaniment, the score cursor follows your performance.

💡Use this mode when you feel comfortable with the piece and want to explore phrasing and expression. The aim is to keep playing along with you through mistakes, rather than wait for every correct note. For deliberate note-by-note learning, choose Sight-read.

Turn on Interpret (AI Tempo)

Open a piece in the iOS, Mac or Android app. Choose a version with accompaniment if you want a backing track to follow you.
Tap or click Modes in the score toolbar and select Interpret (AI Tempo).
Allow microphone access if requested, or use a connected MIDI instrument. Metronaut needs to receive your playing to follow you.
For a piano piece with hand versions, choose the left hand, right hand or both hands in the selected mode.
Press Play (▶) when you are ready, then play or sing your part.

What do I hear with or without accompaniment?

With accompaniment, Metronaut adapts its timing to your playing so you can shape the music. Without accompaniment, it follows your playing with the cursor; it does not create a backing track.

The recording of your own part is not played in this mode. On pieces without piano hand-selection options, an accompaniment speaker control may be available. For pieces with the hands selector, that section does not show mixer controls in this mode.

How is this different from the other modes?

Practice plays at your selected playback speed without adapting to your performance: useful for practicing notes and rhythm at a chosen pace.
Sight-read advances the cursor when you play the expected note or chord, with no track audio: useful for learning notes at your own pace.
Interpret (AI Tempo) follows your tempo: useful for musical phrasing and expression once you feel ready to play more freely.
Listen plays available recordings so you can get familiar with the piece before playing it yourself.

These are different musical choices, not levels you must unlock. You can switch whenever your practice goal changes.

Can I use AI Feedback with Interpret (AI Tempo)?

Yes. The independent AI Feedback button in the main score toolbar enables visual feedback and scoring/XP. It is on by default in Metronaut 9, and you can turn it off. Feedback does not change tempo-following into a mode that waits for every correct note.

Why is this mode unavailable on Web?

Interpret (AI Tempo) works in the iOS, Mac and Android apps, not in the browser version. A Web entry may be visible for information without being selectable for practice. On Web, use Practice or Sight-read, with AI Feedback if you want it. See the platform comparison.

What happened to Tempo AI or Smart Mode?

Older instructions used Tempo AI, AI Tempo, Smart Mode or Magic Mode for tempo-following. The current name is Interpret (AI Tempo), selected in Modes, not in the Tempo panel.