Swing is the feel of playing evenly spaced eighth or sixteenth notes with a slight bounce in the timing. Instead of a mechanically even stream, the flow becomes long-short, which creates sway and momentum.
How it differs from straight
Straight means notes spaced evenly. With swing, the second note is delayed a little or the first note is held longer. Even if the tempo does not change, the flow of the rhythm you feel does.
Relationship to triplets
Basic swing is sometimes explained as placing two eighth notes at the first and last positions of a triplet. In actual performance, though, the amount of bounce varies with tempo and genre and is not always exactly triplet-based.
Swing settings in a DAW
Many DAWs can add a swing amount to the grid or to quantization. Apply a small amount first and compare on hi-hats and percussion to hear the change more easily. You do not have to apply the same amount to every part.
How it differs from shuffle
Shuffle is most often used for a style with a clearer bounce built on a swung rhythm. In practice, the two words are sometimes used interchangeably.
Comparing by ear matters
Play the same phrase straight and swung and check how it sits with the kick and bass. Pushing the bounce too far can put it at odds with the grid feel of the other parts.
