One whatever level you are working on and this is aimed at the beginners.You want to record with a metronome happening.At the very beginning of music lessons on whatever this is stressed just as much as your reading skills and performance.On a piece of sheet music you have got first,the key signature.Then the time signature.This is part and parcel to an industry standard recording.In terms of recording science there is a bond of mathematical physics to music.You can improvise all you want.To the time sig.