Changing the tempo without a metronome mark
To change the tempo in MIDI output without printing anything, make the metronome mark invisible.
\version "2.24.0"
\score {
\new Staff \relative c' {
\tempo 4 = 160
c4 e g b
c4 b d c
\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t
\tempo 4 = 96
d,4 fis a cis
d4 cis e d
}
\layout { }
\midi { }
}