KVR Audio

DUG FIR · Post by **DUG FIR** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:43 pm

Maybe Pitch-shifter isn't the right term, but I can't seem to find one that works. All I want is to take a sample (in wav format) and be able to speed it up without changing the pitch, or vise versa (change the pitch without changing the speed). Any suggestions? EVERYTHING I've tried makes the sample sound like a robot, or super grainy and basically unintelligible. thanks!

donaldm · Post by **donaldm** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 1:54 pm

Its time-stretching not pitch shifting you're looking for. I use DSP-Quattro, but its OSX only.

DUG FIR · Post by **DUG FIR** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:06 pm

that may have something to do with my inability to find anything that works. what does a pitch-shifter do then? anybody know of a good windows compatible VST time stretcher?

fred-hal · Post by **fred-hal** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:14 pm

pitchshifters alters pitch without affecting the speed
timestretchers alters speed without affecting the pitch

lots of hosts and samplers feature decent time/pitch manipulations.. do a kvr search..

a very cool stretcher is PaulStretch:

http://hypermammut.sourceforge.net/paulstretch/

wonder6oy · Post by **wonder6oy** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:15 pm

Go to http://www.waves.com/ and look up SoundShifter. Of all of 'em out there, that's the best I've heard.

Not cheap, though. And it will bring an older CPU to it's knees.

the way · Post by **the way** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:16 pm

It would help if you told us what you have already tried and what sort of sample you are trying to stretch ie is it a piece of music, a melody, a drumloop or something else. Different methods work better for different source material.

There are many options open to you:

Using a DAW with good timestretching built in like FL Studio.

Using an Audio editor like Soundforge or Adobe Audition.

Using a Slicer like Microdicer.

Using a dedicated standalone Timestretcher.

fred-hal has suggested a good extreme time stretcher but it's pretty poor if you only want to adjust things by a small amount, here's some links to probably the best free timestretching tool for minor adjustments:

The original KVR post
The download site

Pics:

fred-hal · Post by **fred-hal** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:23 pm

@ wonder6oy : suggesting a $700 plugin to someone who doesn't know what to look for? shame on you!

@ the way: good post

DUG FIR · Post by **DUG FIR** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:28 pm

the way wrote:It would help if you told us what you have already tried and what sort of sample you are trying to stretch ie is it a piece of music, a melody, a drumloop or something else. Different methods work better for different source material.

There are many options open to you:

Using a DAW with good timestretching built in like FL Studio.

Okay, now I'm really going to look stupid, but I use FL Studio 6 and I had no idea it had built in time stretching. How do you access/ use it? The samples are 5 - 10 second singing clips that I recorded in Sonar at a specified BPM and now want to mix into my FL Studio songs. The problem is that the FL Studio songs are faster/ slower and I do not want to adjust the tempo of the song the match the sample.
BTW, you guys are amazingly helpful on this site.

the way · Post by **the way** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:33 pm

Sorry DUG FIR but I don't personally use FL Studio so I can't help you but plenty of folk on here do so I'm sure someone will be along to help you. From what I've heard it's one of the best timestretching algos there is so it should satisfy your needs.

fred-hal · Post by **fred-hal** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:34 pm

easy as pie!

1. drag the sample into the playlist
2. double click to get the sample properties
3. under time stretching change from auto to one of the other algorithms to see which sounds better to you
4. drag the sample to preferred length

wonder6oy · Post by **wonder6oy** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:58 pm

fred-hal wrote:@ wonder6oy : suggesting a $700 plugin to someone who doesn't know what to look for? shame on you!

Well, in my experience, it's the only one that doesn't sound like "a robot, or super grainy and basically unintelligible."

But yah - I hear you. It's pretty pricy.
I would nominate the built-in Cubase SX algorithms second, but that would be another $700 wouldn't it?

DUG FIR · Post by **DUG FIR** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:09 pm

fred-hal wrote:easy as pie!

1. drag the sample into the playlist
2. double click to get the sample properties
3. under time stretching change from auto to one of the other algorithms to see which sounds better to you
4. drag the sample to preferred length

Thanks so much!

ObsoleteAcc99 · Post by **ObsoleteAcc99** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:43 pm

[DELETED]

Space Boy · Post by **Space Boy** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 3:45 pm

DUG FIR wrote:Maybe Pitch-shifter isn't the right term, but I can't seem to find one that works. All I want is to take a sample (in wav format) and be able to speed it up without changing the pitch, or vise versa (change the pitch without changing the speed). Any suggestions? EVERYTHING I've tried makes the sample sound like a robot, or super grainy and basically unintelligible. thanks!

Elevayta Choir Boy is not sounding like a robot when you use the Formant Correction feature. I guess you didn't give this one a try.

DUG FIR · Post by **DUG FIR** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:17 pm

fred-hal wrote:easy as pie!

1. drag the sample into the playlist
2. double click to get the sample properties
3. under time stretching change from auto to one of the other algorithms to see which sounds better to you
4. drag the sample to preferred length

wow, thanks again. it is as easy as pie and not to mention the sound quality. if i stretch it or shorten it, it still sounds crystal clear and maintains perfect pitch. FL Studio kicks ass.

Pitch Shifter that actually works?