DAW: Which Has Best Time-Stretch Algorithm?

[tommyzai]

Nearly all DAWs use a version of zplane Elastique, MuLab and Serato Studio being exceptions (possible others, too?).

A Google search gives this answer,

"Ableton Live is a DAW that was designed with electronic musicians, beat-makers and DJs in mind, so its pitch-shifting and time-stretching tools are built into the interface for maximum efficiency and simplicity."

Is this (still) true or do other DAWs now have better time-stretching? If so, which?

[Saffran]

Well, iirc, Mulab did get praise in a thread here at KVR. Maybe 6 months ago?

[Danno]

This is interesting to me. I don't trust Cubase's stretching as much as I did Ableton. I had some uninformed sense that Ableton retained the original transients better. Are they actually using the same algorithm?

And now I'm using Bitwig on the side.. so far I think it's better than Ableton.

[bermudagold]

Ableton: Zplane Elastique and proprietary
DP: Zynaptiq Time Factory
Reaper: Elastique, Rubber Band, SoundTouch
Serato Studio/Sample: PitchNTime
Tracktion: Elastique
Cakewalk: Izotope
Mulab: Proprietary
Audacity: Paul Nasca
Discodsp Bliss: rubber band

Independently there is;
IRCAM TS
Tachyon
Picola
Sox
KievII
I believe WOK and ToneCarver have their own proprietary.
But I don't know if any commercial products use them.

More interesting is the differing methods they use and the domains they manipulate in

[neverbeeninariot]

Bitwig, also Elastique and proprietary.

[tommyzai]

How does Reaper stack up against the rest? I think they have seven different kinds.

[neverbeeninariot]

How does Reaper stack up against the rest? I think they have seven different kinds.

Reaper time stretch algos -
SoundTouch
Simple Windowed
Elastique 2.2.8 Pro, Efficient, and Soloist
Elastique 3.3.3 Pro, Efficient, and Soloist
Rubber Band

Most (if not all) algos support additional options of
Balanced
Tonal Optimised
Transient Optimised
No Pre-echo Reduction

And within Elastique, there are a bunch of options to Preseve Formants (Lowest, Lower, Low, Most, High, Higher, Highest), plus Mid/Side and Synchronised options.

Rubber Band has even more options


It's very Reaper to make things this configurable, but it does allow you to pick the best option for the material being stretched.

[jancivil]

I rarely want naturalistic time stretch, and if I should it obv. isn't intending much of a stretch. But Cubase has treated me well in both regards, some of the not-natural stretching has been just gorgeous. I only use Time or Time Formant, NB

[tommyzai]

And within Elastique, there are a bunch of options to Preseve Formants (Lowest, Lower, Low, Most, High, Higher, Highest), plus Mid/Side and Synchronised options.
Rubber Band has even more options
It's very Reaper to make things this configurable, but it does allow you to pick the best option for the material being stretched.

Is Reaper's version of Elastique the same as Ableton Live's and others?

[neverbeeninariot]

And within Elastique, there are a bunch of options to Preseve Formants (Lowest, Lower, Low, Most, High, Higher, Highest), plus Mid/Side and Synchronised options.
Rubber Band has even more options
It's very Reaper to make things this configurable, but it does allow you to pick the best option for the material being stretched.

Is Reaper's version of Elastique the same as Ableton Live's and others?

I've no idea to be honest. Bitwig has v3.something, but only a couple of options available to change.

[trewq]

Which includes Midi TS?

[Living Room Rocker]

Cakewalk also uses Elastique Pro and Radius.

Kind regards,

Living Room Rocker

P.S. Cakewalk is also free.

[Bartone]

Anyone used/tried Studio One or FL Studio how they handle (any good compared to Ableton or Cubase time stretch)?

[Michael L]

Well, iirc, Mulab did get praise in a thread here at KVR. Maybe 6 months ago?

Yes, the Spectral stretch is quite good for melodic sources, while the Granular is better for percussive.

MuLab uses time-stretch all through its workflow -- in the audio sequencer, drum machine, various samplers, composer -- with a good selection of useful controls.

I would consider workflow in any definition of 'Best'

[apoclypse]

I've always thought Reason had decent TS quality.