DAW: Which Has Best Time-Stretch Algorithm?

[Tj Shredder]

Yes, resampling alters audio. Its supposed to do that! Don't expect results beyond physics. Creating inter sample peaks is less altering than changing the volume! And as I said, your DAC will do that to your normalized 44k file as well, you just can't measure/hear/see it... The only altering you might want from a sample rate converter is adding dither noise, but usually you can adjust it to your needs. An algo that would not create the inter sample peaks would be doable, but would sound like shit, very audible shit, as it would not interpolate between samples, which is the secret of a good sounding sample rate converter...

[lfm]

Yes, resampling alters audio. Its supposed to do that!

The most optimal SRC will alter nothing but sample rate
- you have audio in 48k
- and you get audio in 44k with the same frequency content and phase of everything

The infinitwave site linked to, will show artifacts as I recall from 96k to 44k.

So don't agree "its supposed to do that" altering anything than final sample rate.
- it does in reality, but is unwanted artifacts

Stretch algos have more functionality than pure SRC. And often want to run realtime as well, not just batch job converting.

Since an export from a daw can very well do a batch SRC which Reaper now does with r8brain as I understand, is way better than when I ran Reaper. All you had then was the combined algos for stretching and src.

When Reaper 7 arrives I will give it a go and see if I like it better.

[dakkra]

viewtopic.php?t=601997

Still a huge proponent of Mulab

[The Black Parade]

Does anyone know what timestretch algorithms are used in the latest version of Logic? Last time I compared Logic's timestretch quality to that of the Elastique Pro algorithms in Cubase (which was admittedly a while ago,) Logic came up way short. Logic's default timestretch algorithm frankly sounded almost unusable to me on both drum and instrument loops. Of course, there is always the distinct possibility that I simply didn't have Logic's timestretch settings configured properly.

[jlgrimes11]

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?

I use Ableton.

I doubt it has the best timestretching but what it has is a great timestretching workflow with several algorithms.

Complex is a great all arounder works well for almost anything. I probably use this the most.

Complex Pro is great for vocals. Probably the best for vocals.

The other ones are more for sound design (Tones and Texture).

Beats works great for Drums and can get glitchy in a sometimes good way. Repitch, if you are wanting to do DJ style turntable breakbeats.

[qtheerearranger]

as a studio one user i will easily give flowers to ableton on this one. If you have ableton and have never played around with beats warp mode when you change the transient loop mode and transient envelopes you can get some really cool stuff. Melodyne has this a bit but it doesn't give you nearly as much control unless I'm missing something.

[osiris]

Reaper is great. They use elastique and you can put tempo markers in a wave and do all kinds of stuff to it.

[Kalamata Kid]

^^^
Great!

[jonljacobi]

It all depends on what you want to do, and what you expect. I use Live and for my limited needs (time correcting guitar and bass performances), and very rarely, mild tempo changes, I hear nothing untoward.

If you want to alter the snot out of something, nothing I've ever tried will entirely avoid artifacts. If there is something out there that is head and shoulders above, by all means...

[Trensharo]

Ableton Live > Digital Performer > Others

A lot of DAWs are just using Elastique Pro. DP uses ZTX, and maybe one or two others as well - but none that are heavily used (not that DP is heavily used).

[osiris]

Reaper has elastique Pro v2 & v3. They have several I've never tried. One's called intriguingly Rubberband.

[liquidsound]

One's called intriguingly Rubberband.

With that one you probably you need to to hold the clip with the mouse or it will snap back!

[osiris]

The tempo markers give me grief anyway but now I know how to slow a vocal phrase way down so it doesn't mess with the rest of the wave. I've been trying this on vocals. Mixed results,

[tommyzai]

In 2025 (nearly), which DAW has the most accurate, easy to use Time Stretching?

[El°HYM]

MuLab