Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX) -ACID Product Family

Subject:Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX) Posted by: MikeDee Date:1/31/2005 2:32:38 PM I'm using the Sony [SoFo] Pitch Shift (including the Pitch Shift algorithm built into Acid Pro 5) and DSP/FX Pitch Transposer plug-ins. They appear to do a decent job...however, there is one caveat which is rather frustrating: The time stretch/shrink algorithm works pretty well...for example, I can take finished songs and align them to the same tempo without changing their pitch. (Nothing new here.) The pitch shift is another story, though: When I transpose a song up or down while retaining the same tempo, the song experiences the s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n or Chipmunk effect. I am unable to retain the same "timbre" so that the song will sound the same no matter the key. So...is there a Pitch Shift plug-in that will change pitch [key] while retaining the same "timbre" or "speed?"...or, rather, formants? Thanks in advance.
Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX) Reply by: JohnnyRoy Date:1/31/2005 5:47:22 PM > I am unable to retain the same "timbre" so that the song will sound the same no matter the key. In general, this is not possible. There are pitch shift plug-ins that are made specifically for voice. Since they assume the source is a vocal, they can make certain assumptions about the tonal characteristics of the human voice and compensate accordingly. (I believe this is how plug-ins like Auto-tune work) But in general, there is no way for a plug-in to sense timbre and maintain it. The same thing happens in sampling software that only uses a few samples. The more you stretch a sample, the more it looses its natural tonal characteristics. That’s because different harmonics are introduced at the higher pitch and the original sample lacks these new harmonics. The best software I know of that does this is Melodyne, which is standalone multi-track software package of its own. They are working on a plug-in called Melodyne Uno that I’m hoping will work well with ACID. You might want to download the Melodyne demo although, if I remember correctly, it only works with their supplied files so you can’t try it on your song. ~jr
Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX) Reply by: MikeDee Date:2/1/2005 5:18:41 AM Thanks for your help, jr. I did come across another VST plug-in called delaydots Pitchworks (http://www.kvraudio.com/get/696.html). It's pretty solid, and it sounds good. Of course, it doesn't solve my formant problem, but the price is right...free. :) Can't wait for the plug-in version of Melodyne. I would've bought the whole enchilada, but even the street price is a bit too steep...over 5 bills. <ouch> Regards,
Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX) Reply by: spinweb Date:2/1/2005 6:37:04 AM I've wondered what these pitch shift plug ins are for. Can I get them to massage a vocal line so that it's in perfect tune? Thanks, Rick
Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX) Reply by: JohnnyRoy Date:2/1/2005 6:50:01 AM Yea, Melodyne is way too rich for me too. At the NAMM show, they quoted a MSRP of $199 for Melodyne Uno so I assume it will have a street price of around $149, which is much easier to swallow. Hopefully it will be out soon. ~jr

Subject:Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX)

Posted by: MikeDee

Date:1/31/2005 2:32:38 PM

I'm using the Sony [SoFo] Pitch Shift (including the Pitch Shift algorithm built into Acid Pro 5) and DSP/FX Pitch Transposer plug-ins. They appear to do a decent job...however, there is one caveat which is rather frustrating:

The time stretch/shrink algorithm works pretty well...for example, I can take finished songs and align them to the same tempo without changing their pitch. (Nothing new here.)

The pitch shift is another story, though: When I transpose a song up or down while retaining the same tempo, the song experiences the s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n or Chipmunk effect. I am unable to retain the same "timbre" so that the song will sound the same no matter the key.

So...is there a Pitch Shift plug-in that will change pitch [key] while retaining the same "timbre" or "speed?"...or, rather, *formants*?

Thanks in advance.

Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX)

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:1/31/2005 5:47:22 PM

> I am unable to retain the same "timbre" so that the song will sound the same no matter the key.

In general, this is not possible. There are pitch shift plug-ins that are made specifically for voice. Since they assume the source is a vocal, they can make certain assumptions about the tonal characteristics of the human voice and compensate accordingly. (I believe this is how plug-ins like Auto-tune work) But in general, there is no way for a plug-in to sense timbre and maintain it.

The same thing happens in sampling software that only uses a few samples. The more you stretch a sample, the more it looses its natural tonal characteristics. That’s because different harmonics are introduced at the higher pitch and the original sample lacks these new harmonics.

The best software I know of that does this is Melodyne, which is standalone multi-track software package of its own. They are working on a plug-in called Melodyne Uno that I’m hoping will work well with ACID. You might want to download the Melodyne demo although, if I remember correctly, it only works with their supplied files so you can’t try it on your song.

~jr

Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX)

Reply by: MikeDee

Date:2/1/2005 5:18:41 AM

Thanks for your help, jr. I did come across another VST plug-in called delaydots Pitchworks (http://www.kvraudio.com/get/696.html). It's pretty solid, and it sounds good. Of course, it doesn't solve my formant problem, but the price is right...free. :)

Can't wait for the plug-in version of Melodyne. I would've bought the whole enchilada, but even the street price is a bit too steep...over 5 bills. <ouch>

Regards,

Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX)

Reply by: spinweb

Date:2/1/2005 6:37:04 AM

I've wondered what these pitch shift plug ins are for. Can I get them to massage a vocal line so that it's in perfect tune?

Thanks,

Rick

Subject:RE: Pitch Shift Plug-ins (VST / DX)

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:2/1/2005 6:50:01 AM

Yea, Melodyne is way too rich for me too. At the NAMM show, they quoted a MSRP of $199 for Melodyne Uno so I assume it will have a street price of around $149, which is much easier to swallow. Hopefully it will be out soon.

~jr