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Topic: pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software (Read 13844 times) previous topic - next topic
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pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

I'm a guitarist and I want to transpose songs that are played "down 1/2 step" back to standard tune (A=440) for learning and practice.  I've tried using the pitch shift vst plugin that comes w/ Cubase 3, but the sound quality's not very good IMO.  Same thing for Audacity.  I searched the forum, but the relevant posts are 2yrs+ old so there's probably new & better options.

The reason that I don't want to simply tune down my guitar is that changes in string tension, whether from tuning or using diffferent gauge strings (my luthier says even changing the brand of strings) affect the entire setup - including intonaton and neck relief.  Ideally, I'd own several guitars with some set up at standard tune and some down 1/2 step, but unfortunately that's not in the budget for a long time.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for a good pitch shifting vst plugin or freeware.

Thanks.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #1 –
The Soundtech plugin for foobar works pretty well, but (as a guitarist) I wouldn't worry about tuning my guitar down/up a half step. It will not have any negative impact on the instrument.

I find it often necessary to "tune" to the particular record to match the pitch. It is a great way to develop your ear.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #2 –
Quote from: nightfishing on
The Soundtech plugin for foobar works pretty well, but (as a guitarist) I wouldn't worry about tuning my guitar down/up a half step. It will not have any negative impact on the instrument.

I find it often necessary to "tune" to the particular record to match the pitch. It is a great way to develop your ear.


Thanks for the reply.  I have foobar, but I'm more comfortable using wav editors such as Wavosaur (good freeware) & Audacity or recording software (Cubase).  I'd like to find a VST plugin since since both Wavosaur & Cubase accept VSTs, but whatever works is fine with me.

I've got at Tascam cdgt2 trainer for learning tracks and that definitely helps with training my ear.  As for the impact on the instrument, it will make a difference.  I've spent a lot of time (both with my luthier and on my own) doing set ups to get everything just right.  I use a Peterson virtual strobe tuner and also had a Earvana nut installed (AWESOME product - it really works, but its a pain to install).  Changing the tuning will change your intonation and neck relief to some degree, though maybe not as much as changing string gauges.  I like low action - ideally 3/64" high E & 3.5/64" low E @ 15th w/ no buzz or fretting out.  My actual setup's a little higher than that (can't get it lower w/o excesssive buzz or fret out).  Even so, tuning down results in too much string buzz & even some fretting out.

Anyway, thanks again for the suggestion.  I'll give Soundtech a shot & hopefully it will work out.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #3 –
I used Roni Music Amazing Slow Downer and I was very satisfied with that program. I see that it's somewhat expensive now.
If age or weaknes doe prohibyte bloudletting you must use boxing

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #4 –
Quote from: eevan on
I used Roni Music Amazing Slow Downer and I was very satisfied with that program. I see that it's somewhat expensive now.


Thanks for the reply.

The software looks good, but I'm interested in changing pitch (almost always up 1/2 step) rather than slowing down the tempo.  Can it do that as well?

BTW, it's not only for practicing guitar.  I'm also a vocalist and I need to transpose some songs up 1/2 step or down 1/2 step to fit in my range.

I'm still looking so any suggestions are appreciated.  If I find something, I'll be sure to post.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #5 –
Quote from: goesto11 on
…The software looks good, but I'm interested in changing pitch (almost always up 1/2 step) rather than slowing down the tempo.  Can it do that as well?…
Yes, it can also transpose.
If age or weaknes doe prohibyte bloudletting you must use boxing

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #6 –
I've owned a license to Transcribe for several years (Windows version). I've tried the Linux trial and it works fine also (the Windows version runs just as well in Wine).

http://www.seventhstring.com/

Since I'm in Arch right now, I'll show you a screen of the Linux version - Main App, Prefs, and FX:



Finally, just an opinion: you may be doing yourself a disservice by not taking advantage of alternate tunings on your guitar (rather than simply relying on software). Yes, alternate tunings will have an impact on how the guitar plays, but since you only have one guitar, I suggest you find a 'luthier' that will set your guitar with that fact in mind. When you get more guitars, go for perfection with each tuning on each guitar. Until then, it can be a very playable, minor compromise.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #7 –
pitch shift/transpose ??? ARRGGH... Why DESTROY music just to adjust the pitch??? Have you guys never seen how easily you can adjust pitch using a turntable? The same thing is possible digitally - All you need to do is change the samplerate, and convert to a supported samplerate (say 44100 or 48000). Usually you would be unable to hear the conversion, but you can use good converters like SSRC.

To identify how much a song need to be adjusted, you can grab aufTakt test application and calculate from the identified values.

I made a small script using autoit3 to grab the values and tag my files. Now I just hope that someone might come up with a foobar2000 DSP that will adjust the playback samplerate of a song to the samplerate read from the tag - Anyone?
Can't wait for a HD-AAC encoder :P

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #8 –
That's ok for DJ-ing purposes. You cannot only resample (both the tempo and the pitch are changed).

Here is edited (edit is in italics) quote from one paper presenting High Quality Multi-channel Time-Scaling:
Quote
If, for example, it is desired that an audio signal's pitch be scaled up 5%, then the time evolution of the signal is first increased (i.e., it is slowed down) by timescaling it by 5% (using for example time synchronous overlap add (TSOA) time-domain technique) and then resampling the digital audio such that the samples are played out at a 5% higher sample rate compared to the original sample rate. The resulting signal has the same time evolution as the original signal but with modified pitch or spectral characteristics.
If age or weaknes doe prohibyte bloudletting you must use boxing

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #9 –
Quote from: eevan on
That's ok for DJ-ing purposes. You cannot only resample (both the tempo and the pitch are changed).


A small change in tempo is not going to be an issue when you are just trying to learn or practice a song. At least I should hope so - if it causes you this much issue then I think you will be having issues as a musician in general as you should be able to be flexible with your tempo (unless you will forever play with a drummer that always plays with perfect tempo just how you like - yeah right). I would agree with some other posters that using a true pitch change that doesn't change the tempo will be more likely to misrepresent the music as it is doing all sorts of crazy stuff compared to a dead simple resample. Sorry I can't offer specific plugins as I haven't tried this myself but I am quite sure there should be lots of free solutions around.

I would also say that a 1/2 step tune down should not be an issue just for practice/learning. Sure, it might change your action by a microscopic amount while tuned down but I am sure your guitar must still be playable. Your guitar's action will be right back to where it is once you tune it back up. If this really is that much of a concern then I hope you also play in a perfectly tempurature and humidity controlled environment as this will also affect your guitar. Really, I've just never heard of anyone worrying about their guitar setup this much, at least for practice purposes.

I would say that using resample software would be better than tuning your guitar however as its just a lot quicker when dealing with all sorts of songs in all sorts of pitches.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #10 –
Have you tried Reaper? (not sure if the license has changed, it used to be non-crippling shareware, i.e. you could use the full version for as long as you wanted before purchasing). The effect highlighted below comes with Reaper.





Have you tried the KVR Audio database?:

There's plenty of stuff like this (not used it myself - but it's free). If you have a VST host there seems to be plenty of options. Suck 'em and see.

C.
PC = TAK + LossyWAV  ::  Portable = Opus (130)

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #11 –
WOW! Thanks for all the replies.

Quote from: Kujibo on
I would also say that a 1/2 step tune down should not be an issue just for practice/learning. Sure, it might change your action by a microscopic amount while tuned down but I am sure your guitar must still be playable. Your guitar's action will be right back to where it is once you tune it back up. If this really is that much of a concern then I hope you also play in a perfectly temperature and humidity controlled environment as this will also affect your guitar. Really, I've just never heard of anyone worrying about their guitar setup this much, at least for practice purposes.


I just did a set up down 1/2 and I was surprised by how much I had to loosen the truss rod & lower the bridge.  From what I've seen, normal changes in temperature & humidity don't affect things as much as string tension.  I admit I'm picky, but I'm not the only one.  There's a lot of posts on guitar sites, especially shred sites, on which guitar/what gauge & brand strings/pick thickness/action/neck profile, etc.  You should check out Satriani's website.  His spec's are unreal (2/64" @ 12 both E strings - see http://www.satriani.com/2000/about/gear/setup.shtml), but the crazy thing is that rather than have a flat radius fretboard (like a JEM), he has a rounder, vintage style fretboard and has his tech do a compound radius on the frets all because it feels better for him that way (see http://www.satriani.com/2000/about/gear/fr...ngerboard.shtml.  I'm not Satriani (looong way to go  ), but the point is that every guitarist (musician really) has their own preferences and I've played enough to know what feels just right for me.  I really didn't want to start a debate on guitar setups.

Quote from: Kujibo on
I would say that using resample software would be better than tuning your guitar however as its just a lot quicker when dealing with all sorts of songs in all sorts of pitches.


That's main reason I wrote this post.  I often practice a "set" CD with a mix of songs at standard & 1/2 tuning.  Of course the setup/playability issue's not prohibitive to practice/learning songs, but it is a nuisance which I'd like to avoid if possible.

The other issue which I didn't mention at first, is that I also do vocals and there are songs that are not quite in my range.  An example is "I Was Wrong"  by Social Distortion.  It's a bit too low for me, but up 1/2 is perfect. That's the way I would play it live.  If nothing else, maybe this thread can help vocalists who need to transpose music.

Quote from: carpman on
Have you tried the KVR Audio database?:

There's plenty of stuff like this (not used it myself - but it's free). If you have a VST host there seems to be plenty of options. Suck 'em and see.


Good call - I forgot about that site.    I've downloaded a couple VST plugins already.  I'll try them + some others as well as check out Roni, Reaper, SeventhString & Arch this weekend.  BTW, I've found a few sites w/ lots of VST plugins so if anyone's interest, I'm happy to post or PM the links.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

pitch shift (transpose) vst plugins or software

Reply #12 –
I tested Cubase VST pitch shift (both algorithms), PitchShifter VST, PitchWorks VST (dx), some other VST which I forget, Transcribe, Reaper, and Roni Amazing Slowdowner.  At first, I forgot to DL & test Roni.  Reaper & PitchWorks dx VST were OK, but there was still a significant loss of sound quality.  At that point I decided that while it may be a pain in the ass to detune & compromise set up, I'd rather do that than put up with mediocre (at best) sound quality.  For vocals I'd probably just practice w/o the track.  Then I remembered to try Roni.

Wow.  It's not exactly as good as the original, but it's close and definitely good enough.  The software's $50 if you'll accept the "e-mail" version ($20 more for a CD).  That's not cheap, but worth if it you need to pitchshift or change tempo.

Again thanks to all who replied, and especially eevan for mentioning Roni.