Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
Moderator: James Steele
Forum rules
This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
This forum is for most discussion related to the use and optimization of Digital Performer [MacOS] and plug-ins as well as tips and techniques. It is NOT for troubleshooting technical issues, complaints, feature requests, or "Comparative DAW 101."
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
I use a combination of DP and Melodyne. Each has it's strengths and weaknesses. Both together cover a lot of ground. One thing I've found is that depending on the voice one may have a better sound than the other, and there's no telling ahead of time which is going to be the most transparent. I think it's worth the time to learn Melodyne. It will open possibilities for you that DP alone cannot. That's just my take on it.
Slightly off topic, but one thing I did a few years back-
I had this really horrible vocalist in the studio. I knew I had to polish a turd and he knew it too. He asked me to do anything I could to fix his pitch. So, I had his backup singer sing his (the bad guy's) part. I copied the pitch data with DP's pitch tool from the backup singer's track and pasted it on the lead track. It needed a little tweaking here and there but it worked much better than I expected. Of course, the back up singer's ability to match his phrasing exactly helped.
So my advise is try the Melodyne demo and give it a serious look. Combined with DP's pitch correction you'll have most of everything you need. The learning curve isn't as bad as you might think.
Phil
Slightly off topic, but one thing I did a few years back-
I had this really horrible vocalist in the studio. I knew I had to polish a turd and he knew it too. He asked me to do anything I could to fix his pitch. So, I had his backup singer sing his (the bad guy's) part. I copied the pitch data with DP's pitch tool from the backup singer's track and pasted it on the lead track. It needed a little tweaking here and there but it worked much better than I expected. Of course, the back up singer's ability to match his phrasing exactly helped.
So my advise is try the Melodyne demo and give it a serious look. Combined with DP's pitch correction you'll have most of everything you need. The learning curve isn't as bad as you might think.
Phil
DP 11.23, 2020 M1 Mac Mini [9,1] (16 Gig RAM), Mac Pro 3GHz 8 core [6,1] (16 Gig RAM), OS 14.3.1/11.6.2, Lynx Aurora (n) 8tb, MOTU 8pre-es, MOTU M6, MOTU 828, Apogee Rosetta 800, UAD-2 Satellite, a truckload of outboard gear and plug-ins, and a partridge in a pear tree.
- stubbsonic
- Posts: 4600
- Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:56 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Contact:
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
That is a DP TIP GEM!! Having a ringer sing the part and copying the pitch data over!!Phil O wrote:... I had his backup singer sing his (the bad guy's) part. I copied the pitch data with DP's pitch tool from the backup singer's track and pasted it on the lead track. It needed a little tweaking here and there but it worked much better than I expected. Of course, the back up singer's ability to match his phrasing exactly helped.
That could be used in a bunch of creative ways.
M1 MBP; OS 12, FF800, DP 11.3, Kontakt 7, Reaktor 6, PC3K7, K2661S, iPad6, Godin XTSA, Two Ibanez 5 string basses (1 fretted, 1 fretless), FM3, SY-1000, etc.
http://www.jonstubbsmusic.com
http://www.jonstubbsmusic.com
- mikehalloran
- Posts: 15133
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Sillie Con Valley
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
Oh I like that!stubbsonic wrote:That is a DP TIP GEM!! Having a ringer sing the part and copying the pitch data over!!Phil O wrote:... I had his backup singer sing his (the bad guy's) part. I copied the pitch data with DP's pitch tool from the backup singer's track and pasted it on the lead track. It needed a little tweaking here and there but it worked much better than I expected. Of course, the back up singer's ability to match his phrasing exactly helped.
That could be used in a bunch of creative ways.
So far, I have passed on the AutoTune 8 update. One of the reasons is that I have never really used AutoTune 7 and consider it money well wasted. The other is that the new features appear to be duplicated in other tools I own. AutoTune does have the ability to manipulate vocal tone within the app in a way the others can't... I've never used that function. There are good reasons why AT is so popular with pop music producers but, as Mr. Zimmerman wrote, "It ain't me, Babe. I said, 'No, no, no...'".
DP 11.31; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sonoma 14.4, USB4 8TB external, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3 6/10/12; 2012 MBPs Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5.2, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 Pro, Toast 20 Pro
-
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:45 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
DP pitch correction has worked beautifully for me for years; saved me from misery a bunch of times, even changed melodies with no one the wiser—but I usually get the best results when I do the fixes, take a break, and revise. It's helped me learn a lot about the subjectivity of tuning; always a good idea to close my eyes and let my ears make the decision between "right" and "wrong", not the balanced placement of the little bars and squiggly lines. I recently recorded a great performance where 5 performers were a little—or not so little—off. It didn't bother anybody during tracking. Soloing them in the mix I heard the badness and tweaked everything individually, not overdoing it either—and it sucked the heart right out of the track.
Undo! Undo! Undo!
... another way of saying the software is a fantastic tool unless the user is a fool.
Undo! Undo! Undo!
... another way of saying the software is a fantastic tool unless the user is a fool.
DP 10.13 / OSX 10.14.6
MacPro 3.33 6-Core w/SSD, 32G RAM. Metric Halo I/O. (...using MH Console as a summing mixer.)
VIs / plug-ins include NI Komplete, VSL, Slate, Sound Toys, Voxengo, Kush, Eventide, Oeksound, Izotope.
MacPro 3.33 6-Core w/SSD, 32G RAM. Metric Halo I/O. (...using MH Console as a summing mixer.)
VIs / plug-ins include NI Komplete, VSL, Slate, Sound Toys, Voxengo, Kush, Eventide, Oeksound, Izotope.
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
another 1+ for Melodyne and DP's pitch.
I wish Melodyne would change the color of the blobs after a segment has been altered like DP's pitch turns red.
I have asked Melodyne for this for years and still nothing.
I wouldn't want to use any other pitch altering software though.
I wish Melodyne would change the color of the blobs after a segment has been altered like DP's pitch turns red.
I have asked Melodyne for this for years and still nothing.
I wouldn't want to use any other pitch altering software though.
- guitardood
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 3:55 am
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
FWIW, just watched this quick tip video from MOTU about DP's pitch editing capabilities. I've not played around with this yet, but the vid makes it look pretty easy and quick to do some simple fixes. Next on my to-do list.
________________________________________________________________________
Best,
Guitardood
Chuck Fletcher on Reverb Nation
Chuck Fletcher on Facebook
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You know, eventually you're going to get the one filled with alien-like nasty tasting goo and have to spit it out and say YUCK".
Best,
Guitardood
Chuck Fletcher on Reverb Nation
Chuck Fletcher on Facebook
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You know, eventually you're going to get the one filled with alien-like nasty tasting goo and have to spit it out and say YUCK".
- monkey man
- Posts: 13918
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
Yeah, Stubbsy, like "vocoding" a drone, even if it were a sustained vox note.stubbsonic wrote:That is a DP TIP GEM!! Having a ringer sing the part and copying the pitch data over!!
That could be used in a bunch of creative ways.
Mac 2012 12C Cheese Grater, OSX 10.13.6
MOTU DP8.07, MachFive 3.2.1, MIDI Express XT, 24I/O
Novation, Yamaha & Roland Synths, Guitar & Bass, Kemper Rack
Pretend I've placed your favourite quote here
- Radiogal
- Posts: 1521
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:42 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Stockholm, Sweden
- Contact:
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
GOOD NEWS!
DP Pitch all day long. I got and compared several others but hey, DP rules the PITCH correction competition in my studio... and you know what?
It´s included in DP and it´s right there, integrating your tracks waiting for you to use it.
Seriously. Don´t waste your time nor money. Look no further. The pitch is not greener over there. Just my 2 cents about professional DP pitch use.
DP Pitch all day long. I got and compared several others but hey, DP rules the PITCH correction competition in my studio... and you know what?
It´s included in DP and it´s right there, integrating your tracks waiting for you to use it.
Seriously. Don´t waste your time nor money. Look no further. The pitch is not greener over there. Just my 2 cents about professional DP pitch use.
MAC PRO 6 Core 3.33 GHz, 16 GB RAM, OSX 10.8.5, DP 9 MAC and WIN (64bit/Jbridge) AMPGUI Mellow, Logic 10, Wavelab 8 MOTU 24I/O (x2), MOTU 2408 MK3 (2x), WAVES Mercury 9, SSL, UAD2Quad, McDSP, Sound Toys, Sonnox, Sonalksis, NomadFactory, T-Racks, P&M, LexPCM, AbbeyRoad, DSM, VCC, VTM, FGX, Melda, EWQL SymphOrch/Piano Gold. Mixingdesk: AMEK Big 44, TK BC-1MK2, SSLcomp clones, GAPPre73, PCM91, TC, FMR. Monitors: Genelec 1031, ADAM A7, >40 mics http://www.ragdollproduction.com
- monkey man
- Posts: 13918
- Joined: Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
Yo hey Trish! Long time no see, sis!
You sound just like me on this one - DP's pitch correction rocks. It's worked perfectly the few times I've used it; it made my brother's awfully-pitched vocals sound good on a Slash cover I recorded for him. He sang with plenty of attitood but strayed all over pitch-wise, DP taking top-notch care of it. You'd not suspect any kind of correction if you weren't told.
Can't ask for more than that. Hope you're well, RG,
Nicky
You sound just like me on this one - DP's pitch correction rocks. It's worked perfectly the few times I've used it; it made my brother's awfully-pitched vocals sound good on a Slash cover I recorded for him. He sang with plenty of attitood but strayed all over pitch-wise, DP taking top-notch care of it. You'd not suspect any kind of correction if you weren't told.
Can't ask for more than that. Hope you're well, RG,
Nicky
Mac 2012 12C Cheese Grater, OSX 10.13.6
MOTU DP8.07, MachFive 3.2.1, MIDI Express XT, 24I/O
Novation, Yamaha & Roland Synths, Guitar & Bass, Kemper Rack
Pretend I've placed your favourite quote here
- mhschmieder
- Posts: 11282
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2005 10:01 pm
- Primary DAW OS: MacOS
- Location: Annandale VA
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
I use Melodyne for anything major, and the results are always transparent. It's a bit of a pain to use, workflow-wise.
Not a big deal; just not the best tool if you're in a super-rush and don't want to have to bounce or real-time-record the results of applying it and would rather accomplish an in-place edit. This is where DP's Pitch Shift comes in.
I am really surprised at how good DP's pitch command has gotten in DP 8 (maybe this improvement happened in DP 7). I use it frequently now when I just want to do a quick fix on a backing vocal, and save Melodyne for the heavy lifting on the main vocals.
Not a big deal; just not the best tool if you're in a super-rush and don't want to have to bounce or real-time-record the results of applying it and would rather accomplish an in-place edit. This is where DP's Pitch Shift comes in.
I am really surprised at how good DP's pitch command has gotten in DP 8 (maybe this improvement happened in DP 7). I use it frequently now when I just want to do a quick fix on a backing vocal, and save Melodyne for the heavy lifting on the main vocals.
iMac 27" 2017 Quad-Core Intel i5 (3.8 GHz, 64 GB), OSX 13.6.1, MOTU DP 11.31, iZotope RX 10
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager
Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
RME Babyface Pro FS, Radial JDV Mk5, Hammond XK-4, Moog Voyager
Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35
Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, Johhny Marr Jaguar, 57 LP, Danelectro 12
Eastman T486RB, T64/V, Ibanez PM2, D'angelico Deluxe SS Bari, EXL1
Guild Bari, 1512 12-string, M20, Martin OM28VTS, Larivee 0040MH
Re: Best recommendations for adjusting pitch on vocals
For minor pitch corrections I use DP's pitch function. When used properly, it's pretty much flawless. However, if I need to create harmonies and fix a lot of vocal tracks simultaneously, I use Melodyne. The pitch algo's are superior to just about any other dedicated pitch correction software on the market right now, and it allows you to be really creative if that's what you're after as well!
Great family and friends!
Mac Studio M2 Max, MacPro 8 core (trashcan), MacBook Pro 16 in 2023, OSX Ventura, DP 11, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Motu 112D, 24Ao, 8M, 896 MKIII, UA Apollo 16, Waves Horizon, Slate Everything Bundle, Plugin Alliance Bundle, UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerator, UAD Apollo Twin.
Native Instruments Komplete 14 Ultimate, Console 1 MKIII w/C1 Fader
"Without struggle, there is no progress"
F. Douglas
Mac Studio M2 Max, MacPro 8 core (trashcan), MacBook Pro 16 in 2023, OSX Ventura, DP 11, Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Motu 112D, 24Ao, 8M, 896 MKIII, UA Apollo 16, Waves Horizon, Slate Everything Bundle, Plugin Alliance Bundle, UAD-2 Satellite DSP Accelerator, UAD Apollo Twin.
Native Instruments Komplete 14 Ultimate, Console 1 MKIII w/C1 Fader
"Without struggle, there is no progress"
F. Douglas