Pitch-adjusting (tuning) a polyphonic stereo audio track

[PEvans]

Is there a feature in Digital Performer (or Performer Lite for Windows in my case) that would allow me to adjust the pitch of an imported stereo track?

Here are some particulars if it matters:

The original track is originally analog-recorded, converted to digital, imported into iTunes as *.m4a, and imported (dragged) into a Digital Performer project. My purpose is to use this as a guide track for recording additional instruments. It will not be part of the final mix.

To my ear the imported recording is a little sharp relative to instruments tuned to A=440 - almost but not quite a half step. It is possible I have the key wrong, but I don't think so. It is tough to play with this guide track in its present state.

I probably can't and don't really want to edit components of the original audio track. I just want to shift the pitch of the whole thing while retaining the tempo and timbre.

I have seen the "Few questions on soundbite editing..." thread.

[CharlzS]

Track Transpose and Detune. If you can't see it on a track in the SE, drag the track size bigger until it's displayed.

[mikehalloran]

ZTX can be used to tune an entire track but I use that to change keys.

Edit: Melodyne Essentials can tune an entire track but Editor or Studio is required for individual notes. As it's not included in PL, I'll leave it at that.

[HCMarkus]

DP's ZTX will work great to retune the track; you can incrementally adjust... import the track, use the Sequence Editor window to display it, view the Pitch Layer and set to "Relative", then drag the pitch line, holding the Command Key as you do so if necessary. Zoom in to get finer control.

Melodyne is necessary only if you need to tune individual notes within a chord.

[PEvans]

Thanks very much!

I found Track Transpose and Track Detune the Sequence Editor and in the user guide (and I found the user guide!), and I found Melodyne on the web.

Mike, I don't see Melodyne in the PL plug-ins. I'm running PL 11.22.

[PEvans]

@HCMarkus, I just saw your post. Thank you as well!

If I don't have Melodyne it looks like I can retune the track using Track Transpose. It seems to be pretty close to a half step sharp. The Tuner plug-in insert seems fairly happy.

[mikehalloran]

Melodyne Essentials is included with DP 11 and a number of iZotope (Nectar) and other plug-ins. Many of us have it in more than one place, whether we know it or not.

…
Mike, I don't see Melodyne in the PL plug-ins. I'm running PL 11.22.

Unfortunately, you are correct. I see that the PL Plug-ins Guide has been updated and no longer mentions this. When it comes to the PL User and Plug-ins guides, I'm a frequent flyer trying to get MOTU to correct all the mistakes. Let's just say that there's more work to be done.

Since I have Melodyne Studio installed, it shows up in my list. Sorry for any confusion.

DP's ZTX will work great to retune the track; you can incrementally adjust... import the track, use the Sequence Editor window to display it, view the Pitch Layer and set to "Relative", then drag the pitch line, holding the Command Key as you do so if necessary. Zoom in to get finer control.

Melodyne is necessary only if you need to tune individual notes within a chord.

Yes, I find Melodyne faster for my use but either works fine for what you want to do. To move individual notes inside a track—tuning or pitch—you do want Melodyne. I also have the Autotune suite but would never use it for this.

[HCMarkus]

@HCMarkus, I just saw your post. Thank you as well!

If I don't have Melodyne it looks like I can retune the track using Track Transpose. It seems to be pretty close to a half step sharp. The Tuner plug-in insert seems fairly happy.

I'd still use the pitch layer and be sure to select the best ZTX algorithm for the subject material. You can get the tuning perfect, not just pretty close!

[PEvans]

I'd still use the pitch layer and be sure to select the best ZTX algorithm for the subject material. You can get the tuning perfect, not just pretty close!

How would you check to see if the tuning is "perfect"? Is there a way to grab a note in the track and sustain it? Would you use an audible output and an external tuner like Peterson? Would you use the internal tuner insert?

I don't strictly need this to be perfect, but I would like to know how it can be done.

[CharlzS]

Something I haven't tried on complex material but may work to get things right is Pitch Quantize. Something to experiment with - after setting all the ZTX params, make a selection in the Pitch lane and then menu Audio --> Pitch and Stretch --> Pitch Quantize. Not even sure that's available in Lite.

[mikehalloran]

Something I haven't tried on complex material but may work to get things right is Pitch Quantize. Something to experiment with - after setting all the ZTX params, make a selection in the Pitch lane and then menu Audio --> Pitch and Stretch --> Pitch Quantize. Not even sure that's available in Lite.

Unfortunately, this is one more area where the PL documentation falls short. The PL Plug-Ins Guide actually refers to the DP 4 manual for more information on ZTX. That's not as bad as it looks, however, since the PL User Guide appears to have the info you need and appears to be identical to the DP User Guide re ZTX. Both are available from the Help Menu and can be searched like any other pdf file.


For more info on Melodyne, I've posted in this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=73755

[PEvans]

Thank you all for your help. This got me through a blocker in my basic use case and hopefully created some material for future searchers.

[HCMarkus]

I'd still use the pitch layer and be sure to select the best ZTX algorithm for the subject material. You can get the tuning perfect, not just pretty close!

How would you check to see if the tuning is "perfect"? Is there a way to grab a note in the track and sustain it? Would you use an audible output and an external tuner like Peterson? Would you use the internal tuner insert?

I don't strictly need this to be perfect, but I would like to know how it can be done.

Reference a well-tuned instrument, play along and adjust pitch until it sounds sweet. When it sounds perfect, it is perfect.

I just hate to see you be strictly limited to "pretty close" 1/2 step intervals. A little nudge flat or sharp can make a huge difference.