Playback at "half speed"

Martin Ward · Post by **Martin Ward** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:11 pm

I have an audio track and I would like to convert it as though I had recorded it on a tape recorder and then played it back at half speed -- so the result should be an octave lower and last twice as long as the original.

As an algortihm, this should be a very simple operation, much the same as doubling the sample rate.

Can anyone tell me how to do this in DP, or if it can in fact be done?

(Using DSP to stretch to twice the length without transposing, and then to transpose down an octave without changing the length is not satisfactory -- the changes are too violent to result in a satisfactory sound.)

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:13 am

Martin Ward wrote: (Using DSP to stretch to twice the length without transposing, and then to transpose down an octave without changing the length is not satisfactory -- the changes are too violent to result in a satisfactory sound.)

This is typical of the limits of how far one can go with such a process. The algorithms in Logic and Live, for example, might be a little better at such things, but you may want to consider a high-end app dedicated to the task. Pitch and time shifting to that degree is pretty radical with unpredictable results.

Beyond mere pitch and time shifting, it may be necesary to use a restoration app to clean up the result

stephentayler · Post by **stephentayler** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:30 am

Unfortunately this simple process is not yet do-able in DP, like it is in ProTools (pitch shift without time correction)

It can be done in MachFive by importing the audio and tuning down an octave.

Stephen

Martin Ward · Post by **Martin Ward** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:01 am

Thanks for the replies Frodo and Stephen.

Unfortunately I don't have ProTools or MachFive. Maybe I'll just outsource it to my trusty old tape recorder -- a bit ignominious! First I'll see if I can get the same sound by another method.

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:25 am

Martin Ward wrote:Thanks for the replies Frodo and Stephen.

Unfortunately I don't have ProTools or MachFive. Maybe I'll just outsource it to my trusty old tape recorder -- a bit ignominious! First I'll see if I can get the same sound by another method.

Doesn't Ableton Live have a free demo? Not sure if it's save-protected or time protected.

There may be some free demos or freeware utilities floating around.

What a shame. Digidesign's new X-Form in PT is just what you need.

bongo_x · Post by **bongo_x** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:55 am

tracktion does this really easily, just grab the edge and stretch it with pitch correction off. there's a demo on the mackie site.

it's crazy that DP, or any other DAW doesn't do this very simple operation.

bb

dosuna11 · Post by **dosuna11** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 10:43 am

If you have a G4 Pro Tools Free does this.

soundsun · Post by **soundsun** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:03 pm

dosuna11 wrote:If you have a G4 Pro Tools Free does this.

..that can boot into OS 9

bjornln · Post by **bjornln** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:06 pm

Pardon me, but isn't the simple answer.. Nano sampler ? Or have I missed something ?

Best,
B

stephentayler · Post by **stephentayler** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:42 pm

Nanosampler!!!! What a genius.... yes it works just fine!!!

Martin, if you haven't upgraded to DP5, this would make it worthwhile!!

Thanks B!!

Stephen

Martin Ward · Post by **Martin Ward** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:47 pm

bjornln wrote:Pardon me, but isn't the simple answer.. Nano sampler ? Or have I missed something ?

Best,
B

I do believe you're right. I was sure it must be there somewhere. I'll try it out and see.

Thanks Bjornin (and again to everyone else).

stephentayler · Post by **stephentayler** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:48 pm

BTW I just dropped a 5 minute stereo file into Nano, just to test. It took a while to load into RAM, but it worked perfectly.

Stephen

Frodo · Post by **Frodo** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:52 pm

stephentayler wrote:BTW I just dropped a 5 minute stereo file into Nano, just to test. It took a while to load into RAM, but it worked perfectly.

Stephen

Now, that's good to know!

Tritonemusic · Post by **Tritonemusic** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:34 pm

Nanosampler works great for this. I wish I would have seen this post earlier. Frankly, I'm almost shocked that you guys haven't tested this! Well, I'm sure people have tried it but, like me, never got around to posting anything about it.

What's really cool is automating nanosampler's pitch. Not something you'd want to do every day but it's nice to know that it works very well.

MOTUnation.com

Playback at "half speed"

Playback at "half speed"

Re: Playback at "half speed"

Re: Playback at "half speed"

Re: Playback at "half speed"