[78-L] Pitch shifting

[Michael Biel]

This is the problem with the terminology again.  You can't just pitch
shift.  You have to speed adjust.  The term "pitch shifting" was coined
to mean changing the pitch without changing the tempo.  There have been
mechanical tape devices to do this since the Magnetophon K-1 in 1935 and
the Whirling Dervish in the 1960s.  If you do this to correct the CLV
records like World, you will get a recording that maintains the proper
pitch but the tempo will get faster and faster as the record approaches
the center (or slower and slower as it approaches the rim if it is
center-start like a CD or LD.)  

What you need is "speed adjust" where the pitch and tempo are locked
together.  If that is what "Waves" does, then they are using the wrong
name to describe it.  The term "Pitch Shift" should only be used when
the pitch is adjusted but the tempo remains the same.  "Tempo Shift"
should be used if the tempo is changed but the pitch remains the same. 
Many modern turntables with built-in pre-amps have this option.  This
enables dance DJs to vary the beats-per-minute without changing the
pitch of the music.  When that option is toggled off, the speed control
is restored to usual function as a speed control.  The problem is that
many turntables use incorrect names for these functions.  It is because
they are designed by geeks, and the young DJs who don't really
understand how to explain what they need just use the terms the geeks
tell them to use.  On the other hand, WE should use the correct terms.  


Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com  

-------- Original Message --------
From: DAVID BURNHAM <burnhamd at rogers.com>
> A while ago there was a discussion about pitch adjustment for discs
> which are recorded in such a manner that the record passes under the
> stylus at a constant velocity, (like a CD).

> I don't know if this was brought up or not but if anyone uses "Waves"
> plug-ins on their digital work stations, they have a pitch corrector
> which will adjust pitch gradually during the playing of a file. 
> You don't need to know formulas or anything, you just set the pitch
> at the beginning of the file, find out how much the pitch has changed
> at the end of the file and then program it so that it gradually raises it,
> (if the disc is played from the outside in), by that amount throughout the file.
> db