How important is the root pitch of the samples you use?

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:34 pm

The question arose in private conversation.

What do you think about finding the root pitch of your samples and the pros and cons of doing so (or not)?

EDIT: Just for reference, any kind of sample, whether its a drum sample, vocal sample, instrumental sample, ambient recording etc...

Patrick

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:51 pm

Personally, I only think it matters if a client / boss specifies that it matters for technical reasons related to a production or product being made.

I guess it could be fun to pitch samples to match or support the notes of the main melody too.

Junglists used to have fun pitching their slides and hi hats etc which was cool too, although I don't think they worried about the root pitch of the samples they were using per se?

Depone · Post by **Depone** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 2:47 pm

I normally do because I'm a tweakhead. It's an itch I have to scratch. I like to tune everything

therapist · Post by **therapist** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:03 pm

Are you just talking about drums or what? It's a pretty massive yes if you're simply talking about 'samples'.

demaine · Post by **demaine** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:26 pm

I tune rimshots and kicks when I'm trying to use them melodically, but otherwise its too much effort

serox · Post by **serox** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:39 pm

I didn't think rimshots had a pitch (tone??)

Something like an 808 does so that would need to be tuned? just guessing here tho

AxeD · Post by **AxeD** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:12 pm

serox wrote:I didn't think rimshots had a pitch (tone??)

Something like an 808 does so that would need to be tuned? just guessing here tho

Dunno mate, in Reason all hits have a pitch. A sampler can pitch anything up or down whether it's rimshots
or farts.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:45 pm

therapist wrote:It's a pretty massive yes if you're simply talking about 'samples'.

Could be anything I guess. Drum samples are the context that the original conversation related too, in particular kick drums.

But have you ever repitched vocals or random recordings? Amazing effects can be had by pitching samples down so many octaves that the sample plays slowly and sounds evil!

therapist · Post by **therapist** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:54 pm

futures_untold wrote:
therapist wrote:It's a pretty massive yes if you're simply talking about 'samples'.
Could be anything I guess. Drum samples are the context that the original conversation related too, in particular kick drums.

But have you ever repitched vocals or random recordings? Amazing effects can be had by pitching samples down so many octaves that the sample plays slowly and sounds evil!

OK, I guess i interpreted your original as 'does it really matter if things are in tune.' If I find a good sample that is between notes it isn't really a problem unless I'm having to retune everything else to fit with it. It all goes kind of grey and mushy and interesting when you get so low that you don't know what pitch it is.

futures_untold · Post by **futures_untold** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:11 pm

In a way I was refering to drum samples as this is the type of samples people often try to pitch to match the other elements of the song.

Yet any sample need not be pitched in any particular way in my opinion, just whatever sounds 'right' in the context.

bassinine · Post by **bassinine** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:19 pm

generally, most drum hits are pitched to A. at least in my experience.

on that note, i used to pitch my drums down sometimes. but... you lose a lot of weight and character if you're not careful.

oh, pitching down high hats is a great way to make snare rim shots. basically, pitching your drums is a creative technique - and nothing that is set in stone.

Today · Post by **Today** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:26 pm

"Samples" is not specific enough. One-shot synths, stabs, pads, guitar strings, pianos, etc. need to be in tune, so i need to now their root pitch (or i need a sampler patch that's got them properly matched. One-shot drums, i couldn't give a fuck what their pitch is unless its an 808 kick or a hang drum/steel drum/other pitched, tonal drum

A sample of vocal passage, or a long stream of music, phrase, etc. that i want to flip into a beat -- I don't care if it stays in its root pitch, but I need to know what the root pitch is so when i pitch it up or down i know what musical keys are going to interact well with it

So anyway i voted very important, because whether or not you use it, the information in a sample's root pitch is very important
Unless its drums, imo

bassinine · Post by **bassinine** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 5:31 pm

i think he said in a post above that he was referring to drums.

but yeah, like today said, if it's a not a drum kit - you should find the root key.

skimpi · Post by **skimpi** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:11 pm

I dont find the root pitch of much really, if I am loading things into a multi sampler then yes, it needs to be found so that you can assign it to the correct key. But with drums I definitely dont find the root pitch, and with other more melodic samples I dont find the pitch as I generally just play things that sound OK with it, I hardly ever pay attention to the notes, if it sounds good, its good enough for me, I can usually tell if something sounds off.

daft cunt · Post by **daft cunt** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:55 pm

I always tune a sample to C on import, then do everything by ear from there.
Makes me feel technical and intuitive

Hircine · Post by **Hircine** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 11:59 pm

I can't really differ the notes, just try to run things through a tuner or check where the frequencies hit harder to try to identify a note. If none work, I just random pitch it to sound good. Just produced this old school jungle on my maschine and did one those pitched 808 instead of kicks without knowing which notes are those or even the root haha.

therapist · Post by **therapist** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:05 am

It's just occurred to me you may have meant actually using a tuner plugin? Fuck that, never used one.

Hircine · Post by **Hircine** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:08 am

therapist wrote:It's just occurred to me you may have meant actually using a tuner plugin? Fuck that, never used one.

points out a note according to the frequency, doesn't make me less of a gangster

arktrix45hz · Post by **arktrix45hz** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:09 am

Extremely. Use a spectral analyser and a frequency chart and you should be all good really though.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:43 am

always tune kicks and some percussion
pitching down samples to stretch and alter is std practice for most I`m sure??

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