Talk:Pitch shifting

Old discussions
"Pitch-shifting may be done both in analog and in digital recording" Is it true that only digital recording can do it in real time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 144.139.85.123 (talk • contribs)
 * Not with a pitch control, on an analog tape machine. TEAC's old units used to boost or cut pitch by fifteen percent (or a whole step and then some). Zephyrad 04:53, 11 January 2006 (UTC)
 * "Berry was already in his thirties when he began having hits; his producer wanted him to appeal to the youth market." This reminds me of Leonard Cohen who nowadys sings in a bass register and wonder why he hasn't added sped-up vocals to his more reccent studio recordings. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 144.139.85.123 (talk • contribs)

Speed shifting
Speeding up and slowing down a recording is not the same as pitch shifting. This needs to be clarified. — Omegatron 15:32, 13 July 2006 (UTC)


 * The TERM discussed is "pitch shift", which in analog terms DOES refer to the speeding up or slowing down of a recording; the speed control on an analog machine is labelled "Pitch Shift" or "Pitch control". When pitch is shifted in a digital recording, it plays back faster or slower, unless the shifter is set to change pitch but preserve length (which takes some number-crunching). Zephyrad 16:16, 13 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Hmm... Maybe that's an older definition of the term then?
 * pitch-shifting or pitch-transposing : Recording. An effect that changes the pitch (frequency or tone) of musical notes without changing their length, or timing. - Rane
 * PITCH SHIFTER : Device for changing the pitch of an audio signal without changing it's duration. - SOUND ON SOUND TECHNICAL GLOSSARY
 * Pitch Correction : A process whereby the pitch of a selected track or part can be changed (or corrected) without changing the speed at which it occurs. - Sweetwater glossary — Omegatron 16:56, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

Pitch correction merge
Pitch Correction and Pitch shifting are related but are two completely different algorithmic processes and are used for different reasons in audio production. Pitch Correction is a note by note process while Pitch shifting is more often used globally on a track or tracks for creative or overall  adjustment to pitch. In older eras of engineering pitch shifting via tape adjustment or external digital processors was used for pitch correction, but the term pitch correction is not used interchangeably with pitch shifting and has a more specific meaning in modern times. True you can do pitch shifting using a pitch correction process or you can do pitch correction via a pitch shifting process, but they are two different things so a merge is not needed as per WP:MM Dissolve 22:58, 28 January 2007 (UTC)


 * I disagree. The processes are very similar and typically (in current digital systems) use the same algorithms. I'd suggest pitch correction should be a subsection of the pitch shift article, since pitch correction is an application of pitch shifting. Granted it is done on a note-by-note basis, but that only makes it pitch-shift with an automated control element. --mcld 11:02, 20 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Regardless of the technological basis for comparison between pitch-shifting and pitch-correction, the artistic and cultural implications of the two techniques as historically used in popular music are so diametrically opposed that merging the two subjects can only lessen the understanding of either process. Pitch-shifting as used, for example, by George Martin and the Beatles, was done in order to render otherwise natural-sounding performances strange (for artistic purposes).  Pitch-correction, as used on many contemporary pop singers, is used to transform otherwise unlistenable performances into seemingly natural (and technically proficient) singing.   These two very distinct uses of pitch manipulation deserve separate entries, exactly as we wouldn't lump foreign language translation software and spell-checking into one entry because they both use software dictionaries to modify the words that we type.  --Electroniceye 08:38, 21 April 2007 (UTC)


 * I agree. Pitch shifting is typically used by musicians when they create the music.  Pitch correction it typically used in the mix-down process of recording to correct out of tune notes or performances.

Pitch shifter, Harmonizer
There should be more information on the history and uses of pitch shifters and harmonizers.--Atlantictire (talk) 21:24, 6 September 2010 (UTC)


 * The article says, "...a pitch shifter set to increase the pitch by a fourth will raise each note four diatonic intervals above the notes actually played." This is entirely incorrect.  The diatonic scale nomenclature is based on ordinal numbers, hence the unison is "1".  Setting to a fourth will raise the "1" to a "4th", which is increasing the pitch by THREE diatonic intervals, not four.  SJGooch (talk) 08:09, 1 August 2011 (UTC)


 * "Diatonic intervals" doesn't make sense in this sentence; it should be corrected to "diatonic steps". Also, for a pitch shifter to pitch shift diatonically, it would have to be auto-tuned as well or something. "...a pitch shifter set to increase the pitch by a perfect fourth will raise each note a perfect fourth above the notes actually played." would be better, but I suggest using a semitone or octave; more people will know what a semitone/octave is. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.22.215.9 (talk) 04:52, 14 August 2013 (UTC)

No jargon!
Any and all superfluous uses of sound engineering or programming terminology will be nixed! Save the neardspeak and gearweigan for Wikibooks. These pages are for people who don't already know what these things are and are seeking basic info in a language they can understand.--Atlantictire (talk) 02:22, 23 April 2011 (UTC)

False redirect from Harmonizer?
A Harmonizer is a 19" rack mounted effects unit manufactured by Eventide of New York USA since the 1970's. The Harmonizer H910 includes two digital delays and an Anti-Feedback system which was often used in concert live sound setups during the 80's. Some features of the Harmonizer model H910 exist today as a Plug-In for digital recording  http://www.eventide.com/Home/Eventide/AudioDivision/Products/PlugIns/H910H949Video.aspx.

Why is the Harmonizer redirected to Pitch Shift?? 82.11.121.200 (talk) 20:03, 27 July 2011 (UTC)
 * Because it's a kind of pitch shifter. Also, harmonizer is a term used to described pitch shifters which create harmonies.--Atlantictire (talk) 22:40, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

Requested move 15 August 2023

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: Moved. (closed by non-admin page mover) SilverLocust 💬 23:46, 22 August 2023 (UTC)

Pitch shift → Pitch shifting – According to lead. Eurohunter (talk) 19:15, 15 August 2023 (UTC) The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.
 * Support I think using the gerund form for the article title makes more sense here, and it is certainly allowed to be used as an article title per WP:GERUND. Rreagan007 (talk) 19:40, 15 August 2023 (UTC)

Formant Shifting
there should be a section that discusses how standard pitch shifting causes the timbre of vocal tracks to change and a section discussing formant preservation and formant shifting. 99.97.141.22 (talk) 23:48, 13 March 2024 (UTC)

I fucking hate myself!
Why 181.188.55.99 (talk) 02:08, 9 July 2024 (UTC)