How To Find The Key Of A Sample In Ableton

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In this article, I explain how to change the pitch of a sample in Ableton Alive in a few simple steps.

Pace 1: Transpose

To run across the transpose and detune functions, information technology helps to click on ansound sample on an audio track.

Ileft-click on the sampletwice in thearrangement view and notice in the clip view below that there is atranspose (1) anddetune (ii)option for the clip.

The transpose knob allows forpitch shifting an audio clip upward to xl-8 semitones above or below the original audio sample's pitch.

Thedetune function allows you lot to tune the sample between semitones by l degrees (called 'cents').

So if you set the detune dial to 25ct, your sample volition be tuned halfway betwixt the current semitone and the next higher semitone.

You can use the transpose and detune dials to tune an chemical element (say, a boot drum sample), although there are many ways to use these functions.

Footstep 2: Use The Warp Functions

For this example, I take transposed my sample up by 12 semitones. All the same, when you modify the pitch of a sample, sometimes this results in unwanted tempo changes.

To fix this, you demand to transpose the sample with the warp mode ready to on and then bicycle through the warp algorithms to observe one that naturally pitch shifts the sample.

Depending on the type of sample, the algorithmic choice may differ.

For example, beat samples tend to be pitched and warped more successfully with the beat algorithm. Ambient and tonal samples pair well with the tones algorithm, whereas harsher/noisier sounds pair better with the textures algorithm.

The circuitous and circuitous pro algorithms are best used for a vocal sample.

It is all-time to cycle through these algorithms and mind to the repitched sample to see which warp algorithm produces the desired outcome within your expected tempo.

Footstep 3: Cheque The Pitch

Apply Ableton'southward Tuner Upshot to the rails with the sample that you have but transposed.

Then playback the sample and check the pitch using the Tuner.

As you tin can encounter in the screenshot, my sample is too sharp.

I want to make certain that the sample sits at C.

Step 4: Adjust The Pitch Using The Detune Function

To adapt the sample, double-left-click on the sample to see the prune view.

Using my sample equally an example, I know that the sample'south pitch is in the vicinity of C. Therefore, I practice non want to transpose information technology to any semitone above or beneath.

Instead, I desire to slightly pitch shift the sound sample to go far flatter to get closer to C.

To practice this, I left-click and hold downwards on the mouse button on the Detune Screen and pull down on the mouse to lower the sample'due south pitch by a matter of cents instead of whole semitones.

Step 4 Adjust the pitch using the detune function

In this instance, I needed to go quite low to accomplish my desired pitch.

As yous will come across, I detuned the sample by minus 21 cents.

To check the sample's pitch, left-click on the Device Viewer Selector downwardly the bottom correct of the screen to see the track'south furnishings.

There we notice the tuner upshot that I loaded upward.

Become alee and playback the sample to cheque its pitch past playing back the sound.

Information technology may take a few rounds of adjusting, using the detune option on the sample prune, simply you will get there. Come across… Much ameliorate.

FAQ – How To Modify The Pitch Of A Sample In Ableton

How practice you change the octave of a sample in Ableton?

To alter the octave of a sample in Ableton, transpose the sample up by 12 semitones like I take done here in this example.

How do yous change the key of a vocal in Ableton?

If you want to alter the overall key of a song in Ableton, you lot tin can upload the whole song every bit a WAV file into Ableton and so transpose it. For instance, if the music is in the key of C, transposing it up two semitones will alter the key to D. This sounds easy, but it does not work all the time. Depending on the scales of the vocal, it may exist hard to accurately alter the key of the vocal just by transposing it. To change the song's primal properly, you may need to rework the song's key musical theme. The key is based on (such as the bassline or chord progression) and rebuild everything around it (including drum samples, which depending on your style of music, may likewise need to be repatched and tuned using the steps given hither).

Which sampling instrument is your sample in now?

None, I am just adjusting the raw sample. Sometimes I find it helps to repitch a sample to the desired pitch and then consolidate it (past clicking on the clip and pressing Ctrl-J) before loading the sample into a sample musical instrument similar Ableton'southward Simpler.

How do yous change the pitch of a sample simply non the time?

Ah, see – this is the issue many of u.s. face when we transpose or detune a sample. To ensure that the sample's time (eastward.grand., tempo) does not change, you must brand sure that you transpose the sample with the warp function. Then yous choose the warping algorithm that best suits the type of sample. You volition notice that some warping functions keep the repitched sample in a much closer tempo than others.

How do you attune pitch in Ableton?

Select the clip that you want to modulate. In the envelopes box on the Clip View, select the drop-downwards menu from the Control Chooser and select Transposition Modulation. Set your automation points. This, in a nutshell, is how you attune pitch in Ableton.