Ableton Forum

I sure this has been asked but how do I synch up acapellas. I know the BPM for both the acapella and the track but I'm new to this. I need tips or someone to point me in the right direction.

Thanks

May the Warp be with you.

ok thanks. but seriously. Anyone with some practical advise

I'll be a little less cryptic... the key word is *warping*. It may need to be done manually..



















And if you still haven't sussed it read this:
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11736

Unlike other files, acapellas usually need to be done bar to bar by hand. There usually isn't anything that Ableton can grab to determine tempo in an acapella. Find a word that hits on the one and set the 1 there. You said you know the tempo, so "warp at ### bpm from here" from the one and go from there. The "1" you find might not be the first bar of the acapella but you can work backwards.

Then you need to go through the whole thing and make sure the acapella doesn't drift off tempo. Apply warp markers accordingly.

Hope this helps.

I would like to counter that opinion and say that even if you don't know the original tempo I *still* feel that as few markers as possible does a better and quicker job. I've heard waay too many remixes with screwed up vocals because the vox had been liberally manipulated. (damned liberal manipulators! )

Yeah, I agree with that. It's just that some things don't lock to tempo and you have to make some adjustments. Less warp markers is always better but sometimes you gotta make with the yellows!

I don't warp acapellas alone whenever I can. I like warping the original then putting the acapella against it. The best part is using the phasing effect as a guide instead of a metronome. It takes longer, but it's dead on and you get 2 songs in the end.

if you really know the tempo:

in arrangement make a click- or drumtrack with the correct tempo
make a second track, put in the acapella, unwarped, move it it forward and/or backward until it sits fine in the rythm.

now select the acapella and the empty gap before it begins. consolidate. press the warp button. voila, the consolidated clip should be a perfectly warped acapella.

i've tried this with songs where the tempo drifts,
figure out the rough tempo
do "warp from here" at the first detectable downbeat
play song with click until it starts to drift
go to last correct warp marker,
do "warp from here" again,
continue til end

Thanks people. Very helpful. I'll been playing around with it by setting the 1:1:1 on the down, letting it go and then adjusting. It's not perfect but it's passable. And this is only my first try! So, I'm happy with the results so far.