Ableton Forum

Hi there, basicly i am warping an acapella so i can mix it with a tune on live.
But...when i set the warp markers at say bars: 1, 3, 5, 7,9 the acapella plays at random pitches eg: bar 1 to 3 plays normal, then 3 to 5 are warped too but the voice sounds higher/ like a chipmunk.
How can i keep the acapella nice & level?
Cheers

Which warping mode are you using? Usually 'beats' is the default but you might find a different mode more accurate for your purposes.

Read up on warping modes in your manual or .pdf file, pages 131-133 in the Live 7 manual or pages 123-125 in the Live 6 manual.

Either you are using "pitch" mode while warping...

or perhaps you have some Clip Automation affecting the clip's pitch?

open up the Envelopes window (click the circle-E down below if you dont see wtf I'm talking about), select transpose from the drop down menu (i think volume is the one shown by default) and now ask yourself... is there a crazy red line superimposed over the top of my acapella, or is it a straight red line going down the middle (0 semitones)?

this is the window I'm talkin' about:

beats is typically a poor algorithm for warping vocals. It is designed for drums/drumloops where it typically does a great job.

complex or texture are better modes usually.

I doubt that repitch was selected as that actually affects the pitch of the vocals when you raise tempo it pitches up, lowering tempo pitches down, like a DJ turntable.

Also remember, some complex tracks don't warp that well anyway and the more you have to timestretch it, the more artifacts are gonna be present.

leedsquietman wrote:
I doubt that repitch was selected as that actually affects the pitch of the vocals when you raise tempo it pitches up, lowering tempo pitches down, like a DJ turntable.

Assuming your warp markers are evenly spaced.

Repitch will change the pitch of a clip, with no change to the song tempo, if warp markers are unevenly spaced/perhaps from bad auto-warping?

Still, I agree, i doubt repitch was used. But then mystery automation seems just as unlikely, too.

The markers are in the rite places, i completely forgot there are multiple warp modes thats all. Cheers for the help guys, hopefully i will be able to get cracking.

Hello again fellas, basicly i am still struggling to solve my acapella problem.
I have set the warp mode to 'complex', it sounds better (thanks for the help), but... the audio sounds slower between some of the markers, even though it is playing at the same speed.
I have read through all of the info in my reference book, but it doesnt state anything about this latest problem.
Any ideas?
Cheers

complex mode is the last choice in warp modes, sounds worst, takes the most CPU. don't recall the advantage of it.

the key isn't to look at how fast the time marker is moving, it's to look how far it is between beat markers.

btw did you know you can click on the area just above the audio and CREATE a warp marker anywhere you want. I learned that late in the game, blew my mind.

warping is all about practice.

I usually go for "Tones" mode first for vocal warping.

No i didnt know that, il give it a go asap!
So are you saying that i should set the markers so the audio sounds rite, not actually where the waveform begins (as you would do with a song (if that makes sense)?
Cheers fellas, this is starting to rip my brain to pieces now haha

mmm... What is you are triing to do? Warp an accapella to what BPM? I work with accapellas quite a lot. I have never warped them.

I play the accapella and clap/ rap in the beat usually i split the song to its different verses. I have no clue what the bpm is until i have tapped or clapped in the beat. If my taps are close to say 100bpm then i can think about stretching the vocal more finely based on the markers (claps i have made.

So i would play the vocal with no warp markers (warp off). ithen tap in the beat using a pen tapping on my computer desk or i will clap the beat in using a seperate track to record it . Or a bpm tapper but not the one in live as it will affect the entire tempo. I would then play back the 2 tracks toghether and see how it sounds. I would maybe i it suited put a 4/4 beat on a third trak then line them all up. Takes time but does work for me. Once i have predicted the correct tempo then i save markers and the vocal can then be stretched ro most songs.

Im trying to warp an acapella to 140bpm, so it can then be utilized with a track i have made to create a bootleg! Should sound truly amazing when finished.
I was thinking of cutting up the acapella & placing the words by hand... but i must do it the proper way (obviousley).
The acapella is already out of sync in a few places for some reason.
I thaught i could simply set the warp mode to suit & set the markers, but if i set them where i think they should be the words go slower but the key/ pitch is all the same.
Would it be too much to ask if you could warp say the first 30 seconds of the acapell please? I dont mean to be cheeky at all by asking, it would simply give me something to actualy work from.
Cheers

I'm game to do it this afternoon (no worky today), post it or PM me a link.

samurai1 wrote:Im trying to warp an acapella to 140bpm, so it can then be utilized with a track i have made to create a bootleg! Should sound truly
Cheers

Try melodyne plugin. Thats what its made for.

Good luck