To Pitch Or Not To Pitch? That Is The Question

[Geeselad]

Over heard some people talking about this issue at the lifeline, they said

one big name Dj pitched all his tunes up when playing them out and

another big name DJ had said he was an heritic who vilified our scene

by adulterating the music and not playing it in its original form/ tempo.

How do folks feel about the practice of speeding tunes up slightly for

dancefloor impact, on here?

Edited March 3, 2010 by geeselad

[Dave Thorley]

There was a long thread about this, about six months ago, but can't find it at the moment, anyone else able to find it????.

Dave

[Guest Dave Turner]

Don't like it myself. It's not the real deal and something false about it. If it ain't any good at original speed don't play it.

[Guest nomad]

Over heard some people talking about this issue at the lifeline, they said

one big name Dj pitched all his tunes up when playing them out and

another big name DJ had said he was an heritic who vilified our scene

by adulterating the music and not playing it in its original form/ tempo.

How do folks feel about the practice of speeding tunes up slightly for

dancefloor impact, on here?

This has been going on for years Geese. You ask how I feel about this...Im all for the rights of the original artist interpretation. That was the way the record was intended to be heard. I know speeded up or slowed down may suit the dancing but in this time of remixes, that are popular at the moment, is it really considered a crime?

Nomad

[Geeselad]

There was a long thread about this, about six months ago, but can't find it at the moment, anyone else able to find it????.

Dave

Thanks, didnt realise it'd been talked about before.

[Geeselad]

This has been going on for years Geese. You ask how I feel about this...Im all for the rights of the original artist interpretation. That was the way the record was intended to be heard. I know speeded up or slowed down may suit the dancing but in this time of remixes, that are popular at the moment, is it really considered a crime?

Nomad

Personally I dont have a problem with it, though you dont want to go much more than +3 really or were into chipmunk terratory

[Spacehopper]

i do it....only about +2 and not on all tunes,some i even slow down by a couple to make easier for the old legs..AND TO BE HONEST I DOUBT IF MOST PEOPLE EVEN NOTICE ive certainly never had any complaints...once again its about watching your crowd

as far as the 'its not how it should sound' arguement what about live performances...most of the time they are faster than the original recording...IMHO

dean

[Dave Thorley]

Don't like it myself. It's not the real deal and something false about it. If it ain't any good at original speed don't play it.

How do you know your listening to the real deal on the record ?

Was chatting to Tom Moulton recently and he was telling me the story of 'hold back the night'. When he was given the master tape to mix, he felt it was way to fast, so he slowed it right down, thats why the bass vocal is so deep. So somewhere there is a master tape with a much faster version, as it was recorded at the time.

Also it's well know that Berry Gordy, would often ask for tracks to be slowed down in the final mix, so many producers would record at a faster tempo, expecting this to happen.

[Dave Thorley]

How do you know your listening to the real deal on the record ?

Was chatting to Tom Moulton recently and he was telling me the story of 'hold back the night'. When he was given the master tape to mix, he felt it was way to fast, so he slowed it right down, thats why the bass vocal is so deep. So somewhere there is a master tape with a much faster version, as it was recorded at the time.

Also it's well know that Berry Gordy, would often ask for tracks to be slowed down in the final mix, so many producers would record at a faster tempo, expecting this to happen.

I have several acetates with versions 1&2 and you can hear them messing around with the speed of the recording

[Guest Dave Turner]

How do you know your listening to the real deal on the record ?

Was chatting to Tom Moulton recently and he was telling me the story of 'hold back the night'. When he was given the master tape to mix, he felt it was way to fast, so he slowed it right down, thats why the bass vocal is so deep. So somewhere there is a master tape with a much faster version, as it was recorded at the time.

Also it's well know that Berry Gordy, would often ask for tracks to be slowed down in the final mix, so many producers would record at a faster tempo, expecting this to happen.

Dave, yeah we all know that they mess around with tracks before the final release. The "real deal" as far as I'm concerned is how the track was released to the public. I'm ok with original studio acetates etc with different speeds etc. Just uneasy with jocks (or anyone else) not connected to the original recording fooking about with tracks, don't like it, never have, even from the Soussan days ie Epitome of Sound (Moses Smith). Don't like engineered instrumentals, added vocals or whatever.

But that's me, others have their own opinions of course.

[Guest]

If they sound better,pitch 'em................a lot of the motown live lps sound a lot better pitched down,i heve heard they where presses at the wrong speed anyway.

Edited March 3, 2010 by ken

[jocko]

How do folks feel about the practice of speeding tunes up slightly for

dancefloor impact, on here?

Section 3.14 of 1985 Northern Soul act says only non original vinyl should have pitch changed!

An officer near you is watching to enforce.

as far as the 'its not how it should sound' arguement what about live performances...most of the time they are faster than the original recording...IMHO

dean

That wins the most bizarre and totally unconnected excuse ever on here for excusing your behaviour,

. I'm ok with original studio acetates etc with different speeds etc. Just uneasy with jocks (or anyone else) not connected to the original recording fooking about with tracks,

But that's me, others have their own opinions of course.

That looks particularly anti-scottish to me, us Scotch lads have always championed original speed!

[Guest Matt Male]

I'm not sure about this one. I'm disappointed when i hear a great record at the original speed only to find out it's been pitched up in the past and it's not the one i fell in love with, on the other hand there are some which go from being too fast or a tad too slow, with a single pitch up or down become a brilliant northern dancer. I've got a couple i'd like to play out, one too fast, one a bit slow, but i'm nervous about pitching.

[Cunnie]

us Scotch lads have always championed original speed!

Reads 2 ways that Jocko

Back to the topic.

Tools are there to be used so use them if you feel comfortable doing it.

Think most folks who don't use stuff to enhance the music output mainly don't do it through fear or ignorance of the technology available.

Let's be honest about it.

We've all got records that we think are too fast or slow so do summat about it. Not bloody rocket science is it.

[Wrongcrowd]

If a record sounds better with a little pitch control help, then do it, if not leave well alone....

[Guest Brett F]

Each to there own...i'd never pitch a record....but then again all turntables i've owned do not have a pitch control..(belt drive all the way for me..)

[Guest dundeedavie]

I'm all for pitching personally ..if it enhances the danceability of the tune

[Ceejay]

I'm all for pitching personally ..if it enhances the danceability of the tune

I Personally don't mind, as long as I can keep up with it, lol!!!

A couple of tunes spring to mind, My Baby Likes To Boogaloo I personally find just on the slow side to dance to so am happy it's cranked up a bit.

Also Stanky Get Funky - I can only presume that it's been speeded up many a time and i therefore got used to that tempo, as the last time I heard it played out at Bidds it was a lot

slower. A few of us on the dance floor were looking a bit miffed at the time as it was too slow!!! In the end we sat down as it just wasn't the same!!!

Edited March 3, 2010 by jobbo

[Steve G]

AGree with my learned colleagues who say if pitching enhances the daceability then do it.

I have one 60s record I pitch at +6 and it sounds great out.

Don't pitch if it makes the vocal sound like a Pinky & perky track....

[davidwapples]

wasnt suspicion speeded up on the bootleg release credited to the prophets

dont have a sound file to check but sure this had a pink label and was on boot records

[Citizen P]

Pitching UP????????

at my age I prefer -6,

ask Grant

Tony

[Weingarden]

Those against pitching up or down must surely think that every single turntable in the world plays at PRECISELY the same speed, which is utter nonsense.

[Guest]

Those against pitching up or down must surely think that every single turntable in the world plays at PRECISELY the same speed, which is utter nonsense.

Most decks have strobe light things,so they would near as damnit

[Paul-s]

a lot of big name djs pitch, ive heard em.!

[Guest Ferrett]

I pitch around 50% of my records (at home and on the rare occasion I DJ). Even write preferred pitch on sleeve on some (+2, + 4, -2 etc)

Never seen a problem with it personally. If you've bought em, you can do what you like with em.

I'd rather go out and here a new tune pitched up/down to make them more dancefloor friendly than suffer hearing the same old wigan stomper I've heard every week for the last 25 years.

[Rob Wigley]

Goes back to Wigan days anyway-the decks (or at least one deck) could be/was speeded up Harold Melvin "Get Out" was way faster at Wigan than when the record got re-issued on Route in the UK-also as mention Mr Soussan would send over speeded up versions.

Rob

Edited March 4, 2010 by Karen and Rob Wigley

[dthedrug]

Over heard some people talking about this issue at the lifeline, they said

one big name Dj pitched all his tunes up when playing them out and

another big name DJ had said he was an heritic who vilified our scene

by adulterating the music and not playing it in its original form/ tempo.

How do folks feel about the practice of speeding tunes up slightly for

dancefloor impact, on here?

[Little-stevie]

Was talking to Andy Pollard/ Ted and Bob about this.. Them RnB boys are a doing it big time..... Not just the odd track but on many....

I think Ted also had an x mark on side of a record too thats another story

[Guest Beeks]

I'm always pissing about with the pitch...I think it's different in R&B for the simple reason that the dancefloor rhythm is the predominant factor...whereas soul is more focused on the vocal

[Stevie]

Bought a few 45s based on soundfiles or hearing out - couldn't believe how fast some of them were when I put them on the deck. One plays best at 33rpm pitched up, another at -8.

Talking R&B by the way...

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

Do they have pitch on any of the old decks (some places uses them)

I wouldn't like to pitch records in the way that makes it sound worse. They were made in 1 way stick to it like that.

[John Benson]

Can anyone explain just how the 'pitch' numbering works?

As in relation to the records original speed that is - say the original speed is 1, how does +1, +2, +3 etc relate to that?

Is there an actual relationship to the increase in speed, like in a percentage or something?

Does +2 equate to something like 1.2% and so on?

I know it can't be exactly like that as +8 would be going on to be twice the original speed, but I think you should get my drift!

Just curious...cos I'm a bit thick on this sort of thing!

[Cunnie]

I'm always pissing about with the pitch...I think it's different in R&B for the simple reason that the dancefloor rhythm is the predominant factor...whereas soul is more focused on the vocal

Bit like House music then Beeks old boy

Can anyone explain just how the 'pitch' numbering works?

As in relation to the records original speed that is - say the original speed is 1, how does +1, +2, +3 etc relate to that?

Is there an actual relationship to the increase in speed, like in a percentage or something?

Does +2 equate to something like 1.2% and so on?

I know it can't be exactly like that as +8 would be going on to be twice the original speed, but I think you should get my drift!

Just curious...cos I'm a bit thick on this sort of thing!

Good question John.

Always assumed it was percentage rated as in + or - 4 = + or - 4% but might be wrong.

Anybody?

[pikeys dog]

My Numark deck is marked +10% to -10% in 1% increments.

I assume that it's industry standard.

Edited March 7, 2010 by pikeys dog

[Guest kid mohair]

There was a long thread about this, about six months ago, but can't find it at the moment, anyone else able to find it????.

Dave

It might of been the thread i started ?..i pitch up and down..

[Mike Lofthouse]

I would of thought that there are enough great Soul records out there so as to disregard those that don't quite have the 'right' tempo. And given that any tempo seems 'right' at the venues I attend I would rather the music be left to the talented creative folk rather than the amateur DJ's who spin the records IMHO

Edited March 7, 2010 by Mike Lofthouse

[Guest Dave Turner]

I would of thought that there are enough great Soul records out there so as to disregard those that don't quite have the 'right' tempo. And given that any tempo seems 'right' at the venues I attend I would rather the music be left to the talented creative folk rather than the amateur DJ's who spin the records IMHO

100%

[Suinoz]

Each to there own...i'd never pitch a record....but then again all turntables i've owned do not have a pitch control..(belt drive all the way for me..)

Belt drive or not Brett, some of the crappy decks some promoters are using nowaday's actually need to be sped up slightly to achieve anywhere near the original speed the records were recorded at. This is usually down to poor maintainance or a general lack of care plus some of the decks i have seen are pretty naff makes and only good for occasional home use, not constant use over sevaral hours. It's Technics or nothing for me.