Pitch 'n Time Frequently Asked Questions

If you are running OS X Lion and attempting to validate and activate Pitch 'n Time LE in the Audio Units manager in Logic Pro, you may receive a "crashed validation" result. This is something we are investigating currently but shouldn't cause you any problems.

If you ignore this error and click "done", you should still then be able to activate the plug-in and select Pitch 'n Time as an algorithm in Logic's Time and Pitch Machine and it should function as normal.

This issue may also appear in the form of an error message "You are using incompatible Audio Units" when starting Logic Pro. Clicking Ignore should allow Pitch 'n Time to still be enabled in the Audio Units manager and it should work fine.

If you are still having trouble getting Pitch 'n Time LE to work, please start a help request here

The Issue

In Pro Tools 8.0.3 and 8.0.4, when using Pitch 'n Time Pro to process audio the resulting output is silence or "pops and clicks". This is due to an issue caused when using another AudioSuite plug-in to process the audio in the same session before using Pitch 'n Time Pro.

Workaround

Ensure Pitch 'n Time Pro is the first AudioSuite plug-in used in your session, or restart Pro Tools when you are wanting to use Pitch 'n Time Pro.

UPDATE

This issue has been fixed in Pitch 'n Time 2.5.1, which is now available on the download page.

 

 

 

Problem

Starting Pro Tools with a low screen resolution will cause the Pitch 'n Time Pro window to be cropped, leaving you unable to access the Preview, Bypass, Update Waveform and Process buttons.

Solution

Start Pro Tools with a higher screen resolution.

The Issue
Using Pitch 'n Time LE for Logic Pro, the Prelisten function in the Factory Time and Pitch Machine doesn't sound as good as Pitch 'n Time should.

Logic Pro doesn't currently support Prelisten using Pitch 'n Time LE, an internal algorithm is used instead. At this time it is unknown whether or when Apple might fix this.

Workaround
To hear the true sound of Pitch 'n Time LE when working with Logic Pro, Process the audio, have a listen and use the Undo function if you wish to make further adjustments.

The Issue
If, when launching Logic Pro 8.0 after installing Pitch 'n Time LE, you don't have an authorized iLok inserted Logic Pro will disable Pitch 'n Time LE. Pitch 'n Time LE will not be visible in the algorithm selections. Inserting your iLok and / or restarting Logic Pro will not help to make Pitch 'n Time LE available.

The Solution
Start Logic Pro 8.0.
Ensure your authorized iLok is inserted.
Select Preferences → Audio Unit Manager.
Check "Pitch 'n Time LE".

Pitch 'n Time LE will once again be available to you.

From Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 and Pitch 'n Time LE 1.1.5 these plug-ins are found in the AudioSuite Pitch menu.

Older versions of those plug-ins are located in the AudioSuite Other menu.

Product:
Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.3.1 or earlier, with Pro Tools 7.4 or later.

Issue:
The TC/E tool does not work as expected.

Solution
Download and install an update to Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4: http://serato.com/products/pnt/download/

This is a FREE update for owners of Pitch 'n Time 2.2 and Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.3. Your current iLok license will work with Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4.

Issue
Pitch 'n Time Pro and LE in Pro Tools both open with "Multi-channel mode" processing as the default, even when mono processing may be more suitable for your audio.

Workaround
Launch Pro Tools.
Launch Pitch 'n Time Pro or LE from the Audio Suite menu.
Change the processing from "Multi-channel mode" to "Mono mode".

The Issue
After you type a value into a field in Pitch 'n Time Pro or LE you can press Enter or Return to send that value through to the plug-in.

When pressing Enter in a Pitch 'n Time text field the editor (or text field) remains active, therefore pressing Delete will delete the value in the text editor instead of your selected region in the Edit Window.

Workaround
Send your new value to Pitch 'n Time by pressing Return instead of Enter. Pressing Return will deselect the input field and you will then be able to delete a region of audio on the timeline in Edit Window using the Delete key.

Pitch 'n Time LE 1.1.3/1.1.4 may crash on Pro Tools 6.9.2 (or possibly on 6.9.1 too), before even displaying the user interface.

This problem is fixed as of Pitch 'n Time LE version 1.1.5

Product:
Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 or later

Issue:
When loading a setting saved with version 2.3.1 or earlier into version 2.4 or later, the algorithm selection may be wrong. Specifically, if you saved the setting with algorithm B selected, this will appear as algorithm V in version 2.4.

Workaround:
1. Open Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 (or later :)
2. Load your setting
3. (If the Algorithm selection is wrong) Select the correct algorithm
4. Save the setting with the same name (overwrite the old one)

The Issue
The issue appears when Pitch 'n Time LE is selected as the Arrange window Time Machine algorithm, and you are using "Adjust Region Length to Nearest Bar" or "Adjust Region Length to Locators" on an audio region with length 1:00:21.60 or greater. The following message appears, regardless of whether the audio is being time-stretched or compressed, to whatever extent:

[quote]Time Expansion of Audio is limited to 800% of its original length.
Please set a smaller destination size and try again.[/quote]

A Fix
Apple will be fixing this in a future release of Logic Pro.


A Workaround
Manipulation of long audio material will work, if you open it in Sample Editor and use the Time & Pitch machine.

Product
Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 (and probably future versions)

The Issue:
When using TC/E trimmer tool with anything other than the default mode, you must first select that mode (e.g. V mode) and save a "preset" (or otherwise known as a Setting). To use this preset with TC/E tool, you go to Setup->Preferences->Processing, select "Serato Pitch 'n Time Pro" for "TC/E Plugin" drop-down box, and your saved setting for "Default Settings". Now you would think you're ready to use that saved mode with the TC/E tool. However, doing this on Pro Tools 7.3 and lower does NOT work. You must execute a workaround.

A Fix:
This will be fixed with Pro Tools versions 7.4 (and higher). However if you have a lower version, you will still have to use the following workaround.

A Workaround:
For example to use V mode with TC/E tool on ProTools 7.3 or lower

1) Open PnT Pro.
2) Click on V.
3) Save a new setting using the drop down next to in the plug-in header.
4a) Call the new setting "V mode".
4b) Click on "Set As User Default" (also drop down next to
4c) Click "Settings Preferences->Set Plugin default to->User Setting"
4d) Close plugin
5) Go to Setup -> Preferences -> Processing.
6) Your TC/E Plug-In should be Serato Pitch 'n Time Pro
7) Choose "V mode" as the Default Setting.
8) Process using the TC/E tool.

Update:
Pro Tools 7.4 has now been released (see www.digidesign.com for more information).

The TC/E tool works as expected with Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 and Pro Tools 7.4.

Problem
If you are using a Mac PPC without a valid iLok license, Logic Pro 8 may crash when processing and unsaved data may be lost.
If you are using a Mac Intel without a valid iLok license, Logic Pro 8 will not provide an indication that processing has failed.

Solution
Always use Pitch 'n Time LE with a valid iLok license. A 30 day demo license is available here:
http://serato.com/products/pntle/download

Problem

Running Pro Tools after installing Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.5 without restarting your computer will cause the incorrect version number of Pitch 'n Time Pro to be displayed.

Solution

Restart your computer after installing Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.5

Problem

Running Pro Tools after installing Pitch 'n Time LE 1.2 without restarting your computer will cause the incorrect version number of Pitch 'n Time LE to be displayed.

Solution

Restart your computer after installing Pitch 'n Time LE 1.2.

Problem

The version number of Pitch 'n Time LE  displayed in Logic is always 1.0.0 despite which version of Pitch 'n Time LE is actually installed.  '

Workaround

You can confirm which version of Pitch 'n Time LE is actually installed by getting info on the Pitch 'n Time LE.component file which can be found in Macintosh HD -> Library -> Audio -> Plug-Ins -> Components

This issue will be fixed in the next release of Pitch 'n Time LE.

To use your Pitch 'n Time 2.2 plug-in settings with Pitch 'n Time Pro you'll need to rename your settings folder name from
Pitch 'n Time 2
to
Pitch'nTime Pro

Please note that there is only one space (before Pro) in "Pitch'nTime Pro"

Your plug-in settings are found in the following locations:
PC: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Digidesign\DAE\Plug-In Settings\
Mac: /Library/Application Support/Digidesign/Plug-In Settings/

Serato Pitch 'n Time is high quality time and pitch shifting software.

The answer is simple. Up until now researchers have looked at the problem of time stretching as a mathematical one, and applied objective mathematical techniques to the problem. They've failed, because they haven't properly defined what they're trying to solve.

It may seem obvious, but the perfect time stretch is one where the output sounds the same as the input, just faster or slower. The key word here is 'sounds', which means the problem isn't about waveforms or kilohertz - it's all about hearing.

Serato Audio Research has developed a sophisticated model of the human auditory system. In a sense, the software "listens" to the music, performing a sophisticated auditory scene analysis. Only by listening can it determine what 'sounds' the same, but faster or slower. Normally using such a sophisticated model of the human auditory system would be computationally prohibitive, so novel mathematical methods had to be developed by Serato to speed up this process in software.

Serato have US and international patents for this technique.

If you would like more specific information on the technology that makes Serato Pitch 'n Time work please visit http://www.serato.com/technology/faq/

Supported platforms:

Pro Tools 7, 8 and 9: HD, LE and M-Powered.

Supported operating systems:

Windows XP, Vista and 7
Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 (Intel)

iLok key required for authorization.

Supported Platforms:

Logic Pro 7.2, 8 and 9 (32-bit only).
Logic Express 8 and 9 (32-bit only).

Pro Tools 7, 8 and 9: HD, LE and M-Powered

Supported Operating Sytems:

Windows XP and Vista.
Mac OS X 10.3.9, 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6 (Intel)

iLok key required for authorization.

Platform: Fairlight CC-1 powered Xynergi, Connie, Satellite AV, Station Plus, Constellation XT, or Anthem system.

iLok key required for authorization.

We recommend that you purchase Serato Pitch 'n Time through your local dealer. If preferred, you can also purchase a copy now using our secure online order form at http://www.serato.com/purchase/

Pitch 'n Time comes in a variety of flavors.

Pitch 'n Time Pro retails for $799 USD. An upgrade is also available for $99 USD to all users not currently authorized with an iLok. Pitch 'n Time 2.2 owners can use their current iLok license with this version.

Pitch 'n Time LE has an MSRP of $399 US.

Pitch 'n Time FE has an MSRP of $399 US.

All Serato plugins come with only one license to authorize the software. Pace offer insurance, and your iLok should be covered by contents insurance (check with your provider). Of course if the worst should happen, we are happy to assist in keeping you up and running while insurance is coming through, contact us via email: support@serato.com

Also discounted extra licenses are available from http://www.serato.com/purchase/

As complex, or as simple as you like - even a complete mix.

To convert audio from between different frame rates locate "Rate Change" section in Pitch 'n Time. Your source rate is the source rate value, and target rate is the target rate value.

For example, from 25 FPS to 24 FPS you will use the following:

Source Rate: 25
Target Rate: 24

The biggest problem with existing products is the limited range of material that can be processed without introducing objectionable distortion. If you play your instruments one note at a time then what's already out there may work for you. That is, if you can get mysterious settings like 'tracking' just right. When you work in the real world, plug-ins shouldn't be telling you what you can and can't do. Serato Pitch 'n Time has no confusing settings to tweak, and no nasty surprises. With Serato Pitch 'n Time you can process a wider variety of material than ever before, and always know you're going to get the best sound quality. Anything from a bass line to guitar chords to drums, or lead vocals, backing vocals, or even a complete stereo mix!

Plus or minus 36 semitones.

From 12.5% to 800% of the original tempo.

Serato Pitch 'n Time works with any audio selection within a DAW. MP3 files have to be imported into a suitable DAW environment before they can be processed.

Please read this information on the iLok at http://www.serato.com/ilok/

You've probably processed a stereo pair without multi-channel mode selected.

At this stage it is not possible for Pitch 'n Time Pro to alter track automation along with time stretched audio (however much we'd like to). The AudioSuite architecture does not support processing of automation data by Plug-Ins.

Serato Pitch 'n Time Pro supports all bit depths available through AudioSuite.

Yes. Serato Pitch 'n Time Pro works with all six different formats of SMTE Time Code: 30 (frames per second) fps; 30 fps Drop Frame; 29.97 fps; 29.97 fps Drop Frame, 25 fps (EBU) and 24 fps. A Timecode Region has been specified in the Plugin Interface. Just select your desired end time position time code, and the plugin will calculate the required time stretch. Check your Protools Manual for more information on SMPTE Time Code.

Yes.

Yes, Pitch 'n Time Pro supports phase coherent processing of stereo pairs.

Pitch 'n Time Pro includes a fast and simple BPM calculator for loops that will determine the BPM of a selection if you know how many bars and beats are selected.

By it's very nature, TDM and RTAS are hard real-time architectures. This means that they rely on receiving a steady input and producing an output signal at the same rate, like an effects box on a guitar. Time-stretching a live signal is not logically possible, and therefore neither TDM nor RTAS can support a TCE plug-in. However, it is possible to create a real-time pitch shifting plug-in, because it does not alter the time base of a signal. Such a pitch shifting plug-in is currently in development by our research team for both TDM and RTAS architectures.

Check out the examples area of this site here or download the free demo from here.

Hardware: A computer running Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.3.9 (PPC or Intel)

Software: Pro Tools HD, LE and M-Powered

Serato Pitch 'n Time Pro offers the following features:

* Perfect Pro-Tools integration.
* Modify tempo from 12.5% to 800% of original and simultaneously pitch shift by ±36 semitones.
* Unrivalled and unprecedented processing quality.
* Unique patented time compression/expansion and pitch-shifting algorithm.
* No loss of timing accuracy.
* Process stereo tracks without phasing.
* Process Dolby matrix encoded tracks without losing surround information.
* Time stretch by tempo change, length change, target length, or target BPM.
* Select pitch shift by frequency change or semitone shift.
* Preview changes in real time.
* Fully Mac and Windows compatible
* Multi-Channel Mode - allows you to process up to 48 tracks together while maintaining their original phase coherency.
* Time-Morph - allows you to drop a marker at an event and move it anywhere; the audio flexes before and after to allow you to stretch out a single note, or even change the timing of a loop.
* Variable Pitch Mapping - allows you to pitch-correct individual notes, remove or create pitch slides, or even make a realistic record scratch sound.
* Variable Tempo Mapping - gives you the power to create variable tempo maps and changes over the length of your sample.
* Waveform Overview - means you can actually see the effects of your tempo map as it is applied directly to the waveform.

For full details of Pitch 'n Time Pro features you can download the manual here.

Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 adds a new algorithm, V mode, for the best vocal processing you've heard! It also has full support for high sample rates, 96kHz and 192kHz sessions, together with Mac OS X Tiger, Intel Macs, Pro Tools 7 and Pro Tools 6 compatibility. Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 also fixes a few bugs in Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.3.

Please visit the upgrade section for more details click here

We urge our customers to upgrade to Pitch 'n Time Pro 2.4 and start using the iLok for their future authorizations.

Serato products are no longer using Challenge Response authorization and we no longer support this method.

Serato Pitch 'n Time Pro was engineered specifically for use with Pro Tools, other platforms may be able to run Audiosuite Plug-ins, but we recommend testing with a demo before purchase. We cannot provide platform specific support for users not on Pro Tools.

Pitch n Time Pro allows you to view the changes you make with a number of different length units, including Feet and Frames. However, if you wish to expand or compress a file to another frame rate, you will need to do a little bit of math.

For example; you have a 24 FPS file, which you want to expand to 25 FPS. Divide the target rate (25) by current rate (24), which will give you the ratio required.

25FPS ÷ 24FPS = 1.04166667 (ratio)

Enter this amount into the Target Rate box of the Rate Change panel, then press Process.

Pitch 'n Time is an AudioSuite plug-in and can be found in the Pitch section of the AudioSuite menu in Pro Tools. You will not find Pitch 'n Time in the Insert Selector pop-up menu on your channels. 

 

Yes. A demo version of Pitch 'n Time LE is available here.

Yes, please read about the iLok here.

Yes you can. People who own Pitch 'n Time 2.4 or Pitch 'n Time Pro can crossgrade to Pitch 'n Time LE for $99. When you do this you surrender your Pitch 'n Time Pro license and receive in exchange Pitch 'n Time LE.

Alternatively, you can keep you Pitch 'n Time Pro license and purchase Pitch 'n Time LE at the discounted price of $199. You can only purchase one copy of Pitch 'n Time LE for each copy of Pitch 'n Time Pro owned.

To purchase a crossgrade or discounted Pitch 'n Time LE please email us at sales@serato.com with you serial number and iLok user ID.

Both Pitch 'n Time Pro and Pitch 'n Time LE use Serato's award winning Pitch 'n Time algorithm so the sound quality is the same in both versions.

Yes, Pitch 'n Time LE comes with Pro Tools and Logic Pro versions. However you only receive one iLok authorization with each license so you cannot run the Logic and Pro Tools versions on two different computers at the same time.

You need no additional hardware beyond what is currently required to run Logic Pro.

You need to run at least Logic Pro 7.2

Pitch 'n Time Pro and Pitch 'n Time LE both include Serato's award winning Pitch 'n Time algorithm so both versions produce the same high quality output.

Pitch 'n Time LE has been designed to do high quality, straight forward time and pitch adjustment. With Pitch 'n Time LE you affect the selected audio with a single set of parameters per process.

In comparison Pitch 'n Time Pro includes a number of panels designed to allow the user to make a series of changes in a single process. For each process you are able to set multiple parameters.

Specifically the Variable Pitch panel, Variable Tempo panel, Time Morph panel and Varispeed mode from Pitch 'n Time Pro are not included in Pitch 'n Time LE. (For more information about Pitch 'n Time Pro click here.)

Unlike Pro Tools, Logic Pro does not draw a plug-in window for Pitch 'n Time LE. Instead you need to select the Pitch 'n Time algorithm inside Logic's "Time and Pitch Machine".

Still can't find it? Check here

 

 

If you can't see the Pitch 'n Time algorithm in Logic's Time and Pitch Machine, you may need to enable this in the audio units manager. You can do this by opening:

File -> Preferences -> Audio Units Manager

Select Pitch 'n Time here using the check box. This should enable the Pitch 'n Time algorithm for you to select and use.

 

 

No. Pitch 'n Time FE is not available as a separate purchase. It comes pre-installed on your Fairlight CC-1 system.

Yes - Pitch 'n Time FE is already pre-installed on your Fairlight CC-1 system. Simply download a 30-day iLok demo from here.

Pitch 'n Time FE is professional time-stretching and pitch-shifting for the Fairlight CC-1 systems.

Pitch 'n Time FE works on the Fairlight CC-1 systems. For more information on the Fairlight CC-1 systems, please visit http://www.fairlightau.com/

Yes. Pitch 'n Time FE uses an iLok for authorization. Please see here for more information on the iLok.

Serato Intelligent Sound™ contains no platform specific code and has been implemented on both Motorola and Intel architectures.

Whilst most other algorithms make a compromise between accuracy in timing and sound quality, Serato Intelligent Sound™ produces excellent sound results despite preserving sample accurate timing.

Serato Intelligent Sound™ is independent of the bit depth of the platform. All sample rates are acceptable, in fact Serato Intelligent Sound™ includes the facility to change the sample rate of your sample without losing quality.

Yes, this technology is the only high quality multi-channel phase coherent process currently available. This means that 5.1 and 7.1 surround stems are now able to be time-stretched without loss to the surround image.

As complex as you like - even a complete mix.

The answer is simple. Up until now researchers have looked at the problem of time stretching as a mathematical one, and applied objective mathematical techniques to the problem. They've failed, because they haven't properly defined what they're trying to solve.

It may seem obvious, but the perfect time stretch is one where the output sounds the same as the input, just faster or slower. The key word here is 'sounds', which means the problem isn't about waveforms or kilohertz - it's all about hearing.

Serato Audio Research has developed a sophisticated model of the human auditory system. In a sense, the software "listens" to the music, performing a sophisticated auditory scene analysis. Only by listening can it determine what 'sounds' the same, but faster or slower. Normally using such a sophisticated model of the human auditory system would be computationally prohibitive, so novel mathematical methods had to be developed by Serato to speed up this process in software.

Serato have US and international patents pending on this technique.

The biggest problem with existing products is the limited range of material that can be processed without introducing objectionable distortion. If you play your instruments one note at a time then what's already out there may work for you. That is, if you can get mysterious settings like 'tracking' just right. When you work in the real world, most applications do not allow for continual user monitoring and adjustment. Serato Intelligent Sound™ has no confusing settings to tweak, and no nasty surprises. With this technology you can process a wider variety of material than ever before, and always know you're going to get the best sound quality. Anything from a bass line to guitar chords to drums, or lead vocals, backing vocals, or even a complete stereo mix!

Check out the Pitch 'n Time examples here.

Serato Intelligent Sound™ is a patented algorithm for high quality time stretching and pitch shifting. It is the underlying technology used in Pitch 'n Time products.