Serato Intelligent Sound Frequently Asked Questions

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 at http://serato.com/products/pnt/examples/

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.