Staying in Key with Samples

[djret]

Hey guys, I have a question about sampling. When you stretch a sample, and you don't use a pitch-preserving stretching method, it obviously pitches it up or down depending on how fast or slow the tempo is. I like to add synthesizers alongside my samples, and this makes it difficult to match the key. To work around this, I usually just stretch it with a method that preserves the pitch, look up the tabs or chords for the song, and use those as a reference to play the synths/basslines. Since I prefer the normal stretch method, which pitches up and down with the tempo, is there any way I can match the key of a sample without stretching it another way?
Thanks in advance!

[jyri]

Tuning the synth, bass or whatever to the sample manually is the best option.
I don't use synths that much but for bass I usually use some bass sample or granular synthesis on my 2000XL and play the bass lines. Those are rarely in tune with my other samples from start and I rarely leave the pitch of the sample untouched, and adjusting the pitch of the bass sound is the only way to get it in tune.

It's not really that different from tuning a guitar or some other instrument. It may be a bit hard for starters, but it will become a routine task after you've been doing it for some time.

[djret]

Tuning the synth, bass or whatever to the sample manually is the best option.
I don't use synths that much but for bass I usually use some bass sample or granular synthesis on my 2000XL and play the bass lines. Those are rarely in tune with my other samples from start and I rarely leave the pitch of the sample untouched, and adjusting the pitch of the bass sound is the only way to get it in tune.

It's not really that different from tuning a guitar or some other instrument. It may be a bit hard for starters, but it will become a routine task after you've been doing it for some time.

So I should lay down a bassline, and go into the piano roll, and shift notes around by ear? Or do you mean tune the instrument using knobs/sliders on the VST?

[jyri]

So I should lay down a bassline, and go into the piano roll, and shift notes around by ear? Or do you mean tune the instrument using knobs/sliders on the VST?

You most likely will have to tune it first, using knobs like tune, pitch or fine tune. The sample most likely won't be in the A440 standard pitch where A is 440Hz. It may be a few cents off to start with even before you've pitched it if the sample isn't synths. All musicians don't use tuners when tuning.

[djret]

Ok thanks man! I honestly hadn't thought of fine tuning it by cents. I figured that wouldn't make much of a difference, and it would sound fine, but I'll give it a try and tell you how it goes

[SeanFongBeats]

its always better to just fine tune the bass or synth lead after you manipulate your sample. i had the same issues with my sampled tracks. it really just comes down to getting those initial notes on key for instance the bass and then going back and fine tuning the bass to the sample

[HarleyIsMajik]

use a pitch shifter vst like MadShifta that has a fine tune knob and match it up.. it doesn't **** with the tempo