How many times do i go to listen to a tune on youtube and find that some clown as downloaded the track pitched up.... When its a deeper track/ ballad it can sound so f"cking wrong... Do they think they are clever or trying to turn it into more of a dancer, maybe some trying to sell it as such.... I know we have the pitching going on with certain tracks but leave these great soul ballads alone please.... Here is an example of one of my fav tunes....   Maybe they have a player that plays it a touch fast... Let me know your thoughts.. Maybe there are folk who like the pitched up version....    

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZhTyfyAMtU

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgNGuXl92fI

Edited September 16, 201311 yr by little-stevie

Totally agree with you , I don't think any should be pitched up , if it weren't good enough for the writers and producers etc at the time it were recorded why does some Herbert think he / she knows better,i find it a bit of an insult to the writers etc

Edited September 16, 201311 yr by drewid

First ones Pete Griffin.....keeping it real!

Second one sounds like a piece o sh#t!

Its like taking a book i love and changing the structure/ flow, changing the very thing that makes it so special to me.... 

 

Maybe there is an example of pitching up or down  that really works, not sure as i have never done it myself....

Am guilty of a pitch

Example for me is some popcorn stuff, but never till its distorted. Surely a good ear tells you that it isn't happening.

Am guilty of a pitch

Example for me is some popcorn stuff, but never till its distorted. Surely a good ear tells you that it isn't happening.

You aint alone mate, would like to hear a good example if any can post them???... I have heard some RnB/ popcorn given the treatment and they sound ok on 1st listen...

 

I guess its when i hear a sound that i really love being distorted in some way that i turn into the Hulk

Edited September 16, 201311 yr by little-stevie

Steve, I bet you'll find that a lot of these pitched up records are done by people into the Belgian Popcorn scene.  They always pitch records up, don't know why.

I find that the popcorn stuff that I like tends to be more often pitched down.

An example is Ann Caudell 'Longing for You ' which I heard on a Jesterwild Mix , got to know it at that speed , then when I Youtube it, it seems really fast.

As there is only one post on Youtube I don't know which is the correct speed, but I prefer the slower mix.

Personally I am guilty of using the varispeed on most records I play when djing, either to make the song sound 'better' to my ears, or to make the mix better.

Before I am chastised for messing with the 'true sound ' of the record I do not dj to a purist crowd and the varispeed is a valuable tool if used in moderation.

Each to their own.

Edited September 17, 201311 yr by nickp

I find that the popcorn stuff that I like tends to be more often pitched down.

 

 

I might have meant pitched down not up 

But I definitely meant popcorn.

I might have meant pitched down not up 

But I definitely meant popcorn.

 

they pitch up or down to match the BPM rate the belgian popcorn dancers want.

A lot of the popcorn stuff has a latin  mambo feel and the slower beat lends itself to being 'stretched'.If you look at the way that they dance, its a more relaxed,dancing with a partner style as opposed to the 'lose myself in myself' style of the soul fan.

 

You beat me to it Benji.

Edited September 17, 201311 yr by nickp

Steve, I bet you'll find that a lot of these pitched up records are done by people into the Belgian Popcorn scene.  They always pitch records up, don't know why.

Interesting point Pete...

 

I had a chat with Belgium popcorn guys when they played in Manchester a few years ago, i remember the comments about certain tunes played too fast and they would pitch them down.....

I might have meant pitched down not up 

But I definitely meant popcorn.

 

Up or down its wrong.Are they running out of tunes to play.?

I don't agree with  pitching up records, under any circumstances,its wrong and should not be be done 

 

Bazza  

 

PS ,And I think its a little arrogant ,that a DJ thinks he knows better than the original artist

Edited September 17, 201311 yr by Bazza

I don't agree with  pitching up records, under any circumstances,its wrong and should not be be done 

 

Bazza  

 

PS ,And I think its a little arrogant ,that a DJ thinks he knows better than the original artist

Maybe pitching is like fracking... You will get those for and against.....

 

Can we have some pitchers viewpoints please.. I know these beasts are lurking on here

I don't agree with  pitching up records, under any circumstances,its wrong and should not be be done 

 

Bazza  

 

PS ,And I think its a little arrogant ,that a DJ thinks he knows better than the original artist

 

Records have been played pitched ever since the invention of adjustable turntables. And some records were pressed faster or slower than they were recorded. So even the producers thought they'd know better than the artists.

PS: Ducky & Glowliters used to be played pitched down to -8. Even that slow it's still pretty fast.

Records have been played pitched ever since the invention of adjustable turntables. And some records were pressed faster or slower than they were recorded. So even the producers thought they'd know better than the artists.

..... A very good point well made...

Unpitched.....

 

 

 

 

Pitched......

 

Interesting point Pete...

 

I had a chat with Belgium popcorn guys when they played in Manchester a few years ago, i remember the comments about certain tunes played too fast and they would pitch them down.....

 

Does Mike Hanks - The Hawk would fit into that category?  

Funny I came across this yesterday on Youtube and thought why would you want to do that.

Pitched down.

Normal

If the pitch / tempo don't fit into your set ,find one that does ,not bugger about with the pitch / tempo of known record ,no point in arguing with me on this ,I will not change my mind lol 

 

Bazza  

Edited September 17, 201311 yr by Bazza

 HI ALL   What makes it sound so crap & it does sound crap, is the fact that no attempt has been made to use studio equipment, as a result the swampdogs vocal has been ruined. This example has got the thumbs down on this thread, so why does Pete think it has Belgium appeal, I say leave all the tech DJing to the people who know what they are doing  DAVE K 

Once or twice I've bought a record after getting to know it on a pitched up recording ( Youtube and even on tapes etc that I've been given )

When you put the record on the deck and play it at the correct speed it just dont seem right     

Records have been played pitched ever since the invention of adjustable turntables. And some records were pressed faster or slower than they were recorded. So even the producers thought they'd know better than the artists.

chuck berry recordings were often speeded up then pressed...

Records have been played pitched ever since the invention of adjustable turntables. And some records were pressed faster or slower than they were recorded. So even the producers thought they'd know better than the artists.

i have a blank label acetate of Precisions "instant Heartbreak" which sounds like the released take but 5RPM slower ( and imo better)....so anyone djing the Drew copy should pitch it down  to get how it was recorded...try it

Try dancing to a slightly pitched down record that you've danced to at the normal pitch hundreds of times before.  Its very hard to slow down to the new tempo, and when you do, it just feels weird.

I tend with most things in life to take them at face value, not having a vast knowledge of sounds outside the 500 and having taken time out from the whole soul scene with family commitments through the 80's and 90's unless it is glaringly obvious I would not know either way whether a tune had been pitched or not , I would have spotted the Jerry Williams by virtue of knowing his voice. Whether it's right or wrong I have no strong opinion though the examples posted here all sound better in their original form to me.That said I have to hold my hand up and admit I was taken in by the supposed Harold Melvin version of Pressure ,no I did not think it was Teddy's vocal ,I may be stupid but I'm not that stupid. i guess what I'm saying is if I don't already know the tune and on first hearing it's pitched up or down and I like it then I like it, whether that opinion would change on hearing it in it's original form I don't know but going off the examples here it probably would.

I am singing the precisions in my head pitched down, sounds ok,ha ha.. Working away and can't do the test at home.. Can anyone play it pitched down and let us all know what they think???/

I bet no A listed Dj's pitch up or pitch down records     ?

 

Kev

Edited September 18, 201311 yr by DjAKA

I am singing the precisions in my head pitched down, sounds ok,ha ha.. Working away and can't do the test at home.. Can anyone play it pitched down and let us all know what they think???/

 

I am singing the precisions in my head pitched down, sounds ok,ha ha.. Working away and can't do the test at home.. Can anyone play it pitched down and let us all know what they think???/

ive just checked and i posted the acetate in 2007 on refosoul as "test press" give it a listen stevie......note "dream girl" on the acetate is the same as the Drew release...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL7PcFrzMDs&list=PL4C609F4D6F6075D2&index=18

 

Nowt wrong with this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL7PcFrzMDs&list=PL4C609F4D6F6075D2&index=18

 

Nowt wrong with this

That made me laugh lol 

 

Bazza  

Somewhere in a corner of my mind I've heard/read that if you slightly alter the record speed the copywriters won't be aware of an infringement of the copyright (maybe this is the reason).

DJ's on the NS Scene have always pitched records, usually +...I DJ'd at the weekend & several records I played in my set were pitched up slightly, non were distorted in any way & its done to keep the BPM flowing.

 

 I think what Stevie is saying, is what is the point with a ballad ?.

 

Russ

Totally agree with you , I don't think any sh88ould be pitched up , if it weren't good enough for the writers and producers etc at the time it were recorded why does some Herbert think he / she knows better,i find it a bit of an insult to the writers etc

What nonsense, as if any producer or artist would care if their song was a few bpm faster ot a half tone higher, especially if it was being enjoyed! Music isnt so rigidly concocted and is also very often flawed in one or more respects. I know of many tunes completely invigourated by a but more tempo - invitations -watch out little girl being the most obvious to my mind, absolutely drags at normal speed.

Not only am I more than happy to pitch stuff up or down, if i enjoy it more that way, i'd dearly love to chop whole bits out of some tunes.

Any musician wouldn't care at all unless they were extremely conceited, hence most being all right with sampling and remixes etc.

It is wrong to think that how a record was released is always exactly how the artists wanted it, or in it's optimum version. The best judge is the person using it.

.

Edited September 20, 201311 yr by penny

Steve, I bet you'll find that a lot of these pitched up records are done by people into the Belgian Popcorn scene.  They always pitch records up, don't know why.

Which do they pitch up? They are more likely to pitch stuff down i'd have thought, unless is a real slow beat ballad, charles sheffield for example they played at -5. Jamie coe's cleopatra they played at 33 +8!

They have a very narrow range which they will dance to, much narrower than the northern scene, and it's because the pretty much only slow-jive, in couples. Great tempo to dance to.

I don't agree with pitching up records, under any circumstances,its wrong and should not be be done

Bazza

PS ,And I think its a little arrogant ,that a DJ thinks he knows better than the original artist

They do. They know what they like better than the original artist does. In a recording studio, you nearly always play stuff slower than you would say, at a gig with people dancing. Theres no logic that says these records are necesarily the definitive versions.

Edited September 20, 201311 yr by penny

They do. They know what they like better than the original artist does. In a recording studio, you nearly always play stuff slower than you would say, at a gig with people dancing. Theres no logic that says these records are necesarily the definitive versions.

Penny I very rarely agree with what you say ,and that still stands ,we have our own opinions tho ,and no one can convince me that buggering about with the  pitch /  tempo of a known record is right 

 

Bazza  

Pitch up Otis Clay - Show Place,  It's a thumper of a tune anyways but up two clicks and feck me!! it's a monster

 

dazz

Pitch up Otis Clay - Show Place,  It's a thumper of a tune anyways but up two clicks and feck me!! it's a monster

 

dazz

 

That's fine as long as nobody f**ks about with the flip  

I don't agree with  pitching up records, under any circumstances,its wrong and should not be be done 

 

Bazza  

 

PS ,And I think its a little arrogant ,that a DJ thinks he knows better than the original artist

Just ticking the like box is not enough for this comment....summed it up in my opinion.....the tune on the record is what was recorded...when it left the studio that was the finished product ...don't try to make it something else !

What nonsense, as if any producer or artist would care if their song was a few bpm faster ot a half tone higher, especially if it was being enjoyed! Music isnt so rigidly concocted and is also very often flawed in one or more respects. I know of many tunes completely invigourated by a but more tempo - invitations -watch out little girl being the most obvious to my mind, absolutely drags at normal speed.

Not only am I more than happy to pitch stuff up or down, if i enjoy it more that way, i'd dearly love to chop whole bits out of some tunes.

Any musician wouldn't care at all unless they were extremely conceited, hence most being all right with sampling and remixes etc.

It is wrong to think that how a record was released is always exactly how the artists wanted it, or in it's optimum version. The best judge is the person using it.

.

no it's not nonsense , just my opinion, like a lot of others , suit yourself what you do , but I might like the invitations at its "natural " speed or some other for that matter , why done we go the full hog and slow some 100 mph stompers down instead.

What nonsense, as if any producer or artist would care if their song was a few bpm faster ot a half tone higher, especially if it was being enjoyed! Music isnt so rigidly concocted and is also very often flawed in one or more respects. I know of many tunes completely invigourated by a but more tempo - invitations -watch out little girl being the most obvious to my mind, absolutely drags at normal speed.

Not only am I more than happy to pitch stuff up or down, if i enjoy it more that way, i'd dearly love to chop whole bits out of some tunes.

Any musician wouldn't care at all unless they were extremely conceited, hence most being all right with sampling and remixes etc.

It is wrong to think that how a record was released is always exactly how the artists wanted it, or in it's optimum version. The best judge is the person using it.

.[why is the best judge the person using it , I know some DJS who couldn't tell you one musical note!! I appreciate some musician / writers won't mind as long as it's bringing in the bacon, but not all of them would appreciate it especially those that don't need the dough. I'm a tradesman and I wouldn't like someone tampering with my work, apart from the money , why should they feel any different about their work

Any more examples of the Satans work folks, some good points so far...

Any more examples of the Satans work folks, some good points so far...

 

Two examples from me

1) 'Moses Smith' bootleg of Epitome of Sound was pressed pichted up

 

2) Towana "Wear your natural baby" was record slower than it was pressed.

Eddie Foster pressing of Dee Dah Do is speeded up a bit, innit ?

 

 

 

Metros- Time Changes Things, I think sounds better about +2.

 

 

And Terrible Tom at + 4 should fill a few Coronary Wards 

Which do they pitch up? They are more likely to pitch stuff down i'd have thought, unless is a real slow beat ballad, charles sheffield for example they played at -5. Jamie coe's cleopatra they played at 33 +8!

They have a very narrow range which they will dance to, much narrower than the northern scene, and it's because the pretty much only slow-jive, in couples. Great tempo to dance to.

I'm the opposite, with Charles Sheffield I pitch it about + 3.

Is the pitched up version of 'Suspicion ' not generally regarded as the best ?

mercury acetate of charles diamond gotta find a new love versus the benn-x copy  the benn-x sounds closer to the unreleased acetate at -4 and is a much better tune for it imho

I'm a tradesman too and, although I might not think it's a good decision, what someone does with my work once they've bought it is up to them.

Besides, in my initial effort, I might be constrained by materials, cost...

Music is a fluid, interactive thing...it's quite meaningless if not being listened to, dance music more meaningless if not being danced to.

Very few artists have objected to theur work being sampled or covered, the ultimate bastardisation.

To object to pitch changing you're basically saying you would rather a record was never played than played pitched up. Obviously, thats crazy.

If you asked any artist if they'd rather that no one danced to their record in a club - the main place records got exposure pre internet - or that they danced ti it at + 4, do you think any artist would really prefer the former?

As long as nothing sounds wrong because of it - for example esther philips voice couldnt take much extra pitch - than why would you care.

One example I can think of is lee brackett ruby, I started playing thus in the middle of nights, to great response, but only at +4, because, although it's a great track at normal speed, it's just uncomfortably slow to dance to.

Lee stone im gonna put yiu down is another one, becomes a club track at + 4 or so

Edited September 26, 201311 yr by penny