When you first get into sampling, the first thing on your mind is: How do I change the pitch of a sample? So what is it? How does it work? And why should you care? Well, let’s dig in! What is Transposing Or transpose that old synth line for the new track you made in a different key. Use it to shift the key of a whole instrumental track to accommodate a singer’s vocal range. This technique comes in handy not only for individual samples. Your DAW gives you the power to easily change the pitch of an audio sample without losing the quality of the audio-even change the key of a whole song. It’s a valuable and versatile skill in the studio that any seasoned producer needs to know. Producers like Jacques Greene or Burial have made a craft out of chopping and pitching vocal samples. Or maybe it would sit better in the mix in a different pitch. You found that perfect sample, but there’s one problem… It doesn’t fit with the key of your track. When you’re working with samples, the pitch is key! A step-by-step guide to pitch-shifting, finding the key and warping.
