Varispeed Doesn't "Vari" It All...

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Level 1

5 points

Varispeed Doesn't "Vari" It All...

Hello -

A disappointing aspect of Varispeed ( unless I'm missing something ) ; if you put an pre-recorded AIFF / MP3 up in an audio track in Logic Pro 9, and create a matching Tempo List ( or even if you don't ), using Varispeed will NOT speed or slow the audio track without changing the pitch, even though the Varispeed transport bar says "Speed Only". What's up with that ?!?

I would think that it would handle prerecorded audio as well as any other audio in the audio tracks... It does not. No matter what I select in the Varispeed transport bar to handle the audio ( Speed Only, Varispeed Pitch & MIDI, etc...), it acts the same way.

Lame !!

- JT.

Mac Pro 8-core 2.8 Ghz., Mac OS X (10.6.2), 10 GB RAM

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 10:42 AM

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Answer 1

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Nov 17, 2009 11:37 AM in response to JPTaylor

Since Varispeed probably works on the Apple loop principle, I would imagine the file has to be bounced and then imported again. The audio file needs the information in the header that allows it to change tempo and/or pitch.
Apple Loops are actually a direct rip from Sonic Foundry/Sony ACID, Apple hired one of the ACID programmers and changed the format slightly.

pancenter-

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Answer 2

Nov 17, 2009 12:07 PM in response to JPTaylor

Works fine here with all the formats I tried, aif, wav, mp3. Both speed only and varispeed.

Something must be going on with your session, but I'm not sure what. I'd try creating a fresh new session and trying it, if it's still not working right you may need to do something like trash prefs or reinstall logic.

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Answer 3

JPTaylor Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Thanks for the replies - I'll try your ideas and get back to you...

Best,
JT.

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Answer 4

JPTaylor Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2009 1:06 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Just tried a new session, and trashing prefs... No dice.

Why would re-installing Logic make a difference ? The program works in every other way but this feature. Doesn't make sense / A lot of hassle reinstalling...

I haven't had to reinstall anything on my Mac, ever, to make it suddenly work. To me, reinstalling is something you do only if you are a Windows user... 🙂 ( seriously ! ).

Thanks anyway for the help,
JT.

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Answer 5

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Nov 17, 2009 1:06 PM in response to JPTaylor

JPTaylor wrote:
Just tried a new session, and trashing prefs... No dice.

Why would re-installing Logic make a difference ? The program works in every other way but this feature. Doesn't make sense / A lot of hassle reinstalling...

Please try what I suggested.

pancenter-

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Answer 6

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Nov 17, 2009 1:19 PM in response to JPTaylor

JPTaylor wrote:

I haven't had to reinstall anything on my Mac, ever, to make it suddenly work. To me, reinstalling is something you do only if you are a Windows user... 🙂 ( seriously ! ).

Those days are gone, I've been using the same XP_Pro system over two different computers for three years. Plus, the common fix for Macs now is a system re-install. My how things have changed.

As to your problem, not all audio will respond to varispeed, if it's been recorded in Logic or saved from Logic (or Garageband) it will have the header info needed, but if you import a standard wav, aif or mp3 it will need to be bounced, preferably into the audio bin and then placed in the Arrange page.

At least, that's my experience.

pancenter-

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Answer 7

JPTaylor Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Pancenter

Just tried it - it does indeed make Apple Loops able to convert it, but still has pitch change when moving the "Speed" percentage in Varispeed. Also - the newly-converted Apple Loop version of the file will not adhere to a Tempo Map created after you make the Apple Loop.

Bummer.

But again - thanks for your attempt to help. Seems like Apple didn't implement Varispeed in a very user-friendly format, at least for me. I don't know why it is such a tough thing to make easily usable. Everything else in Logic works pretty remarkably. This feature definitely needs more work and thought.

-JT.

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Answer 8

Nov 17, 2009 1:53 PM in response to Pancenter

Pancenter wrote:
As to your problem, not all audio will respond to varispeed, if it's been recorded in Logic or saved from Logic (or Garageband) it will have the header info needed, but if you import a standard wav, aif or mp3 it will need to be bounced, preferably into the audio bin and then placed in the Arrange page.

That's not the case here. Maybe there are some apps that create audio files that are somehow incompatible, but every audio file I've tried has worked, including ones created with other apps and on windows. So far I haven't found a single audio file that hasn't worked.

What app are you using to create the ones that haven't worked for you?

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Answer 9

Pancenter

Level 6

14,782 points

Nov 17, 2009 2:08 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Mike Connelly wrote:

Pancenter wrote:
As to your problem, not all audio will respond to varispeed, if it's been recorded in Logic or saved from Logic (or Garageband) it will have the header info needed, but if you import a standard wav, aif or mp3 it will need to be bounced, preferably into the audio bin and then placed in the Arrange page.

That's not the case here. Maybe there are some apps that create audio files that are somehow incompatible, but every audio file I've tried has worked, including ones created with other apps and on windows. So far I haven't found a single audio file that hasn't worked.

What app are you using to create the ones that haven't worked for you?

Mike,

Ack! Hmmmm... I imported an mp3 file that was recorded in Cubase LE Mac mastered in Amadeus.

Well, slap me silly... I just tried it again, you are quite correct, varispeed is working perfectly (within reason) on the same file. Don't know what I managed to do unless I mistakenly deactivated the varispeed function.

Sorry 'bout that JP.

pancenter-

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Answer 10

JPTaylor Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Mike Connelly

I take an MP3 from iTunes of any song. I import it into Logic Pro 9. Turn on Varispeed. Set transport to "Speed" only. Move percentage counter. Pitch changes with tempo. No independent control.

Take two : Convert same MP3 ( now AIFF ) into Apple Loop. Drag Apple Loop into Logic. Play. Move Varispeed percentage. Pitch and speed change. "Munchkin-ism / Darth Vader-ism". File will not follow Tempo List created afterward.

If I'm missing something, then this is too difficult to use practically. Shouldn't be this tough, even if I am missing a step to make this work as advertised.

-JT.

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Answer 11

Nov 17, 2009 2:53 PM in response to JPTaylor

JPTaylor wrote:
I take an MP3 from iTunes of any song. I import it into Logic Pro 9. Turn on Varispeed. Set transport to "Speed" only. Move percentage counter. Pitch changes with tempo. No independent control.

That works fine here, seems like there's either something wrong with your system or the files themselves. MP3 is a different kind of audio format than aif or wav, might be safer to try converting to another format first (many audio apps don't even work with mp3 or they convert the file). Why do you want to use mp3, it's lower qualtiy audio?

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Answer 12

JPTaylor Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Mike Connelly

I use MP3 to start, then Logic converts is to an AIFF anyway, which at that point, shouldn't be a problem. The MP3 file I'm beginning with is only for reference, i.e., pulling orchestrations off of a song. The sound quality is good enough for reference. But it helps in my orchestration-pulling, to be able to slow the track down within the confines of the Logic arrangement, to pick out fast string runs, etc... I thought Varispeed would aid in this in keeping the timing of everything together, either slow or fast. I'm disappointed that it's not working as I would like. As a workaround, I'm using TWO programs to pull orchestrations - Logic to record them, and Amazing Slow Downer to slow the recordings down to hear what's going on. Amazing Slow Downer is indeed amazing, and Logic really should have it's quality of sound and time-stretching/pitch-changing control. The best $35 I've ever spent.

Like I said before - if it's a corruption within the Logic program, then why is this the only component of Logic that "isn't" working..?

I'm glad you're having good luck with yours - I'm not, and I don't have the time to do a complete re-install of Logic. Sheesh. 😟

Thanks again for your ideas on help...

-JT.

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Answer 13

Nov 17, 2009 3:22 PM in response to JPTaylor

Are you sure Logic is converting the mp3 to aiff? Have you tried converting to aiff before importing?

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Answer 14

JPTaylor Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 17, 2009 3:47 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Yes - converted them into AIFFs with Logic, and also with Amadeus Pro. No change.

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Answer 15

DonCho

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2009 1:09 PM in response to JPTaylor

Check if you have the AUPitch plugin enabled in the plugin manager. It has to be enabled for varispeed to work. Had the same problem. For some reason I can´t get the AUPitch plugin properly validate, but at least varispeed works now.

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