Time Stretching sound quality

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!

Handinon

DJ Extraordinaire
Oct 1, 2014
1,954
3,287
77
Previously, my favorite software was Mixvibes Cross DJ 3.4.3, with Serato a close second (only due to a lack of a dedicated track preview feature). IMHO, the new Cross DJ 4 is not good, so I searched for a something that could be configured "most like" the old 3.4.3, but obviously with improvements.

Native Instruments have gotten a lot of bad press recently - none the less, I've been doing some serious playing around with Traktor Pro 3. I can now say with some confidence that TP3 version 3.2.0, with the new "Elastique 3.3.0 Time Stretching" algorithm really sounds good, even at Tempo changes greater than 4% - and it's not a cpu hog.

Most of you know that I frequently DJ for a large group of elderly Latinos here in south Florida. They are dancing fools, but since they are older, I often slow the music down (mainly Salsa Dura and Merengue), usually without telling them. I am also highly critical of sound quality.

Using my Sony MDR-7506 headphones, I can say with some confidence that Serato DJ Pro (with the optional Pitch'n Time plugin), and this new version 3.2.0 of Traktor, are the finest I have personally heard, and are capable of Tempo changes close to 10% without hearing an artificial vibrato being added to voices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
Have you ever used Audition 3.0?
No. I have used Audacity to create my own custom edits with altered Tempos greater than 4%, but (probably should have made it a little clearer) I was referring to doing it real time, while actually DJ'ing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
I agree with Cap.
I use Adobe Audition at work (creating radio commercials)
and it has a VERY good time-stretching feature.

But I assume the limits are the same for any time-altering program.
The only quality problem I have seen (heard)
is trying to trim 2 or 3 seconds off of a 30-second commercial.
Time stretching a 3-minute or longer song should not have an issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger