Pitch control
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(January 2013) |
A variable speedpitch control(orvari-speed) is a control on an audio device such as aturntable,tape recorder,orCD playerthat allows the operator to deviate from a standard speed (such as 33, 45 or even 78rpmon a turntable), resulting in adjustments in pitch.[1]The latter term "vari-speed" is more commonly used for tape decks, particularly in theUK.Analog pitch controls vary the voltage being used by the playback device; digital controls usedigital signal processingto change the playback speed or pitch. A typical DJ deck allows the pitch to be increased or reduced by up to 8%, which is achieved by increasing or reducing the speed at which the platter rotates.
Turntable or CD playing speed may be changed forbeatmatchingand otherDJtechniques, whilepitch shiftusing a pitch control has myriad uses insound recording.
Vari-speed in consumer cassette decks
[edit]Superscope, Inc.ofSun Valleyadded vari-speed as a feature of portable cassette decks in 1975. The C-104 and C-105 models incorporated this feature.[2][3]
Superscopetrademarkedthe nameVari-Speedin 1974. The trademark category wasComputer & Software Products & Electrical & Scientific Products.The trademark goods and Services use wasMagnetic tape recorders and reproducers.The trademark expired in 1995.[4][5]
DJ pitch usage
[edit]
ForDJsthe possibility to alter the pitch on theirturntablesorCD playersis standard. On theTechnics SL-1200turntables there both has been the possibility of changing the pitch +/− 8% and models where you could change the pitch +/− 16%. This has become the standard amongst DJs and most software that emulates a DJ setup have their pitch control often standard at +/− 8%. With the possibility to change it to +/− 16% and some other values. By changing the pitch the DJ can alter theBPMof a record within this limited range. This is a key component forbeatmatching,enabling the DJ to get two records to play at the same BPM thereby synchronising the beat for the dancers.
Reset button
[edit]On Technics SL-1200 turntables, pressing the Reset button[6]returns the pitch to a fixed preset value of +/−0% regardless of the pitch control position.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Technics SL-1210MK7R Direct Drive Turntable System Instruction Manual".18 April 2022.
- ^Ferric-oxide Archeology,6. Superscopes and varispeed
- ^Marantz Far East In Name Change; Adds Superscope, Billboard Magazine, December 7, 1974, Page 40
- ^Vari-Speed trademark 73025543
- ^Musical Instruments & Musical Recorder
- ^"Technics SL-1210MK7R Direct Drive Turntable System Instruction Manual".18 April 2022.
- ^"SL-1200 ‒ Heritage - Technics".
External links
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