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General discussion

OpD2d recordings from soundcard change pitch

Mar 11, 2005 1:28AM PST

I recently tried several freeware programs for recording streaming audio from my sound card to .mp3 or .wav files. I have so far found OpD2d simplest to use yet flexible.
http://www.opcode.co.uk/opd2d/default.asp

The problem is that the files recorded by OpD2d and the other apps I've tried all noticably reduce the pitch of the original audio. It sounds as if a vinyl or tape recording was slowed down. Since this is a digital recording, I can't figure out why this is happening.

System:
Dell 2.8GHz HT-P4, 800mHz FSB
512MB RAM
integrated sound card
Windows XP (SP2)

I've adjusted the output levels through windows to eliminate distortion, and tried different samping and bit rates, but I can't think of an explanation as to why the pitch of the recordings would be noticably lower than the original audio stream.

Has anyone else encountered this phenonmenon, and have you found a solution?

Thanks,
BassRider

Discussion is locked

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Just fine here.
Mar 11, 2005 1:37AM PST

But my sound card drivers are... the latest.

Bob

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Will try to update drivers
Mar 11, 2005 1:57AM PST

Thanks. For some reason, it never occurred to me to check for updates on the sound card drivers. I hope the solution is that simple.

I have the current updates for Windows XP, but I'll check the Dell site for updates to the integrated sound card. I'm at work now, so I don't remember the type of sound card on my home machine, but I'll check with the mfg for updated drivers too. I hope that fixes it. I'll post tonight and let you know if it fixed the problem.

If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know.

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OpD2d recordings from soundcard STILL change pitch
Mar 18, 2005 1:46AM PST

I've confirmed that my soundcard drivers are up to date, but I still have this problem.

OpD2d records streaming media accessed via WinAmp perfectly; no change in pitch when recording these streams.

But it still lowers the pitch when recording from embedded audio links in a web page, such as pages that stream their sound through their web page from someone like Instant Audio
http://instantaudio.com/

Since these live audio streams come out of my speakers at the proper pitch, I can't figure out why the mp3 files play back at such a drastically, noticably lower pitch, while the mp3 recorded from WinAmp streams play back at the proper pitch.

If OpD2d is recording the output of the soundcard, as I think it does, then this discrepancy shouldn't be possible. And yet it continues to exist in spite of my best efforts to not believe in it Wink

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Let's drill on this a little.
Mar 18, 2005 2:00AM PST
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Definitely pitch, not EQ
Mar 18, 2005 3:58AM PST

I'm a veteran semi-professional musician (20+ years), and I'm certain the change is in pitch, not EQ. It sounds like a 45rpm record being played at 33rpm (sorry kids, no translation available today - ask your grandparents). I don't understand how this can happen with a digital recording, especially since it works fine when recording a WinAmp stream.

I've tried recording the soundcard output as .wav instead of .mp3 but the same thing happens. I've also tried playing with the sampling and bit rates, to no avail.

My CPU is 2.8GHz and all drivers and OS are up to date.

I'm not sure I want to spent $300+ for Antares in order to fix a problem with the free OpD2d Happy I guess I'm just SOL for now.

I'm not sure if you were joking when you wrote:

"Truly a head scratcher as you can tell from this google.
http://www.google.com/search?q=OpD2d+pitch "

since the only links this search returns are to my own posts on this very CNET thread Happy

Thanks for trying. If you think of anything else, please post it here. I've subscribed to this thread.

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Theory, no fix... sorry. AUDACITY.
Mar 18, 2005 5:15AM PST

Here's a theory and it's only that. If we could look deep into the files I bet something is "honked up" in the samples per second. But I can't find anything I can grab onto here.

However, AUDACITY is free, open source and something I've used to push such around a littl. Try this one -> http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/

"About Audacity

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:

* Record live audio.
* Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
* Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
* Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
* Change the speed or pitch of a recording."

Bob

Bob

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Thanks, will try Audacity
Mar 18, 2005 6:17AM PST

Bob, thanks for the link. I'll download Audacity tonight and try it. Besides the pitch correction, it appears to have other features I'll find useful. I might even be able to use it INSTEAD of OpD2d for recording from my soundcard.

At the very least, it looks like it will allow me to correct the pitch on the OpD2d files. And the price is right Happy

I appreciate your efforts.

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I tried Audacity and like it
Mar 18, 2005 9:32AM PST

Bob, thanks for recommending Audacity to me. I downloaded it, and was able to use it to adjust the pitch on the problem .mp3's.

I can use it to record from my soundcard instead of OpD2d, then make corrections to the recorded pitch right away. No need for both applications.

Unfortunately, files recorded with Audacity display the same problem with pitch as those recorded with OpD2d and Freewave Sad But at least now I can compensate, though sound quality in the altered file suffers somewhat. Still, it's free, so I can't complain too much.

The mystery remains, however. Files I record as they are played through WinAmp are saved at the correct pitch. Why those, but not files recorded from embedded web pages. I'm 'a scratchin' ma haid.

Oh well, fortunately, most embedded audio files can be downloaded directly from the source page using Firefox. The audio affected by this problem represents only a very small perscentage of the total.

Audacity does have MANY options the other free applications did not, and I can see that I will be using it for many projects. In a way, I'm glad I had this problem, or I might not have been steered to Audacity by you at all.

Again, thanks very much for your advice and efforts.

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Thanks for the feedback.
Mar 18, 2005 11:32AM PST

Always nice to hear success, even if not total success.

Cheers,

Bob