Synths or audio are out of tune
Contents
Audio is very slow and low-pitched
Audio is approximately one semitone out of tune
Check tuning-related parameters
Audio is very slow and
low-pitched
If audio is very slow and low-pitched, this generally indicates that the system is set to use an external word clock source, but that no clock is being received.
If the word clock source is set to ADAT, S/PDIF, or Word Clock, make sure that there is a device connected to the corresponding physical input. For instance, if the word clock source is set to ADAT, make sure that the output of an ADAT optical device is connected to the OASYS PCI's ADAT optical input.
Also, make sure that the external device is turned on, and that its word clock is set appropriately. For instance, if the OASYS PCI word clock source is set to ADAT, the ADAT lightpipe device should either be set to use its own internal clock, or to sync to a third device.
Note: Some early DAT players may not output S/PDIF word clock when stopped.
Audio is approximately
one semitone out of tune
Make sure that OASYS PCI sample rate matches that of external devices
When you record or play back audio data using external clock sources such as the S/PDIF, ADAT, or Word Clock inputs, the sample rate is controlled entirely by the external source, and not by the OASYS PCI's sample rate parameter. Because of this, you must make sure that the external clock source is actually set to the same sample rate as OASYS PCI. If the two are different, it can result in audio playing back faster or slower than expected. This will also detune the pitch of synths and recorded audio by about a semitone.
For instance, let's say that you have recorded audio from an ADAT, with both the ADAT and the digital audio program set to 44.1kHz. Later, you play back the same audio, with the word clock source still set to ADAT - but the ADAT's sample rate has been changed to 48kHz. In this case, the 44.1kHz audio data will be played back at 48kHz, resulting in faster, higher-pitched playback. OASYS PCI synthesizers will also be detuned. If you change the ADAT's sample rate back to 44.1kHz, the audio and synths will play back normally again.
NOTE: If you are using OASYS PCI with an ASIO audio program, set the word clock and sample rate within the audio program, as opposed to using the settings in the OASYS PCI Editor.
Repairing audio files recorded with incorrect sample rate settings
When recording, it is even more important to make sure that the digital audio program's sample rate parameter matches the actual sample rate of the external clock source. This is because when audio is recorded into a digital audio program, the audio files are stored with the program's current sample rate setting - even if the real sample rate is different, as in the example above. This can result, for example, in a file containing 48kHz data, but marked as 44.1kHz. Avoid this by always making sure that both the digital audio software and the external source are set to the same sample rate.
Note that sample rate conversion will not help to repair these files; this will change the data to play back at the other sample rate, but will preserve the incorrect speed and pitch. The way to repair these files is to do the opposite: change the file's sample rate parameter, while leaving the data unchanged. Some programs, such as BIAS's Peak and Digidesign's Sound Designer II, allow you to do this easily, by simply typing in a new sample rate.
Check tuning-related
parameters
OASYS PCI includes a number of parameters to control tuning. The table below shows each parameter, along with its location and default, no-detune setting.
Master Fine
Tune Preferences->MIDI/Global->Global
Settings 0 Program Coarse
& Fine Tune Program Edit
window 0 Each of the two
Patches has its own Coarse and Fine Tune
settings. Scale Program Edit
window Equal
Tempered Unison
Detune Program Edit
window 0 Applies only when
Patch Voice Allocation is set to Unison. Channel Coarse
& Fine Tune Channel
Parameters window 0 Applies equally
to both Patches in the Program. Patch
Tune Patch Control
Panel Usually 0, but
may vary depending on Patch Exact parameter
name may vary, depending on the Patch. Multisample
Slope Patch Control
Panel 1.00 Provided in most
PCM sample-based Patches. Sample
Tune Multisample Edit
window 0 Each Sample in a
Multisample has its own Tune setting.
Parameter
Name
Location in
OASYS PCI
Default
(no detune)
Note
Some Patches may have multiple tuning-related
settings, such as individual tunings for different
oscillators.
Copyright 1999-2002 Korg Inc. FAQ Version: 8/19/02