Published by PitchChanger · Updated · How these guides are made
How to use this workflow
Check import settings first
In your external editor, inspect automatic warp, tempo-follow or stretch-on-import settings before dropping in the files. Names differ between applications. Disable adaptation for this transfer; entering a guessed song BPM is not a substitute for preserving the original timebase.
A calculated drift test
Suppose a 120-second file is mistakenly interpreted as 100 BPM and adapted to a 120 BPM project. Its new duration is 120 × 100 / 120 = 100 seconds. A source event at 60 seconds lands at 50 seconds. These are calculated examples, not observed DAW results. A constant offset and a steadily increasing offset need different fixes.
Swipe or scroll sideways to read all columns.
| Source landmark | Unstretched position | Mistaken adaptation |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 0 s | 0 s |
| Middle | 60 s | 50 s |
| Ending | 120 s | 100 s |
Read the failure pattern
If every event is late by the same amount, inspect clip placement and leading silence. If the error increases through the song, inspect stretch or sample-rate interpretation. If only one stem drifts, compare that clip’s settings with the others. Do not trim quiet openings independently to force the first audible event onto the grid; those openings may preserve the arrangement.
Verify before editing
Listen at a clearly identifiable event near the beginning, middle and end with source and stems alternated. Record the source duration, clip start and stretch state. Save the unmodified import session before trying tempo changes. PitchChanger supplies the separation and WAV downloads; it does not control an external application’s import settings.
Common questions
Should I enter the project BPM before importing?
Set up the project as needed, but disable automatic adaptation for an unchanged transfer. Verify actual duration and musical landmarks rather than trusting a BPM label.