Dr REX (pt 2)_Pitch and Tempo

Today we're going to continue working with the Dr. Rex to make a remix of a song that uses a famous sample. First, let's talk about the concept of Pitch.

Pitch is basically just how high or low a sound is. Later in the term, we're going to talk about frequency and how pitch is related to actual sound waves. But for now, let's just go with the idea that pitch refers to how high/low a sound is when you hear it. Most instruments will let you play notes in a range of different pitches, and singers all have their own unique range of pitches that they can sing. For example, Barry White probably can't hit those high notes that Mariah Carey can, and Mariah probably can't hit Barry's low notes, right? That's because they have different pitch ranges.

When you're producing your own music, pitch can be a very useful thing to work with. Sometimes you want something to sound higher, or lower to better fit your song. It's easy to adjust pitch when you're working with software. However, there is something that you have to be careful of when you start messing with it...

When you raise the pitch of an audio file, it gets faster. When you lower it, it gets slower.

Why do you think this might be a problem if you're making a beat? If you make a sample faster, or slower, what do you think you have to change to keep it in time with your beat?

That's right, our old friend Tempo!!!

However, if you are working with a special kind of sampler that can adjust BOTH the pitch and the tempo for you, then you have a lot more freedom to fit a sample into a beat just the way you want. Paging Dr. REX...

Changing pitch on the Dr. REX is pretty easy. You just click on the notes in the section of the Dr. REX called Transpose:

See the little picture of a piano keyboard? As you click on notes to the right should hear the sample playing in a higher pitch. As you click the notes to the left, it should be in a lower pitch. The cool thing about the Dr. REX is that, even if you change the pitch, it will play back at the same speed and stay in time with your beat. This helps you to make the sample really fit in with the rest of your song.

So today, you are going to make a remix that uses a sample from a song by Michael Jackson (R.I.P) called PYT. Pay special attention at about 3 min., 15 sec. Listen to the high-pitched "chipmunk voices". Have you heard a sample of this used in any other songs?

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) - Michael Jackson

or click here to listen to PYT.

That's right. Mr. West took that sample and flipped it into,"The Good Life".

Good Life - Kanye West

or click here to listen to the Good Life.

So today, you're going to use the Dr. REX to make a PYT/Good Life remix of your own.

Please do the following:

1. Click the link to download the file PYT.rx2 to your desktop.
2. Move the file to your folder in Documents.
3. Open Reason.
4. Create a Dr. Rex Loop Player


5. Click on the Folder button in the upper left hand corner.
6. Find the file 04_01_PYT.rx2 in your folder.
7. On the Dr. Rex click To Track.

Now we want to adjust the Pitchand Tempo of the sample...

1. First, hit the Preview button and listen to how fast the sample is playing back.
2. While listening to the sample, adjust the Tempo to whatever you think sounds good (at least 5 BPMs faster or slower than 120).
3. Now adjust the Pitch in the Dr. REX by clicking different notes in the keyboard. If you want the beat to have a fast tempo you should try to transpose the sample to a higher note.
4. If you have a slow tempo you should transpose the sample to a lower note.

After you get your sample sounding the way you want it, it's time to add some drums that go with it...

1. Create a Redrum and make a 32 step drum pattern using a Clap, Bass Drum, Hi Hat, and a Percussion instrument. Make sure you put the sounds on appropriate boxes!
2. On the Redrum, use Copy Pattern To Track. (Don't forget to turn off the Pattern button.)
   
3. Create a second Dr. Rex and load a Percussion Loop.
4. Adjust the Pitch and put it To Track. Your Sequencer should look something like this:
5. SAVE your beat to your folder as: your name_GoodLife