Tuning Sampling

I know how to tune up and tune down. I know how to Sample. My problem, is when i want to add additional inst.. ie....Bass from my synth etc.... I find that I cant find the key many times. Almost as if the notes are in between half steps on a keyboard. How can you sample a part and know what the note is? I always hear beats with vocals pitched up and they are in perfect time and key. How is this done?

when ever i change the pitch of a sample that I've chopped up i change it to the same pitch on all the chops to keep it in key. as far ass adding a bass or any other sounds and keeping them in key with the sample. i like to pitch it up a half step or whole step at a time... its kinda weird on the mpc cause it wont let you do that exactly... so what i do is fine tune the sample 8 cents at a time. i believe that is equal to a half step.

Do you pull up a keyboard sound to compare it while your sampling?

well ill tune the sample to the keyboard yes

Are you sampling with the turntable already at 45? That may be the problem. Personally, I'll sample then pitch it up a few notes in an audio editor, so I know the key is not flat.

sample from the source at the original speed.
then, in the mpc, if u tune in variables of 30, the natural key of your synth should be in tune with the pitched samples.

does tht make sense?

Other than the tips these guys have said already, I'd say it just takes a good ear.

You say in variables of 30- 30 being what? semitones, cents,? Also, what if you have a beat that requires that sample to be pitched up so it plays more in time? I use a MAC and PRo Tools as well. Im wondering how you all feel about Time stretching in the mpc 2000xl? Iver used other programs and they always make the sample sound way worse. Is there any way to do this and still keep the original quality

Iver used other programs and they always make the sample sound way worse. Is there any way to do this and still keep the original quality

I suggest ableton live, it's capable of timestretching in 4 different algorythms with various settings, so you will definitely find it useful and good sounding. I used it many times and it sound very good.

As for the main subject, I never tune my samples with keyboard, I just use my ears and try to depend on them. Sometimes it takes some time, but the results are ok, I suppose : )

can't u just tune the synth by cents? works for me!

J-man wrote:You say in variables of 30- 30 being what? semitones, cents,? Also, what if you have a beat that requires that sample to be pitched up so it plays more in time? I use a MAC and PRo Tools as well. Im wondering how you all feel about Time stretching in the mpc 2000xl? Iver used other programs and they always make the sample sound way worse. Is there any way to do this and still keep the original quality

im not sure what 30 is, but when i tune to 30 on the mpc, i dont have to change the pitch of the synth.
also, as far as timestreching goes, i use the 2kxl for timestretching all the time. i never stretch by more than 10%, and if i do go that extreme with the timestretch, i'll stretch it 3 or 4 times, at 2% or something like that. works fine for me.
i used to have a program on my computer called 'mixvibes', and the timestretching capabilities are unmatched, imo.