Hi guys,
Just a quick one.
Whats your preffered “warp mode” for Djing with Ableton.
Some use. Beats or Complex. or something else.
Feedback please.
Cush !
C/P
The problem with answering this question is that there are, of course, many different types of music and many different contexts in which it will can used, so the only real way to know what warp mode to use is to listen to them and develop a strategy based on how you are using the song. Here are a few things to think about:
All the warp modes, except for the Complex modes, are neutral at the original tempo. In other words, if you’re going to be playing a song that’s originally 95bpm with Live’s master tempo set to 95, the only modes that will impact the sound quality are Complex and Complex Pro. If your master tempo is set to 94 or 96 (or anything other than 95), each warp mode is going to tweak the sound quality in a different way.
Re-Pitch mode is most neutral sounding warp mode from a sound quality perspective. Yup, good old fashioned repitching sounds the best across the widest range of material. Why? There’s no spooky software voodoo going on to change the tempo while maintaining the current pitch - its just like using the pitch slider on a turntable. The obvious downside to Re-Pitch is that it will change the key of the song depending on the playback tempo.
Therefore, one of the most important questions to ask when preparing a song for a performance is:
How important is it to maintain the original pitch of the song? If it’s not important, save yourself the headache of playing with warp modes and use Re-Pitch. Cases where it is important to maintain original pitch vary. For example, repitching vocals can sound really silly (or totally awesome). If you’re mashing a track with a vocal, its also important to maintain the pitch of both clips to keep them in key with each other. On the other hand, there are techno tracks and the like where its almost impossible to even tell the difference when its been repitched a few BPMs because the material doesn’t have much distinct pitch.
I tend to use complex pro, gives me the best results. Personal pref that though 
I will add a nugget of wisdom for you here.
This problem bothered me for weeks, until Ableton finally got back to me with a reply confirming it. They don’t mention it anywhere on their website,manuals etc. It’s not a fault as such, more of a problem relating to limitations in DSP routines and physics.
Complex and ‘Pro’ modes are not sample accurate. So basically you get tighter timing with less pitch artefacts. However, When you record the warped file and export it and look at it in another package at the same tempo…you’ll see it’s off. Which for some critical tasks (such as lining up a disco record so that it’s kick can be side-chain squashed) makes it a pointless exercise. By the time your sidechain has triggered downwards, your disco track kick will either be early or later then it should be. It might miss it completely or just catch the tail. But it can lead to some odd bottom end issues with kicks not sounding the same.
I personally use Re-pitch because I can’t stand any time stretching. I feel it messes too much with the kick(one disapears every so often) & if you choose other modes the high frequency get effects.
Therefore it I want to mix in key I have to choose my track carefully
Repitch is all well & good if you are dealing with well clocked audio. But try using it with recordings from vinyl for example. The minute tempo variations result in pitch changes. In this case, you are better off warping and bouncing in one of the pitch fixed modes at the closest whole bpm value. Then using repitch mode on the bounced file.
sound advice peeps… many thanks !!!