Down tuning Vs. Pitch Shifting: What’s the Difference?

Hey, Low Tuners!
A new episode of Low Tuning Squad is headed your way! Down tuning vs. Pitch Shifting: What’s the Difference?

Our low-tuning black belt host, Andrew Baena has your answers in this week's episode.

Be sure to subscribe to be notified when our next episode drops!

[BaenaCarcosa]

Thanks for watching everyone, hope you like the video!

[Sjrm]

The non shifted bass sounds so powerful

[ZephyrHFN]

I am a HUGE fan of the tones you got from the pitch shifted bass. Amplifier/Effect plugins have come such a long way, and it is incredible to see what's available and what sounds good.

Then again, that Dingwall, dude.

[xboxldfg]

Might be controversial, But I genuinley prefer the pitch shifted tone, just has a bit more brightness. But each to their own of course

[TMac-Attack]

Pitch shift for sure, definition and clarity were spot on.

[lennyjg]

Here's the difference: The proper tuned attack pitch and compression sounds natural.The pitch shift sounds like it has an artificial attack and is overly compressed especially on top of the high amount of compression from the distortion.

I think we need a clean tone version of this video.

[YeetMeDadi]

The tuned down bass had a lot more chunk and body to it while the pitch shifted was brighter and tighter on the higher notes. I think for this application the down tuned bass works better but something less attack driven might work really well pitch shifted. Cool video

[cky]

To my ears the difference was almost not noticeable. And I'm not sure if the difference I notice is due to the pitch shifting or actually to difference in how the riffs where played. Good video!!!

[Dwoalin]

This is the perfect video I needed right now. Playing my 8 string in Drop D#0 I really need a Dingwall but I can't afford one unfortunately so I've been considering a drop tune pedal. The proper tuning definitely sounds a bit more dynamic and round. A bit boomy but that could be EQ'd out. The drop tune pedal can hold me over till I can afford a Dingwall. Thanks <3

[AndrewChettri]

Wow such amazing topics! Grats to Dingwall!

[RustyRRaven]

Pitch shifted has a kinda nice vibe. The original is chunkier a bit ofc. But I kinda like the PS better in this case. Also it's brighter. Which I hate about thick strings is their dead sound after 10mins of playing :D

[colinmitchell]

The actual pitch difference isn't super noticeable, but the tonality difference in string size is definitely noticeable, but nothing that would matter in a mix really. The Pitch shifted one has a much different sub-range and is kinda more muddy in the bass range to me. Again, nothing that would matter in a mix really.

Pitch shifting usually has some artifacts that are cool but are gonna have a 'sound' to it imo. This could be another tool in your arsenal for sounding different, but it's already definitely different to tune your bass to that low E. Both do the job for the tuning and the sound. I'm more liking just tuning lower myself vs. the pitch shifting.

[nathanielmaymon]

What did you use for pitch Shifting down? Any recommended Plugins?

[tatocta]

Can you show exactly how to pitch shift the bass, because I tried and it simply sounds like mud. Is there a specific plugin? I tried with neural dsp archetype gojira.

[ChrisVasquezBass]

Awesome! I use a four string fender with 55-110 in E Standard and when use the EHX Pitchfork for other tunnings keeps and have a little bit more low end when go to D or C Standard. So this vídeo probes to me what I suspect. Thanks!!!

[maya]

I'm not sure which one sounds better they both had slightly different characteristics. Would have been cool to hear the basses with no drums etc but awesome vid none the less

[MadGianbass]

I vote PS
It will be curios ti hear the clean tone.
Pls tell us your program to pitch shift

[ryang]

Low tuning squad sounds kinda funny lol. Nonetheless I’ve been wondering about this topic, so dope.
Also your basses are fucking clean

[Jose-izw]

non shift def, but if your practicing and maybe rough demo with no equipment/got skill go for shift and retrack in official version with an proper tune bass!

[punkfreak]

I’ve tried doing this and noticed the bass DI when it’s pitch shifted doesn’t sound that good. Is that normal and if I send it to a mixer will they tell me it’s “not useable”?