How the pitch shifter works
A pitch shifter changes how high or low audio sounds. In keep pitch mode, AudioDrop treats speed and pitch as separate controls. That means you can shift pitch by a few semitones and the song still runs at its original tempo.
Pitch is measured in semitones. One semitone is the step between two neighbouring keys on a piano. Twelve semitones make an octave. The range here is −12 to +12, a full octave in each direction.
Everything previews live. Move the semitone control while the audio plays and you hear the new pitch immediately. When it sounds right, export, and the pitch shift is applied to the whole file in the format you choose.
Common pitch shifts and how they sound
Different shifts do very different jobs.
| Shift | Musical meaning | Typical effect |
|---|---|---|
| ±1 semitone | Half step | Subtle key change, often unnoticed |
| ±2 semitones | Whole step | Comfortable change for singers |
| ±5 semitones | Perfect fourth | Clear change, voices start to sound different |
| ±7 semitones | Perfect fifth | Big move, strong character change |
| ±12 semitones | One octave | Same notes, much higher or lower |
What a pitch shifter is good for
A few everyday uses:
- Match a song to your instrument when it is tuned slightly off.
- Move a sample into the key of your project.
- Change a voice for a character, video or prank.
- Tune a backing track to a singer's range.
- Match two songs for a mashup or DJ blend.
- Create harmony ideas by shifting a vocal and layering it.
Tips for clean pitch shifting
Smaller shifts sound more natural. Up to about 3 semitones, most listeners will not hear any processing. Larger shifts on voices can sound thin going up and muddy going down.
Want a vocal to sound like a different person? Big shifts on voices change the character, because the natural resonance of the voice moves too.
If you want to match another song, run both through the key finder first so you know how many semitones to move.
For transposing a whole song for singing, the key changer page walks you through choosing a key.
Listen on headphones and on speakers before you export. Artefacts from a big shift can hide on one and stand out on the other. If you hear a metallic edge, back the shift off by a semitone and try again.
Keep pitch and varispeed, explained
In keep pitch mode the semitone control shifts pitch and the tempo stays fixed. In varispeed mode, pitch and speed are linked like a tape machine, so higher also means faster. Varispeed can sound warmer and more natural on some material, and it is the basis of nightcore and slowed edits.
Pitch shifting samples for producers
A sample in the wrong key is one of the most common problems in a beat. The pitch shifter fixes it without changing the length of the sample, so it still lines up with your grid.
Find the sample's key with the key finder, then count the semitones to your project key. For example, a loop in A minor going into a G minor beat needs −2 semitones. Going the short way round is usually better, so move by 6 semitones or less where you can.
If you want the classic sampler sound, where pitching up also speeds up, switch to varispeed. It is how hardware samplers and turntables behave, and many producers like that character.
- Wrong key sample: shift in keep pitch mode.
- Chipmunk soul vocal: shift up in varispeed.
- Dark, heavy texture: shift down 12 semitones.
- Harmony layer: shift a copy up 3, 4 or 7 semitones.
Private pitch shifter with no upload
Your audio is processed in your browser and stays on your device. There is no account, no watermark and no cost. Changes preview live, and the export applies everything. It runs on desktop browsers and on iPhone and Android.