Help with cracking audio file

[fumesitory]

Hey!

 

I have problem: I increased a tempo of an audio file with Time and Pitch Machine. Now when I listen to the new tempo edited audio file, I hear cracks every now and then. I tried to make small fixes to the audio file with the pencil tool but it doesn't help. Is there anything I can do or any plug-in/tool which could detect the problems and fix them?

 

Thank in advance

[fuzzfilth]

Yes. Take a deep breath, then let go of the 90s. Let Time & Pitch Machine rest in peace, it has more than served its purpose twenty years ago.

Now embrace Flex Time with all its benefits like easier and quicker handling, better audio quality and being non-destructive.

[David Nahmani]

Yes. Take a deep breath, then let go of the 90s. Let Time & Pitch Machine rest in peace, it has more than served its purpose twenty years ago.

Now embrace Flex Time with all its benefits like easier and quicker handling, better audio quality and being non-destructive.

 

... and to change the tempo of your audio region in Flex Time:

 

1. Show Flex Time (Command-F).

2. Click the Flex button in the track header to turn Flex on for that track.

3. Drag the upper right corner of your audio region.

 

[fumesitory]

Thanks a lot! And btw, is it true that once edited with the Time and Pitch Machine, I can not revert the file back to original, unless I have I saved a backup file?

[fumesitory]

And another question about the flex time: Can I set the tempo that I want to achieve with Flex Time? E.g. I want to change the tempo from 72 to 76.

[fuzzfilth]

T&P is destructive, yes, and apart from the immediate Undo, you're stuck with the result.

 

Assuming your file is recorded/bounced at 72, all you do is change the Project tempo to 76. Any Region with Flex active will follow.

[fumesitory]

The "problem" is that the file which tempo I want to change is recorded in a different Logic project, and I added it afterwards to the project I'm currently working on. One possibility is that I change the tempo of the file in a different project and then bounce it and add it to the correct one but it seems too much work I hope you understood what I mean here.

[Eriksimon]

Just convert it to a new file that is independent of the original file, in de Audio File Browser that can be done swiftly and painlessly. However, if you use anything but T&P machine, there's nothing to worry about, as your original file will be unaffected - that is what non-destructive editing means. However, if you already T&P'd it, then it will have these same edits in the other project, and you are nailed. No, glued. Dovetailed? Well, ok, "assembled with those pesky rotating nail-like thingies".

[David Nahmani]

If the file has a specific musical length such as exactly 1 bar or 2 bars then it's easier to do it by hand.

 

If it isn't, either do it manually while playing back and adjusting until it sounds good, or follow the advice to do it in another session. There's no feature that allows you to communicate a specific tempo change such as 72bpm to 76bpm to Flex the file as there is in Time and Pitch Machine.

[fumesitory]

Thanks for your answers but now I actually think that the problem is in the Logic Pro project: I edited the original file in a separate Logic Pro project (changed the tempo with Flex Time and bounced it, yes I know maybe too much work but I wanted to try) and there was no cracking. Then I added this file to my current project to a new track and I can hear the cracking exactly at same points. I'm really confused, is my Logic Project destructed or what?

[Eriksimon]

Play that file in iTunes/Music and hear if the crackling is still there. I would expect it is, btw.

If not, something else must be going on, or the file was already crackling in the first place but you just didn't notice it. An unaltered file (unaltered after you edited it and as you say sounded fine) shouldn't (can't) develop crackling. Are there any plugins at work on the file?

[fumesitory]

Yes, I hear the cracking when I bounce my project where I added the file but I don't hear the cracking in the bounce file that I modified in separate project. And no, I don't have any plug-ins in the track where I added the audio file or in my stereo output. All the output volume levels are green so that shouldn't be the problem. I'm getting exhausted because I don't know how to fix this problem so if you've got any clue what could cause this, I'm thankful!

[Eriksimon]

Wait, in your initial post you say you edited with the pencil tool but this didn't help - could you not hear any change? It might be that you have used it on a different file alltogether.

 

It may be a good idea to upload that faulty file somewhere, post a link here so we can investigate. You might have done any number of things you were unaware of (and therefore ofcourse didn't mention here.)

[fumesitory]

Okay, I could do that later today. But I really think it's not the problem in the audio file: I tried also adding some other audio files to my project (which for sure don't crackle) and they crackle as well. So my project somehow destroys the audio files or the output? Or there is some automation coded that I don't see? I have also tried to investigate my project settings and adjusted the buffer size e.g. but it doesn't change the situation.

[Eriksimon]

Try deleting the Logic preferences. Google how to do that for your particular OS. (The preferences (.plist) file is in the user library, and in some OS's that library is hidden)

[fumesitory]

Thanks! But does that possibly corrupt some other Logic Pro project files or is that safe to do?

[Eriksimon]

The prefs file contains all the settings made here:

 

 

So they will all reset to default settings. If you have non-default settings, you'd have to go in there and set those again. But it will not mess with the projects, as those settings are not saved in projects.

[David Nahmani]

Thanks! But does that possibly corrupt some other Logic Pro project files or is that safe to do?

It's safe, it just resets your Logic preferences to factory defaults.

 

Follow the instructions under "Delete Logic Pro preferences" at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT200260