How much can I stretch a sample before it sounds bad?

Enter your original and target BPM. The stretch percentage bar shows how hard you are pushing the loop. Anything over roughly 10 percent starts to introduce audible artifacts on most material.

How does pitch shifting change the BPM of a sample?

Enter the semitone shift. A one semitone pitch up is roughly a 6 percent tempo increase. The tool calculates the new BPM, the cent offset, and what key the sample lands in after the shift.

What key will my sample be in after stretching?

Enter the original key and any semitone shift. The resulting key field updates to show the new tonal center. It accounts for simple key transposition so you can check compatibility with the rest of your session.

Studio utility

Sample Stretch and Pitch-Shift Planner

See how hard a loop needs to stretch, what BPM a pitch shift implies, and what key change comes with it.

Original BPM

Target BPM

Pitch shift in semitones

Original key

Stretch percentage

Pitch-shifted BPM

Cent offset

Resulting key

How the math works

Stretch percentage is target BPM divided by original BPM times one hundred. Pitch-only BPM change uses the equal-temperament ratio of two to the power of semitones over twelve.

When you would use it

Check whether a 100 BPM loop will survive being stretched to 140 BPM.
Pitch a sample up three semitones and see the implied tempo change in a sampler.
Confirm the destination key before you commit to resampling.

FAQ

Why warn around forty percent stretch?

Because most algorithms start to sound obviously processed around that range.

Does pitch shifting always change BPM?

Only when time stretch is off or separate from pitch.

Why show sharp and flat spellings?

Because both can be useful depending on the musical key you are working in.