Different sample rates within same Cubase project - help

[danproducerman]

Hi everyone

Having a bit of nightmare and I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to sample rate conversions.

So basically I have a project in Cubase 9 running both audio and midi tracks running at 44.1khz 32 bit float. I created a backing track mix down sampled to 16 bit as well as MP3 version which I sent for vocalist to take to studio in another country to record vocals and then send vocal stems back to me to put back into project. Now the problem arises because it looks like studio that recorded her vocals did it at 48khz 24 bit and as a result she has unknowingly recorded her vocals at a semitone higher and slightly increased tempo. So when I reintroduced in to project it's changed her vocals to fit in with original key but it sounds unnatural to her and lower which I totally get from her point of view.

Anyway being a newbie to the effects of differing sample rates I thought ok I'llnjust transpose all audio and midi parts to fit in with her actual recorded vocal but of course didn't factor in that her vocal is also at a slightly faster tempo so obviously that didn't work.

Basically I'm just wondering what is the best way to successfully resolve this? Ultimately what we have decided is that she sings it better anyway at the new key but the tempo is wrong compared to my project. Am I best suggesting that she just rerecord her vocals in the new key and I'll send her backing track with new key and just to make sure that the studio she uses keeps it in same sample rate so to avoid further problems? Or is there a simpler way of resolving this like increasing tempo of project e.g. Current tempo is 62bpm, how can I work out what tempo to stretch audio/alter midi tracks to?

Sorry for all the questions but thanks in advance for any help you can give!

[BJG145]

* edited - see below *

[danproducerman]

The studio messed up and she sang it back at a different tempo/pitch to what the original project was running at! She doesn't have bags of experience so obviously when she's recorded it she's not noticed the semitone key change difference or slightly faster tempo.

It's frankly all a bit of a farce!

[BJG145]

Oh, OK...sounds like they owe you a refund then. What are we talking about in terms of track count and content for the audio that would need to be changed to fit...? And how great was the vocal take...?

(I expect someone will pitch in with the Cubase know-how and timestretch ratio, but rejigging the project to fit all sounds like a bit of a PITA!)

[danproducerman]

Thanks for your help and comments btw much appreciated!

Obviously with the midi it's easy to change tempo though I don't know exactly what the tempo change would be and if there is a formula I can use to work it out. With the audio I only have 1 bass track, 3 guitar tracks so not too much and I've already pitch shifted everything to the new key that she actually sang in. But I can't work out what the tempo change would be.

[Guest271017]

Due to pitch and tempo being wrong, I'm guessing it's a sample rate issue. Check Properties for the file they sent to check the rate to your project's. Also, check the Pool as to the imported clip's rate. If different, go to Cubase Prefs and find the On Import Audio and make sure it's set to Always Ask. Once done, try re-importing the clip and choose Conform to Project.

[danproducerman]

Just to add to this, even before trying to work out the tempo change, the vocal pitch just doesn't sound quite right even matched up a semi tone it's like there may be a few cents difference as well. Also even just importing the vocal stems has introduced some digital artefacts such as pips and clicks in the files.
I've actually told her she needs to get a refund as they've made a fundamentally basic error here. She's actually just replied she's going to use another studio and explained the issues we've had previously to ensure it doesn't happen again!
Wow it's only 11.30 on a Sunday and I already have a headache!

[BJG145]

I guess the speed-up ratio is 48k/44.1k or 1.088435, which is a figure bandied about in other threads on this topic.

I imagine maybe you could process the other audio by converting it to 48k then reimporting it without converting to match the project. In terms of pitching though, it's not going to be exactly a semitone; I've read that's it's more like just under 1.5, so I'd have thought getting the MIDI in tune would be difficult without bouncing it. You'd probably have to use pitchbend automation or something. Or you could tune the vocal to the nearest semitone. I'd probably re-record the vocal unless it was special.

[danproducerman]

Yeah I'd already tried that and it did fit to the project and altered the pitch and tempo to match project but the vocalist didn't like the sound of her voice as it changed the speed and tone to match the project.

[BJG145]

Yeah I'd already tried that and it did fit to the project and altered the pitch and tempo to match project but the vocalist didn't like the sound of her voice as it changed the speed and tone to match the project.

(It would be kind of interesting to hear it. The Beatles tinkered around with that technique of course. But, yeah, I just meant shifting the vocal to be a simple semitone up instead of leaving it somewhere fractionally sharp of that.)

[Wonks]

Easier to just set up a blank 48k project, import the vocal audio and then export it as a 44.1k track. Then import the 44.1 track back into the original project. Or else use a wav editor to do a similar thing.

Without checking, if you pick the audio file from the project pool, are their any format conversion options if you right click on the file?

[BJG145]

It's not just a format conversion issue though...the vocal was performed at the wrong pitch and tempo.

[The Elf]

It's not just a format conversion issue though...the vocal was performed at the wrong pitch and tempo.

In Cubase you can choose pitch correction and tell it not to time adjust (or vice versa). That should sort out the tempo problem.

[danproducerman]

Thanks everyone. The vocalist spoke to the studio and they have agreed that they made an error in how they imported the original instrumental track in to their set up hence causing the issues with tempo and sync. They have agreed to rerecord her vocals free of charge this week.

Ironically the singer has realised she suits singing it in that slightly higher key so I have sent them the track transposed up. Fingers crossed everything should be ok this time round!

Cheers everyone for the advice

[Martin Walker]

Phew, well that's a relief for you Dan

Thank heavens they accepted responsibility!

Martin