Your thoughts on varispeed

[Kinh]

I've just finished mixing a Japanese pop song which has a female vocalist. She's 16 but has a mature tone. I realized the whole track was too slow by 4 beats so instead of doing it the hard way I bounced a master and used varispeed on it in Protools. Now it's half a semitone higher but her voice sounds very "kawaii" which suits the genre, the speed is right and the track actually sounds great but I have one concern:
Will it sound sharp to the average ear, especially when played with other tracks (it's going on my portfolio). Can you trained engineers or music listeners for that matter tell the difference between a song that's in perfect tune and one not. Thanks.

[MOF]

If her voice was in tune on the original recording it still will be on the pitched up version. The only thing that might sound ‘strange’ is the formants which are non pitched elements of the voice. However, you say it now sounds like the genre of music you’re aiming for so that’s good.

[Tim Gillett]

Have you tried speeding it up while leaving the pitch unaltered?

[Hugh Robjohns]

I realized the whole track was too slow by 4 beats so instead of doing it the hard way I bounced a master and used varispeed on it in Protools.

Plenty of very successful vintage tracks have been given a bit of a lift by speeding up the tape machine in mastering!

Will it sound sharp to the average ear, especially when played with other tracks...

Most casual listeners would neither notice or care. Those with perfect pitch will be aware, of course, and it may sound a little sharp to some ears if played after something in the same key (but with perfect tuning)... but again, I doubt anyone would care even if they noticed.

I listen to a lot of pipe organ music, and early orchestral music, and in both cases the absolute reference pitch is all over the place! Doesn't bother me!

So in short... if it gives the track the energy and character you want, then there's nothing wrong with a bit of varispeeding... and you're not the first to make use of that facility!

[muzines]

Plenty of very successful vintage tracks have been given a bit of a lift by speeding up the tape machine in mastering!

Yes, it was quite common just to varispeed up a little to give songs a bit more energy and excitement...

I listen to a lot of pipe organ music, and early orchestral music, and in both cases the absolute reference pitch is all over the place! Doesn't bother me!

The only times it bothers me are when I pick up an instrument to jam along with the track, but find I have to retune first...

[Drew Stephenson]

What Desmond said! ^^^
Especially that second bit.

[Zukan]

TBH, this is quite common and in particular with Hip Hop. Getting the 'nod' right sometimes requires slight pitching...

[ManFromGlass]

Excuse the brief left turn -
Zukan is the “nod” an actual “thing”? I’m not part of the Hip Hop production world so am just curious if this is another word that has a significant other meaning.

[muzines]

[ManFromGlass]

Say no more, squire!

[Kinh]

Thanks guys. I thought I was just being eccentric.

[Zukan]

Excuse the brief left turn -
Zukan is the “nod” an actual “thing”? I’m not part of the Hip Hop production world so am just curious if this is another word that has a significant other meaning.

MFG, yep. In fact, they live by it and actually appraise the song based on it.

[muzines]

MFG, yep. In fact, they live by it and actually appraise the song based on it.

That's why people are so enthusiastic about hip hop at 180bpm (just visualise it...)

[ManFromGlass]

180 ??? Cripes!
I think I just pulled a muscle in my neck
Too many gold chains perhaps!