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Pitch control
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<h2 id="vari-speed-in-consumer-cassette-decks">Vari-speed in consumer cassette decks</h2> <p>Superscope, Inc. of <a href="/facts/Sun_Valley%2c_Los_Angeles/sdUwI3rX">Sun Valley</a> added vari-speed as a feature of portable cassette decks in 1975. The C-104 and C-105 models incorporated this feature.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>Superscope <a href="/facts/Trademark/B23H8IS0">trademarked</a> the name Vari-Speed in 1974. The trademark category was Computer & Software Products & Electrical & Scientific Products. The trademark goods and Services use was Magnetic tape recorders and reproducers. The trademark expired in 1995.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="djing">DJing</h2> <p>Pitch control is fundamental for <a href="/facts/Disc_jockey/5YYYRqPB">DJing</a>. By changing pitch, a DJ can alter the speed of an upcoming track to match its <a href="/facts/Tempo/P5PfkpTb">tempo</a> to that of the currently playing track so that the <a href="/facts/Beat_(music)/xJrxPJfS">beats</a> are synchronized, a technique called <a href="/facts/Beatmatching/vEmkTuAb">beatmatching</a>. Through beatmatching, a DJ can create smooth transitions between tracks in a <a href="/facts/DJ_mix/JMqoHRFA">DJ set</a>. </p><p>Turntables, <a href="/facts/CDJ/GvJzzyxW">CDJs</a>, <a href="/facts/DJ_controller/0cmkumSR">DJ controllers</a>, and DJ software allow DJs to change the speed at which a track is played for this purpose. <a href="/facts/Technics_SL-1200/Jg890eXG">Technics SL-1200</a> turntables allow pitch changes to +/− 8% or 16%, depending on the model, and modern DJ gear often allows a range of +/- 100% (from pausing the track to playing the track twice as fast). </p><p>Modern DJ equipment also features <a href="/facts/Audio_time_stretching_and_pitch_scaling/647HEoTb">time stretching</a>, which allows the speed of a track to be changed without affecting its pitch, a feature often called "Master Tempo" or "Key Lock". Some equipment also features <a href="/facts/Pitch_shifting/D59blj0P">pitch shifting</a>, allowing pitch to be adjusted independently of tempo; this allows changing the <a href="/facts/Key_(music)/jo4UMbHp">musical key</a> of tracks so that transitions between them sound more pleasing to the listener, a practice called <a href="/facts/Harmonic_mixing/bYQyf7tL">harmonic mixing</a>. </p> <h2 id="reset-button">Reset button</h2> <p>On Technics SL-1200 turntables, pressing the Reset button returns the pitch to a fixed preset value of +/−0% regardless of the pitch control position.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Audio_time_stretching_and_pitch_scaling/647HEoTb">Audio time stretching and pitch scaling</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Beatmatching/vEmkTuAb">Beatmatching</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.podcomplex.com/blog/index.php/2007/09/27/pitch-control-on-the-vinyl-side/">Pitch Control</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Technics SL-1210MK7R Direct Drive Turntable System Instruction Manual". 18 April 2022. <a href="https://manuals.plus/technics/sl-1210mk7r-direct-drive-turntable-system-manual#pitch_control_fine_adjustment_to_pitch" target="_blank">https://manuals.plus/technics/sl-1210mk7r-direct-drive-turntable-system-manual#pitch_control_fine_adjustment_to_pitch</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Ferric-oxide Archeology,6. Superscopes and varispeed <a href="http://www.rainerlinz.net/NMA/articles/Ferric-oxide.html" target="_blank">http://www.rainerlinz.net/NMA/articles/Ferric-oxide.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Marantz Far East In Name Change; Adds Superscope, Billboard Magazine, December 7, 1974, Page 40 <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Vari-Speed trademark 73025543 <a href="http://www.mytrademarkia.com/varispeed-73025543.html" target="_blank">http://www.mytrademarkia.com/varispeed-73025543.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Musical Instruments & Musical Recorder <a href="https://ourvinylweighsaton.com" target="_blank">https://ourvinylweighsaton.com</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Technics SL-1210MK7R Direct Drive Turntable System Instruction Manual". 18 April 2022. <a href="https://manuals.plus/technics/sl-1210mk7r-direct-drive-turntable-system-manual#pitch_control_fine_adjustment_to_pitch" target="_blank">https://manuals.plus/technics/sl-1210mk7r-direct-drive-turntable-system-manual#pitch_control_fine_adjustment_to_pitch</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"SL-1200 ‒ Heritage - Technics". <a href="https://www.technics.com/global/home/sl1200/heritage.html" target="_blank">https://www.technics.com/global/home/sl1200/heritage.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>