Ultimate Pro Tools Time Stretching and Pitch Shifting?

US Digidesign’s X-Form Plug-In utilises iZotope Radius technology      27/09/06

Ultimate Pro Tools Time Stretching and Pitch Shifting?


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Digidesign tell us that they are now shipping X-Form, a new high-quality AudioSuite plug-in that they say represents the pinnacle of time compression/expansion and pitch-shifting technology. Digidesign say that X-Form delivers unparalleled time stretching and formant-correct pitch shifting to Pro Tools and Avid DNA systems to produce natural-sounding results—even at the most extreme settings—making it ideal for music production, sound design, post production, or any other application that requires time-stretch and pitch-shift processing.
Digidesign Senior Product Manager Bobby Lombardi told us, “The secret to X-Form's natural-sounding, polyphonic, time-stretching algorithm is frequency domain processing, a technology proven more effective than the ‘frame overlap’ algorithms used in most time-stretching products. The goal is to provide Pro Tools users with the highest quality time-stretching and pitch-shifting processing available in the market.�
Digidesign say that getting high quality, professional results is easy they tell us that X-Form features minimal controls to simplify the workflow, yet delivers stunning sound quality whether audio is processed from 1/8 to eight times its original length, or shifted up or down three octaves. You simply choose from two algorithms—Polyphonic or Monophonic—and let X-Form do the rest.
The Polyphonic algorithm, say Digidesign, is ideal for use on complex audio files, such as chords or an entire stereo mix. They say that this algorithm is truly “best in breed,� and when used with the Transient Sensitivity control, allows you to compress or stretch drum loops and other percussive material without losing crucial attack transients. When working with solo instruments or vocals, you simply choose the Monophonic algorithm. Each algorithm was designed to provide exceptional results capable of preserving proper stereo imaging, attack transients, and timing accuracy—even at exaggerated settings.
Digidesign is licensing iZotope Radius technology as the basis for the new XForm plug-in. Bobby Lombardi had this to say, "Today's productions incorporate many different kinds of source material that need to be manipulated without compromise,iZotope Radius algorithms provide X-Form the ability to maintain the highest production values associated with Pro Tools users worldwide."
iZotope Radius' world class pitch-shifting and time stretching algorithms are designed to preserve natural timbres even with extreme use. Time stretching between 12.5% and 800% and pitch shifting from -36 to +36 semitones can be accomplished while maintaining the original acoustic space, transient attacks, and timing accuracy for a natural sound and feel.
Using an advanced hybrid method, Radius is able to preserve transients and sustained material at the same time. For example, when stretching a recording with sustained brass and pizzicato strings, Radius preserves continuity of the brass notes as well as the timing and attack characteristics of the strings.
Radius is designed for completely transparent operation on a wide variety of source material with nearly automatic operation and is well suited for both home studio use and industrial studio applications supporting sampling rates up to 192 kHz.
Pricing and Availability:
X-Form is available now via authorized Digidesign dealers and through the online DigiStore for $595 US MSRP. More information on X-Form:
More information on iZotope's licensing program:


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