CHAPTER 30. AUDIO FACT SHEET
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In all cases, output is rendered and compared with the output of an unsplit version of the
same source. Phase cancellation testing of the two les con rms that they are identical.
30.3
Non-Neutral Operations
Procedures in Live that will cause a change in audio quality are referred to as
non-neutral
operations
. Users can be guaranteed that using these operations will cause at least some
change to the signal. Applying non-neutral operations to les imported into Live ensures
that the imported audio will differ from the les saved on disk. Applying non-neutral
operations to les being exported from Live ensures that what you hear during realtime
playback will be different from what will end up in your new le.
Non-neutral operations include:
30.3.1
Playback in Complex and Complex Pro Mode
The algorithms used in the
Complex
and
Complex Pro
Warp modes use an entirely different
technology from the algorithms behind Beats, Tones and Texture modes. Although the
Complex modes may sound better, particularly when used with mixed sound les containing
many different kinds of audio material, they are never neutral
not even at the original
tempo. Because of this, and because of the increased CPU demands of these algorithms,
we recommend using them only in cases where the other Warp modes don't produce
suf cient results.
30.3.2
Sample rate conversion/transposition
Sample rate conversion (during both real-time playback and rendering) is a non-neutral
operation. Playback of audio les at a sample rate that is different from the rate set in
Live's Preferences window will cause signal degradation. Transposition is also a form of
sample-rate conversion, and thus also results in non-neutral behavior.
To minimize potential negative results, it is recommended to do sample rate conversion as
an of ine process in another application. Once the samples have been converted to the
