Skip to main content

SEMITONE/PITCH CHANGE AUTOMATION

I request DJ Studio implement support for the following technique.

Implementation of this feature will enable DJs of this software enables to harmonically mix a wider range of music in the library by making tracks that are -2 to +2 semitones variation from the music track being mixed into, and also extends to the camelot wheel compatibility between semitone/keys.

Ultimately this gives DJs more creative freedom in planning and performing their mixsets.

I was doing this with NI Traktor DJ Studio 2 & 3 back 2003 to 2006 on FM Radio. I got a lot of queries from the station what I was using and how I did it.

TECHIQUE:

This technique allows the intro of the next track and outtro of the current track within the transition to be altered up or down in scale by at least one semitone for each track.

The automation of the semitone change between the intro and outtro defaults to linear connection between the two.

A default setting that determines where the default semitone change starts and ends (after the intro and before the outtro) can also be set.

This setting may be a % of song length between transitions, beats/bars after intro or before outtro, etc.

DJ can then custom adjust as with any automation by adding/adjusting/removing markers.

WORKAROUND

There are VSTs that could do this however I experienced VST processing delay on the deck the VST was applied that threw out the beat alignment resulting in a train wreck.

The automation metric was also represented by a 2/100 metric in DJ Studio for each semitone.

I will raise a separate request regarding the VST processing delay with succinct detail.

Status: Completed4 comments

Log in to comment and vote

Comments4

  • Gavin Staveley

    •

    Jun 4, 2025

    It appears there is a pitch automation overlay that can be inserted into the track time line and witdh adjusted to the entire track.

    By hitting record during playback and moving the pitch control in the effects tab draws the automation on the selected track, where it can then be adjusted like any other automation in the track.

    The pitch automation is not detailed in the documentation article and DJai reported the pitch automation function is not possible.

    https://help.dj.studio/en/articles/8213331-automation-editor-effects

    In other systems the automation line runs for the entire length of the track and have adjustment markers close to the end of the intro transition and close to the beginning of the outtro transition so the key of the intro and outro transitions can be adjusted while the automation line inbetween makes discrete adjustment of the pitch/semiphone.

    I would like to see (1) automation toggle buttons for each effect to (a) enable/disable the effect and (b) set focus on the automation as well as (2) buttons in the relevant tabs to set focus on each individual channel (deck 1, deck 2, sample 1, sample 2, sample 3, voice).

    • Fleur van der Laan

      Team•

      Jun 5, 2025

      If you select a Transition window(1) and the Transition tab(2) is selected at the bottom, you can choose Effects in the Categories(3), you can select Manual key as an Effect in (4).


      A line appears in the transition window and you can drag the automation point at the beginning(5) or create new automation points for more specific control(6).

      Is this what you were looking for?

      Thank you for letting us know that this functionality is missing in our KB we will get that updated.