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Time-stretch a loop to tempo

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What this recipe is for

Use this when a loop has the right vibe but the wrong length for the current session. The goal is not mathematical perfection for its own sake. The goal is getting the loop to sit inside the groove.

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How time-stretch works

Meiji Sampler uses Signalsmith Stretch, a formant-preserving spectral stretcher, to change the duration of a loop without shifting its pitch. The stretch is applied as a pre-processing step. The result is cached so playback stays lightweight. The supported stretch ratio range is 0.25x to 4.0x (quarter speed to quadruple speed). Ratios near 1.0x (within about 1%) are treated as no-ops to avoid unnecessary processing.

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Steps

1

Establish session timing first

Record or confirm the loop that should define the groove. This is the timing reference that the stretched loop will match.
2

Load the loop you want to match

Assign the out-of-tempo sample to a channel.
3

Set the stretch source

In the mixer, navigate to the stretch source control for the channel. Select the channel whose timing you want to match. Meiji Sampler calculates the ratio automatically based on the two loops’ lengths.
4

Listen and adjust

Play both channels together. The stretched loop should lock to the reference. If it drifts, check that the source loop length is accurate. Stretch quality depends on the input material being correctly trimmed.
5

Check the groove, not just the math

Small imperfections can still feel better than perfect alignment. Trust your ears over the numbers.

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Tips

  • Melodic and vocal material stretches cleanly at moderate ratios. Extreme ratios (below 0.5x or above 2.0x) can introduce artifacts on any material.
  • Percussive loops may sound softer at high stretch ratios because transients get spread. Consider using a separate unprocessed layer for attack.
  • Cached results are stored on disk. Changing the stretch source or ratio regenerates the cache automatically. If you ever hear stale audio after an update, the cache invalidates itself on launch.

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What good looks like

You should hear the stretched loop land with the session rather than leaning ahead or dragging behind it.