How Can I Record At 432 Hz?

aglewis723
Hello,

I hope this thread doesn't turn into the whole 432 vs 440 Hz thing, but I just have a quick question, How do I achieve recording at 432 Hz? I use soft synths and hardware synths.   Would i need to do this on the softsynth level?
 
Thanks,
Adam

Is there a specific reason why you want to record at that sample rate?

http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/2859951

You'll have to change the pitch of the synths.  Most, if not all, synths change their master tuning in cents rather than hertz.  From what I can gather, 432 is 32 cents flat from 440, although some sources say 31 cents, so set the synth's master tune at -32 (or -31).  I'm sure neither one will get you to precisely 432 Hz but it should be close enough, unless you're doing it for metaphysical reasons.

TimV
Most, if not all, synths change their master tuning in cents rather than hertz.  From what I can gather, 432 is 32 cents flat from 440, although some sources say 31 cents, so set the synth's master tune at -32 (or -31).

 
That's not right. Most synths will have coarse and fine tuning controls. Coarse will be in Hz, and fine will be in cents. "432" refers to 432Hz, which will be 8Hz = 800 cents below 440Hz.
 

TimV
Cents refers to the division of a half step into 100 units, regardless of the pitch.  Lowering a pitch by 800 cents will lower it 8 half steps.

Oops. You got me. Still, 432 refers to 432Hz.
 
EDIT: I just did the quick calculation, and see that coincidentally, 432 is about 31 cents below 440. I see where you're coming from now. Sorry for the confusion.
 
 

Don't forget that the 'just noticeable difference' is about 2 or 3 cents even for discerning listeners.
 
My 2 cents.

TimV is correct. 432 Hz is A (440Hz) but with minus 32 cents applied in the tuning. It certainly is not 8 semitones below A 440. The Ab below A440 is already at 415Hz so it is only A 440 tuned slightly flat.
 
You may not get the effect either by just slowing a session down slightly. You may have to retune your synths first and record any new material such as bass, guitars, vocals, acoustic instruments etc all tuned to the new tuning and maybe then see how it sounds.
 
If you read this you will also see many tuning references mentioned:
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/w...0_%28pitch_standard%29
 
I am not sure if altering tuning like this is going to be significant. I have experimented with several instruments within one piece being tuned to different references though and things can get interesting in that situation. It can effect things like ambient pieces that contain non tuned sounds too.
 
What I found was much more interesting was how Just Intonation sounds compared to Equal Temperament. Now that is a different thing. Check out this little video here on that very thing. It is pretty convincing as to why it sounds better.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhZpvGSPx6w
 
Most things are equal tempered making them a bit if a compromise. Some synths can go into Just Intonation tuning or alternate tuning. Very nice. This thread has alerted me to something about my Kurzweil PC3K hardware synth. I have just found out it has 17 Intonation tuning maps. OMG! This is way more interesting than just tuning the whole instrument down to 432Hz.
 
 
 
 

Basic calculation is: 1Hz = 4cents
 
I've been a piano tuner for 40 years and on occasion have had to tune a piano to 'European' pitch of A=442. Or tune the piano down to match an older pipe organ (pitched at A=435)in a church for instance.
Much easier to tune piano down, than pipe organ up!
 
As TimV pointed out: "Apparently, the exact difference is 31.7666536334 cents."
The reason piano tuners use cents as a measurement is nobody wants to deal with 10 (!) or even 4 decimal points of accuracy
in either Hz or cents. Rounding up 31.7666536334 = 4 cents. Accurate enough.
 
Remember 1 cent = 1/100th of a 1/2 step. Think of it as 1% and that 100% = 1/2 step.
 
Michael

This thread has got more & more confusing!!!
 
For a real pissfest, try this one:
 
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/moan-zone/666031-retune-your-music-444-old-tuning-standard.html