Guitar pitch shifting or my hearing problem???

[4ever]

When I play back a recorded guitar track I hear it to be a little out of tune. Even if I record only one string (say #1 string) I still hear it that way. It happens only on playback. I don't know why. I have no problem hearing correctly when I record keyboard. The string cannot be out of tune if I'm only playing one string. I understand that if the vocalist uses bass track as a reference the singing could be out of tune. Could that related to the kind of problem I'm having? Or is it a line-level power thingy.

Or just tell me I'm having a hearing problem

[moskus]

The string cannot be out of tune if I'm only playing one string.

Why not? I didn't see that one...

Is the samplerate set to the same (say 44100 Hz), in your soundcard software (if you have such a thing) and in Sonar?

[4ever]

That I will further investigate. Thanks.

[MaKettle]

One string can be out of tune if you're intonation is out on the guitar, but you problably know that and have checked it. Things like worn frets can cause certain chords to sound a bit out of tune. I've noticed a peculiarity with my bass when recording with Sonar, which is: the A string seems to sound chorused, while all the others don't. I think it's a charateristic of the set of strings I have on it. It unquestionably sounds like I have some chorusing effect on just that one string. Even the tuner has a hard time zeroing in on the pitch. Go figure!

[4ever]

I'm unable to experiment now but I think my ear was trying to compare the sound that came out directly from the guitar and that of the recorded one and they didn't compare. The recorded one seemed to be a little lower in pitch. Seems like I'm in the minority here in this.

[Clemie]

Funny, I've just found the same thing on me. I recorded the guitar parts. I've always told the guitarist to TUNE the guitar and always use new set of strings (have been there within a week). I record through CWPA 9, Win XP Home, SB Live! DE.51. Microsoft driver. Last, when I have record all materials on tracks, balancing, and about to mix 'em, Jess.... something wrong there... the tune was slightly downed. Export each wave to Cool Edit, and I use Antarez Autotune to see if there's a way too fluct pitch curve, nope. Everything seems okay (average). One by one. I suspicious about HD speed has something to do with it. Mine both system & audio drive are 5400 RPM. Doesn't it ?

[4ever]

Whewwww!!! Sure glad to know I'm not the only one having this problem. Not that I'm rejoicing, mind you. There must be some explainations on this. My drive is 7200 RPM so I don't know.

[Clemie]

I don't know if this is called an PITCH LATENCY, but for me, seems like more tracks, more pitch trouble. I copy two tracks (Bass line and accoustic guitar) to a new project, and hear 'em both. Fine. Back to main project, it seems like out of tune... It happens after I record 2 stereo tracks, and 10 mono tracks. Same sample rate etc... No plugins inserted. And the most funny is the sound I've recorded from my keyboard (which must be more accurate tune) is also downed pitch... so it's not only guitars/vocals thing. And I've noticed, the more I open app in backround, the often the problem occur... hmmm...