Sampling in Practice II

In the Beatles track ``In My Life'' (1:28)there is a Baroque-style piano solo composed and played by George Martin:

• piano solo

Problem: George Martin's couldn't play fast enough!

Solution:

• play an octave lower and at half tempo
• record at 1/2 sampling rate (or ``speed'' if analog),
• play back at twice the rate at which it was recorded.

Effect: The distortion creates a sort of harpsichord sound at the regular tempo and pitch. Why?

Listen to how the original sound regains a piano quality when played at 1/2 the sampling rate:

• piano solo at 1/2 sampling rate

Note: Beatles recordings were actually analog, but the same principles apply!