What it changes in the music
Tempo changes can otherwise alter a recording’s pitch when simple resampling is used. Key-lock or time-stretch processing tries to separate those dimensions, but large adjustments can introduce audible artifacts or change transient character. Audition the actual passage at the intended setting. A preserved metadata label does not guarantee that every harmonic element will blend with another recording.
A small experiment
Compare a recording at the desired adjusted tempo with key lock enabled and disabled. Listen to sustained tones and percussion separately at similar levels.
Keep this distinction clear
Key lock does not make two tracks harmonically compatible. It concerns playback pitch behavior, while compatibility depends on the musical content being overlapped.
Related sound terms
Technical background
- Mixxx 2.5 manual: DJing with Mixxx — Gain staging, beatmatching, sync and mixing.
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