What is the problem?
It’s possible to pitch shift a sample on the Tracker+, but only by following a long and arduous approach:
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Create a pattern with just that sample on one track, set to loop the sample perfectly.
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Tune the sample to the desired pitch.
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Tweak the tempo of the pattern until the sample loops perfectly.
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Render the track out to a new sample and load it in.
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Switch the song back to the correct tempo.
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Open the sample editor for the newly-rendered sample, and Timestretch Beat the sample to the correct length (based on its previous length, before the pitch change), tweaking the grain size as desired.
Now you have the same sample, at the same length/tempo, but at the new pitch.
Obviously, this proves that the Tracker+ is capable of performing the necessary function, but it takes a lot of effort for a relatively simple outcome.
What should this feature achieve?
A new effect in the sample editor that effectively rolls up all of the above steps into a single “Time Stretch”-type effect, that changes the pitch without changing the tempo. Parameters would be pitch shift amount (and possibly fine tune) and grain size.
As a bonus extra, it could also be helpful to include a “New Tempo” option, to allow for both Pitch Shift and Time Stretch in a single effect, but this is not 100% necessary, because a two-stage process is still better than six stages!
Are there any workarounds?
As mentioned above, by utilising the six stages described and rendering out to an intermediate sample, the pitch shift effect can be created, but it also wastes space on the memory card and takes time that would be better spent creating music!
Any links to related discussions?
Request for the OG Tracker: Pitch shift without tempo change
Any references to other products?
Most samplers since the 1990s offer this functionality. Some obviously better than others. Akai S2000 (and other rack samplers), Octatrack, SP-404 series.