Editing Pitch control (section)

{{Short description|Control on an audio device}}
{{About|audio device controls|aircraft controls|Pitch (aviation)}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2013}}

[[Image:Technics SL-1210MK2 pitch control.jpeg|thumb|150px|Technics SL-1210MK2 turntable pitch control slider]]

A variable speed '''pitch control''' (or '''vari-speed''') is a control on an audio device such as a [[turntable]], [[tape recorder]], or [[CD player]] that allows the operator to deviate from a standard speed (such as 33, 45 or even 78 [[rpm]] on a turntable), resulting in adjustments in pitch.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://manuals.plus/technics/sl-1210mk7r-direct-drive-turntable-system-manual#pitch_control_fine_adjustment_to_pitch | title=Technics SL-1210MK7R Direct Drive Turntable System Instruction Manual | date=18 April 2022 }}</ref> The latter term "vari-speed" is more commonly used for tape decks, particularly in the [[UK]]. Analog pitch controls vary the voltage being used by the playback device; digital controls use [[digital signal processing]] to change the playback speed or pitch. A typical DJ deck allows the pitch to be increased or reduced by up to 8%, which is achieved by increasing or reducing the speed at which the platter rotates. 

Turntable or CD playing speed may be changed for [[beatmatching]] and other [[DJ]] techniques, while [[pitch shift]] using a pitch control has myriad uses in [[sound recording]].