Page 1 of 2
VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 06 Nov 2025 20:32
by MrJake
Good evening everyone!
I was listening to a few bootlegs that we recently got on this forum and i noticed that some of them are in the incorrect key, mostly the one I found and tested are usually 1 semitone up (songs that should be in D are in D#, songs in G are in G# and so on..).
I made a short list of the bootlgs that would need pitch adjustment, is anyone here skilled enough to make this changes? I have audacity but sometimes it doesn't work or can't read files (don't really know why), many months ago I manage to create the Max concert in the correct pitch (it was all 1 semitone up) and I created my own copy in the correct pitch.
This is the list of concerts that would need pitch adjusment (maybe also speed I feel, slow down the recordings to adjust the pitch probably)
VU
4-10-1968 -1 semitone (speed correction too, slow down the recording)
Lou Reed
29-7-1972 -1 semitone (speed correction too, slow down the recording)
1-11-1972 -1 semitone (NO speed correction I think, or at least to me it doesn't sound faster than usual like the other two)
For the moment I just found these one's, if anyone of you can do it let me know, I think that this changes can add to the experience of listening to all these concerts and feel it more "real" even if it's through bootlegs.
Thanks everyone for reading and in case giving it a try!!
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 07 Nov 2025 15:50
by lurid
as I said in a previous post - this really is a first world problem isn't it!
I use a piece of software called "Wavepad" to process .wav and .flac files - it has a speed/pitch correction function which is easy to use and seems to give good results.
I had already corrected the 1972-07-29 Aylesbury show so I'll post that in a new thread.
I don't think that the sound quality of the 1968-10-04 Cleveland tracks that I posted really merits any further work - there are better sounding/more complete copies of that concert around.
I think the 1972-11-01 London show sounds fine.
MrJake wrote: ↑06 Nov 2025 20:32
Good evening everyone!
I was listening to a few bootlegs that we recently got on this forum and i noticed that some of them are in the incorrect key, mostly the one I found and tested are usually 1 semitone up (songs that should be in D are in D#, songs in G are in G# and so on..).
I made a short list of the bootlgs that would need pitch adjustment, is anyone here skilled enough to make this changes? I have audacity but sometimes it doesn't work or can't read files (don't really know why), many months ago I manage to create the Max concert in the correct pitch (it was all 1 semitone up) and I created my own copy in the correct pitch.
This is the list of concerts that would need pitch adjusment (maybe also speed I feel, slow down the recordings to adjust the pitch probably)
VU
4-10-1968 -1 semitone (speed correction too, slow down the recording)
Lou Reed
29-7-1972 -1 semitone (speed correction too, slow down the recording)
1-11-1972 -1 semitone (NO speed correction I think, or at least to me it doesn't sound faster than usual like the other two)
For the moment I just found these one's, if anyone of you can do it let me know, I think that this changes can add to the experience of listening to all these concerts and feel it more "real" even if it's through bootlegs.
Thanks everyone for reading and in case giving it a try!!
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 07 Nov 2025 16:40
by MrJake
Thanks for the reply!
Yes I just sawn the new post and just downloaded the pitch adjusted version you created for the 29-07-1972 concert.
The 1-11-1972 concert weirdly enough is a semitone up but speed whise seems correct, any ideas of why? Just curious to know if anyone knows
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 07 Nov 2025 16:49
by lurid
I can't explain the 1972-11-01 concert - it does sound fine to me (and iirc it sounds the same as the "Some Kinda Love" bootleg LP which it was the source for many years ago)
I do remember reading that the VU sometimes deliberately de-tuned their guitars when playing live so that they could use heavier strings. And when Lou and the Tots played "Rock And Roll" during the 1972 tour they re-tuned their guitars just for that song.
MrJake wrote: ↑07 Nov 2025 16:40
Thanks for the reply!
Yes I just sawn the new post and just downloaded the pitch adjusted version you created for the 29-07-1972 concert.
The 1-11-1972 concert weirdly enough is a semitone up but speed whise seems correct, any ideas of why? Just curious to know if anyone knows
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 07 Nov 2025 17:51
by MrJake
The VU always played songs 1 tone lower than standard tuning, so if you see them playing an E chords you would hear a D chord.
Yes Rock And Roll in 1972 was played with the lowest string tuned 2 tones below normal (like a drop D in standard tuning) but because they all played 1 tone below standard (like the VU) the lowest string for Rock And Roll was tuned 2 tones below standard just for that song (from E standard to C).
Lou played with dropped tuning from 1965 roughly untill 1973 when he recorded Berlin (even Transformer has all the guitars tuned 1 tone below standard), and from the Berlin Tour in the fall of 1973 untill his death (with 1 exeption) he always played in standard E tuning, (the exeption is 2 songs of the Velvet reunion in 1993 were he played 1 tone below standard, Heroin and Venus in Furs).
Hope it was comprehensible for everyone
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 08 Nov 2025 18:51
by falconwhit
Lou doesn't get enough credit for some of those brilliant / whacky tuning things he did that were so central to their sound. My favorite is when he would tune down the high E string live before taking a solo (strangely, I don't think he would retune it back after the solo), something I haven't heard anyone else do. I don't think anyone tuned the low E down 2 steps like he did on Rock n Roll, such a simple and effective idea. Also the semi-Ostrich tuning for Run Run Run is great (tune the high E down to B for that slightly out-of-tune sound during the solo).
They're all primitive hacks, simple, rock'n'roll, yet totally unique.
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 09 Nov 2025 14:01
by MrJake
Yes I fully agree with you!
The first and last tuning you talked about are the same tunings, that was the one he did on Run Run Run, album version, on the second solo only, and on White Light/White Heat live at the Matrix 1969 (2nd version) where he would de tune his high E to a B (in their case D to A) and it's something soo simple that when I found about it I was like "THAT'S SO SIMPLE, WHY I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT MYSELF!
".
But also his rhythm chops are great, just listen to the "solos" he does on We're Gonna Have A Real Good Time Togheter live at the Matrix 1969, he just plays chords with some flurishes at double the speed, "simple" but super effective imo. Or even the strumming of I Can't Stand It also at the Matrix, both he and Sterl are FLYING!
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 09 Nov 2025 20:21
by falconwhit
Yup.
So we know that Lou detuned, I assume Sterl probably did too.
But what about Doug? I assume he must have played in standard pitch and tuning, especially for Loaded?
Switching from organ to bass and guitar would have been confusing otherwise
Some of the songs on Loaded, especially Who Loves the Sun sound too normal, I assume because they were tuned at standard pitch
thoughts?
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 10 Nov 2025 15:56
by MrJake
I think Doug on bass played downtuned like Sterl and Lou when they all did it live, I know by experience that it's a bit weird to then move to organ where you play on ""standard"" tuning and you have to mentally move all the chords down 1 tone, but it's just something that after you do for a while you get used to it and becames natural.
On Loaded I know that some songs are in standard tuning, Who Loves The Sun, New Age, Lonsome Cowboy Bill, I Found A Reason, Train Round The Bend and Oh Sweet Nothing are all in standard tuning.
I'll leave the link of a website where you can fine all Lou Reed songs with all the chords and tunings.
https://www.loureed.it/LR_tab/album.htm
Re: VU/Lou Reed Bootlegs Pitch and Speed Adjustment
Posted: 13 Nov 2025 13:02
by Liquidatore
These are great, many thanks! I have asked Captain Acid (the king of bootleg speed and azimuth correction) to see what he can do, hopefully he will be happy to do his thing. I'll keep you posted.