Song Surgeon provides distortion-free audio with pitch and/or tempo change. To accomplish this we use two separate algorithms. One is for small changes in pitch and tempo. This called P mode for performance situations where a song might be changed by a half or whole step, or tempo changed by ± 10%. Generally speaking the P mode is for situations in which the changes will be less than 15% of the original.

The second algorithm used in one we call the T mode for Transcribe. The setting is used where more significant changes in tempo and pitch will be made. An example would be where a guitarist wants to learn a rapid guitar riff and needs to slow it down to 50% or even lover.