Auto Tune: Making or Breaking Music?

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JR Productions
Member Since: Mar 03, 2005

What do you guys think about this? It just pisses me off to watch terrable singers like Ashley Simpson or anyone else who's got a lot of money "buy" there way into being a recording artist. This was inspired by another thread on gearslutz but I want to know what everyone here thinks. Another thing is that live shows with those people are TERRABLE.
On the other hand, one could argue that it is making the quality of vocals on recorded CD's better. What do you think?

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 23, 2005 11:10 am

Good topic.

For me the bottom line is, if what hits my ears is enjoyable, I don't really care how it gets there...this same (technology is wrecking music) was also felt when multitracking was invented, then when punching in and out became common, then when MIDI was invented...

It's just another tool, and like any tool, it gets abused, whatever. It is kinda depressing to see sucky people get famous, but it's really not the biggest problem facing the world.

Banned


Aug 23, 2005 12:04 pm

i think autotune is great tool, but at the same time i think artists rely on it way to much, then again most of these same artists dont write any of their songs. its entertainment. i hate to even say this but i like what cher's producers/engineers did with twisting the autotune knob to get that really kewl effect, was she the first to do that? was it autotune? maybe it was something else?


Dork
Member
Since: Jul 25, 2004


Aug 23, 2005 02:06 pm

I think it is a great tool. For the song writers with limited vocal abilities it is a godsend. It's true that if an artist can't hold a tune uses Autotune in the studio, then their live shows can be disappointing at best. Is it hurting music? Nah, thats the resposibility of the producers pushing crap out for a buck. Nothing wrong with that from a moral standpoint. But it does little to contribute to the artistic nature of music.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Aug 23, 2005 03:09 pm

Like the others, to me it's just another tool, the end result is what is important. I'd have no problem with using it, if I was willing to spend the bucks for it. :)

Dan

String bender
Member
Since: Unknown


Aug 23, 2005 10:25 pm

I dont think its a real problem. The listener has the freedom to pick the music they want to listen to. Its not just Ms.Simpson or Spears that abuse autotune. Its a tool, its an effect, no more real or fake than that concert hall reverb on the same vocal track. I guess if I had spent the better half of my young life taking vocal lessons and see these acts making it big taking a "shortcut" I might think different.

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004


Aug 23, 2005 10:34 pm

You know...I'd never record a song without using a little reverb and some chorus on my voice. How is that really any different than using auto-tune? If I had it, I would use it (God knows need it!)

Jim

90% polyester!
Member
Since: Apr 02, 2005


Aug 24, 2005 12:25 am

You know, I personally think autotune is just another way for someone to buy a talent. However, I play with synths and mess with multitrack recording and use digital effects like crazy in my own music.

Music is evolving. Talent used to be writing music down onto paper for orchestras to play without having an orchestra or any but maybe one instrument as a source. Now it's talent to be able to spend gobs of money on creative software and to produce good music.

As Deebs hit up earlier: "if what hits my ears is enjoyable, I don't care how it gets there..."

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004


Aug 24, 2005 02:11 am

I don't care as long as the tune's worth listening to, that's musically at least. I have some issues with the current notion of celebrity though, which is kind of related, in that people are becoming well-known for things they're not actually very good at, which is pointless and meaningless and indicates a not very interesting society. Wouldn't it be nice if people who were really actually good at something could 'get through' despite what they look like or how big their breasts are?

90% polyester!
Member
Since: Apr 02, 2005


Aug 24, 2005 01:43 pm

I agree...And who knows...maybe auto tune is what causes many singers to take up acting...which they usually also suck at.

JR Productions
Member
Since: Mar 03, 2005


Aug 24, 2005 02:35 pm

Rigsby, your last comment is what I agree with. People who have worked hard there whole life, taken singing lessons, done school musicals ect. are being turned down because so and so has a famous dad or sister. I have no problem with established musicians who use autotune in the studio to make perfect harmonies or for finishing touches to a piece. Its the famous people who "decide" to be a musician on the side and get to have perfect pitch at the engineers expence.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Aug 24, 2005 03:30 pm

Well I say from now on anyone who wants to be a star must get a college degree in their chosen musical field. It sucks that somebody can just pick up a guitar learn a few chords and be a star, when there are people who have studied it for years and are veritable virtuoso's on the instrument and never get anywhere! Drums too, heck any instrument. :0

Dan

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Aug 24, 2005 04:01 pm

One of the things about the "college degree" requirment is that a lot of these starlettes are not even old enough to finish high school.

I haven't used AutoTune yet but god knows I need something like that.

I like db's comment about letting your ears decide. I don't really analyse why I like a particular song, all I know is I like it or I don't.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 24, 2005 04:40 pm

Quote:
I don't really analyse why I like a particular song, all I know is I like it or I don't.


ditto.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Aug 28, 2005 06:25 pm

I would like to add that Auto-Tune really isn't THAT big of a miracle worker. I bought the plug-in a couple months ago and it's been a very valuable tool, but it has not made me, or anyone else I've used it on, into a perfect singer. A bad vocalist can still sound like a bad vocalist even if they're in tune. Sure, Auto Tune is a big help when your pitch is off by a little bit or you want to layer up a bunch of harmonies and get them sounding just right, but it won't change your voice quality or correct huge pitch errors. I think the main reason why people sound different on a recording than they do live is that you have all the time in the world to correct your mistakes when you're in the studio, and no time at all when you're performing live. Not to mention the fact that you may not even be able to hear yourself, etc, etc.

JR Productions
Member
Since: Mar 03, 2005


Aug 28, 2005 10:16 pm

Thats a very good point purpoise. I think that has finally convinced me that autotune really isn't the only thing that makes a good vocal track. The multiple takes that can occur in the studio are. I should have thought this through a little bit more. Our band usually ends up doing 40-60 vocal takes, while live we only get one. Thanks HCR'ers(?) :).

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