There’s a real-time effects processor that will tune a solo instrument or a vocal to a particular scale (or if they’re using Digidesign Venue live sound rig, they can actually use the plug-in). If you crank up the speed that it reacts, the vocals start to sound like the famous “Do You Believe” Cher vocal. You can especially hear it when she changes notes on the same vowel.
Well, I think there’s good use for such a thing… on a recorded pop song, for one. Sometimes it’s overused (say 98% of all country music), but our ears are well trained to hear stuff in tune these days. Even most rock stuff on the radio has been tuned… you don’t hear that overdone effect, but it’s been tweaked.
The wrong use is live on stage. You can get away with a lot more out of tune stuff live than you can recorded, so to slap on a singer that’s pretty good already, and then crank it down so hard that it sounds like Cher, is not cool.
I can hear it, but it seems irregular. There are some notes that seem tuned, but to the wrong pitch. Either way, tuning live is a terrible, terrible mistake.
lemme just throw this out there … are you sure it’s not the compression on the flash video that’s producing artifacts? I think they use a pretty heavy squeeze to get it down to steaming size for youtube. My first thought wasn’t autotune, it was mp3 artifacts.
Nah. It’s Autotune. That “oh” at :36-37 is a prime example. She’s just sliding her pitch up, and the Autotune is grabbing each note as she flips through them. I can’t see how mp3 compression could have that effect. This from the guy that has to Autotune his own vocals that much to sound at all cool.
You know – this kind of ticks me off a bit. Firstly because Hud probably doesn’t bloody need it, especially not in the style she’s using, and third and lastly because live performing no longer perforce separates the older persons of indeterminate gender from the younger persons of same. Dammit.
Also – why the hell isn’t the lead singer of Stellastarr using this? He’s the only bugger magnificent enough that I can stand to listen to with that bad of pitch.
Geez, people. Next you’ll be telling me that my girl Ashlee Simpson pre-records her live vox.
The country industry is hearing a lot of new “talent” right now that has the autotune sound to their voice already because of hearing it on the radio and singing to it so much. Shania is another one that uses the live autotune.
michael’s pretty interesting links
aly hawkins 10:31 am on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Yes. Yes she can.
Stick 10:48 am on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Um… she can sing. So, the sound guy needs to lose the Auto-tune. Not cool.
Morphea 12:32 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
…sorry?
Stick 1:15 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
There’s a real-time effects processor that will tune a solo instrument or a vocal to a particular scale (or if they’re using Digidesign Venue live sound rig, they can actually use the plug-in). If you crank up the speed that it reacts, the vocals start to sound like the famous “Do You Believe” Cher vocal. You can especially hear it when she changes notes on the same vowel.
aly hawkins 1:34 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
I would crap in my pants if I had to sing an Aretha song FOR Aretha.
Morphea 1:40 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
So…her pitch could totally blow and I’d never know it? Is her pitch blowing, Stick?
Geez. My illusions shattered.
Cerise
Karen 4:47 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Ok Stick, you sound just like my husband about every pop song!
Stick 5:12 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Well, I think there’s good use for such a thing… on a recorded pop song, for one. Sometimes it’s overused (say 98% of all country music), but our ears are well trained to hear stuff in tune these days. Even most rock stuff on the radio has been tuned… you don’t hear that overdone effect, but it’s been tweaked.
The wrong use is live on stage. You can get away with a lot more out of tune stuff live than you can recorded, so to slap on a singer that’s pretty good already, and then crank it down so hard that it sounds like Cher, is not cool.
Karen, I’d probably like your husband! HA!
Chad 5:27 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
I can hear it, but it seems irregular. There are some notes that seem tuned, but to the wrong pitch. Either way, tuning live is a terrible, terrible mistake.
And yes, you would really like Karen’s husband.
michael lee 7:29 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
lemme just throw this out there … are you sure it’s not the compression on the flash video that’s producing artifacts? I think they use a pretty heavy squeeze to get it down to steaming size for youtube. My first thought wasn’t autotune, it was mp3 artifacts.
Paul 7:37 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Mike also believes that there was no 9/11 conspiracy, so his credibility is pretty much shot.
Paul 7:38 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Oops…
This is actually Chad, commenting on Paul’s laptop without checking who’s signed in. That’s what I get for being a smart ass.
Stick 11:04 pm on 29 January 2007 Permalink
Nah. It’s Autotune. That “oh” at :36-37 is a prime example. She’s just sliding her pitch up, and the Autotune is grabbing each note as she flips through them. I can’t see how mp3 compression could have that effect. This from the guy that has to Autotune his own vocals that much to sound at all cool.
Michael Lee 7:42 am on 30 January 2007 Permalink
Cool. I should know better than to challenge Brian “Boy Band Forever” Steckler when it comes to knowing how autotune sounds!
Morphea 8:13 am on 30 January 2007 Permalink
You know – this kind of ticks me off a bit. Firstly because Hud probably doesn’t bloody need it, especially not in the style she’s using, and third and lastly because live performing no longer perforce separates the older persons of indeterminate gender from the younger persons of same. Dammit.
Also – why the hell isn’t the lead singer of Stellastarr using this? He’s the only bugger magnificent enough that I can stand to listen to with that bad of pitch.
Geez, people. Next you’ll be telling me that my girl Ashlee Simpson pre-records her live vox.
Cerise
michael lee 8:59 am on 30 January 2007 Permalink
Hmm. If I didn’t know any better, this sounds an awful lot like a topic where Music and Ethics intersect …
Morphea 9:02 am on 30 January 2007 Permalink
[Cerise's brain powers down]
Karen 12:09 pm on 30 January 2007 Permalink
The country industry is hearing a lot of new “talent” right now that has the autotune sound to their voice already because of hearing it on the radio and singing to it so much. Shania is another one that uses the live autotune.