How many people here DON'T use pitch correction in there mixes?

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jaynm26 said:
You dont use EQ or Comp? How do you engineer your vocals?
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He could get them right going in. Though, I don't know if he is joking or not with the reverb comment. Honestly, the vocals are the tracks where I use the most processing, but in very small amounts.

I use an EQ to cut or boost just a little. I don't use anything higher than a 2:1 ratio on a compressor, usually, unless I find the track has too much of a difference between the loud and the soft. But if I have proper technique in singing, that really shouldn't be too much of a problem.
 
Never had the need to personally, I think it is a cheat for allowing bad singing or playing, but in a pinch for time I can see how it would be useful
 
DigitMus said:
Since pitch correction algorithms are digital, and my signal path is all analog, I'd have to say never. :D
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I'm in charge of recording our band's rehearsals and gigs. We are a group of 50 or so CEOs, CFOs and business owners. We play mostly at charitable functions, and have a jam session last Thursday of each month at a local pup. Usually around 25 musicians show up at each event, and we rotate into a 10-12 piece ensemble (men and women), including vocalists. The ages range from 40 to 70 (I'm smack in the middle at 60). I sometimes record digitally and analog simultaneously: Presonus 16.4.2 into a laptop, and 6 room mics into a Fostex PD-4M DAT recorder. I will mix the digital version using SONAR X2 producer, and I'll separately upload the DAT version into SONAR and tweak the audio track a little using parametric EQ to isolate vocals or guitar solos as needed.

I tried using some pitch correction on the digital tracks for grins, just to see what it was all about. It works OK, but I'd prefer to just stretch a note or two rather than introducing a dedicated plugin. I played both the digital and analog versions for a few of my bandmates, and they unanimously preferred the analog "mix". I am using some really good mics (AKG, Nuemann, Sterling), so that makes a huge difference. I'm not even going to use the Presonus/laptop setup anymore for recording. The DAT is just fine, and easier on my back!

So, the moral of my long story is us old timers prefer analog without pitch correction - flaws and all.

Fostex PD-4M
PD4Morig.jpg
 
I've got autotune and have had mixed success in using it. Melodine with its graphic interface can help to make one bothersome note behave. In the end, I think they're both handy tools, but like anything, moderation is everything. It shouldn't be heard. I'd rather hear a bit of off pitch than an obvious fix.
 
I don't use it on my home recordings.

Last time I was in the studio, one of the back up singers kept going flat just a tiny bit. The engineer did several takes but, all of them came out just a bit under pitch, on certain notes. Instead of wasting time trying to get the singer to hit the correct notes, he finally opted to cure it with pitch adjustments.
 
I never use pitch correction. At least not on vocals. If someone can't sing on key live they have no business trying to sell records. I do on occasion maybe change the pitch on toms depending on the mix however due to the way drummers tune there drums.
 
I haven't, am not & don't intend to use pitch correction.
I'm faster at saying, "Again".
 
I too hate the sound of autotune. Heard it too many times as an effect on rap and hiphop. If you cant sing it right live then who do you think you're going to fool when you go out to perform the song live anyway?
 
I don't see the need for it, unless your singing is comparable to a horse.

Cheers,
Darren.
 
If I had to resort to such tactics, I'd probably be better off doing something else besides writing and recording music.
 
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Toastedgoat said:
Last time I was in the studio, one of the back up singers kept going flat just a tiny bit. The engineer did several takes but, all of them came out just a bit under pitch, on certain notes. Instead of wasting time trying to get the singer to hit the correct notes, he finally opted to cure it with pitch adjustments.
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This story represents the dark side of pitch correction. In a way, this kind of happening gives pitch correction a bad name and somewhat queers the pitch {no pun intended}. If after several takes the back up singer was consistently going flat and particularly on the same notes, then really, someone should have had the courage to say, nicely and constructively and not humiliatingly in front of everyone, "you aren't cutting it so either get it right or it's not worth bothering. Don't think I'm going to just autotune it right even though I can".
If for no other reason, you'd be doing that singer a favour by spurring them to up their game. And if they didn't listen, then they'd deserve any potential disasters their reluctance and unwillingness would lead to.
 
There's a thing called old school, but that's the wrong idea. The truth is, Autotune should only be used when a singer who can't sing is paying a lot to make their own CD. It doesn't matter if it's a famous singer or not. I would only use it to help a paying client who will never get it right. That being said, singing is the hardest type of musicianship known. You can't call up the store and order a better voice. Always keep the singer's health in mind. Doing it over and over will only wear out their voice. I record all takes and then ask the singer to come back in a day or two before considering it a print. I want them to be happy. I keep plenty of tea, honey, and lemon for lemonade. I let them rest between takes, I provide a really comfortable chair, lighting, and something to read; Women's books as well as Man books. I would provide whatever they want, checking ahead of time to be sure I have it there. I keep everything. later, we might use the verse 1 from one take, verse 2 from another and the chorus from another. I let them pick theri back-up singers or harmonies but always have a roster of good singers who can do it in one take just in case. But I try not to use autotune unless the client asks for it. They know their voice and they know what they want. Honestly, though, sometimes if they can't nail it, they can't hear it. There are many singers who never got it perfect. Bette Midler is one and there are a lot of soul singers and blues singers who bend a little. Unless they try to sing like Linda Ronstadt and can't, I don't ever use it. Again, I let THEM sk for it. If I suggest it and they don't like it later, they blame me. Oh, what they hell; they blame me anyway...LOL
 
I don't use 'Autotune' ever! This thread isn't even about 'Autotune'. It is about pitch correction, and not using it. I would prefer to never have the need to. However, I would also never get called out for using 'pitch correction', because I use it in the way it is supposed to be used. If there is a note that is easier fixed with software, then use the software accordingly. It is a tool. Some tools/software are better than others. If anyone hears it, then the tool has not been used correctly. And if you don't need to use it, then you are blessed with a great singer. I would never try to correct pitch of a singer, that did not need it.

I would never use any pitch tuning, if it were not necessary, but it seems odd, that many speak of how they would never use it, while likely haven't purchased the software that will do it without hearing the 'obvious' tuning. Why would you, your tracks are perfect, and you would never stoop to that level anyway, because you have no need.

Just to be clear, 'I Don't Use Pitch Correction'. When there is a need for it, I pull out the tool to fix the problem. Nuff said.

Sorry if I trolled the thread....

:D
 
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