What does Autotune sound like?

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adclark

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I read in many forums about song where Autotune is all over the vocals. Many say to educated ears, autotune is all too obvious. I've never heard anything identified with having Autotune on a vocal. I know what is does (correct pitch, etc)..but would not know it if I heard it. I may have heard it and thought that was a vocal effect. Could someone describe it or best yet post some samples? I'm really trying to educate myself on everything recording.
 
This one comes to mind as an example of how not to use autotune:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1095939&postcount=1

Listen to how "unnatural" the vocals sound, like he has marbles in his mouth. That split second at the beginning of the note, where you can hear the autotune grab the note and pull it to the correct pitch. Simply obscene.

Plenty of other examples have passed through the mp3 clinic. If you listen closely to many commercial mixes, you'll begin to hear it there, too.
 
When used properly, Autotune is completely inaudible.... the trick is in using it properly....
 
But even when it's inaudible, it still makes the track perfectly in tune, which, in most cases, is completely unnatural and lacks soul.

Here and there, to fix a couple bum notes, it's fine, but to run the vocal through it like you would a compressor or a reverb sounds bad, IMO.
 
cominginsecond said:
But even when it's inaudible, it still makes the track perfectly in tune, which, in most cases, is completely unnatural and lacks soul.

Here and there, to fix a couple bum notes, it's fine, but to run the vocal through it like you would a compressor or a reverb sounds bad, IMO.
Click to expand...
I agree completely!

(FWIW - for AutoTune novices - running a vocal track through it as you would a compressor or reverb is a perfect example of NOT using it properly!)
 
cominginsecond said:
But even when it's inaudible, it still makes the track perfectly in tune, which, in most cases, is completely unnatural and lacks soul.

Here and there, to fix a couple bum notes, it's fine, but to run the vocal through it like you would a compressor or a reverb sounds bad, IMO.
Click to expand...

Imagine Neil Young using Autotune........that would be so wrong.

Imagine Yoko Ono using Autotune.........on second thought, don't.

I hear pretty much everything out of Nashville these days is pitch corrected. I use it here and there, mostly to tighten up harmonies. If you back off on the tracking and speed, and the vocal is close to begin with, then it can add to the song, IF the song really want's it. But it can be a soul sucker, and a charachter assassinator.
There's a couple of ways to use it on only the parts that want it. One is to use the graphic mode, which I've never had the patience for. The other is to set up a second track next to the vocal track in question with identical mixer settings except with Autotune inserted. Then just drag the sections you want tuned from the original track and into the autotune track. Of course you can also use VST automation if your DAW supports it, but I prefer the more visual 2nd track approach. A typical result is you'll end up dragging the choruses and a couple of other spots.
There are times when it's just best to do a re-take, and then there are times when it's the re-takes, not autotune, that sucks the emotion out of the song. Inspiration and emotion can go right out the window on take 7 or 8, and that 1st take that was emotive, but just a little pitchy can be fixed.

Cheers,
RD
 
I actually end up using it more on strings than anything else, and then just in a very limited way, as mentioned above.
 
IMHO, it's the most depressing piece of gear to come out since I can remember.
 
scrubs said:
This one comes to mind as an example of how not to use autotune:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1095939&postcount=1

Listen to how "unnatural" the vocals sound, like he has marbles in his mouth. That split second at the beginning of the note, where you can hear the autotune grab the note and pull it to the correct pitch. Simply obscene.

Plenty of other examples have passed through the mp3 clinic. If you listen closely to many commercial mixes, you'll begin to hear it there, too.
Click to expand...

Oh my god, that really sounds bad...
 
scrubs said:
This one comes to mind as an example of how not to use autotune:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1095939&postcount=1

Listen to how "unnatural" the vocals sound, like he has marbles in his mouth. That split second at the beginning of the note, where you can hear the autotune grab the note and pull it to the correct pitch. Simply obscene.

Plenty of other examples have passed through the mp3 clinic. If you listen closely to many commercial mixes, you'll begin to hear it there, too.
Click to expand...

Holy crap! Yeah I just listened to that too. That's unbelievable. I can't believe someone would submit that for review.
 
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