Nayf

So I’ve noticed a lot of bands using Melodyne and other autotune plugins as effects rather than to adjust how the vocals sound, and personally, I think it’s great. Usually people will complain when they find out artists have used autotune software to make their vocal takes pitch perfect, and I can understand why. Finding out your idol can’t sing must be pretty naff. However being a sound engineer, you’re getting paid to do the best job you can, and to come out with a professional track, and if the client can’t sing, then the only choice you have is to autotune. However this post isn’t really about that discussion.

What I’m liking recently, is how the sound that the autotune makes when it is forcing vocals to be pitched differently than they were sung is being used as an effect rather than a correction tool. If you’re not sure what that sound is, listen to ANYTHING by T-Pain. That weird effect you can hear on all his vocals, that’s the sound of the autotune working. Now I don’t know whether T-Pain can or can’t sing, but he’s definitely using the autotune in an over the top way to create that sound. Other people that are using this production technique are Kanye West and in the most recent Black Eyed Peas song, ‘Boom Boom Pow’.

I just think that this is an example of how production is changing, and utilising tools that would not usually be used in this way. People say pop music isn’t very good, but I disagree. I love pop music and the work that goes into making it what it is.