'Fixing' Michael Jackson With Autotune? Stop Using Pitch Correction As An Excuse!!

UGH!!! I get it when people tune Robert Plant or some other amazing singer from the past just to show how weird it sounds... But what about when it happens on the "pro" level and is done in kind of a sneaky (maybe no one will notice) kind of way!?

In this video, I experiment with a killer MJ line to show how pitch accuracy IS NOT what we love about his amazing voice and how trying to 'fix' things that ain't broke, REALLY breaks them!

At the same time, I discuss the role of effects (yes Autotune) in intentional, artistic use cases and the positive and negative implications here as well!

[rtann]

Great video. I used to hate pitch correction until I started engineering professionally. It’s a great polishing tool, but it should be a tool and not a crutch as you say. You can use it to polish a great performance, and just lock in the notes that you want, and to the degree you want. I often don’t correct notes 100% to perfect pitch and never iron out vibrato, so they can feel locked but also still natural. You can also rescue a note that has the right feel, but the pitch is funky. When I’m in a vocal session I would much rather fix a note that just the right rasp and emotion but landed a little flat on pitch than try and have the singer tire out trying to match it. Or maybe you didn’t catch something weird until later and trying to get the singer back in or match sounds is impractical. It’s easy to go overboard and kill the vibe, but used judiciously it’s an important tool!

[hugo]

To be completely fair. Nowadays we use different VST instruments that are perfectly tuned to whatever Hz (usually 440). So if the entire mix that your singing on is perfectly in tune, a vocal only 8 cents higher or lower would result in a noticeable difference and therefore sound out of key. While 8 cents higher or lower to the ear itself or in context with an acoustic guitar or any other organic instrument would be “in tune”.

[Iamyomari]

The real reason people have a problem with tuning vocals today is because every vst defaults to being perfectly tuned most old songs aren’t in standard tuning anyway because of older circuits slightly detuning the sound instruments not being perfectly tuned etc so no they didn’t have to sing perfectly in key it was less noticeable but now it’s very clear

[stanleyray]

Discovering your channel has been such a breath of fresh air. I love how you appreciate raw imperfect vocals and the old school formula of recording vocals🩷 6:21 - 6:30 "don't focus on being perfect with your pitch and don't go into autotune and try to make yourself perfect. SING IT TIL YA GET IT!" Say it LOUDER for those wayyy in the back🗣this is so true. Straight FACTS💯💯 12:00 - 12:10 "they played it over and over and over again til they got it and that's awesome. Digital recording has taken away some of that discipline." I agree 1000%. Very well said🗣🗣👏🏽but of course there's no hate towards those who use autotune. It's just not for EVERY artist💯👌🏽

[itsjustnaima]

Thanks for showing that lol Michael Jackson didn’t need autotune. It just makes me think of how many Artists ( sorry, not sorry ) have absolutely no talent without editing their voices to death but get hyped.. one of a million reasons why I’m a die hard Michael Jackson Fan. He’s So original! 😍

[EllieVelli]

Love the video but Michael Jackson is an interesting example. Something about his voice is just incomparable. He could be flat the entire time and it’ll still not call for any autotune lol.

[DeAguaMusic]

I still use melodyne for my recordings, but the more I use it, the more I do it correctly in my future recordings and the less I need to "correct" certain pitches. I like to listen my own voice recoding and sing along to it, so I can practice to improve the "real life version". It also educated my ear, as you perfectly said, to give the best of me in the recording, to the point that passing the recording to melodyne, it's not only just a formality, but also a whole less work in comparison when I was starting to sing. You can destroy a lot of things with a hammer, and you can built great things with it as well. Is not the tool itself, is how we use it. I'm not a fan of autotune sound in voice, but pitch correction, for me at least, when I sing along to my own recordings, has helped me to actually be a better singer. Great video as always Chris, totally agree with you. Much love from Chile!

[jstrngs]

I can’t sing to save my life but this is really gonna change my approach to recording my artists in the studio, one of them even told me she doesn’t wanna use auto tune anymore after hearing a Michael Jackson acapella, the listening to the pitch corrected vocal to ascertain where you’re going off pitch is a useful piece of advice I’m gonna try it next time I’m in studio

[michaeljackson]

This really helped me place what has been so off about the Xscape mixes. Even the 'original' versions are SO tuned. Wow. I didn't understand what made me feel so uncomfortable about the vocals until now.

[KordTaylor]

A rant, but a needed one. In the old days they would change tape speed so a singer could hit notes. And with multitrack tape they would punch in and edit vocals. All just the means to an end and if the vocal was gutless no amount of tech can help it. Thanks for advocating a higher attitude of “is the music good” vs. “was tech used”. .

[ferb]

I live for the slight imperfections in Michael’s vocals. They make him so human and it feels so authentic. One of the reasons I love him as an artist so much. Auto-tuning him feels illegal 😂

[IkaraPopsicle]

This guy really understands my pain with modern music

[andrewfletcher]

I actually love the way Chris explained points made in this video, he explains things so well!! Like, it's perfectly fine for a track to not be "perfect" but instead adding new dynamics, and using MJ as an example was probably one of the best examples he could've used. Great video, Chris! :)

[regisisasregisdoes]

I reckon Michael sang it that way because he wanted to. It's not like it's out of tune. It's just a different melody, which I would consider vamping, not screwing it up.

[abrahamvillarreal]

This video was so necessary for me at this specific moment in time. Thank you, Chris. I'm recording an EP and I'm having a tough time accepting my own vocals even though people tell me time and time again they sound good. I feel like I'm too critical with myself

[BettyTheRaccoon]

I will say it without shame. We are grateful that technology hands us the tools that will save us tons of time. Studio, video production, promotion etc etc costs money. Hence if you don't have a steady job you can hardly afford the equipment to record yourself at home let alone have a family or even worse working two jobs you have no time at all.

Don't get me wrong, our band tries to be as organic as possible while concentrating on writing decent songs but unfortunately we can't financially afford dropping everything (at least in Greece) to concentrate our efforts in production or practice 8 hours a day so we can hit the studio and be spot on.

And no we don't hit the studio unprepared, hoping that autotune will save a half-assed performance but if AI and computers can save us weeks of work and money by refining some hard edges we will gladly take it!

[Jacqueal]

Before I clicked on the video, I knew what was going to happen because I tried it myself. I learned the hard way that processing Mike's vocals just isn't the move.

[RashidAli-bpmr]

Hi Chris, what sets you apart from other vocal coaches is that other then the fact that your superb at what you do, you actually take the time to respond to comments. Keep up the good work.

[charizardmaster]

Autotune is one of the most misunderstood tools in all of music. And its used as a buzzword by people who have no clue how music production and making music works because they think it makes them sound smarter

[liamnevilleviolist]

3:42 "I am *the* one" - MJ. The "the", which only really falls by a mere quarter tone after the note for "am" is actually really cool... and it allows you to hear it more clearly over everything else that's going on! If the synth/acoustic bass, the guitar, the keyboard, the strings, and more all played "perfectly" in tune *plus* Michael then actually it would most likely become "thin" in texture.