Modern Music's Death By Auto-Tune

In this episode I discuss the over use and impact of Auto-Tune which has become ubiquitous in all genres of modern music.

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[angelines]

Its like plastic surgery. Always striving for what we think is perfect, not realizing that the imperfections are what makes us/music/basically anything interesting and unique and real.

[italianhockeywall]

"The better the singer's voice, the harder it is to believe what they are saying. So I use my faults to an advantage" -David Byrne

[RevStickleback]

"The only people who got record deals were people who could perform live" - that's a statement that goes so far beyond just singing.

[theloniouscoltrane]

Auto-tune is one of the products of a fast-paced society. Everything is rushed.
Music is passion. Creating music requires patience.

[aquadime]

Everything we call ‘character’ is the deviation from perfection. So perfection to me is characterlessness. - Brian Eno

[bopeep]

"So what did people used to do before auto-tune? Well, they would sing it until they got it right."
Such a simple, grand observation.

[flowoodpiano]

And here's where we acknowledge that Neil Peart was more than a drummer and lyricist - he was a prophet. "All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted. Not so fully charted, it's really just a question of your honesty."

[sarasings]

How did I manage to stumble upon this genius? Rick, how do you even sleep at night with all of that knowledge in your brain? The names, the words, the vocabulary, the theory, the notes, the chords, the genres. Amazing.

[ramseyvoicestudio]

"Your imperfections in your playing or your singing is what gives it character." Truer words have never been spoken.

As a vocal coach, I'm always amazed at how many of my students come in expecting for AT to solve all their problems.

I have to remind them that by the time they get to the studio, it's too late to become a good singer.
That AT should be a LAST resort, not the first move you make.

Not only because you'll have to hold your voice together live, but as you mentioned, pitch correcting takes away what makes you sound like you.

Great video my friend! Keep it up!!!

[ricktrenkler]

I miss harmonies in music. People like The Beach Boys, CSN or the Beatles. Beautiful stuff when people work together to make a sound.

[RhettShull]

Anytime I’m in a restaurant or a store where they play some generic “pop” playlist, all I can hear is the pitch corrected vocals. There’s lots of modern music made with little or no autotune, but it seems you can’t have a top 40 hit these days without over use of autotune.

[MartyKeil]

My favorite use of Autotune is as a sort of vocal assistant. I recorded a vocalist who had trouble with pitches. I took the first take, and autotuned the heck out of it. Then recorded a vocal take using the tuned track as sort of a guide for the vocalist. Afterwards, muted the tuned track, and the second track without autotune is perfectly acceptable. I find that even I can sing better with my own voice as a pitch reference.

[clemcadiddlehopper]

Plays himself singing:
“Terrible right?”

My favorite Rick is self deprecating Rick.

[marshsundeen]

When Believe came out, it was considered a cool effect that gave the song a dance music vibe. Everyone knew Cher could sing. Now while some use auto-tune for effect, others use it as a crutch for poor vocal skills.

[KerTon]

Rick: "you want it to be out of tune a bit".
Me: "my time has come"

[areallemone]

This isn't only informative, it's also entertaining. Great storyteller, and teacher. Keep it up, Rick! Cheers

[unaphiliated]

When the producer told Neil Young that he was a bit flat on one of those charity songs, he just said "That's my style man".

[JC-rbhj]

Amen, say it again. When I go out shopping or to dinner with my wife I can hear this stuff being played constantly. It's like having a rash that won't go away.

[johnplunkett]

Don't get me started on "Fly Away." The lyrics read like poetry from 12 year old school girl: "I wish that I could fly, into the sky, so very high, just like a dragonfly." You know it's bad when the best lyrics are: "oh, oh, oh yeah!"

[WickedScott]

I was amazed recently to discover that many young people can't hear it. I was complaining that everyone sounded like robots and they have no idea what I meant.