by David Mclaughlin

Created on: August 23, 2010

"The Box"  Is Auto Tune dumbing us down?

I must admit that I, like most, am extremely technologically dependent.  I'm sold.  I can send my Mother pictures from my phone, check up on all my friends on Facebook, and pay bills and rent movies without leaving the house.  There's not even a time when I'm turned around driving anymore.  I Just pull up the GPS, or phone app. and I'm back on track.  Our lives truly have an added convenience due to our gadgets.  Including the convenience of always singing in Key!  Everyone's a singer!

Meet Auto Tune.  An audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies.  Auto Tune's vocoder components correct the pitch of an audio signal.  Instrumental or Vocal performances can now be flawless.  I'm not sold.  Now I have a bunch of talentless clowns invading my ears.  Auto Tune is now available in a rack-mounted unit for live performances as well as in a studio setting.  Personally, live music is something I love because of the imperfections.  It's there for you to hear and be entertained.  Stripped down from the studio polish....or used to be.

The first time it noticeably invaded my ears was on Cher's "Believe" in 1998.  It was used as a vocal effect more than a "fix up."  However the success of that song and the use of Auto Tune caught on to the masses.  Now it's everywhere.  Used as an effect, in live performances, and in the studio.  Artists like Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, T-Pain, and....Jamie Foxx all have hit songs with the popular guest appearance.  I had a guy argue with me that "T-Pain's voice just sounds like that."  How do you even explain to somebody who obviously thinks cyborgs exist that it's only a little pitch correction device?  You don't.  I cut my losses.  The wanna be Idol TV show X Factor has actually been running contestants through Auto Tune.  Where's the competition then?  If the singers get a choice to use it or not, then that's fine.  But not if the programmers and producers don't tell us.  I mean come on people!  Can you not hear the robotic tone in the 16 year old's vocal cords?  Oh that's right,  she just sounds like that. 

I'm a national recording artist myself.  Producers have said to me and my group before: "That's alright.  I"ll fix it later and run it through the box."  I of course decline and just do it

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