Why Do We Hate Auto-Tune?

auto-tune has touched every artist's voice. yes. every artist. AND THAT IS NOT A BAD THING.
‪@Sideways440‬'s video about auto-tune:
• The Problem With Auto-...
‪@itsgabibelle‬ 's video about auto-tune:
• The Problem with Autot...
Emotional Signals: Digital Tuning Software and the Meanings of Pop Music Voices (i got full access through my library)
www.proquest.c...
thank you for watching!
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[@tescomealdeals]

"autotune is a crutch for unskilled singers" is like the single fastest way to tell everyone around you that you have no clue what goes into music production. It's like saying EQ is just a crutch for engineers who can't place their mics correctly or that compressors are just a crutch for muscians who don't have proper dynamic control

[@iainthemusic]

based

[@danhule]

and yet its true...

[@iainthemusic]

tis true

[@daxydax9718]

Doesnt stop it sounding like fucking shit... does it? 😑

[@tescomealdeals]

@@daxydax9718 That's literally just your opinion though, quite a lot of people like the sound of autotune. Your argument is like saying Prince had zero talent as a singer because you personally aren't a fan of purple rain

[@alef3356]

4:55 - That's a good point, honestly. As a cinephile and photographer, I believe the final product is all that matters. Is it well-made? Can it evoke the intended emotions? In this case, how it's done isn't important to the final consumer. However, just as bad illumination is seen as a way to hide bad CGI, excessive autotune can also be perceived as a way to "hide" bad singers. When I notice autotune, most of the time, it's not there for artistic intent. It's there because the singer is terrible.

[@iainthemusic]

exactly what i was getting at 😁 at the end of the day, for music, does it sound good? then how you got there doesn’t really matter that’s totally fair! but that’s more a reflection of the singer being poor rather than auto tune ruining the singers ability thanks for the comment!

[@jordanisonline-wn2nl]

Glad you're back! Looking forward to more stuff from you!

[@iainthemusic]

thank you!!! good to be back.

[@AwesomeAme]

the editing on this video is so good and the topic is fascinating mindset grindset hustleset

[@GrouseMan14]

I dislike autotune the same way that somebody might dislike distortion, its just a stylistic choice that I wouldnt use or listen to in my own music, but it fits it stuff like hyper pop

[@joepreinders4110]

i believe that the stigma comes from the radio type pop world (along with critisisms about genre's like hyperpop and so called 'mumble rap'), where the music just feels cheap and overcommercialized. The common folk usually can't hear the autotune in a (good) song, so when they hear a song with no vocal emotion, feeling or real talent (even if the song is huge commercially) they blame it on the autotune for the bad sound of the vocals. I used to hate autotune, until i started to understand that autotune is not bad on it's own, it's the overtly commercial and soulless pop industry that makes artists like dua lipa and the weeknd feel too perfect (almost like AI made it) to connect with and resonate with the music that could otherwise be pretty good.

[@owlinbard5652]

FASCINATING.

[@h3ritic]

Love this, just subscribed

[@iainthemusic]

thank you!

[@jonasharp3]

People seem to think that tools like this are diametrically opposed to virtuosity, and the stigma generally comes from the idea that music derives its value primarily from that virtuosity. It’s wrong on multiple levels, music is really entirely about the artists expression and the listener connecting with it, and while highly technical performances can often evoke that, it’s not the only way and it’s not bad or cheating to make music that people enjoy without being a prodigy. Ultimately if it sounds good, it is good.

[@iainthemusic]

preach 🔥

[@kronik907]

On this subject, its also these same people who seem to hate autotune for virtuosity reasons that also seem to dislike jacob collier for being "all technique no soul". At some point it makes me wonder if some folks just like out of tune vocals.

[@heavyjacktv]

I actually like the sound of slightly out of tune singers and instruments. So I rarely use pitch correction in my projects - I like the grit and roughness of the final product. As an effect or with its intended use it does not bother me that most music is created with it these days - but I prefer to have the microtonal inconsistencies in my mixes, I like the way it sounds. What bothers me more in modern music is quantization and metronomic tempo mapping. I am not throwing shade on artists who work in that mindset, I just prefer my art to sound a different way - I’m lucky in that I have a band that performs live with no crutches (backing tracks, or tempo mapped effects) - so when we record we usually capture a live take for the drum beds and then work off of that for the project. I don’t use a lot of looping delays, etc. so that works for me. Not that I haven’t created songs utilizing quantization, pitch correction, and static tempo maps - I just find that building the song from the get go with those technologies in place means a lot more work for me to make it sound exciting compared to capturing a moment like a photograph which when the band is on point cuts down the production workload by a lot and you can still use effects in the overdub production, with the only “downside” being you won’t be able to utilize copy/paste for say the chorus parts, which leads to more exciting and different parts throughout the song organically so it is a trade off that I feel is a big benefit creatively. So while in theory I agree with you on the use of tools - I do think that there has been a general push to the overuse of said tools in modern mainstream music over the last couple of decades and that it is possible to negate the use of these technologies in favour of a more naturalistic approach to production as well, which is usually lost on most producers/engineers I have known for the past 25 years making music.

[@iainthemusic]

that’s so fair! good point

[@iainthemusic]

thinking about this more, it does depend on the style of music you are going for too. going for a natural approach like you mentioned would be impossible to do if you are making EDM music, for example. but ultimately, as long as you like what you are listening to, its really all that matters.

[@heavyjacktv]

@@iainthemusic 100% - but I would also say that you can utilize all techniques available to you in both cases (natural vs electronic), I produce both types of music frequently and cross techniques between the two frequently. I prefer making naturalistic music mostly based on my personal taste in music but also because I find it easier to make something unique or exciting in that context. When I produce music within the box I employ techniques like cutting measures in half, abrupt changes in feel, etc. to keep the songs from becoming stale (tempo and looping are the biggest offenders in staleness in my experience). Your theory is right - they are just tools in the belt to accomplish goals - and if you approach music production with that understanding, you can start to look at things a little differently. I for instance have been really getting into document recording (using field mic’s to capture performances in the moment and then seeing how far I can take overdubbing in that context where I don’t necessarily have complete isolation of each element of the song arrangement - imposing limitations on your production vocabulary usually helps foster more interesting and creative outcomes in my experience.

[@iainthemusic]

@@heavyjacktv i getcha i getcha :)

[@heavyjacktv]

@@iainthemusic thanks for the replies, I checked out your music - sounding good! Not sure if they are an influence or not but the song I was listening to (End of an Era) gave me Apples in Stereo vibes, very cool!

[@TheRealTimberco]

Keep it up!

[@iainthemusic]

thank you!

[@missingmarsupial]

It became popular in hip hop, before that not many people knew what autotune was. And people are racist.

[@misssleepwalker6256]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pog video

[@DonnyDingus]

I image fretted string insurments got the same hate.

[@DANK3M3RALD]

Ahhhh come onnnnn Ice JJ fish is S tier.. 🤣🤣

[@eugeneking9687]

Great video Iain! I think you did an incredible job stating your points and I think it's very interesting to think about, especially to listen to as someone that doesn't necessarily think about this stuff very often.

[@iainthemusic]

THANK YOU EUGENE!!!

[@christopherjobin-official7440]

UAutotune can harm the feel when applied where it shouldn't, and when its applied haphazardly it can DESTROY the feel.

[@amshuchitrakar4424]

Sega Bodega's cover of Teenage Dirtbag and Creeks by Bon Iver

[@impolitegriffin]

I definitely enjoy hearing your thoughts on music topics! great video!! keep it up!

[@iainthemusic]

Thank you! Will do!

[@alef3356]

Great video!

[@iainthemusic]

thanks!