panthalassa

"I saw them sitting around a piano on this one show and they were harmonizing together and it was total magic, perfection...." I know what you mean; sometimes it's hard to tell when AT is being used, but over time overt use of processing may be more apparent to the listening public. One current album I'd recommend is Beirut's Gulag Orkestar. It's really obvious that they used minimal effects, if any, on the vocals. The performances are real -- oh, and the songs are good too. I've always thought that Duran Duran had top-notch vocals (especially as a prepubescent lad ready to impress the cutest girl in class). o/t Right now my voice teacher is making me re-create Beach Boys harmonies; boy is that tough! I have the thing slowed down in Ableton Live and am amazed at how tight they were. Of course I can hear some of their "imperfections" if you want to call it that (scooping, timing issues and all that) but that's after I've listened to it zillions of times.