Question about Antares auto tune.

[Anna Log]

Can anyone tell me how well the hardware versions work?

One is a vocal processor and one is just pitch correction I think.

Can they be set to just fix little things here and there automatically?

Or do you have to fix everything individually?

Do you track with it?

If not...how do you fix the vocal later?

Can it be used live?

 

Thanks for any help.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I have not spent a lot of time with the hardware units, so take this with a grain of salt... but IMO, the real key to Autotune is to do things in graphic mode. That gives you the most control, and if you're good at it, you might even be able to sneak it past people who say they can hear every time Autotune is used. Unfortunately, IIRC, the hardware boxes only have auto mode, which can be useful, but is easier to glitch and hear "working". However, when using the software plug in, sometimes tracking the whole part through the auto mode, and then going back in and surgically fixing only the areas that you can "hear" the Autotune auto mode working; using the graphic mode, can be a timesaver. But whenever possible, I prefer the "fix only what really needs it, and with as much control as possible" approach that is only possible via graphic mode. That's why I've never spent a lot of time with the hardware units.

 

Hopefully someone else with more time on them can give you more specific answers. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[where02190]

 

Can it be used live?

 

 

Sadly, yes it can, and is very common in the touring industry.

[Anna Log]

 

Originally posted by where02190 Sadly, yes it can, and is very common in the touring industry.

 

 

Hello where, hope all i9s well for you. Thanks for the response.

How would I run that thing live?

I need to fix up the backround vox a touch here and there.

Is it audible?

Do I run through the f/x loop on our little p.a.?

[Not Serial]

dont do it unless soley for effect. it is NOT transparent, very ugly and i cringe when i hear it.

[worthyjoe]

I just tried it on Saturday. My friend has one and he brought it along since he was running the board for us. I have to say I like it and I'm going to now buy one for myself. We just put it in chromatic mode and it took care of any drifting off key. I really don't have any major pitch problems and I think that's key with using this effectively. It just makes the held notes a little more perfect and wipes out pitch imperfections throughout the night.

 

If you can't sing it's not going to help you but I think it helps polish up the vocals.

[Anna Log]

 

Originally posted by worthyjoe I just tried it on Saturday. My friend has one and he brought it along since he was running the board for us. I have to say I like it and I'm going to now buy one for myself. We just put it in chromatic mode and it took care of any drifting off key. I really don't have any major pitch problems and I think that's key with using this effectively. It just makes the held notes a little more perfect and wipes out pitch imperfections throughout the night. If you can't sing it's not going to help you but I think it helps polish up the vocals.

 

 

Thanks for the input....how do you route the thing?

[where02190]

You'd patch it as an insert, and you need one for every vocal.

 

And yes, IMHO it sucks, it's totally deceiving to the audience, and it is very audible. If you can't hit the notes you shouldn't be singing.

[worthyjoe]

Originally posted by where02190 You'd patch it as an insert, and you need one for every vocal. And yes, IMHO it sucks, it's totally deceiving to the audience, and it is very audible. If you can't hit the notes you shouldn't be singing.

 

Did you bother reading my post? You have a really {censored}ty attitude about this subject. But what's funnier is I clearly said that it's not a "fix" as much as it is a "polisher."

 

I'm sorry you get so pissed when people try to improve their live sound.

 

[worthyjoe]

 

Originally posted by Anna Log Thanks for the input....how do you route the thing?

 

 

Not sure, .. like where said, i guess you just patch it in as an insert and yeah, you can only use 1 unit for 1 vocal.

 

I had good luck with it. Like I said... it's not gonna make you a good singer if you aren't one.. but for just one example... I do the falsetto part on that song "Laid" and when I held those high notes they were a little more perfect. It's good for stuff like that.

[where02190]

 

I'm sorry you get so pissed when people try to improve their live sound.

 

 

If you can't hit the notes either learn to sing, or stop asking for a vocal mic. IMHO using autotune isn't improving, its cheating the public who think you can sing.

 

And yet {censored}head I read your post and then told you how to interface the {censored}ing thing. Guess you missed that part.

[worthyjoe]

 

Originally posted by where02190 If you can't hit the notes either learn to sing, or stop asking for a vocal mic. IMHO using autotune isn't improving, its cheating the public who think you can sing. And yet {censored}head I read your post and then told you how to interface the {censored}ing thing. Guess you missed that part.

 

 

You don't get it.

[worthyjoe]

 

Originally posted by where02190 IMHO using autotune isn't improving, its cheating

 

 

and like I said.. it doesn't improve your voice.. it improves the overall live sound.

[fastplant]

Wow, someone's a little bitter. I'm the one who did the sound for worthyjoe. I've used the autotune for a few years now. The thing is absolutely colorless. I've not had a single person notice the sound. The key is to put it on a very subtle setting. Putting it high enough for you to hear will probably put you off key more than tighten up any vocals. You have to be a pretty good singer to use it in chromatic or else it'll make you sound worse.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by Coaster dont do it unless soley for effect. it is NOT transparent, very ugly and i cringe when i hear it.

 

 

Are you talking about the computer based autotune or the rack mount? I agree with the computer one because you can do so much more with it. The stand alone works a little different and if you're using it right, you shouldn't notice it's even there.

[Not Serial]

we are talking about the rackmount autotune, no? very ugly, awful, cannot stand it when a band uses it. usually i will leave if in the audience.

 

autotune is like bad cheese-food. cheese food sucks, its not even really cheese at all.

 

OTOH good cheese is great. jack, gouda, even real cheddar is great. try buying expensive cheese and you will never want cheese-food again. ever.

 

autotune is an abonination towards live-sound. if you use it, why not use full-blown backing tracks and leave your instruments at home? then EVERYTHING will be processed, intune, and suck.

 

i quit doing foh for one band because they insisted on using autotune. i only did one show and that was enough.

 

i do not need to sit in front of that crap.

 

UNLESS or course, you use it soley AS AN EFFECT. that has its place and can be cool. your not trying to fool anyone, and the glitchy garbage becomes part of the sound.

 

you guys obviously havent used it enough to see all the problems it causes. try multitracking a band live once and playback just the vox track. suprise, the whole band is in there - all of it. autotune will not differentiate between vocals and non vocals. it WILL glitch when it see's the monster tom fill/cymbal crash come through the channel.

 

learn to sing. leave the cheese-food at home.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by Coaster we are talking about the rackmount autotune, no? very ugly, awful, cannot stand it when a band uses it. usually i will leave if in the audience. autotune is like bad cheese-food. cheese food sucks, its not even really cheese at all. OTOH good cheese is great. jack, gouda, even real cheddar is great. try buying expensive cheese and you will never want cheese-food again. ever. autotune is an abonination towards live-sound. if you use it, why not use full-blown backing tracks and leave your instruments at home? then EVERYTHING will be processed, intune, and suck. i quit doing foh for one band because they insisted on using autotune. i only did one show and that was enough. i do not need to sit in front of that crap. UNLESS or course, you use it soley AS AN EFFECT. that has its place and can be cool. your not trying to fool anyone, and the glitchy garbage becomes part of the sound. you guys obviously havent used it enough to see all the problems it causes. try multitracking a band live once and playback just the vox track. suprise, the whole band is in there - all of it. autotune will not differentiate between vocals and non vocals. it WILL glitch when it see's the monster tom fill/cymbal crash come through the channel. learn to sing. leave the cheese-food at home.

 

 

I'm guessing the band you used it with needed major correction? When used with an already good singer, on a subtle setting it's not noticeable at all. I can see why it could sound bad if over-used. But I've given mine to sound guys (pros, not a guy with a PA) and had them use it on my vocals and then had them come up to me later and say that they thought it wasn't on because they heard nothing.

 

Like I said, key is to use it just enough to make a difference, not enough to be noticeable. If you're using it that much, then you're probably better off using the money for vocal lessons.

[fastplant]

I think the thing we need to differentiate is between vocal correction and vocal stability. I don't use mine for vocal correction. I leave it on cromatic. If I don't sing the right note, it'll actually make me sing worse. I use it on a very low setting to 'tighten' up the few loose vocals I have, not pitch correct any bad notes. I play bass and sing so I like to make sure I'm not over concentrating on any one thing.

 

I don't use it to put me on the right note. On cromatic, you have to be able to sing within a half note of the correct note or it'll pull you to the next one. What it does is strengthen those notes I'm already singing. Getting rid of any shakiness and such.

 

Vocal correction should be left in the studio or when you have a MIDI system set up to keep you in pitch. But I think that's best left for the pop groups that no one's really going to see for their vocal ability.

[worthyjoe]

 

Originally posted by Coaster we are talking about the rackmount autotune, no? very ugly, awful, cannot stand it when a band uses it. usually i will leave if in the audience. autotune is like bad cheese-food. cheese food sucks, its not even really cheese at all. OTOH good cheese is great. jack, gouda, even real cheddar is great. try buying expensive cheese and you will never want cheese-food again. ever. autotune is an abonination towards live-sound. if you use it, why not use full-blown backing tracks and leave your instruments at home? then EVERYTHING will be processed, intune, and suck. i quit doing foh for one band because they insisted on using autotune. i only did one show and that was enough. i do not need to sit in front of that crap. UNLESS or course, you use it soley AS AN EFFECT. that has its place and can be cool. your not trying to fool anyone, and the glitchy garbage becomes part of the sound. you guys obviously havent used it enough to see all the problems it causes. try multitracking a band live once and playback just the vox track. suprise, the whole band is in there - all of it. autotune will not differentiate between vocals and non vocals. it WILL glitch when it see's the monster tom fill/cymbal crash come through the channel. learn to sing. leave the cheese-food at home.

 

 

You seem to be contradicting yourself. Let's be clear. Do you dislike auto-tune on principle alone or because of the glitches you claim are inherant in using one?

[Not Serial]

i am talking national country acts that have 7 digit rigs. glitch, glitch, glitch.

 

if you cant hear that, fine. your trying to justify using it, fine. go ahead and use it.

 

i will not come to your show.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by Coaster i am talking national country acts that have 7 digit rigs. glitch, glitch, glitch. if you cant hear that, fine. your trying to justify using it, fine. go ahead and use it. i will not come to your show.

 

 

 

There's 2 schools of thought here that cross paths. If you can hear the autotune, you're not using it right. Though some people need it so much that there's no way of getting around that. And I agree, it sounds awful in that case.

 

That said, I GUARANTEE you that if you came to my show, there's no way you could tell who had the autotune on and who didn't. I think you're missing my point. I'm saying to use it sparsely to fix minor pitch fluctuations, not entire pitch/note corrections.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by Coaster i am talking national country acts that have 7 digit rigs. glitch, glitch, glitch. if you cant hear that, fine. your trying to justify using it, fine. go ahead and use it. i will not come to your show.

 

 

Also, in the 3 years I've been using mine, I haven't encountered one single glitch. Just for the record.

[worthyjoe]

auto tune is like a spoiler on a car. It makes sense if the car is already pretty fast. It doesn't make as much sense if you put it on a 1983 Ford Escort.

[fastplant]

 

Originally posted by worthyjoe auto tune is like a spoiler on a car. It makes sense if the car is already pretty fast. It doesn't make as much sense if you put it on a 1983 Ford Escort.

 

 

True, I think he's thinking about the sound of a bad vocal being corrected by an autotune. Yes, that's very noticeable. A good, on key vocal being 'strengthened' by an autotune is transparent.

[where02190]

 

Originally posted by worthyjoe and like I said.. it doesn't improve your voice.. it improves the overall live sound.

 

 

What a crock of {censored}. It takes your untalented out of tune voice and using a {censored}ing machine makes you frigg'n sound like you actually got talent.

 

Here I got this nice Ferrari body on a Yugo, gimme $100,000 and it's yours.

 

If you can't sing, either learn or get the {censored} off the stage.