Emotion or Autotune?

I am currently on winter break from my teaching job at Houghton College, and had a little time to post a new blog. If you notice, most of my blog posts take place during summer. The reason is that I have summers off which gives me time to write. If you haven't checked it out yet, I have added some tutorial videos from Shure, Presonus and Full Sail under the tutorial section on this site - there is some great information under that section.

Onto the subject at hand...Autotune or Melodyne aka tuning a vocal. Recently, I saw a Melodyne photo of the Marvin Gaye song "Sexual Healing". I will post the photo on here, but when you see the picture it will show a vocal that is completely out of tune - both flat and sharp at times. The question was raised, "Would Melodyne make it better?". Melodyne is the less known relative of Autotune in the music world - it is a "note correcting" software. The answer hands down (by everyone) simply was stated..."No it wouldn't." As a matter of fact, many opinions (including my own) have stated that it would make it sound worse and robotic.

It is true, note correcting software would (and does) make notes sound unnatural. What would happen if we took Marvin's classic song and turned it into a robotic, computer perfect version? It is a simple answer...it would take away from the original feel of the song. The original is so great (and listed as a classic) because the studio captured the "magic" of the performance with all of its imperfections. It was a day in the industry where talent was signed because singers and artists actually had.....talent. I don't want to go on and make this all technical by explaining how many recorded instruments are imperfect in their pitch and harmonics - but it happens. What if we get to the place where we are correcting everything? If that happens (and we are heading there rapidly) then music will become more stale (and lifeless) than it is already.

The great thing about music is that it is imperfect, and played by imperfect people. It is human at its core and to take the human element out of music, we take out the very soul that makes it live, breathe and that which makes it great. If you are a musician or engineer (recording and mix) reading this blog....please return music to its human element. There may be times when we want to use Autotune or Meldyne for creative effect, but that should be the exception - and not the rule. Let's get back to great art and developing real talent.

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Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (First Line Melodyne Analysis)

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Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (song - no video)

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