In Summary

Auto-Tune is as well known for its creative misuse in the 90’s and 2000’s as for its intended purpose. Here we check out its newer Modern algorithm as compared to the Classic mode.

Going Deeper

Auto-Tune Beginnings

Back in the 90’s, getting in-tune vocals from world class vocalists was just as simple as it is now - all the singer had to do was sing it perfectly! Of course star-quality doesn’t always mean pitch-perfection, and for many acts, persona and song are where it’s at. Often a little vocal help from in the box can add the final polish to that all-important top line.

Auto-Tune was apparently born after the developer’s wife joked about the invention of a box that could improve her singing; the rest is history. With 1990s studio computers still on office-duties, the first Auto-Tune correction came in the AVP-1 box that was patched in just like any other hardware. When computing tech caught up, the audio plugin version was born.

The highly distinctive vocal wizardry of Cher and T-Pain were the creative moments that undoubtedly raised Auto Tune’s profile, but under the hood later versions set out to give it as organic a sound as possible. This didn’t stop some from freezing their systems at Version 5 before the old algorithm was finally killed off.

Auto-Tune Pro X Modern Mode

The latest incarnation of Auto-Tune Pro X saw among other things the ability to quickly switch between Classic and Modern modes. This acknowledges the need for options that can deliver either super-human hard-tunings, or transparency for those productions that need it. In the video we take an imperfect vocal that needs the Modern treatment to get it over the line. Comparing it with Classic mode, we show how Modern adds extra control as well as a smoother, more organic result.

In the the mix above, even when things are stripped right back to just piano and vocal, the latter still enjoys pitch perfection without giving the game away. This has obvious advantages for presenting the mix to the world, but also for helping instil the artist’s faith in the process for those who do not want to sound ‘tuned’.

The hard-tuned tricks that dazzle may still be the hit that Auto-Tune is best known for, however the extra control that lands with Pro X makes it a lot more than a just a production effect. For many, the best route to a vocal that can’t be beaten will still boil down to skill and hard work. Quite apart from any artistic considerations, being able to use a tool like Auto-Tune Pro X’s Modern Mode could make it the one to use for when Just One More isn’t an option.

A Word About This Article

As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. In 2023 we are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.

Mic photo by Tima Miroshnichenko