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The Incredible Shrinking Recording Studio

Posted by michael on from the this-is-spinal-tap dept.

what_the_frell writes "Wired has an interesting article on the increased use of laptops as a replacement for a recording studio. The article touches on how music schools are requiring the purchase of a Powerbook and software for this very reason, and also highlights artists like Steve Vai who are moving over to the more portable platform. Does this mean I can finally record that rock opera I've always dreamed about?"

1 of 433 comments (clear)

  1. Autotune must die. by MsGeek · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    One of the most hideous by-products of the use of ProTools is the ubiquity of Autotune, which is a ProTools plugin. There are standalone Autotune outboard processors now, but mostly it's used in ProTools. You know that weird vocoded sound you hear on Cher's vocals on that hideous song "Believe" and the weird vocoded sound you hear on Madonna's hideous song "American Life" ? Basically that's Autotune being used at its most extreme settings.

    It is used more insidiously and subtlely to make sure vocal intonation on a recording is dead-on perfect. It allows people who have sucky pitch sense to sing exactly, 100% locked-on, on key. It also adds a certain identifiable artificialness to the vocal track...it's like vartvart talking about something that "sounds digital." I know exactly what he's talking about...I don't care what anyone says, you CAN hear the difference between warm analog recording and cold, sterile digital recording. And Autotuning vocals only adds to the effect.

    The thing that pushed me over the edge in my violent hatred of Autotune is a commercial using Roy Orbison's vocals on "You Got It," his last hit before tragically passing away. Some jerk with Protools, Ableton Live and Autotune remixed the song, and AUTOTUNED THE SHIT OUT OF ROY ORBISON'S VOCALS. All the quirks and flaws and waveriness that are part of the charm of an Orbison vocal track had been processed away. It literally made me nauseous.

    Autotune is pure evil in bit form. Here's the URL for Antares' Autotune page... http://www.antarestech.com/products/auto-tune3.htm l . Sorry I didn't make the link clickable, I am a bit pressed for time and wanted to make my comment.

    Nobody's done an Autotune Sucks page but I might just get pissed off enough to do it. Process THIS, Antares... :P

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.