Autotune

[CRM-114]

Considering there's only about $30 in cost difference, would you recommend the Autotune plugin or the Autotune rack unit (which can correct pitch in real time)?

[xeetstreet]

Both can correct pitch in realtime. The plugin version, however, has the advantage of the visual mode where further tweaking can be done. This feature is a neccessity.

[CRM-114]

But one couldn't use the plugin live (without a computer on stage being involved).

Has anyone used one of the rack-mounted processors? Does it accurately correct pitch in real time?

[CRM-114]

OR, what about the Anteres Vocal Processor, who combines the auto-tune feature with mic modeling? It's $400 -- not much more than just the auto-tune unit.

[xeetstreet]

You've answered your question. If you want to use it live, then get the hardward. If you don't need it for live situations, then get the software.

[Chris Cavell]

OR, what about the Anteres Vocal Processor, who combines the auto-tune feature with mic modeling? It's $400 -- not much more than just the auto-tune unit.

DO NOT GET THE VOCAL PROCESSOR!!! (at least not for studio use...sound quality stinks and it's completely unbalanced throughout...I once picked it up when I was looking to get the hardware autotune when the store was out of stock...brought it back the next day and got myself a new taylor instead.)

[CRM-114]

Chris, thanks for the tip to stay away from the vocal processor. But have you heard the rack-mount auto-tune? If so, what did you think? How did it compare with the vocal processor?

[Chris Cavell]

As for pitch correction...the same. As for sound quality, the rackmount autotuner was better...neither are near as good as the plugin. I wouldn't recommend using one live ever unless it's a britney spears sort of super pre-recorded pop thingy that you can sync a midi sequencer up to and send a midi melody track out to the auto tuner to force proper pitch correction. If you do use one live...don't send corrected pitch into the monitors (especially headphone monitors)...it turns out that about half the humans in the world distinguish incorrectly whether they are sharp or flat when they hear their own voice with the exact same phase and envelope characteristics combined with what they are actually piping through their skull with their windpipes if the pitches are really close...it's got nothing to do with being tone-deaf or having a bad ear at all...more like an aural-illusion thing happening if the pitches are pretty close that can lead to disastrous results; the artist correcting themselves in the wrong direction. It's nice to experiment with in the studio at times and see which category a person falls into...if they correct properly, it can help with capturing a better initial performance. I recommend the plugin without a doubt.

[CRM-114]

Thanks.