‘Actors use make-up, why can’t singers use auto-tune?’

For decades autotune has led a double life loved by some scorned by others this digital pitchcorrection tool has been dismissed by critics as a shortcut for lazy singers while also being hailed as a revolutionary means of sonic expression Originally designed to fix minor pitch issues autotune has now transformed into an instrument of choice fully integrated into the creative processInternational artistes such as Charli XCX whose smash hit album Brat embraces autotune and Troye Sivan who uses it to sharpen his live performances have sparked global curiosity around the sonic toolrsquos evolving role This shift is especially noticeable in Indiarsquos indie music scene where artistes are using it not just for pitch correction but as a tool for emotional and sonic explorationSingersongwriter Utsavi Jha has come to the realisation that autotune cannot make a bad singer sound good it can only make a good singer great PicsAnurag AhireDespite this transformation autotune still carries a stigma especially in Indian music circles that place a high value on vocal lsquopurityrsquo and authenticity of live performances Many traditionalists see it as a crutch for unskilled singers Samad Khan an indie artiste with roots in Hindustani classical music reflects on this bias ldquoDue to my Hindustani classical vocal training there was always a strong emphasis on singing perfectly in tunerdquo he shares It wasnrsquot until later that Khan discovered autotunersquos creative potential through artistes like TPain and Usher moving beyond the idea of autotune as a lsquomistakefixerrsquo to appreciate its artistryBut how exactly does autotune work First developed in 1997 by Antares Audio Technologies the software detects the pitch of an incoming vocal track and adjusts it to align with a preset scale typically tuned to A440 where A above middle C vibrates at 440 Hz In simpler terms itrsquos a tool that lsquolistensrsquo to a voice and shifts the notes to match a predefined scaleEarly on autotune was primarily a behindthescenes tool employed to subtly adjust minor imperfections that most listeners wouldnrsquot notice Today however the case is different ldquoPitch correction in modern music is often less of an aesthetic choice and more of a standard as all music today is tuned to 440 Hzrdquo says Qaran the voice behind pop hits such as Haaye Oye Tareefan and more recently Desi WineSingersongwriter Aman Sagar believes that autotune lets him put on different personas influencing modern musicldquoA common misconception among audiences is that pitch correction is always used to turn a bad singer into a good one However even a perfect performance would require some pitch correction to conform to the ubiquitous tuning standards in modern musicrdquo he continuesIn Indiarsquos indie music scene autotune has become a way for artistes to shape their sound and create unique atmospheres Utsavi Jha known for blending jazz pop blues rock and electropop uses autotune sparingly but appreciates the finesse it adds ldquoAfter seeing my raw takes and those with autotune refinement Irsquove come to realise that autotune canrsquot make a bad singer sound goodrdquo she says ldquoIt can only make a good singer sound great while maintaining a natural soundrdquoAbhishek Patil AampR producer Warner MusicAutotunersquos uses have diversified ldquoSingers and musicians have a choice between inbuilt autotune included with most Digital Audio Workstations DAWs like Logic Pro and Ableton and advanced external plugins like Antares AutoTune or Melodynerdquo says Robica Chaudhuri singer songwriter and attendee of the 2023 Warner Music India Camp ldquoStock autotune software provides standard pitch correction suitable for smaller adjustments but lacks the depth and flexibility of third party pluginsrdquo she continues Chaudhari was was also introduced to autotune through TPainrsquos musicMusicians often use autotune emphasise certain moods and emotions ldquoAutotune vocals are able to capture very intimate settings it can produce atypical emotionsrdquo says music producer and singersongwriter Aman Sagar ldquoItrsquos robotic precision for example mirrors urban lifersquos mechanical existence and that darkness resonates well in melancholic songsrdquo For Sagar autotune adds an intentional distance to the voice reflecting the complexities of modern emotions Aryan Sharma who performs under the stage name Nikamma approaches the audio processing tool with careful restraint ldquoAutotune is like seasoningrdquo he explains ldquoIf you use it too much it may backfire Yoursquove got to use it in the right proportionsrdquo Sharmarsquos balanced approach speaks to the nuanced way indie artistes navigate autotunersquos artistic and technical aspectsSamad Khan a classically trained singer who is of the view that staying true to your roots doesnrsquot mean being closed off to technological advancements and new perspectives PicKirit Surve ParadeEven as artistes embrace autotune as a creative tool listener perceptions can lag behind Many listeners misunderstand or overestimate its impact on a track The Rish an artiste from a musically trained family finds that listeners often mistake other effects for autotune ldquoA lot of the audiences who comment on my songs with ldquotoo much autotunerdquo are misinformedrdquo he says ldquoThey hear reverb and delay and mistake it for autotune The moment people feel that disconnect between a natural voice and a processed one they perceive it as autotunerdquoEven hugely popular artistes canrsquot escape the audiencersquos ire on this issue ldquoArtistes such as AP Dhillon have used autotune so tastefully I would really urge audiences to stop spamming them with so much hate for an artistic choice especially when these are the songs they dance to on Saturday nightsrdquo says RishldquoResonating with an audience is about echoing a story worth telling whether thatrsquos with lsquorawrsquo vocals or with autotune just like Travis Scott doesrdquo he adds This shift reflects an evolving audience that values narrative and production as much as vocal prowessCarl Nazareth mix engineer and sound designerGenre expectations too shape listenersrsquo acceptance of autotune ldquoNew genres like hyperpop and dance hits focus on production and storytelling more than just pure vocals so autotune enhances thatrdquo says RishMusic producer Sooraj Bishnoi treats it as a creative choice rather than a onesizefitsall solution ldquoIn a recent anthem I composed for IndianOilrsquos Asian Para Games team the chorus is just me singing overdubbed multiple times with a few overdubs using different levels of autotunerdquo he says adding ldquoAutotune depends on the genre of music and the comfort of using it Irsquod never use autotune on an Indian classical track On a hiphop track though Sure go for it if it enhances the soundrdquoMusic producer Sooraj BishnoiAutotune also helps indie artistes balance emotional authenticity with the polish expected of professional recordings ldquoThe producers Irsquove worked with recognise that my strongest suit as an artiste is my voice and my ability to channel emotionsrdquo says Jha ldquoIf a take has better notes but less feel and the other has the feel wersquore looking for but a few off notes we choose the latter Emotions move the listeners not technical perfectionrdquo For this Vile Parle resident autotunersquos ability to enhance relatability is its most valuable asset even if it occasionally corrects an imperfect noteJha however warns that autotunersquos ease of use has led to a saturation of average music ldquoIn my honest opinion genres such as hyperpop have created a lot of clutter People with no musicianship are using autotune generously to release average music and that dilutes the industryrdquo she says Her critique points to the doubleedged naturemdashwhile autotune can elevate artistry it can also be used to mask inexperienceSingers and musicians have a choice between inbuilt autotune included with most Digital Audio Workstations DAWs and advanced external pluginsAbhishek Patil AampR artistes and repertoire producer at Warner Music believes autotune has democratised the field allowing more performers to engage audiences ldquoBeing just a singer isnrsquot enoughrdquo he says ldquoStage presence personality and charm they all matter Most rappers and artistes today use autotune even live It has widened the landscape and made it possible for a broader range of artistes to thriverdquoFor those who regularly perform live autotune serves as both a tool of enhancement and support ldquoIf wersquore okay with actors using makeup why shouldnrsquot singers use autotunerdquo asks PatilRobica Chaudhuri singersongwriter for whom autotune is a creative extension that allows her to shape her soundHe adds ldquoTouring schedules are physically demanding Itrsquos inhuman to expect artistes to perform perfectly all the time Autotune lets them give their best despite fatiguerdquoOldschool listeners might question why we hear more autotune in music now and perhaps link it to laziness This trend in fact points to advancements in audio technology ldquoIn general one of the main reasons people use autotune more now than before is because recording technology has advanced significantlyrdquo says Carl Nazareth a mix engineer and sound designer further explaining ldquoEarlier if I wanted to record say a 60piece orchestra Irsquod have to hire 60 musicians practise with them for about four days book a studio that could accommodate everyone set up 20 mics and capture each part individually The process required a huge amount of time and resourcesrdquoQaran The Rish and Aryan SharmaMuch of the process now happens digitally and remotelymdashldquoToday for example a singer might be recording in Bangalore a guitarist in Delhi and Irsquoll be producing the track in Bombayrdquo he says ldquoWe rely a lot more on autotune softwares to bring these pieces together When you add live instruments with digitally programmed ones you realise that some parts might not match up perfectly For instance my digital piano sounds so precise that if another part of the track is even slightly off tune it suddenly feels wrong So we have to use autotune to correct these inaccuracies and make sure it all sits together seamlesslyrdquoFor others autotune is a way to discover their voice ldquoStaying true to your roots doesnrsquot mean being closed to new perspectivesrdquo says Khan a classically trained singer ldquoThe essence of a song lies in the lyrics music and composition and autotune lets me create a fresh sound while staying groundedrdquo he continuesSagar on the other hand finds that autotune has helped him embody different influences ldquoItrsquos almost like wearing a new personalityrdquo he says ldquoComing from a traditional music background autotune lets me put on a different persona and channel influences from modern musicrdquoChaudhuri echoes this sentiment of personal growth and artistic exploration Her use of autotune is both expressive and empowering showcasing how artistes can use technology to forge their unique sound ldquoAs a female artiste standing out means blending strength with vulnerabilityrdquo she says ldquoAutotune has been instrumentalmdashnot as a crutch but as a creative extension It lets me add depth texture new dimensions and sometimes even mystery to my musicrdquoQaran sees it as a tool that has allowed him to shape his sound ldquoA big part of finding my voice was realising I needed to make music Irsquod want to listen to myselfrdquo he shares ldquoAutotune has been instrumental as a creative extension that allows me to shape my sound in unique waysrdquo