How is Autotune these days?

[richiebee]

Anyone using Antares autotune with Cubase SX?

I'm told I have another project in January similar to the one I have right now (ie, pitchy singer). Would like to automate pitch correction to some extent rather than trying to figure out manually how much a phrase is flat which is what I've been doing with this one. I'd be using it with conservative settings to make it as transparent as possible.

I was impressed with autotune's transparent capabilities years ago and figured I could add this into the cost of producing this guy. Does anyone have the current version running with Cubase SX?

R.

[dach]

I have autotune but not the latest version - I also have the hardware unit as well.

I'd take a look at Celemony's "Melodyne" which I think is better and is a much more versatile software tool.

[brandondrury]

I can't remember which version I'm using right now. I've never been one to upgrade much unless I'm really having problems.

Either way, I use Autotune with SX3 all the time. There are two basic ways to do it, as you may know. One with "auto mode" and the other were you highly the part you want to tune up and directly apply autotune to that part. I always use graphical mode for this.

I have no problems using Autotune with SX3. I personally hate the 1987 GUI of Autotune and I'm very tempted to try out Melodyne, which most people I've talked with on forums seam to prefer.

I've found that the biggest "transparency" issues with autotune come from singers who like to gradually slide into every note. These slides always get "weird" to my ears. Then again, no one seams to notice it (as long as the singer is worth recording).

Brandon

[dach]

There really is no contest between the two but I'm in "nice" mode today so I'm not going to slam autotune - which is very useful by the way.... but....

Melodyne is awesome!

[Andrew07]

I've heard that there is some sound degredation with melodyne...how true is that dach?

[dach]

as there is any time you process audio with any plugin or device... it's certainly not enough to worry about if you're needing to do pitch correction in the first place.... and if autotune can save the day, then Melodyne can save the planet.

[richiebee]

I have an early version of Melodyne (2.6) and think it sucks. I've never been able to get it to sound natural. The artifacts are always noticable beyond being usable. With all the money that my employer paid for it I'm not very tempted to try it again in its latest incarnation... but Dach, how long have you used Melodyne, and have you always found it as good as it is now? Does it have any automation in its current version?

[brandondrury]

My other biggest gripe about Autotune is its ability to track pitch. I'm not a hardcore perfect pitch kind of guy. My favorite record of all time has vocal pitch issues. So I just don't care that much.

With that said, the syllables that really need tuning seam to be the ones that Autotune misses. I hate that beyond belief.

Brandon

[dach]

I think it's a fantastic tool. I've used it since just before 2 came out and I rarely have any artifacts that make it unusable. I can hear the difference in parts but I also can turn something unusable into a musical phrase - which is the entire point of this software. I could not do the same thing with Autotune.

Really, if you have to use it to the point where the artifacts are unusable, something went really wrong in tracking or something's going on somewhere... unless you're dealing with low frequency stuff or ambient tracks (room/reverb).

I've honestly had nothing but luck using it and that includes changing phrase timing, pitch correction, note transitions, etc. I've had V3 installed for a while but have not needed it yet - but I will be throwing some vocals and fretless (elec) bass in there soon. V3 supposedly has an improved engine (stereo as well) and better sound quality.

I also did a standup bass in it once - then there were some serious artifacts but it still won over a track that I used samples on... and recutting that bass part was just not going to happen... so i was stuck.

As far as automation is concerned, hell if I know... the manual does nothing but confuse me. I just use it as a plugin and bounce the result back into the session. Maybe there is a demo you can check out....

If you're having some problems with it, send me the audio file and let me see what I can do... I'm no melodyne guru but it works for me....

That being said, my goal is to always record tracks or punches until i don't need it but sometimes you have to pay the piper...

[Andrew07]

Richiebee, I've read that the newest version of Melodyne (3.1?) is loads better than the older versions...no more sound artifacts. I've only used Melodyne once, but I couldn't get the hang of it quickly enough, so I never got to really hear it in action. Maybe demo it out? Auto-tune just came out with a new version with a new-looking interface