VOCALS: Autotune<->Automation: What comes first?

[menych]

Hi,

I have a vocals track that is a comp of many tiny bits and pieces of many takes that I managed to put together without audible clicks.

This track:
1) needs SOME tuning (probably will be done with melodyne), nothing too extensive, but in many parts of the song; AND
2) needs volume automation treatment to even out dynamics before the track is treated to compressor,

WHICH of the operations should be done first?

I am thinking probably tuning first (so that I could use automation to mask any problems with tuning).

Am I right?

Thank you.



PS Please do not post comments inviting me to re-record the track. If I could do it better, I would have.

[brandondrury]

Definitely tune the vocals first for a few reasons.

#1 Some pitch correction plugins perform way better when the original track is unprocessed. At least this has been my experience.

#2 Automation, compression, and such are part of the mixing process. I prefer to tune vocals on tracking days or on pre-mixing days as it's a mechanical, non-fun thing that shouldn't be part of a mixing session if you can help it.

Brandon