Hello. After being gone for god knows how long I have returned yet again, this time with a rant:
Autotune sucks.
All music types not containing this are acceptable and require (at least) medium amounts of talent. This pop/dance/electronic music I'm constantly force fed everywhere I go pisses me off. It seems as if some idiot with a fohawk who can't pull his pants up properly says a bunch of bullshit and masks it with voice editors.
Not only does it require douche-bag status and a tiny IQ, it sounds terrible. I mean really? Who enjoys what sounds like robots having violent raunchy sex? I can appreciate all other types of music but I really hope with all religious symbols buried inside of me that this will die a fiery, painful death.
Thanks for listening,
Buzz Killer.
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Dr. Strangelove
Joined: Dec 30 2010
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 104
Posted:
Jan 06 2011 09:49 pm
Autotune: Making people who can't sing sound like robots who can't sing since 1999
I hate it too. It totally takes any flavor out of music. It breeds homogeneity.
Beach Bum
Joined: Dec 08 2010
Location: At the pants party.
Posts: 1777
Posted:
Jan 06 2011 09:59 pm
I personally find autotune to be kinda funny. I occasionally will hear a song come on and start laughing when the robot voice starts. I like it even more when it is one of those "gangsta" rappers using it because it completely destroys any credibility they had as a "thug" when they start to sound like something out of a bad sci-fi flick.
Burt Reynolds
Title: Bentley Bear
Joined: Apr 07 2008
Location: California
Posts: 1399
Posted:
Jan 06 2011 10:06 pm
eh, it's a tool just like any other piece of equipment. I personally don't like it's sound, but if it helps the artist realize his vision, then more power to him. Igor Stravinsky probably wasn't the greatest Singer, so he used choirs with good singers to play his music. Same principle.
Dances with Wolves 2 is gonna ROCK!
Buzz_Killington
Title: The Kill That Buzzes
Joined: May 05 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 114
Posted:
Jan 06 2011 10:10 pm
Burt Reynolds wrote:
eh, it's a tool just like any other piece of equipment. I personally don't like it's sound, but if it helps the artist realize his vision, then more power to him. Igor Stravinsky probably wasn't the greatest Singer, so he used choirs with good singers to play his music. Same principle.
But there's a difference, there was talent in the music.
If there is a group of talented people with one untalented person, the group is still talented, right?
If the whole group is untalented then that makes the whole group the same.
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Deadmau_5pra
Title: Amatuer film/podcaster
Joined: Feb 10 2009
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 1126
Posted:
Jan 06 2011 11:16 pm
I don't follow how using autotune equals someone having a tiny I.Q. . Can you explain that part to me?
Buzz_Killington
Title: The Kill That Buzzes
Joined: May 05 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 114
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 12:46 am
Deadmau_5pra wrote:
I don't follow how using autotune equals someone having a tiny I.Q. . Can you explain that part to me?
It doesn't necessarily "equal" your I.Q. to be zero, but observing most of the people who do use this tool there seems to be a great level of stupidity. Some of these artists will commit publicity stunts, others will be blatantly rude (Kanye West for example). People who act like this don't really deserve to have the title "intelligent". I may just be being stereotypical but I am purely basing these accusations off of observations.
You may argue how rude does not mean stupid so I'll put this in different terms: immature and/or childish.
Let me ask you something. Do you see artists and musicians who actually use instruments and vocal talents acting like children? By merely observing the lyrics created by most of these "pop stars" or "gangsters" in comparison to actual music you can see that there is no point. To summarize 90% of these songs: whore, slut, dick, booze, wasted, get raped, lol that was fun.
I hate to be defensive but I don't see how these people are not stupid or immature. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me?
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Captain_Pollution
Title: Hugh
Joined: Sep 23 2007
Posts: 1591
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 01:24 am
First, I think the argument should be kind of split up. If you use Auto-Tune for its intended purpose, it's transparent and you can't hear it. It just corrects the pitch of the notes so that the vocals are perfect. That's where the argument about people using it as surrogate talent comes from. If it's being used during live performances say, then I understand that argument. For studio-recorded songs, though, what's wrong with a tool that makes it so the vocals are perfect the first time around? Is it really that much more "genuine" or "talented" of a musician to spend hours and hours redoing a track, or going into the tape and punching in bits they screwed up the first time? Or how about just swapping in other musicians to play the parts? Like on "Love Me Do," they didn't like Ringo's drumming, so they got somebody else to do it. That sort of thing's not at all uncommon in pop music, and you notice it just as much., listening to the song.
As for the robot voice thing, that's an effect. It's not being used because the singer can't sing (Though even when Auto-Tune is used to correct pitches, it's generally not because the singer couldn't hit them, it's so the singer can hit them in one take, without using up lots and lots of expensive studio time redoing it.), it's being used so that the vocals will sound a certain way. You might not like that effect, but unless you only listen to acoustic music, complaining that people use an effect on a song is kind of silly. An electric guitar with distortion on is just as much an effect as using Auto-Tune to make a robot voice.
<Drew_Linky> Well, I've eaten vegetables all of once in my life.
Deadmau_5pra
Title: Amatuer film/podcaster
Joined: Feb 10 2009
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 1126
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 01:47 am
Buzz Killington wrote:
It doesn't necessarily "equal" your I.Q. to be zero, but observing most of the people who do use this tool there seems to be a great level of stupidity. Some of these artists will commit publicity stunts, others will be blatantly rude (Kanye West for example). People who act like this don't really deserve to have the title "intelligent". I may just be being stereotypical but I am purely basing these accusations off of observations.
Well it's your right and personal opinion, but your basing this off of a few individuals, off of a few dumb mistakes (such as the Kayne and Taylor Swift shit) and the few individual artist who use it (i.e.) Kayne, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne,Drake,Justin Biber (if they're more I'd like to know) just happen to be the biggest artist right now. So the other labels who have artist see this and want to mold their artist so they can get buzz and sell records. Through I do agree with you, it is indeed childish with the publicity stunts all just to sell some plastic disc.
Buzz Killington wrote:
Let me ask you something. Do you see artists and musicians who actually use instruments and vocal talents acting like children? By merely observing the lyrics created by most of these "pop stars" or "gangsters" in comparison to actual music you can see that there is no point. To summarize 90% of these songs: whore, slut, dick, booze, wasted, get raped, lol that was fun.
I hate to be defensive but I don't see how these people are not stupid or immature. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me?
This is could go either way, because there's plenty of footage on YT of rock stars damaging their very expensive equipment all for the sake of the show. Some would see this for the sake of the show, heat of the moment type stuff. Some would also see this as childish. It is what it is. Also the whole "actual/real music vs fake music" bit is purely opinion based and open for certain bias that some have on the subject. So lets not even get involved into that clusterfuck.
As for subject matter, I highly doubt it's the 90 percent you highlighted. The reason people like artist like Kayne, Ke$ha, Biber, etc. is that because hate it or not, they can relate to what they talk about. There's more that these artist are saying regardless to what their hit single is, that makes people fall for this music.
Also, my apologies if this was just a rant for the sake of ranting, but I just get really annoyed when people try to equate the whole IQ thing over something really small and not-worthy.
Mr. Satire
Joined: Jun 08 2010
Location: Termina Field
Posts: 1541
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 09:11 am
All I will say is: FUCK AUTOTUNE!!
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Mr. Satire
Joined: Jun 08 2010
Location: Termina Field
Posts: 1541
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 09:34 am
Captain_Pollution wrote:
First, I think the argument should be kind of split up. If you use Auto-Tune for its intended purpose, it's transparent and you can't hear it. It just corrects the pitch of the notes so that the vocals are perfect. That's where the argument about people using it as surrogate talent comes from. If it's being used during live performances say, then I understand that argument. For studio-recorded songs, though, what's wrong with a tool that makes it so the vocals are perfect the first time around? Is it really that much more "genuine" or "talented" of a musician to spend hours and hours redoing a track, or going into the tape and punching in bits they screwed up the first time? Or how about just swapping in other musicians to play the parts? Like on "Love Me Do," they didn't like Ringo's drumming, so they got somebody else to do it. That sort of thing's not at all uncommon in pop music, and you notice it just as much., listening to the song.
As for the robot voice thing, that's an effect. It's not being used because the singer can't sing (Though even when Auto-Tune is used to correct pitches, it's generally not because the singer couldn't hit them, it's so the singer can hit them in one take, without using up lots and lots of expensive studio time redoing it.), it's being used so that the vocals will sound a certain way. You might not like that effect, but unless you only listen to acoustic music, complaining that people use an effect on a song is kind of silly. An electric guitar with distortion on is just as much an effect as using Auto-Tune to make a robot voice.
Actually, you have a point there.
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Buzz_Killington
Title: The Kill That Buzzes
Joined: May 05 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 114
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 10:32 am
Deadmau_5pra wrote:
Buzz Killington wrote:
It doesn't necessarily "equal" your I.Q. to be zero, but observing most of the people who do use this tool there seems to be a great level of stupidity. Some of these artists will commit publicity stunts, others will be blatantly rude (Kanye West for example). People who act like this don't really deserve to have the title "intelligent". I may just be being stereotypical but I am purely basing these accusations off of observations.
Well it's your right and personal opinion, but your basing this off of a few individuals, off of a few dumb mistakes (such as the Kayne and Taylor Swift shit) and the few individual artist who use it (i.e.) Kayne, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne,Drake,Justin Biber (if they're more I'd like to know) just happen to be the biggest artist right now. So the other labels who have artist see this and want to mold their artist so they can get buzz and sell records. Through I do agree with you, it is indeed childish with the publicity stunts all just to sell some plastic disc.
Buzz Killington wrote:
Let me ask you something. Do you see artists and musicians who actually use instruments and vocal talents acting like children? By merely observing the lyrics created by most of these "pop stars" or "gangsters" in comparison to actual music you can see that there is no point. To summarize 90% of these songs: whore, slut, dick, booze, wasted, get raped, lol that was fun.
I hate to be defensive but I don't see how these people are not stupid or immature. Maybe you can shed some light on this for me?
This is could go either way, because there's plenty of footage on YT of rock stars damaging their very expensive equipment all for the sake of the show. Some would see this for the sake of the show, heat of the moment type stuff. Some would also see this as childish. It is what it is. Also the whole "actual/real music vs fake music" bit is purely opinion based and open for certain bias that some have on the subject. So lets not even get involved into that clusterfuck.
As for subject matter, I highly doubt it's the 90 percent you highlighted. The reason people like artist like Kayne, Ke$ha, Biber, etc. is that because hate it or not, they can relate to what they talk about. There's more that these artist are saying regardless to what their hit single is, that makes people fall for this music.
Also, my apologies if this was just a rant for the sake of ranting, but I just get really annoyed when people try to equate the whole IQ thing over something really small and not-worthy.
Oh, I totally understand your point of view on this subject. Syd Lexia is the only place I can go to actually get respectable feedback on my opinion. If I posted this on a Justin Bieber fan page or something all I would get back is "yur a fg, go get a lfe".
About the 90% thing: I was just throwing that out off the top of my head. I have no real statistics proving the stupidity of popular artists. But if you have a chart I would be delighted to see it!
But my opinion will stand no matter what other people say, I think that autotune is both overused and dumb. I do still respect your opinion on this matter though, like I said before it's good to have a debatable topic instead of everyone agreeing on everything
Mr. Satire wrote:
Captain_Pollution wrote:
First, I think the argument should be kind of split up. If you use Auto-Tune for its intended purpose, it's transparent and you can't hear it. It just corrects the pitch of the notes so that the vocals are perfect. That's where the argument about people using it as surrogate talent comes from. If it's being used during live performances say, then I understand that argument. For studio-recorded songs, though, what's wrong with a tool that makes it so the vocals are perfect the first time around? Is it really that much more "genuine" or "talented" of a musician to spend hours and hours redoing a track, or going into the tape and punching in bits they screwed up the first time? Or how about just swapping in other musicians to play the parts? Like on "Love Me Do," they didn't like Ringo's drumming, so they got somebody else to do it. That sort of thing's not at all uncommon in pop music, and you notice it just as much., listening to the song.
As for the robot voice thing, that's an effect. It's not being used because the singer can't sing (Though even when Auto-Tune is used to correct pitches, it's generally not because the singer couldn't hit them, it's so the singer can hit them in one take, without using up lots and lots of expensive studio time redoing it.), it's being used so that the vocals will sound a certain way. You might not like that effect, but unless you only listen to acoustic music, complaining that people use an effect on a song is kind of silly. An electric guitar with distortion on is just as much an effect as using Auto-Tune to make a robot voice.
Actually, you have a point there.
I can agree with this also, I am actually guilty for listening to a few bands who implement autotune into their music. But the thing that really gets me is how an artist can go into a studio and mask a whole fucking song. All I hear from people is how "awesome this song is", it's really not. Anybody can go into a studio and do that. But once someone can put originality into music using autotune I'll be impressed.
Electric distortion does alter the effects of the guitar but doesn't change how the notes are played. The guitarist is still playing the same notes, but with altered effects. The most common usage (that I've heard) for autotune is to make every note sound the same.
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TheRoboSleuth
Title: Sleuth Mark IV
Joined: Aug 08 2006
Location: The Gritty Future
Posts: 2739
Posted:
Jan 07 2011 09:35 pm
Blackout
Title: Captain Oblivious
Joined: Sep 01 2007
Location: That Rainy State
Posts: 10376
Posted:
Jan 08 2011 01:02 pm
Vocal Harmonizers are flippin expensive. The one I got to use back in the day had a Barry White synthesizer, it was called Barrytone! I used to prank call people with it all the time.
Thunderhorse
Title: This is DELICIOUS!
Joined: Dec 29 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1923
Posted:
Jan 08 2011 02:28 pm
I fully support T-Pain. He doesn't use it to improve his singing voice. He uses it just to get the robotic voice.
ThisIsTunaWithBacon
Cameron
Title: :O � O:
Joined: Feb 01 2008
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 4637
Posted:
Jan 10 2011 01:49 am
I posted this in the Bad Music Challenge, but I feel that it's appropriate for this thread as well.
i'll_bite_your_ear
Title: Distillatoria
Joined: Jun 09 2010
Location: van down by the river
Posts: 3707
Posted:
Jan 10 2011 11:33 am
you can rant above autotune as longs as you like, a big part of the industry relies on it so it will be used in the future.
i couldn't say it is a bad thing to work with autotune.
then again i really don't care to much.
it was the best of times
it was the blurst of times