Technological Pitch Correction: Controversy, Contexts, and Considerations
2015; Routledge; Volume: 71; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
2769-4046
Autores Tópico(s)Diverse Musicological Studies
ResumoINTRODUCTIONTHE PERCEPTION AND REPLICATION OF PITCH are fundamental to singing ability. In popular culture musics (PCM),1 where acoustic singing voice is typically technologically processed or treated to produce a resultant sound,2 singing now has potential to be artificially created. The application and adjustment of technological effects such as compression,3 reverb,4 and graphic equalization5 can dramatically alter vocal sound and its placement within any given mix.6 Consider also ability to apply tools such as Antares Audio Technologies' Throat Modelling software that enables modification of vocal character by passing it through a precise physical model of human vocal tract,7 and perhaps contributing to debate on whether use of digital pitch correction seems somewhat passe. However, animated discussion on social media and reports in popular press about overt use of digital pitch correction8 in first episode of The X Factor in United Kingdom in 2010 suggest that discussion on technological pitch correction is timely.9 It was reported five days after episode aired that Simon Cowell (Executive Producer and Judge)10 was also very angry about use of pitch correction.11 Viewer indignation also resulted in a spokesperson for The X Factor acknowledging that episode was prerecorded and that Auto-Tune had been applied in postproduction on some vocals due to audible interference caused by use of several microphones during filming of episode.12 As artistic ability and related audience perception/voting underpin programs like The X Factor, technological pitch correction in this context is undeniably controversial.13PITCH CORRECTION TECHNOLOGIESPitch correction software became widely available through use of Antares Audio Technologies' Auto-Tune launched in 1997.14 Prior to its development, pitch correction in recording was achievable through complicated analogue processes such as to record a flat or sharp word into a sampling keyboard, change pitch in sampler, and then 'play' pitch corrected word back into vocal track.15 Contrastingly, ease of Auto-Tune applications enables pitch to be altered in real time, that is, without changing speed of playback. Antares Audio Technologies promotes Auto-Tune as being the worldwide standard in professional pitch correction16 and highlights its corrective and creative capabilities that studio and editing time, ease frustration of endless retakes, save that otherwise once-in-a-lifetime performance, or even to create unique special effects.17 Over time, other pitch correction plug-ins have been developed, including Melodyne18 and Waves Tune.19 So widespread is use of contemporary pitch correction technologies (recording software/hardware for live performance) that public opposition to its use is now documented in a variety of contexts.In 2002, five years after introduction of AutoTune, a sticker on an album called Miss Fortune, by singer-songwriter Allison Moorer, poignantly revealed that absolutely no vocal tuning or pitch correction was used in making of this record.20 By 2009, other artists were beginning to publically question use of pitch correction. In February of that year, Death Cab for Cutie vocalist/guitarist, Ben Gibbard, announced:I think over last 10 years, we've seen a lot of good musicians being affected by this newfound digital manipulation [pitch correction] ... Let's stop this, let's bring back blue note, and let's really try to get music back to its roots of actual people singing and sounding like human beings.21In June, 2009, Jay-Z released DOA (Death of AutoTune) with its lyrics and sentiment levelled firmly against overuse of pitch correction.22 The following October, an online petition titled A Call to Stop Vocal Pitch Correction Abuse in Fox TV series Glee (October 18,2009) was launched:By using software such as Auto Tune [sic] or Melodyne one can make a singer's vocals pitch perfect. …
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