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There is however, a downside to all this. Many studio producers now argue that singers have become overly reliant on this technology and have almost forgotten one of
most basic requirements of great singing- singing in key.
Can you tell when pitch correction has been used on a singer in a recording? The software is now so good that, in experienced hands, it is nearly impossible to tell when it is used subtly. Many vocal recordings made these days on current cd’s use some form of pitch correction. Does that surprise you? From singer’s perspective it is a very seductive technology. It can certainly make a “pitchy” singer sound very much in key without revealing any lack of ability in that area.
We have become so used to effect of technology on our music that much of this technological innovation becomes norm in a very short while. Remember a band called Milli Vanilli? They became laughing stock of music business and ended their careers when it was discovered that they had not even sung on their own recordings! Yet we seem completely comfortable now with idea that singers don’t need to be able to sing in tune when they record.
The funny thing is that singing in key is just a learned technique like most other musical skills. It requires practice and solid singing technique but there are few people who cannot do it at all. Singing in a recording studio can be an unnerving experience for first timer. The studio environment is designed to reveal all nuance of human voice and can tax even an accomplished singer at times.
Pitch correction is one of most practical and useful tools in recording today but remember that it won’t make you a great singer. Only you can do that.
Michael Oliphant is a successful musician,producer,songwriter and web developer.
