Stuff You Should Know Selects: How Auto-Tune Works
Jan 2, 2021
Discover how Auto-Tune transformed music, starting from a challenge to an oil engineer. Learn about Cher's pivotal role in popularizing the technology, revolutionizing pop production. Delve into the debates around authenticity in music and the polarizing effects on listeners. Explore an engineer's surprising journey from musician to innovator. The episode humorously addresses vocal techniques while reflecting on gender biases in audience feedback. Join in for a lively discussion that highlights Auto-Tune's cultural impact and legacy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cher's "Believe"
- Cher's "Believe" popularized Auto-Tune in 1998.
- The effect, initially called the "Cher effect," was a mystery, with Cher's producer falsely claiming it was a vocoder.
Auto-Tune's Original Purpose
- Auto-Tune, a Pro Tools plugin, originally pitch-corrected vocals subtly.
- It was initially a tool for professionals to save studio time and create polished recordings.
Hildebrand's Background
- Andy Hildebrand, Auto-Tune's inventor, worked in oil exploration before music.
- His software used sound wave analysis for subsurface mapping, similar to Auto-Tune's pitch correction.