Alright, so how does a band maintain credibility...

[rancidrancid]

When the "singers" use pitch correction? At every show? I have played with my friend's band, and they are the emo/screamo nonsense, and while I've never watched cause I hate that stuff, I'm told their singers use pitch correction technology babble?
Honestly, how can people like a band who use that stuff?

Or perhaps that stuff doesn't exist and I'm being thrown for a loop?

[inasilentway]

Antares made a rack-mounted Autotune DSP box, so it's not implausible. Still, if they're screaming, does it really make sense to fix the pitch of the screams?

[Gabe.]

Ive heard of autotuners being used to create more robotic vocoder like sound, but I've never heard of a band using them live to accommodate for bad singing...

[Dave Martin]

Originally Posted by Gabe.

Ive heard of autotuners being used to create more robotic vocoder like sound, but I've never heard of a band using them live to accommodate for bad singing...

There's used a LOT in the touring field. Those who do those types of tours know that. Though there are some great stories about FOH guys who hide the AT-1's behind a sheet or something, the advent of digital large format consoles especially the Venue from Digidesign) means that Auto Tune can be used as a plug-in and not be seen by the average punter.

One tip - most singers using in-ear monitors get their non-processed vocals in their ears, and the tuned vocals go out front.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by rancidrancid

Honestly, how can people like a band who use that stuff?

Because lay-people/non-musicians don't really care. They don't want music, they want entertainment and a lifestyle.

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by Dave Martin

...One tip - most singers using in-ear monitors get their non-processed vocals in their ears, and the tuned vocals go out front.

That's the only possible way to do it . . . anything else would drive the "singers" crazy . . .

and I HAVE mistakenly sent a postFX (autotuned) return to the phones a few times at our studio . . . the singer always lets me know immediately that "somrthing's WRONG" . . .

FWIW, I've been using the Melodyne plug-in for tuning vocals the last 6 months or so . . . it works pretty good, Dave . . . YMMV.

[Marson]

I'm sorry for being off topic but who ever plays bass with a giant sumbrero is my hero , no lie....

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by Marson

I'm sorry for being off topic but who ever plays bass with a giant sumbrero is my hero , no lie....

Well, actually, that giant sombrero ended up on my head for less than i song at a gig that we did in Houston, TX (IIRC) a coupla years ago , and a few cameras "caught the moment" . . . it's NOT like it's part of my gig "uniform" . . .

but thanks for the kind words just the same . . .

[mattofash]

Theres a band near me of that type of music and their singer looks like hes doing a dance at times cus he uses pedals and what not to 'help' him.
I always wonder what the band thought when he auditioned and turned up with more pedals than their guitardist...

[Jazz Ad]

I don't care if singers use auto tuners, effects or whatever.
After all, I have frets on my bass and a huge pedalboard.
In the end, it sounds good or it doesn't. To me it's all that counts.

[bassplayinggirl]

Jazz Ad, you are a kind, forgiving soul. We should all be like you.

Yeah, like that's going to happen.

BTW, Deaf Pea, where did you play in Houston? I'll be there next week.

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by bassplayinggirl

...BTW, Deaf Pea, where did you play in Houston? I'll be there next week.

Yeah, but I won't even be IN the USA next week . . .
all of our shows that are scheduled (so far) for January and February are here in Mexico (several in Mexico City and 1 each in Toluca and Oaxaca)

Maybe we'll see you somewhere else "on the road" . . .

And to answer your question, over the years we've played several places in Houston . . . The International Ballroom, Escapade 2000, Club Amnesia and others (that I don't remember the names) . . .

[Pilgrim]

Maybe I'm odd (wouldn't be the first time), but I happen to like singers who can actually sing. Singing requires the ability to sing in tune.

If that's not within their capability, I'm not interested. A lot of current pop groups have singers who cover up their inability with effects, endless trills or background singers.

[ElectrAcoustic]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Maybe I'm odd (wouldn't be the first time), but I happen to like singers who can actually sing. Singing requires the ability to sing in tune.

+1.. singing is a skill and art and can't be replicated in a box.. Some of the best singers don't sing exactly on-pitch all the time.. it's what makes them them.. can you imagine someone running Ray Charles thru autotune.. they'd take away all the nuance, heart & soul of a legend.. IMO, great singers will always eventually trump acts with autotune.. ask where's Brittney now.. where's Cristina.. see my point..

[Scionreality]

IMHO, if a singer wants to use effects for creative reasons (like using that autotune for the wierd artificialness, which is a word now) more power to him/her. Like me using my effects. But he/she had better be able to sing -like I'd better be able to play- or else none of it matters.

[punkbassistfc]

everybody uses autotune, its become an instrument within itself

[bassman1185]

Originally Posted by mattofash

Theres a band near me of that type of music and their singer looks like hes doing a dance at times cus he uses pedals and what not to 'help' him.
I always wonder what the band thought when he auditioned and turned up with more pedals than their guitardist...

My band played with a group like that a few weeks ago called Sputnik Monroe. They were pretty experimental and trippy, and their lead singer had a bunch of delays and modulation effects. It was actually really awesome. He would do weird string-like pads and use his voice for pure melody, rather than actually singing words.