Auto-Tune facts for kids
Auto-Tune being used in the program GarageBand
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| Original author(s) | Andy Hildebrand |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Antares Audio Technologies |
| Initial release | September 19, 1997 |
| Stable release |
11
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| Operating system | Windows and macOS |
| Type | Pitch correction |
| License | Proprietary |
Auto-Tune is a famous piece of software that can change the way a person's voice sounds in a song. It was created by an American company called Antares Audio Technologies and released on September 19, 1997.
The main job of Auto-Tune is to correct a singer's pitch, which means it helps them hit all the right notes perfectly. Think of it like a helpful tool that makes sure a singer's voice is perfectly in tune with the music.
However, Auto-Tune became famous for something else. In 1998, the singer Cher released her song "Believe". She used Auto-Tune to create a unique, robotic sound for her voice. This became known as the "Cher effect," and it started a huge trend in music.
Since then, many famous artists like T-Pain and Kanye West have used Auto-Tune to create cool effects in their songs. It has become so popular that one music expert said it has "revolutionized popular music."
Contents
How Does Auto-Tune Work?
Auto-Tune works as a plug-in for computer programs that musicians use to record songs. It can also be a physical device used for live concerts.
Its main job is to listen to a singer's voice and gently nudge any notes that are slightly off-key. It pushes the sound to the closest correct note, making the singing sound perfect. This is often done so subtly that you can't even tell it's being used.
But Auto-Tune can also be used as a special effect. By turning up the settings, it makes the voice jump from note to note very quickly. This removes the natural slide between notes that happens when people sing. The result is a robotic, futuristic sound, almost like a synthesizer.
This technology is now a standard tool in most professional recording studios. It's even built into some instruments, like special guitars that can automatically correct their own pitch while being played.
Who Invented Auto-Tune?
Auto-Tune was invented by Dr. Andy Hildebrand, an engineer who was an expert in sound and math. The idea for Auto-Tune came from a funny moment at a dinner party. A friend's wife joked that she needed a device to help her sing in tune.
This joke sparked an idea for Dr. Hildebrand. In 1996, he spent several months creating a program on a Macintosh computer that could automatically correct a singer's pitch. When he showed it off at a music trade show, it was a huge hit.
Dr. Hildebrand's method was special because it was very good at figuring out the pitch of a voice, even with tricky sounds. Before him, other attempts had failed because they were too slow or made the voice sound strange. He found a clever mathematical shortcut that made his program work quickly and smoothly.
When Auto-Tune was first created, the goal was to use it as a secret tool to fix small mistakes and make singers sound their best.
A Tool for Fixing and Fun Effects
The "Cher Effect"
The first major song to use Auto-Tune as a noticeable effect was "Believe" by Cher in 1998. The producers used extreme settings to make her voice jump between notes in a robotic way.
At first, the producers tried to keep their trick a secret, telling people they used a different tool called a vocoder. But soon, everyone learned it was Auto-Tune, and the unique sound became known as the "Cher effect." It was copied by many other artists.
The Italian group Eiffel 65 used a similar effect on their 1999 song "Too Much of Heaven", which was one of the first times Auto-Tune was used for rapping.
The "T-Pain Effect"
In the 2000s, the artist T-Pain began using Auto-Tune in almost all of his songs. He was inspired by older artists who used a tool called a talk box to create a singing, robotic sound. T-Pain became so famous for using Auto-Tune that the style was often called the "T-Pain effect."
His sound influenced many other artists in hip-hop and R&B. Famous musicians like Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West all used Auto-Tune in their music during this time. The effect became a key part of the sound of late 2000s pop and hip-hop music.
Use in Other Music Genres
Auto-Tune isn't just for pop and hip-hop. The rock band Radiohead used it on their 2001 album Amnesiac to make vocals sound strange and distant.
The effect is also popular in country music. Some singers like Faith Hill and Tim McGraw have used it during live shows as a "safety net" to make sure they always sound great. However, other country stars, like Garth Brooks and Martina McBride, have said they prefer not to use it.
Auto-Tune in Pop Culture
Because Auto-Tune is so well-known, it has often been made fun of in TV shows and videos.
- The TV show Saturday Night Live once had a sketch about a rapper who used a "robot voice" in all his songs.
- The musical group The Gregory Brothers became famous for their Songify the News series on YouTube. They used Auto-Tune to turn news clips and speeches from politicians into funny songs. Their "Bed Intruder Song" video was the most-watched YouTube video of 2010.
- Animated shows like The Simpsons and South Park have also made jokes about characters using Auto-Tune to sound like famous singers.
See also
In Spanish: Auto-Tune para niños
- Audio time stretching and pitch scaling
- Melodyne, a similar program
- Robotic voice effects
