Electronic pitch shifting is the worst thing to happen to pop music

I seriously cannot think of something that annoys me more than pitch shifted vocal runs. Well, you weren't creative enough to think of a lick, but the engineer got some good stuff, and we'll just do it all in pro tools.

I agree, it has become part of the pop sound. It's used on everything, even live. I think if it's used as originally intended - as a slight pitch correction tool - then it's ok, but when overdone on purpose and used as an effect it just sounds dumb.

It kills me. I'm watching VH1 because this is the only time of day that it plays music videos. I mean, whats the point if the only selling point a singer has is their appearance? They don't write the music or the lyrics and now they don't even have to be a good singer.

you guys are acting like this gimick is new. pop music has always relied on style over substance and has always used tricks instead of technique. it sucks but its been done since the 50's in pop music.

rly?

you guys are acting like this gimick is new. pop music has always relied on style over substance and has always used tricks instead of technique. it sucks but its been done since the 50's in pop music.
It isn't really a "gimmick", and you're right, it's not new news that looks can sell records. We're talking about Auto-Tune, which was invented in like 1997. Technique can involve tricks, but what tricks are you referring to in the 50's?

tricks in the 50's such as having labels release records without telling the public the race of the artist in the hopes that it would sell more units. having the pretty singer up front even though they are not the most talented. having studio musicians play on the record but put instruments in the hands of the "band" on stage. lipsyncing+++. having full time producers churn out hit after hit and just apply a name/face to it so that it will sell.

they are still doing this shit today, they just dont hide it as well.

as for anteres auto-tune, i dont think they are using that particular program specifically as the on the fly pitch shifting doesnt really work well (at least on stage) and auto tune doesnt really have the ability to be as subtle to fantastic as the changes you are referring to in real time. AVOX on the other hand does do this and it wouldnt surprise me if that is used as a standard on all records these days. i use it a ton when im working with singers/bands.

as for the gimick, im talking about any gimick, pick your flavor of the month on any pop record for that.

Wait. Pop music lacks substance?

Avox is what they are using more than likely but it can be done also thru Auto Tune. Both are anteres products However most live artists use a hardware rack based pitch correction. Eventide and many others have had these pitch correctors for years.

I hate pitch correction... just sing in key you lazy douchebag singers jeez! I have to do a retake just for dragging my hand slightly on the strings? You can resing a part you fuck up too.

you guys are acting like this gimick is new. pop music has always relied on style over substance and has always used tricks instead of technique. it sucks but its been done since the 50's in pop music.

It's evolved in a sense though...got progressively worse as image has becoming increasingly more important than substance.

I think it's a reflection of a lack of respect for vocals and turn towards 'beats' and presentation. Pitch shifting pretty much kills the emotion in the vocals for me and thus I couldn't give much of a shit about 'artists' who utilize it.