Atticus Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Often when I go out for lunch I get exposed to radio music. Seems like a lot of crap can get on the radio these days if it has a bit of auto-tune. Why is that so attractive to the average listener? I mean, I can see the gimmick-newness attraction for awhile, but it's been eons since Cher belieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeved in love. Got that song in your head now, huh? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 If applying autotune makes talentless singers sound good, then why stop... The average listener will always eat what is fed to them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 lamrod nailed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I think the average listener just thinks that's how that style of music is supposed to sound... whether it's being used to hide a singer's lack of talent or not is beside the point. Reminds me a lot of the psychedelic vocal effects used by some in the late 60's & 70's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Me and my kids like to make fun of autotuned songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 good for you dubya Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RaspberryJam Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 I end up listening to one of the pop stations occasionally because I have tween kids and I use the opportunity to talk about how to be a critical listener, the use of sexual content to sell, appealing to the lowest common denominator, etc. I like to tell myself that anyway. It pretty much consists of me saying, "Listen to this, this is crap! The autotune hurts my ears! I HATE this song, I'm turning it." My son was in 5th grade last year and they were studying the ear and hearing. His teacher went into how autotune works so now my son can at least recognize it when he hears it. Apparently he told the teacher how much his mom hates autotune. Maybe there's hope yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hixter Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 I'm pretty sure that Auto-Tune, when used correctly, is difficult or impossible to discern. It's typically used to make corrections to minor instances of off-pitch vocals and instruments, but the modern artists are stretching it to its limits and purposely creating those horrible effects because they're "in." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted September 14, 2013 Author Share Posted September 14, 2013 Right, I'm just wondering what makes it "in." The novelty? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hixter Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 I guess so. You'd think people would be tired of it by now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 The only radio I listen to is NPR plus Sirius once a year in a rental car. I haven't really heard any current hits for many years. I have no idea what Auto-tune effects sound like. Could someone please provide a basic description? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hixter Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 Cher's vocal effects: http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/top10autotune.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RaspberryJam Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 The only radio I listen to is NPR plus Sirius once a year in a rental car. I haven't really heard any current hits for many years. I have no idea what Auto-tune effects sound like. Could someone please provide a basic description? Thanks.It's like someone stabbed your ear with a hot knitting needle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 I guess there are two usages, but I don't know for sure. There is the slight pitch correction and then there is the distortion effect. I saw Robert Glasper and his group at Chicago Jazz Fest a couple weeks ago and one of his band members used it constantly for effect. After awhile I simply couldn't take it any more. There was nothing I could do about it of course, but it just pissed me off. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I'm pretty sure that Auto-Tune, when used correctly, is difficult or impossible to discern. It's typically used to make corrections to minor instances of off-pitch vocals and instruments, but the modern artists are stretching it to its limits and purposely creating those horrible effects because they're "in." This is true. Sometimes it's pretty well hidden, and other times if you listen carefully it's in there trying to make someone "perfect" and you can hear it subtly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 This is true. Sometimes it's pretty well hidden, and other times if you listen carefully it's in there trying to make someone "perfect" and you can hear it subtly. Yeah just turn on any pop country radio station and you can hear it on every song. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Yeah just turn on any pop country radio station and you can hear it on every song. Bingo! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Yeah just turn on any pop country radio station and you can hear it on every song. why would anyone ever want to do that? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bosco Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 There is an app for that, download it onto your phone, record your voice and hear for yourself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Yeah just turn on any pop country radio station and you can hear it on every song. why would anyone ever want to do that?There are no other radio stations in the area or you are curious about what is being played on shitty country stations instead of listening to the shitty auto-tune songs on shitty contemporary pop stations.(Compared to some of the shit on pop stations, the country shit isn't so bad.) LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 There are no other radio stations in the area or you are curious about what is being played on shitty country stations instead of listening to the shitty auto-tune songs on shitty contemporary pop stations.(Compared to some of the shit on pop stations, the country shit isn't so bad.) LouieB Like Kacey Musgrave and Ashley Monroe (both of whom I'd be shocked to find out they've been autotuned, especially Ashely who has a lisp on a few songs). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tinnitus photography Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 when my iPod freezes up, i switch to satellite radio until i reboot it. or i listen to the MIT station in the morning. that's about the extent of radio listening for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I will always have a soft spot in my heart for country radio. It is the one format that still has a big fan base (apropos of your comments about not listening to radio.) If you watch the CMAs (which I am sure you don't) the artists always thank the country radio listeners. And despite some terrible things being played on all radio these days, the country artists are actually trying to write songs. Mostly I was referring to driving cross country, not listening in the city.. Country radio is sometimes all there is. There may be an oldies station too, but it is interesting to tune into the local country station and listen to what is going on, both musically and locally. Sure it is cheesy, but country music culture has always been cheesy. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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