In today’s digital age everything that you can possibly think of has been digitized. Everything from toothbrushes to clothing. One area that has long been digital though at times obscure is the music scene. Ever listen to a band or artist and hear them slide off of the occasional key? On the other end of the spectrum have you ever listened to a CD and realize that without looking at the display of your player you wouldn’t be able to tell if you player was stuck on repeat as every song sounded the same? That ever repeating sound is a by-product of the digital age and “auto-tuning”.
Many “musicians” use auto-tuning as they don’t want to hear the imperfections in their voices. Personally I see auto-tuning as “anti-musician”. If you are truly a musician than you don’t need any digital help what so ever. One sickening example of auto-tuning can be found by listening to any pop CD made within the last 5 years. All of the “perfectness” you hear is a machine. Is it sad that people who can’t sing are making millions “singing”? Yes. But that’s just life. Not all is lost. While the pop scene has digitized itself beyond recognition, Rick Rubin, a well known rock producer doesn’t buy into the auto-tuning movement. He feels much the same as I do in that real musicians sound good without digital help.
Besides making a CD sound completely repetitive, auto-tuning removes the subtle off key moments in music that generally add to the experience. Now you might be asking how can being off-key sound good. It’s hard to explain and really you just have to hear it to understand it. It’s basically the inconsistencies and subtle differences that help discern one track from another giving them a personality all on their own.
Digital is the way of the future, though as with all things, too much of a good thing doesn’t always mean good returns.
