Auto-tuning: Is It Really Music?

Music today isn't all it used to be. It seems like every time I turn on the radio music is moving more and more away from real instruments to machines that can make any type of instrumental sound. But the instrumental music isn't the only thing being replaced by computers. Singers have now begun to use a program to correct or modify their voices called auto-tune. This program, in my opinion, gives off a fake sound that does not really sound like music. If you go on iTunes and look at the Top 10 Most Popular Songs, at least half of those songs have had the singers voice used with auto-tune. Does this mean that auto-tune makes these songs more popular? Or do so many new (and old) artists use this program now that it is almost impossible to make a hit or sound different without it?

The auto-tune program was first created to disguise imperfections or small pitch mistakes in a singers tone when he or she sings off-key. Auto-tunes main purpose is to move or bend a singers pitch slightly to the nearest true semitone of the music. There are many artists and producers that like to use auto-tune to dramatically change the voice of the singer, in which case makes the song sound more robotic.

I am a fan of music that you can hear every string on a guitar being strummed, and hearing a real pitch change coming from the singers voice, so my opinion on auto-tune is not a very positive one. I appreciate music in which the artists have true talent, and are not just lucky enough to know someone who can work a computer program. I can see some pros of auto-tune in that it can correct minor pitch mistakes so that the song can me more enjoyable to listen to for the consumer, but having a song entirely with auto-tune can be a little much and takes away from music's artistic side. Using auto-tune too much can take away from the reality of an artists talent, and how well that artist may be able to perform on a live stage. So, is auto-tuning really better for the listener in the sense of a concert atmosphere?

One recent example of how someone can get a hit by using auto-tune is of a recent instant star named Rebecca Black. Her song that is sweeping the world called "Friday" is clearly edited with auto-tune to make her voice seem as though she is a good singer. The fact that someone can become popular with a song like this over someone with true talent has completely blown my mind. And not to put down young Rebecca, but I would rather someone with an amazing singing voice actually have a hit for a change. Below is the link for Rebecca Black's new song, in case someone needs proof of the robotic sound of the voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2LRROpph0

Auto-tune really has changed the way music industries produce and sell music to the public. And for good music's sake I hope auto-tune takes a down fall very soon. When music becomes difficult to distinguish the artists voice from a robot it may be time to re-evaluate that singers ability to sing in a live concert as apposed to a computer controlled studio.