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.

Review of the Turbine Pro Copper In-Ear Speakers.

    If you're like me, then you would agree when I said music plays a major influence and role in your life. So you would understand when it comes to chosing what headphones or devices to play back your music is very important. Recently, I became intrested in purchasing a new pair of all purpose headphones. I wanted to be able to work out, and just listen to music on the go. I made a budget then set off to do my research as I always do before making a larger than normal purchase. I had so many choices, I felt a little overwhelemd. There are different types such as in-ear, ear buds, and over the ear. Within these there are Noise Isolating and Noise Cancelling, which typically cost a bit more. With a little reviewing I quickly threw out the over the ear due to them being bulky and the ear bud due to the quality lacking. The reason ear buds lack in quality is because they let noise in and out from not producing a proper seal. This is where in-ear is strong and provides better quality. You have tips provided with most of the in-ear headphones you buy to make a better fit to your personal ears to create a seal to insure the best seal possible to keep sound from leaking and sound from entering from the outside.  In-ear are also more durable and lightweight so your able to use them almost anywhere.
    After looking for some time it came down to the monster turbine pro copper versus pro gold. The regular turbine (not pro) $179.95, the gold retails for $299.99 and copper $399.99. They are called turbine after their turbine design. There is also an additional option in this line called the miles davis for $499.99 and most of these come with a control talk version as well. The pro versions are designed for audiophiles and audio professionals. You might ask why is copper more expensive. Well supposedly copper is more of a conductor than gold therefore making the quality of the copper more supperior to the gold. The turbines in paticular come with a wide variety of ear tips to assure you get the best fit possible. So I looked around for the best price and made my purchase and ended up with the pro copper. They are the first headphones I've ever heard of having to have a "break in" process. They sounded great out of the box but when they had a chance to break in they started to sound nothing short of amazing. When listening to songs I knew by heart I heard sounds and tones I've never heard before. Needless to say, I fell in love.
    These headphones are so high end they are called in-ear speakers,giving you a slight idea of the power that comes behind these. The bass has a decent punch with a great balance of lows, mids, and highs. They provide something called supertips, which are Monster's patent pending sound isolating tips. They consist of an outside foam and inside gel which forms to your ear. When I first used these I was amazed. I didn't hear anything on the outside. Only my music was heard which was a pleasant surprise. Your able to hear every detail possible with these headphones. The headphone's features are as follows: Advanced In-ear Speaker Design, All-Metal Housing, Pro Strain Relief, MicroStrand Conductors, Patented magnetic FluxTube, and 24k Gold-Plated Contacts. So you might say what makes these worth the $399.99 in today's economy. Well, they might not be for someone just wanting to listen to music, because there are many pairs to meet those needs with a much cheaper price tag. However, if your into producing music (guitar or other instrumental recording) these would be a great choice. If your serious about your music, like I am, then these are also a great choice.
    Perhaps this detail will be a deal breaker. Perhaps you're too hard on your headphones, you have a dog who chews them up, or you drop them in water. Most likely with other headphones you would take a loss of $399.99, but not with Monster... for one time atleast. They are willing to replace your headphones, no questions asked, one time within your life... you heard it right 1 time in your life!!! Thats amazing considering that's double the value of your headphones. Therefore, instead of making these worth $399.99, you basically have two pairs for $399.99, making the average around $200.00 a piece. That aspect has brought me peace of mind, considering I will work out with these and I have been known to pull on the cord by accident and rip them out, as well as my last pair went to my puppy. So far I've been very satisfied with my headphones purchase and have been amazed in how far music technology has progressed over time. In conclusion, if you're in the market for some headphones and have the money to spend, these are a great choice!

Soon I will add a video of an open box of the actual headphones. Thanks!

The Pros vs. Cons of the Apple TV

The Apple TV sold in stores today is not the same as the original Apple TV idea. The original Apple TV has been discontinued and Apple has started selling the black second version. Many people have a distorted idea on what the Apple TV actually is. The Apple is NOT like a TV that you would originally think of. It's a small device about the size of your palm that allows you to do certain things not applicable on a normal television set. The device connects into your TV and you can control what you watch from a remote, MacBook, or iPad. You can rent HD movies, watch Netflix instantly, rent TV shows, and stream photos and music from your computer to your TV.


We'll start with the pros of the Apple TV. One of the pros is its small and sleek design. Tech savvy people are everywhere these days and demanding the "coolest" devices with unique and easy to use designs. The size is small and extremely fast in speed. Another plus regardig the Apple TV is consumer friendly interface. The interface is easy to use and navigate through. Along with the interface, the remote is very simple to use and navigate through the interface. The upgrades of different ports including an HDMI port allow easy connection between the Apple TV device and the newest and latest technology in televisions. The Apple TV streams the data from the Apple TV onto your television set rather quickly and without problems. In addition, it is also cheaper than the mac mini.

Now for the cons of the Apple TV. For one, it has limited capabilities. It cannot play CD's, DVD's, or record programming such as a DVR would do. The different connection cables (for example, the HDMI cord) have to be purchased separately. This cord is basically needed in the attempt to connect the Apple TV with your own television console. In addition, the Apple TV is not compatible with older televisions which may cause a problem for some people. The processor cannot be updated so if there were to be a new version to come out, you would just have to buy the product all over again at a pretty high price, leading to our next point. The Apple TV may seem relatively expensive to some regarding its capabilities. Presently, the Apple TV costs $99. In addition, when streaming from Netflix, the resolution is dependent upon your Wi-Fi connection and therefore data could be lost. Also, the DVD rentals are said to come out the day it's released but that seems not to be the case. At times, it takes up to a month for a new movie to come out. One last negative about the Apple TV is consumers simply do not know about the product. Apple could do a much better job in putting this product into consumer's minds when out purchasing a TV or looking into a Netflix account.

The Apple TV would suit different people in different ways. If your extremely tech savvy and like immediacy and the latest movies and apps, then the Apple TV may still be lacking. On the other hand, if you are a consumer just looking for a "cool" and sleek toy to watch a couple movies and TV shows here-and-there, then this may be the perfect device for you!