The use of Autotune was once a polarizing subject. Some felt that it was just another tool one could use to add texture and character to a song, while others felt it was a form of trickery, a way to bypass the minimum level of vocal ability necessary to be a successful artist. Cher, Daft Punk, Kanye West, and a number of others made sure to assert that pitch manipulation was a digital instrument just like any other, and it is now commonplace to add a touch of Autotune to professional recordings. Almost all songs on the radio have it, and many artists even throw it on their performance vocals.
Have you ever wondered how Autotune is used during live shows? The following is a breakdown of how to do it yourself; what you need, how to set it up, and how to make sure your vocals sound polished without going overboard.
1. What Is Autotune?
Autotune is a software that listens to the note you’re singing and shifts it to the closest correct note in real-time. In order to do this it must know the scale you’re singing in to pitch-correct properly (this is what lets it know what note you’re trying to sing). The result can either be subtle or obvious depending on how you tweak the settings. The more extreme settings give a robotic or futuristic sound (think T-Pain), while more subtle settings gently correct small pitch issues and often go unnoticed.
2. Equipment You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to run autotune for live performances:
- A Computer
You’ll need a laptop or desktop computer to run the software; it should be reliable enough to handle real-time processing without lag. A decent RAM of 8GB or more and a fast processor should do the trick. - Autotune Software
There are a few autotune software options for you to choose from. The most widely used is Antares Autotune, but others include Waves Tune Real-Time and Melodyne. Make sure you pick a version that works for live performances as some are designed more for studio recordings. - Audio Interface
An audio interface is what connects your microphone and computer, allowing the sound from your mic to be processed in your software. For real-time processing you’ll need an interface that has low latency. Popular audio interfaces include the Focusrite Scarlett series or Universal Audio’s Apollo Twin. - Microphone
You’ll need a good quality mic; there are so many to choose from, a standard dynamic microphone should work just fine! If you want more detail on the vocals try a condenser mic, but remember that condensers can be more sensitive to background noise. You may get a different sound from a soundcheck with few people in the room compared to a show with an excited crowd. - In-Ear Monitors (IEMs)
In-ear monitors (IEMs) are small ear pieces that allow you to hear yourself clearly during performance. It’s much easier to sing when you can hear yourself over the crowd and speaker output. - Cables
Now to connect everything. You’ll need an XLR cable for your microphone, USB or Thunderbolt cables to connect your audio interface to the computer, and potentially other connectors depending on your setup.
3. How to Set Up
Connect Your Equipment
- Connect your microphone to the audio interface using an XLR cable
- Plug your audio interface into your computer
- Open the autotune software on your computer either as a standalone app or as a plugin within a digital audio workstation (DAW) like Ableton, Logic, or Pro Tools.
Select the Key and Scale
Make absolutely sure you set the correct key and scale for your song! Autotune works by correcting your voice to fit within the key of the music, so make sure to select the right one. If you’re not sure about the key, you can ask your bandmates, use an app, or find a website to figure it out. This setting is easy to find in Antares – it’s usually right at the top of the plugin window.
Adjust the Retune Speed
The retune speed determines how quickly autotune corrects your pitch. For a more natural sound, set the retune speed to a slower setting. For the iconic robotic sound (like Travis Scott), crank the retune speed to its fastest setting. A good starting point for subtle autotune is around 25-50 milliseconds of retune speed. For heavy autotune, drop it down to 0-10 milliseconds.
Enable Low-Latency Mode
Latency is basically lag. It’s the delay between when you sing into the microphone and when you hear the autotuned result in your monitor. To prevent this delay from being noticeable (which can throw off your performance), most autotune software includes a low-latency mode. Be sure to enable this to keep everything running smoothly in real-time.
Use Your In-Ear Monitors
Make sure your in-ear monitors are working properly so you can hear your voice clearly during the performance. These monitors will let you hear the autotuned version of your voice as you sing which will help you stay on track.
4. Performance Tips
There are a couple things to keep in mind before the show to make sure everything runs smoothly. Make sure to:
Test your setup beforehand
Do a full run-through with autotune active to check for any latency issues, audio dropouts, or glitches. Have someone stand in different areas of the room to make sure everything is level from every seat in the house.
Keep it subtle
Unless you’re specifically going for a heavily processed sound, it’s best to use autotune subtly in live performances. Too much processing can sound unnatural and distract from your performance. It’s also very destabilizing for singers to produce one sound and hear something that is drastically different come back at you. It’ll be easier to deliver a stellar performance if the autotune is just right.
Watch your pitch control
Even though you’re pitch correcting, try to stay as close to the right note as possible. Autotune is designed to clean up minor imperfections, not completely change your vocal output. The closer you are to the correct note, the more natural the correction will sound.
5. Pedals and Other Live Vocal Effects
There are other ways to manipulate your vocals when performing live that are separate from Autotune. You can add delay, reverb, compression, a harmonizer, or live loops to add character and fullness to your performance. This is usually done through your DAW, which allows you to run a vocal chain (series of effects) on your microphone output during live performances. It can also be done physically with the use of pedals, which is the preferred method for artists who like being able to control their vocals manually.
If you’re looking for pedals, there are quite a few to choose from depending on what you’re looking for. The TC Helicon VOICETONE C1‘s primary function is tuning, while the Flamma FV01 and BOSS VE-22 include tuning in addition to other vocal effects.
All you need to do to set up your vox pedal is to plug your microphone cable into the pedal, which is then routed to your PA (speakers).
Conclusion
Using autotune in live performances doesn’t have to be intimidating! With the right equipment and a little practice, you can easily integrate it into your setup and finesse your vocals. Whether you want to correct small pitch issues or go all out with an electronic sound, autotune can give you that professional edge.
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