autotune
Digital pitch fixer
Autotune is audio processing software that corrects pitch in vocal and instrumental performances, snapping notes to the nearest correct tone.
Used subtly, it's invisible; used aggressively, it creates a robotic, warbling effect that became a signature sound in pop and hip-hop: That song is autotuned to death.
The verb means to apply this effect: They autotuned her voice.
Often used dismissively to suggest a singer lacks natural talent.
Stiff and unemotional
- vocoderSpeech analysis synthesizer
- glitchMinor system fault
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- processedSubjected to operations
quantized · snapped · corrected · smoothed · unnatural · metallic · stepped · warble
Pitch-corrected R&B performer
Frequency of sound
- intonationPitch variation in speech
- falsettoArtificially elevated singing register
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
vibrato · note · flat · sharp · key · register · sustain · phrasing
Red supergiant in Scorpius
Rhythmic spoken-word music
- trapDevice for catching animals
- R&BSoulful pop genre
- popFizzy drink, regionally
- EDMBeat-driven club genre
reggaeton · dance · hyperpop · K-pop · crunk · electropop · synth-pop · mainstream
Made, not natural
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- talentlessHaving no special abilities
- overusedEmployed too frequently
robotic · fake · processed · manufactured · soulless · sterile · crutch · lazy
Combining into one mass
- masteringAttaining full command
- studioCreative professional's workspace
- recordingCaptured audio or video
- trackingMonitoring location over time
sound-design · engineering · effects · post-production · overdub · compression · equalization · layering
robotic
Stiff and unemotional
- vocoderSpeech analysis synthesizer
- glitchMinor system fault
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
processed · quantized · snapped · corrected · smoothed · unnatural · metallic · stepped · warble · flutter
T-Pain
Pitch-corrected R&B performer
pitch
Frequency of sound
- intonationPitch variation in speech
- falsettoArtificially elevated singing register
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
harmony · vibrato · note · flat · sharp · key · register · sustain · phrasing · tone
Antares
Red supergiant in Scorpius
- pluginModular software extension
- DAWAudio production software
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
real-time · MIDI · tracking · formant · humanize · chromatic
hip-hop
Rhythmic spoken-word music
EDM · reggaeton · dance · hyperpop · K-pop · crunk · electropop · synth-pop · mainstream
artificial
Made, not natural
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- cheatingDeceptive rule-breaking
- talentlessHaving no special abilities
overused · robotic · fake · processed · manufactured · soulless · sterile · crutch · lazy · gimmick
mixing
Combining into one mass
- masteringAttaining full command
- studioCreative professional's workspace
- recordingCaptured audio or video
tracking · sound-design · engineering · effects · post-production · overdub · compression · equalization · layering · stacking
viral
Spreading quickly online
- memesSelf-propagating cultural units
- parodySatirical imitation
- mainstreamDominant cultural current
- Auto- wordsautomobile, autopilot, autocorrect, autobiography, autograph
- SoundCloud RapLil Uzi Vert, SoundCloud, mumble rap, Juice WRLD, lo-fi beats
- audio equipmentspeakers, microphone, headphones, amplifier, amplifiers
- music productioncomposing, synthesizer, producing, arranging, songwriting
- audio effectsreverb, delay, flanger, chorus effect, phaser
- audio technologydigital audio, audio engineering, sound design, audio mixing, signal processing
autotunea cappella
Singing without instruments
unplugged · unpitched · human error · off-key · off-key singing
autotunelo-fi
Imperfect audio quality, informally
analog recording · live recording · stripped-down · unproduced · unedited