Music and Auto-tune
The Effects of Auto-Tune on the Music Industry
A Term Paper
Presented to
Ms. Edwina Bensal
Department of English and Applied Linguistics
College of Education, De La Salle University
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
Basic Research Skills / English for Specific Purposes (ENGLRES)
2nd Trimester, AY 2010 – 2010
By
Doroja, Juan Marcos R.
Licup, Trisha Anne T.
November 18, 2010
I. Introduction Music demands perfection. In the music of today, Auto-Tune, which is a software plug-in that allows music to be manipulated, has had a hand in the creation of almost 90% of the public’s favorite pop songs in recent times[1]. It has become an indispensable tool in the production process, erasing mistakes and adding effects that would be unheard of in music prior to the 21st century, with the exception of Cher’s 1998 “Believe”, which laid the foundation to the trend in the first place[2]. To this end, the primary aim of the researchers is to flesh out the effects that Auto-Tune has had on the industry as an example of how computer software affects music, and in particular, the artists who make the music. To fully accept the importance of this study, one must acknowledge the fact that music has had a lengthy and tumultuous history for as long as recorded music has existed. The innovations and techniques introduced by new instruments and equipment meant that entire eras came and gone carrying these innovations until new ones emerged. Now, to quote [1], “The most important piece of musical equipment of the last 10 years is not an instrument or a physical object. …It is what’s known as a ‘plug-in’, a specialized piece of software made to be inserted into other, bigger pieces of audio software. Auto-Tune bends off-key notes into pitch perfection.” Auto-Tune broke ground by introducing a new form of innovation unlike the physical media that has changed music before. The importance therefore lies in what this new form of innovation implies in the
A Term Paper
Presented to
Ms. Edwina Bensal
Department of English and Applied Linguistics
College of Education, De La Salle University
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for
Basic Research Skills / English for Specific Purposes (ENGLRES)
2nd Trimester, AY 2010 – 2010
By
Doroja, Juan Marcos R.
Licup, Trisha Anne T.
November 18, 2010
I. Introduction Music demands perfection. In the music of today, Auto-Tune, which is a software plug-in that allows music to be manipulated, has had a hand in the creation of almost 90% of the public’s favorite pop songs in recent times[1]. It has become an indispensable tool in the production process, erasing mistakes and adding effects that would be unheard of in music prior to the 21st century, with the exception of Cher’s 1998 “Believe”, which laid the foundation to the trend in the first place[2]. To this end, the primary aim of the researchers is to flesh out the effects that Auto-Tune has had on the industry as an example of how computer software affects music, and in particular, the artists who make the music. To fully accept the importance of this study, one must acknowledge the fact that music has had a lengthy and tumultuous history for as long as recorded music has existed. The innovations and techniques introduced by new instruments and equipment meant that entire eras came and gone carrying these innovations until new ones emerged. Now, to quote [1], “The most important piece of musical equipment of the last 10 years is not an instrument or a physical object. …It is what’s known as a ‘plug-in’, a specialized piece of software made to be inserted into other, bigger pieces of audio software. Auto-Tune bends off-key notes into pitch perfection.” Auto-Tune broke ground by introducing a new form of innovation unlike the physical media that has changed music before. The importance therefore lies in what this new form of innovation implies in the