What Is Autotune? How Pitch Correction Works and How to Get It

Autotune is software that corrects the pitch of a voice by moving each sung note to the nearest note in a chosen key. Used lightly, it fixes small slips so nobody notices. Used hard, it snaps the voice from note to note and gives the robotic sound heard on many pop and hip-hop records. If you want to hear a voice without the effect, the Acapella Extractor can pull the vocal out of a song, though it cannot remove autotune itself.

What does autotune mean?

"Auto-Tune" is a brand name. It was first released by Antares in 1997, and people now use "autotune" for any automatic pitch correction. You will also see it written as "auto tune" or "auto-tune."

The effect became famous after a 1998 pop hit used it on purpose to give the voice a stepped, electronic sound. Since then, it has become a normal tool in studios, and also a recognizable sound on its own.

How does autotune work?

A singer's pitch is always a little off. Even good singers drift a few cents sharp or flat, where a cent is one hundredth of a half step. Pitch-correction software listens to the voice and measures the pitch as the singer goes.

It then does three things.

1. It compares the pitch to a scale. You tell it the key of the song, so it knows which notes are allowed.
2. It finds the nearest allowed note. If a singer is slightly flat on a note, the closest target is the one they were reaching for.
3. It shifts the pitch toward that note. The speed of that shift is the setting that matters most.

Fast and slow settings

Most pitch-correction tools have a speed control, often called retune speed.

• Slow speed. The software moves the pitch gently. Singers keep their natural slides and vibrato. This is the invisible kind of correction.
• Fast speed. The pitch jumps to the target almost instantly. It sounds like a stepped, synthetic voice with no slides between notes.

Pitch correction that people do not notice is common on records. The hard, robotic version is a style choice.

Why it sounds robotic

A natural voice slides between notes, wobbles slightly, and has small changes in tone. Fast correction removes the slides and flattens the wobble, so each note holds a perfectly steady pitch. The result sounds electronic because no human voice stays that still.

Pushing a voice too far from its real pitch can also add a thin, watery sound to the notes. That is one more reason producers keep corrections small when they want it to sound natural.

How to get autotune

There are three common ways.

• Use the one in your DAW. A DAW (digital audio workstation) is the program where you record and mix music. Many of them include a pitch-correction effect, so check the effects list before you buy anything.
• Use a plugin. Several companies sell pitch-correction plugins that you add to your DAW. Some have free trials.
• Use a live processor or app. Hardware units and phone apps apply the effect while you sing, which suits live shows and quick videos.

The basic steps are the same everywhere:

1. Record a clean vocal. A dry recording works best, because echo and reverb confuse the pitch detection.
2. Add the pitch-correction effect on the vocal track.
3. Set the key and scale of the song.
4. Choose the speed. Slow for a natural fix, fast for the robotic sound.
5. Listen and adjust until it sounds the way you want.

If your recording has a lot of room echo, the Reverb Remover can reduce it first. For a vocal with background noise, the Vocal Noise Remover is a closer match.

Can you hear a song without autotune?

Usually not. Autotune is baked into the final recording. The vocal and the correction are one audio file once the song is mixed, and there is no switch to turn it off.

What you can do is listen to the voice by itself, which makes the pitch work easier to hear. Here is how to isolate it with Unmix Studio:

1. Open the Acapella Extractor and sign in with Google. New accounts get 5 free credits.
2. Upload your song. MP3, WAV, M4A and FLAC work, up to 10 minutes.
3. Press the big orange button. The price in credits shows on it first.
4. When it finishes, click the Vocals reel to hear the voice alone. The other reel is the Instrumental.
5. Download the vocal as a 320 kbps MP3 if you want to study it.

Most tools on the site cost 1 credit per minute of song. In our own test, a 4 minute 44 second song split into 6 stems in 56 seconds and cost 5 credits. Heavy backing vocals and reverb can leave a little bleed in the vocal file.

On an isolated vocal, the effect of hard correction is easier to hear. Look for notes that hold dead still and then jump straight to the next pitch with no slide in between.

Can autotune be removed?

The Remove Vocal Effects page is built to reduce effects like reverb and delay and give a drier vocal. Its own description is clear that pitch correction is a different kind of change, and the tool cannot undo it. The same goes for distortion and a vocoder.

If you want a natural sounding version, the practical choices are to find an a cappella or a raw take from the artist, or to record the part again yourself. The Vocal Remover can give you an instrumental of the same song to sing over.

Is autotune cheating?

People disagree, and the answer depends on the style. Pitch correction is standard in modern pop, hip-hop and electronic music, and many listeners hear the effect as part of the sound. Others prefer unprocessed vocals. Live performance is a different matter, since audiences expect to hear the voice as it is sung, and some performers use correction there too.

FAQ

What is autotune in simple terms?

It is software that moves a singer's notes to the nearest correct pitch in a chosen key. At gentle settings it quietly fixes small mistakes, and at fast settings it creates a robotic voice.

What is the difference between autotune and auto tune?

Nothing in meaning. Auto-Tune is the original brand name, and people use all three spellings to mean automatic pitch correction.

Can I hear a vocal without autotune?

Not from a finished song, since the correction is part of the audio. You can isolate the vocal with the Acapella Extractor to hear the voice alone, but the pitch correction stays in it.

How can I get autotune for free?

Check the effects in your DAW first, since many include pitch correction. Some plugins also offer free trials. Prices and terms change, so look at the current offers.

Does using autotune mean someone cannot sing?

No. Many skilled singers use it as a production choice, for the sound or to save time fixing small slips.