Autotune and Logic

Question

Level 2

363 points

Autotune and Logic

When I use Protools, I use Autotune only in the graphical mode to tune up small sections of a vocal track. I always use the Audiosuite version of A/T. I never insert it as a plugin.

A few questions:

1. How do you use A/T in Logic? Do you just bounce the section? If so, can you bounce "in place" in Logic?

2. Would Melodyne be better than A/T for Logic?

Dual 2.5Ghz 2004; 2.5GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Dec 18, 2006 10:02 PM

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Answer 1

tbirdparis

Level 5

5,524 points

Dec 18, 2006 10:11 PM in response to lwilliam

I would look into the new plug in version of melodyne. I just got it (free update for registered users), and it's great in logic. works really well, sounds great. and as a plus you can easily fix timing and feel as well as pitch, unlike with AT.

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Answer 2

lwilliam Author

Level 2

363 points

Dec 19, 2006 9:43 AM in response to tbirdparis

Thanks. I checked out their site and videos. I'll download the demo and give it a whirl. Until recently, they only had rewire capabilities. The plugin seems to be a lot easier to use.

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Answer 3

Dec 19, 2006 11:59 AM in response to lwilliam

Another vote for Melodyne, the plug sounds great. Do remember to read the manual, it's a weird bird.

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Answer 4

toby

Level 2

330 points

Dec 20, 2006 12:02 AM in response to lwilliam

In regards to Auto-Tune: You can use the graphic mode in Logic with Auto-Tune, although I believe there have been versions of Auto-Tune that were buggy in that matter. Auto-Tune 5 works great here, because you don´t have to play from the exact same start all the time anymore.

Anyways, I don´t use the graphic mode any more, because Waves Tune and Melodyne are miles ahead in terms of sound and flexibility!
What Auto-Tune is still good for though, is the "classic" auto mode. Quick tuning of 16 backing tracks, great - would take hours in melodyne or Waves Tune...
Toby

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Answer 5

Dec 20, 2006 8:35 AM in response to lwilliam

Anyone using Autotune instead of Melodyne should start wearing their bellbottoms and 8 track player...

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Answer 6

lwilliam Author

Level 2

363 points

Dec 20, 2006 10:03 AM in response to Kenyatta Beasley1

Aw. C'mon, give me a break. I sold my 8-track almost 3 years ago...but that was a Fostex 8-track 1/4" reel-to-reel - with Dolby C...;)

Actually, I've been using A/T since version 3 in Protools and have v4.4 now. I haven't upgraded to v5 because from v4-v5 is $99 and I can get the crossgrade to Melodyne for around $170.

I tried the Melodyne plugin demo last night - Yeah, it's like A/T times 10. It leaves Autotune VERY seriously in the dust.

Unfortunately, I hav to use A/T on a track because I have to wait for Santa to get me Melodyne. It's even more painful to use in graphic mode with Logic as it is in Protools. At least in PT, you could use the Audiosuite version so no bounce was necessary.

In Logic, it's Cycle on > run A/T > tweak > bounce > import to track. With Melodyne it's pretty much Cycle on > transfer > tweak > done. I suppose you could bounce the whole track when you're done - if you want, but it hardly nudged my System Performance meter, so I don't see that as necessary. The Melodyne plugin is smart: it knows what sections you've used it on and automatically switches on or off in those sections. Maybe A/T 5 is that smart, but there's so much more you can easily do: increase or decrease the gain of a couple of notes by a db or so, nudge a word left or right, etc.

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Answer 7

tbirdparis

Level 5

5,524 points

Dec 20, 2006 5:28 PM in response to toby

What Auto-Tune is still good for though, is the "classic" auto mode. Quick tuning of 16 backing tracks, great - would take hours in melodyne or Waves Tune..

when I first read this I was thinking, yeah you're right.. but then I realised, actually not really.

yes you can go in and nitpick every single syllable in melodyne, similar to what you would do with AT in graphical mode. and yes this would be no fun and would take too long for multiple BV tracks..

but.. you can just as easily stick a melodyne plug in on each track, then do a select all within melodyne and do a bulk pitch correction, with threshold and response settings similar to AT in auto mode. plus, you can also quantize timing in bulk as well, which can work brilliantly for BVs.
then, if there are some notes that get pulled to the wrong pitch, you can easily flip them to the right one. in AT, or the pitch correction plug in logic, you'd have to bypass certain notes, or bypass the plug in via automation, or cut bits of your audio and paste to a separate track and use another AT, or destructively re-pitch certain notes, to deal with the same problem. or even worse, you'd have to juggle your threshold and adjust rate settings to find a compromise which doesn't make bad notes stick out too much.

seriously folks, the new melodyne plug in version is the business. and no I don't work for them... 🙂

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Answer 8

Dec 20, 2006 8:03 PM in response to lwilliam

I downloaded the autotune demo and know L7 will not load all the way and just locks up everytime it tries to validate the autotune pluggin. How can I fix this?

RD

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Answer 9

lwilliam Author

Level 2

363 points

Dec 20, 2006 8:59 PM in response to Rodney Dixon

I'd go on the celemony board and post there. It's probably some simple fix. They are pretty responsive - that's another thing I watched for. I don't know that Antares are as responsive.

I'm running LP 7.2.3 w/10.4.8. I remember there were issues with some plugins and Quicktime in 10.3.9. I think you should upgrade to Tiger. That may also be part of the problem.

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