Will I Am Explains Vocoder Takes Skill, Auto-Tune Doesn't

[OverbearingUrge]

Uh... All of that stuff he did and mentioned being specific to a vocoder, you can do the same with auto-tune. In fact, I wonder if Will.i.am actually does know the difference. He keeps saying that he has "to think" with the vocoder, but implies that you don't with auto-tune. You still need a solid understanding of music theory to properly and best use auto-tune. He goes on and on about having to "think" and "use his brain" but he never actually explains the difference.

[OverbearingUrge]

If you're wondering what the actual difference is:

A vocoder actually mixes the synth's sound with the vocal input. Basically, it combines and mixes togther two different inputs where one directly affects the other.

Auto-tune takes your input and uses time-stretching and pitch shifting to manipulate the vocal input to its closest allowed note. It will bend the pitch up or down, depending on what is closest.

[TheFederalDrugs]

The real problem here is not the fact he's using a "Vocorder", who cares? It's the fact he's using one of the worst "Vocorders" on the market, the MicroKorg, which is frankly pants.

[jwul28]

... South Park SO needs to make a parody of this!!! It'd worth gold, i gotta send them the idea!!

[jwul28]

Wowww. we can hear his true not-computed voice over the stupid "vocorder"... And it sounds TERRIBLE!! again, wow....

[MrPolishapple]

Vocoder... Vocoder... Vocoder...

[VanRossen123]

he should release this as a song!

[shindogg]

well ya no wut? i dont giv a shit wutcha say ya use or da diffrence iz, cuz it sound all da same ta me on a song by sumbody: GAY! last time it sounded tight on a song was when roger troutman was on 2pacs "california love". i cant think of a single song bsidez dat where it actually sounded good & not stupid (which i mean n da original way of bein dumb, not da new slang which means da same as "mad" did n da old skool era) ppl need 2 sing 4 real, not fake wit a robotic voice.

[ctr1969]

Instead of having 15 reality shows dedicated to finding that perfect singer/superstar, find some decent ass songwriters and producers who are trying to catch a break to write and produce for these artists now. We don't have any Joni Mitchell, James Carmichael, Quincy Jones, Jam & Lewis, BabyFace, Brian Eno, Mutt Lange, etc. for this generation. A lot of the producers now are beat makers producing value menu material.

[shindogg]

@ctr1969 lol @ value menu. made me get hungry

[ctr1969]

Stevie Wonder, Peter Frampton, Roger Troutman, Herbie Hancock mastered the use of the talk box. It's not the talk box or even auto tune that is terrible. But....the over use of them by every artist trying to jump on board to have that hot song of the moment. The HUGE problem of the music industry today is too many non skilled producers being contracted to produce hits for artists.

[migez1]

Maybe you can use your brain to come up with some of your own beats.

[StackCityEntOfficial]

Fergie killed the Black Eyed Peas.

[jas68maro]

please dude. auto tune and vocoder are both super lame. vocoder might take more skill than autotune but its still very very very little skill needed. fuck this shit. its garbage. black eyed peas fucking suck.

[GetThisThingCrunk]

@jas68maro Vocoder was also used by Peter Frampton, Electric Light Orechestra, Styx, Alan Parsons Project,  Aerosmith and Pink Floyd.

[GetThisThingCrunk]

@jas68maro correction, Peter Frampton and Aerosmith use Talk Box,

[jas68maro]

@GetThisThingCrunk Whats your point?

[GetThisThingCrunk]

@jas68maro You're claiming that vocoders suck so I listed bands that use them that don't suck. What did you think my point was? You don't think any of those musicians are valuable? Who do you like?

[scoe1972]

This shit is STILL doing the Work FOR YOU!!

You may have to Play the Chords but if you CAN'T SING for real, you are NOT gonna lay down RAW Vocals and hit the Notes RIGHT!

From what I'M seeing, You Sing into the mic while playing the Notes and the Instrument distributes your voice to each note correctly.. NO DIFFERENCE!!!!

I'll take REAL LIVE RAW VOCAL TALENT PLZ!!!!

[OverbearingUrge]

@scoe1972 No. A vocoder actually mixes the input and provides minute frequency modulation to the input. Auto-tune will snap your A# vox to a D. A vocoder will modulate and mix your A# with a D note, producing a chord. It might sound like semantics, but they function in a very, very different way for specific uses. T-Pain really should be using a vocoder instead of autotune. Producers use auto-tune for robot vox because they really don't know what they're doing and it's easy/lazy.

[octane787]

This shitt is wack..Auto-tune sound better...

and they both fake like plastice flower.

as long as u use electric in your music... it's all the same .. call it whatever u want.. lie to your soul how ever u like...

just another plastic flower

[OverbearingUrge]

@octane787: Actually, auto-tune is a really poor way to achieve that robotic voice effect. T-Pain, Chris Browz, etc. all use a lot of additional effects to emphasize the robotic sound from auto-tune. This usually includes several chorus passes and possibly a few other envelope passes.

[Nebzz]

Someone autotune this

[payazo1994]

Its funny cause T-pain still shits on this dark ass wesley snipes over here

[evanguy]

It's vocorder! Vooooocooorrrderrr!

[calumjlindsay]

the problem is not the vocoder/autotune will.i.am, it's your terrible, terrible songwriting.

[antoniostarlizos]

@calumjlindsay the problem is not his songwriting, calumjlindsay, it's your jealous, sorry ass. :)

[calumjlindsay]

@antoniostarlizos black eyed peas fan eh? i like it how people equate not liking something that is massively successful with jealousy. nothing to do with jealousy mate, i just hate his music passionately.

[KYLASCUTE]

@calumjlindsay That terrible, terrible songwriter has 7 grammys. How many do you have?

[calumjlindsay]

@KYLASCUTE eleven

[OverbearingUrge]

@KYLASCUTE: Because the Grammy's are all about integrity and creativity, right? Everyone knows the Grammy's are a complete joke. They have been for years.

[saintpatrickw]

The level of your lame cannot be measured or comprehended

[telemachia]

Stop saying "Vocorder", dummy.

[OverbearingUrge]

@telemachia: Of course he doesn't know how to pronounce it. He doesn't even seem to know how it works, or actually how it's different from auto-tune. And this guy has won music industry awards? Really? He's regarded as a world-class producer? Really? The likes of Brian Eno, Rick Rubin, Steve Albini, DJ Shadow, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre and Butch Vig could bury this guy. Will.i.am got famous by heavily sampling already famous works. That is hackery at its finest. Quincy Jones you are not, Will.

[2010lockealt]

Let's see.. power on microKORG... turn nob to vocoder, select pattern 6-8, use keyboard. This = skill? I must be skilling my pants off during jam sessions at home.

[qCOMODOp]

Yeah that looks well hard to me haha

[jucebaby]

i dont care both things are shit 

[TheArchDook]

thanks for this man