Max Q Quartet "Smile, Darn Ya, Smile/Powder Your Face with"

[danwright32]

this song always does exactly what it says and makes me smile. thanks for making my day brighter

[jonathan1234911]

He doesn't breathe in that post!!

[RealityCek]

sorry to bust the lead breathed during the post

[ES942]

there's no auto tune in their albums, use your ears.

[cpjds1]

@ES942 There is definitely auto-tuning happening on their latest album...it's really obvious. I'm not certain about Discovery but it's much less noticeable if it is.

[555Kestrel]

@cpjds1 Barbershop CDs NEVER use autotune! It completely goes against everything that IS BARBERSHOP! For further explanation, see "DanceCakes'" comment.

[cpjds1]

@555Kestrel Have you heard OC Times' two CDs? You can tell by the unnatural "slotting" of notes into their right place. There are advanced algorithms used to tune vocals in inconspicuous ways but if you know what you're listening for, you can tell. I do agree, it goes against what barbershoppers are about...especially considering it's very humble origins. Unfortunately, the contemporary music world is obsessed with perfectly tuned vocals and it's carrying over into acappela music of all kinds :(

[jchenare]

@cpjds1 To be fair that's because OC Times rarely perform a set where they stay in tune... MaxQ should be better than that.

[BHS2011able]

@cpjds1 hey buddy, I know the people in this quartet and they can sing like that without autotune.

[cpjds1]

@BHS2011able I totally agree. They're great and don't need autotune! Unfortunately, it's still being used on their later albums :(.

[t1e1rry]

@cpjds1 it's pretty obvious by this youtube clip that they don't NEED autotune. This is a live concert from 2008 and all the notes are "slotted" into the right place LIVE. Me, myself, I have to ALWAYS use autotune when I do my multitracking, but not these guys.

[Barbershoperlead11]

@cpjds1 reverb not auto tune

[supersingerevan]

@ES942 Yeah, they definitely did, at least on one of their albums. I mean, technically it's probably Melodyne and not Auto-Tune, but the pitch correction is all over the place. It's really unfortunately, since Max Q is SO good at tuning chords. Pitch correction is an unfortunate side effect to perfectionists who will do anything to make sure that every single chord is tuned perfectly. I wish it would go away, especially in a cappella music.

[DanceCakes]

its not auto-tune, its just the mastering software being used by the producers of the albums in an attempt to give the tracks a polished sound.I've heard it on plenty of albums by a variety of vocal groups, many whom I've personally heard sing perfectly in-tune live.

[guibox3]

Tony breaths on this at the end here but on the CD recording he holds that bugger note straight for over 34 seconds. Incredible air and voice control. Nobody can post a note like Tony de Rosa

[555Kestrel]

@guibox3 Oooh, I don't know about that, because Tim Waurick definitely can! I am not saying that he is better than Tony de Rosa by ANY MEANS, I am just saying that, in my opinion, they are both post masters!

[Rubano5428]

this song is so much fun!

[ViceroyKye]

Ive heard them live. They dont use autotune. Theyre just really freaking good. Its called being able to sing.

[sephiroth3782]

@ViceroyKye

no ones saying they can't sing, because clearly, they can, and they're still one of the best quartets out there at the moment. But I think I agree, some bits of their new album sound quite robotic and altered. What annoys me is that their tuning would actually be much better if they didnt use autotune, because I'm assuming autotune works on equal temperament?

[RFDENG4]

This would have been a treat to listen to, but some moron kept giggling like a little school girl during the most impressive parts.... made it extremely difficult to enjoy. Especially during the best parts. Such a bummer!

[awall017]

i believe the guy is giggling somewhere near the beginning and def at the end becuz of what i like to call "music chills".

I laughed and felt a tingle shoot through my whole body. I know im not the only one that feels this awesome moment...

[jibcraip]

WHY ON EARTH THIS SUPER GROUP USE AUTO TUNE IN THEIR LAST CD ???? IT'S JUST HORRIBLE. I will not buy their album just for that reason :-(

[JeffG111]

Which CD is that? That is sickening if they really did that. Say it ain't so. :-(

[wolverineks]

how can you tell that they use autotune?

[jibcraip]

If you don't hear that effect in their latest cd...then I believe you're dumb !! It's so unatural... =( same for crossraods...

[ValReif]

What are you talking about? Autotune wouldn't make perfect chords without a ton of work... You know... equal tempered vrs. well tempered vrs. Pythagorean and all? and why the junk would these four need it? They're better than autotune.

Methinks you mistake awesomeness for computer generatedness

[jibcraip]

They sure don't need autotune...but They use it...That's the truth. Or at least they use another pitch corrector if not autotune...You can hear it from the first note...It's sounds robotic.

[ValReif]

They have excessive amounts of reverb and a ton of other effects that aren't natural yes. But I'm 99.9% sure there's no autotuning going on. I can hear the vibrato (although there's very little) in their voice, and it's tuned too well for most pitch correctors. Until I see a written statement from one of them or a note on the album that says they used pitch correction software, I disbelieve.

[jibcraip]

maaan !! I KNOW there's autoning on it...Same for Crossroads, Vocal Spectrum (2nd album), Q Tones, OC Times, Real Group and Lot of others GREAT a cappella group who don't need that...I really don't know why they use it... =(

[sgtsonny]

@jibcraip You're absolutely right man. I don't know why everybody is so aggressive on this subject. It is very obvious that they don't NEED autotune (or else they wouldn't be the world champions) but they really do use it on their albums. Just compare for instance Journey (by Max Q) with Again (by Gotch!). You can very clearly hear that Max Q has used AT and Gotcha! hasn't, but that isn't a bad thing! It's make the excellent sound perfect!

[JoeBourne2]

@jibcraip I actually have the same suspicions for Max Q, not so much for Vocal Spectrum or Crossroads, I think it may be a plug-in maybe for whoever does their recording, I don't want to think they do...but it is possible...and it kind of saddens me...

[swsman28]

Too bad the end is ruined by that dorky guy's laugh in the audience.

[cpjds1]

@swsman28 Don't worry, next time I see them, I won't record anything for you to watch from your house. :P

[paulofthebailey]

@cpjds1 HAHA YES! You told him :) Thanks for posting this man.

[reilejed]

Where can i get this music? anyone? please!! :-)

[Hemicudap]

If you go to the BHS website, go to the music catalog there and find Clay Hine's arrangement (the stock #), you can order it from the BHS.

[mamajamma]

This vid gives me goosebumps everytime i watch it....they have perfect blend and im not afraid to say theyre one of the best of heard in a awhile.

[HighKnee80]

It is a very good intonation with awesome harmonies - if only the record had a better audio quality...

[guibox3]

Probably the most amazing post note I've ever heard (twice!) from the master of the hanger, Tony De Rosa. Unbelievable.

[baddiss74]

that intro is the wickedest intro ive heard!

[krbarbershopman]

he takes a catch breath at 2:18 with the other members' glissandos... still impressive

[dancarpenter21]

Yeah I think he screwed up, because when I saw them do that live he did post it through.

[RyanFlynn91]

Did you ever consider the fact that he did that for experimentation? Because if it was a mistake, it was an AWESOME. I honestly think he did that to try something new, and give the fans something cool to watch.

[JJayHawk9]

he didn't breath he just took it down in volume and distorted the vowel to give it that accordian effect.

[timmylead]

yeah the same thing happens in honey medley...

[smstrik]

Also, this is Tony DeRosa we're talking about. Great guy, loves to goof around on stage. I'm pretty sure he'll do almost anything once

[ubc20]

not just tony derosa....but jeff oxley as well.

[jakethewoz]

that is better than the cd track! they've gotten soooo good; can't wait for the swan set.

[coolsinger016]

Posting an A flat for 27 secounds...Madd nasty

[trevzy]

he does it for 32 or 33 & 1/2 seconds on their CD

[merryohg]

Man, they just keep getting better and better! Awesome stuff!

[ngordon88]

OMG Tony is all over that overtone!!!