I know that there is some confusion about my stance on the use of pitch correction and quantization. I do not know why my choice to not use those tools is so befuddling to some people, as I don’t find it strange at all. So I thought that I would try to explain it better to clear things up.
Pitch correction – the use of software to fix a vocal or instrument line that may be off key – is fine for people to use. I, personally, have never used it that much because I never had access to it until recently (plus, I didn’t sing before to need it). Therefore, it never became a part of my process. But, I will admit, that sometimes it just doesn’t sound good. I would rather hear a human be off-pitch and a robot being perfectly in tune.
So I care if other people use it? No. My choice to avoid it is just that, my choice. I do what I feel is right for me and my music, and other will do the same. If pitch correction is a part of their flow, then great. I choose to go a different route. I am aware that people are used to hearing pitch perfect vocals, and mine probably grate like nails on a chalkboard to some. Those people are free to either suffer through it =, or they can skip to the next song.
No one is being forced to listen to my music (I hope), and they can exercise free will and choose to listen to anything else.
Quantization – the process of aligning beats to a grid for consistency – is also fine for others to use. A single click of a button can often make those slight timing errors disappear. In fact, if it is just a matter of fixing on note or drum hit, then I will go in and fix it. If it requires any more than that, I re-record. Fixing a single small error is one thing, but fixing an entire drum track with quantization risks making the drums sound too mechanical (especially if they are, in fact, live drums that have some swing or swagger to it).
If it is more than a snare hit or a kick drum hit that needs tweaking, then I re-record the section instead of trying to fix it all. Why? There are 2 reasons: 1) I don’t like the sound of quantized real drums, and 2) It’s a matter of pride to do it similarly as they did it back in the classic rock era of the 60s-80s. A third reason would be that it is often quicker to just re-record a part than to try to edit it, depending on the part.
And, for the record, my timing is pretty good, despite all I have working against me. Therefore, it isn’t like I would need to rely heavily on quantization anyway. Now, I will admit that I could use pitch correction on my vocals. I’m not a singer by any means. But I still won’t use it. Either take it or leave it….
A side note: I have used quantization in the past, and will likely use it again. But probably not on this project. I also did entertain pitch correcting a singer I worked with, but chose not to in the end. I do not shun these tools, I just don’t want to use them.
I started recording in around 2000, and I have never once had access to those tools for the bulk of that time. I have recorded in a pro studio in the 1990’s. There were none of these tools available then, either (it was recorded onto ADAT (Alesis Digital Audio Tape), not on a computer.
it’s only honestly a big deal that I don’t use it to the people who are too used to hearing corrected music. otherwise I’m not sure why people even care. if you don’t like it, don’t listen.