OK, I have a question.

What is "in tune"?

As a trombone player with an easily achieved pitch change, I'm like the string player (without frets), I can play the "right" note in any given context.

But what IS the right note?

Bach wrote works for "The well tempered Clavier" and it is still debatable which temperament he meant.

In the western world we are bombarded with "equal temperament" Every semitone is 100 cents from the next, even though this makes "perfect fifths" out of tune.

On the other hand, musicians who play fretless strings and other easily "tuned on the run" instruments (I guess that really only leaves trombones and singers) most often naturally use a "just temperament" which will make Perfect fourths and fifths "in tune" even though they will not match equal temperament.

SO, when using a tool such as Auto Tune, WHAT IS THE RIGHT NOTE? You will get different answers from different artists who use different instruments.

A piano player will have one answer, a violinist will have another. Often singers will have different answers again... There are so many temperaments that, even though by convention we usually use even temperament, most musicians prefer some form of just temperament.

Try this example: I really enjoy listening to the harmonies that barbershop quartets achieve - I reckon a good barbershop quartet is awesome harmony wise. Why? They sing "just temperament" is why. IMHO Autotune would break a barbershop quartet.

Then you have the singers who use "vocal gymnastics" to the same extreme that AT has been used and that many of us find so objectionable. To me, the vocal gymnastics is the singer saying "What is the ##^$@%$&#$@ note?"

So how does AT answer "What is the ##^$@%$&#$@ note?" and is it truly musical?

So I ask again: "What is "in tune"?"

--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
You're only paranoid if you're wrong!