The best analogy I can come up with at the moment in this is that Pitch fixing is to singing as mastering is to mixes, or to use another area of the arts...... as Photoshop is to a makeup model's appearance.


Do you need to pitch fix? Do you need to master a mix? Absolutely not in both cases. However, when both or either are used, there is a notable improvement in the overall quality of the mix and the performance.

Of course, that's only my opinion. Whether someone wants to use the technology available today or not is totally up to them. Everyone has heard a normal unprocessed mix.... drab, ordinary, in an OK sort of way... but pop in some EQ, some compression, some reverb and WOW!!!! What a difference.

It was mentioned about some of the big bands and the singers of that time. I don't think mutlitrack recording was in use that that time. As I recall the Beatles were innovators into the multitrack world, recording Sgt Pepper on a 4 track tape machine. Considered really high tech at the time. In the days of the big bands, there were no "lets overdub the vocals" discussions in the studios. One take...one shot....one chance to get it right. Of course, they could always run it again on some new tape and do multiple takes.... but all the musicians had to preform perfectly every time.

I like the comparison to a spellchecker.... yes, these are simply tools that are there to be used by those who wish to do so.

I wouldn't necessarily say that all vocals NEED fixing but I will say that in every vocal track, you can always find something that could be fixed. It's up to the individual at the board to decide.
I'll also say this..... with every vocal track that has come to my studio, yes, there are things that need to be fixed to one degree or another. And I've had some really good singers send me tracks. But again.... what gets fixed and what doesn't is totally, 100% subjective and in the ears of the person listening as to what needs it and what gets it. I think there was only one track that ever came in that I didn't need to fix..... because the studio where it was recorded did the fixing. (I asked if was fixed because it was really really good,,,, the answer was yes)

The only time I would not use it would be if someone asked me specifically not to.....then I'd probably still use it but swear I didn't. "dude, your vocals are THAT good..."

Interesting discussion. Yeah there's folks all over the board on this. You have folks like me who are somewhere in the middle.... use it appropriately, while you have others on both ends of the spectrum.... die hard gotta use it to excess...and purists who say it's the 8th cardinal sin.

To me, it's a tool, like any other in my tool box, to be used at the proper time and in the proper way. I want people to listen to the track and simply say, WOW!!! that singer can sure enough sing.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.