Owner`s manual

6
How Auto-Tune corrects pitch
Auto-Tune works by continuously tracking the pitch of an input sound and
comparing it to a user-defined scale. The scale tone closest to the input is
continuously identified. If the input pitch exactly matches the scale tone,
no correction is applied. If the input pitch varies from the desired scale
pitch, an output pitch is generated which is closer to the scale tone than
the input pitch. (The exact amount of correction is controlled by the Speed
parameter, described below and in Chapter 4.)
Scales
The heart of Auto-Tune pitch correction is the Scale. The AVP comes with
25 preprogrammed scales. For each Scale you can define which notes will
sound and which won’t. And for each note that will sound, you can decide
whether the AVP will apply pitch correction to input pitches near that
note or leave those pitches uncorrected.
You can also edit any of the preprogrammed scales and save your custom
scale as part of a Preset.
Speed
You also have control over how rapidly, in time, the pitch adjustment is
made toward the scale tone. This is set with the Speed control (see Chap-
ter 4 for more details).
• Fast Speed settings are more appropriate for short duration notes and
for mechanical instruments, like an oboe or clarinet, whose pitch
typically changes almost instantly. A fast enough setting will also
minimize or completely remove a vibrato. At the fastest setting, you
will produce the now-infamous “Cher effect.”
• Slow Speed settings, on the other hand, are appropriate for longer
notes where you want expressive pitch gestures (like vibrato) to come
through at the output and for vocal and instrumental styles that are
typified by gradual slides (portamento) between pitches. An appropri-
ately selected slow setting can leave a vibrato unmodified while the
average pitch is accurately adjusted to be in tune.