Most overused effect in music: The robot voice

[JAndreaNineSixorz]

We've all heard it in today's pop music. Take a person that can't sing, add a synthesized robot effect, and voila! You've just made an incredibly shitty song that won't be popular a year from now.

I think it started getting popular when that awful "Beautiful Girls" song by Sean Kingston came out. It was subtle compared to how the effect is used now, but that's when I first noticed it. I don't listen to pop music, but when I hear it in a public location or on TV I just can't believe how often that effect is used in music. It's such a hacky effect that only proves how bad the voice is that's being disguised.

Exhibit A
"Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt6o8NlrbHg

Exhibit C
"Lollipop" by Lil Wayne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740d8sTpM7U

Exhibit B
"Piece of Me" by Britney Spears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4NayXtzsBo

P.s. Youtube doesn't allow embedding of any of these videos. :dry:

[JimmieHats]

Herbie Hancock's Rockit was the only good use of a robot voice.

[lleeder]

T-Pain popularized it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-nqyfR_w4

[cougarjake13]

We've all heard it in today's pop music. Take a person that can't sing, add a synthesized robot effect, and voila! You've just made an incredibly shitty song that won't be popular a year from now.

I think it started getting popular when that awful "Beautiful Girls" song by Sean Kingston came out. It was subtle compared to how the effect is used now, but that's when I first noticed it. I don't listen to pop music, but when I hear it in a public location or on TV I just can't believe how often that effect is used in music. It's such a hacky effect that only proves how bad the voice is that's being disguised.

Exhibit A
"Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt6o8NlrbHg

Exhibit C
"Lollipop" by Lil Wayne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740d8sTpM7U

Exhibit B
"Piece of Me" by Britney Spears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4NayXtzsBo

P.s. Youtube doesn't allow embedding of any of these videos. :dry:


god damn cock smokers

[GreatAmericanZero]

its one of the most unappealling sounds of all time. I have no idea how this is possible

The only time that is acceptable is on the "A Clockwork Orange" soundtrack

[TheMojoPin]

Blame Frampton.

We are talking about the vocoder, right?

CALIFORNIA. KNOWS HOW TO PARTY.

[mikeyboy]

Cher believes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgfNX5KLT38)

[Hottub]

It's no worse than the stupid guitar/talk-box gimmick that was all over 70's and 80's rock.

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or this crap

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[razorboy]

T-Pain popularized it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-nqyfR_w4

Who's gonna tell Roger Troutman's family the bad news.

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[GreatAmericanZero]

Cher believes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgfNX5KLT38)

yes! i consider that the worst song ever

It beats out that one Jennifer Lopez song..i don't know the name of it, but it has a beat that sounds like my alarm clock going off

[DiabloSammich]

This guy rocked.....




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[JAndreaNineSixorz]

T-Pain popularized it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-nqyfR_w4

Must... resist urge... to slit wrists....

[fezident]

That "effect" is actually a mistake that Brian Rawling (at Metro) made popular on "Believe".

It's a piece of software called AUTOTUNE, and it does exactly that. It automatically retunes the vocal. You can set the amount of "cents" (divisions of 100) that the software will bend the vocal into tune. If you so desire, you can elect to have the notes "snap" into tune.

Before "Believe", snapping the vocal was considered a mistake.

Since then, Kid Rock used AUTOTUNE to great effect (no pun intended) on "God Knows Why" and now it's everywhere.




Good usage of AUTOTUNE is impossible to percieve. It is used constantly by absolutely everyone. Many times... the artist doesn't even know it was used. The engineer makes those tweaks much much later.
Now, they even have software that can SOMEHOW tune the individual notes/strings of a guitar. It's a safe bet that a new effect will be popularized based on this software too.


Peter Frampton used a TALKBOX to achieve his effect. It literally blends a signal from a vocal mic and a guitar.

A VOCODER is still used occasionally. Perhaps the best example would be the cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica. You still hear that one occasionally. (thank you, Daft Punk)

[IMSlacker]

They only want to rock you. How can that be wrong?

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[Hottub]

Embedding denied.

But here it is! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdlJs3N_5gY)

[fezident]

HELL TO THE YES!!


Love it! Domo Arigato, Meester Hottubbo!!

[Hottub]

Damn, Tuck. I guess I should have used a smiley.

You know I am a fan of the Big Production stuff. (Queen, ELP, and some Styx)

But that album, and particularly that song, may be one of the greatest abominations in the history of rock.:thumbdown:

[JAndreaNineSixorz]

That "effect" is actually a mistake that Brian Rawling (at Metro) made popular on "Believe".

It's a piece of software called AUTOTUNE, and it does exactly that. It automatically retunes the vocal. You can set the amount of "cents" (divisions of 100) that the software will bend the vocal into tune. If you so desire, you can elect to have the notes "snap" into tune.

Before "Believe", snapping the vocal was considered a mistake.

Since then, Kid Rock used AUTOTUNE to great effect (no pun intended) on "God Knows Why" and now it's everywhere.

Good usage of AUTOTUNE is impossible to percieve. It is used constantly by absolutely everyone. Many times... the artist doesn't even know it was used. The engineer makes those tweaks much much later.
Now, they even have software that can SOMEHOW tune the individual notes/strings of a guitar. It's a safe bet that a new effect will be popularized based on this software too.


Peter Frampton used a TALKBOX to achieve his effect. It literally blends a signal from a vocal mic and a guitar.

A VOCODER is still used occasionally. Perhaps the best example would be the cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica. You still hear that one occasionally. (thank you, Daft Punk)


Interesting! Makes sense. So basically, not only are the singers half-assing the work but so are the producers! The popular music industry is nothing but a bunch of lazy fucks!

[IMSlacker]

Best cowbell/talkbox song evar!

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[fezident]

That's what makes it so great!
That song does not rock.
There is no groove.
The production is laughable.
But, damn... I leave that shit on when it comes on the radio!!!!

My brother and I called it "Mr. Retardo" from the very first time we heard it, and we were, like, 11 & 12 years old. Still cranked it though.

[ChimneyFish]

Robot Hoooouuuuse!!!!

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[fezident]

Interesting! Makes sense. So basically, not only are the singers half-assing the work but so are the producers! The popular music industry is nothing but a bunch of lazy fucks!


Nah.
The best singers (and engineers) in the world use AUTOTUNE. They all do.

Think of it as "red eye reduction" on a photo.
EVERYTHING is beautiful, except for the red eye. The model nailed it. The assistant nailed it. The photographer nailed it. Hair... makeup... wardrobe... location... vibe. Everything. It's perfect.
Except for the red eye.
That is what AUTOTUNE is.
Sometimes, a vocal take is one in a million but, there's a bend somewhere. The singer meandered just a cunthair off center.

I don't think it's an indicator of a lack-of-talent or a low work-ethic.
It's just another way to get where the artist/producer wants to go.

[BlackSpider]

It might be the most irritating, but the award for "most overused" effect has to go to
Reverb. There's not a song produced without it...

[Mr.Salty]

I'd have to go with the hand clap. Remember in songs (70's, 80's maybe '90s) when the "hand clap" was used sparely (as in "My Best Friend's Girl" from The Cars.)..and when it was it was great. Now hip hop has taken that "cool little part from a song" and beat it to death. There are even a few hip hop songs that are JUST the hand clap.

[Hottub]

Hand clap. FTW!

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[paulisded]

Nah.
The best singers (and engineers) in the world use AUTOTUNE. They all do.

Think of it as "red eye reduction" on a photo.
EVERYTHING is beautiful, except for the red eye. The model nailed it. The assistant nailed it. The photographer nailed it. Hair... makeup... wardrobe... location... vibe. Everything. It's perfect.
Except for the red eye.
That is what AUTOTUNE is.
Sometimes, a vocal take is one in a million but, there's a bend somewhere. The singer meandered just a cunthair off center.

I don't think it's an indicator of a lack-of-talent or a low work-ethic.
It's just another way to get where the artist/producer wants to go.

That may be true, but it's completely enabled people with absolutely no vocal talent to record passable product. Paula Abdul couldn't sing a lick, but she had a brief career thanks to autotune and double-tracked backup singers. Every year we see more and more celebs believe they can have careers...now including that awful twit from The Hills.

[fezident]

You're right aboot that.
But... for every Ashlee Simpson(and producer John Shanks) that depends on this software, there's a Tony Bennett or Dolly Parton that can really F'ing SING that use it judiciously.

[JimmieHats]

The TC Helicon VoiceLive is doing the same for many now on stage...

[Hottub]

I submit Donald Fagan.
Not a great voice by any means. But he, and we know what it is.
And somehow, it works beautifully.

"Any Major Dude"?

[Devo37]

i occasionally enjoy a robot voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyh6weBizgk

[underdog]

Akon made this popular and it just spread like wildfire.

It sounds like someone singing into a fan. Its terrible.

[PapaBear]

Cher believes (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgfNX5KLT38)
I hold this song responsible for starting it all. I'm sure it was used before then, but I think it's the one that really cemented it.

[ANC]

Herbie Hancock's Rockit was the only good use of a robot voice.

Not to mention Earth Wind and Fire's Lets Groove

[oldladyfacepuncher]

I'd have to go with the hand clap. Remember in songs (70's, 80's maybe '90s) when the "hand clap" was used sparely (as in "My Best Friend's Girl" from The Cars.)..and when it was it was great. Now hip hop has taken that "cool little part from a song" and beat it to death. There are even a few hip hop songs that are JUST the hand clap.

I HAAATE Fogerty's Centerfield because of that fake handclap/crack of the bat garbage.

[yojimbo7248]

yes! i consider that the worst song ever

It beats out that one Jennifer Lopez song..i don't know the name of it, but it has a beat that sounds like my alarm clock going off

couldn't agree more. It also beats out, by a hair, "We Build This City"

[TheMojoPin]

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[FunkyDrummer]

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