How to Autotune With Ableton

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Autotune is a popular plugin used by many musicians and producers to correct pitch in vocals and other instruments. The plugin has been around for many years and has become a staple in the music production industry. Ableton Live, on the other hand, is a powerful digital audio workstation used by many musicians and producers to create music.

In this article, we will guide you on how to use Autotune with Ableton Live. We will cover everything from setting up Autotune in Ableton Live to using it on your vocals.

Setting up Autotune in Ableton Live

Before we can start using Autotune with Ableton Live, we need to set it up. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Download and install Autotune on your computer.
2. Launch Ableton Live and create a new session.
3. Click on ‘Live’ in the top left corner of the screen and select ‘Preferences.’
4. Select the ‘Plugins’ tab and click on ‘Rescan Plugins.’
5. Locate Autotune in the list of plugins and make sure it is enabled.
6. Click on ‘OK’ to close the Preferences window.

Using Autotune with Ableton Live

Now that we have set up Autotune in Ableton Live, we can start using it on our vocals. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Create a new audio track in Ableton Live.
2. Record your vocals into the new audio track.
3. Double-click on the audio clip to open it in the Clip View.
4. Click on the ‘E’ button in the Clip View to open the Clip Envelope.
5. Click on the ‘Devices’ tab in the Clip Envelope and select Autotune from the list of devices.
6. Set the key of your song in the Key dropdown menu.
7. Adjust the Retune Speed slider to your liking.
8. Play back your vocals and listen to the changes made by Autotune.
9. Make any necessary adjustments to the Retune Speed slider or key.

Using Autotune in real-time

If you prefer to use Autotune in real-time as you record, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Create a new audio track in Ableton Live.
2. Insert Autotune onto the track.
3. Enable the track for recording.
4. Arm the track for recording.
5. Press the Record button to start recording.
6. Sing into your microphone and listen to Autotune correct your pitch in real-time.
7. Stop recording when you’re finished.

Use Ableton Live for autotuning your vocal tracks with free virtual studio technologies (VSTs)

Using Ableton Live in combination with pitch correction VSTs allows you to autotune your vocal tracks conveniently. With the right VST plugins and careful adjustments, you can achieve a polished vocal performance while still retaining the authenticity and artistic expression of the original recording.

Autotuning is a popular technique used in music production to correct the pitch of vocal tracks. With the help of digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live and virtual studio technologies (VSTs), autotuning has become easily accessible to musicians and producers.

Ableton Live is a versatile DAW that allows users to create, edit, and manipulate audio tracks. While Ableton Live does not come with built-in autotune functionality, you can utilize third-party VST plugins to achieve the desired autotuning effect.

VSTs, or virtual studio technologies, are software plugins that can be used within a DAW to enhance and modify audio. There are numerous pitch correction VSTs available, both free and paid, that can be used for autotuning vocal tracks in Ableton Live.

To start autotuning your vocal tracks in Ableton Live, you first need to download and install the desired pitch correction VST. Once installed, you can add the VST plugin to your VST folder, which is a designated location where your DAW looks for plugins.

After the VST plugin is in your VST folder, you can open Ableton Live and create a new audio project. Within your project, you can import or record your vocal track onto an audio track. Then, locate the VST plugin in your Ableton Live browser or plugin library, and drag it onto the audio track containing your vocal.

Once the pitch correction VST is applied to your vocal track, you can adjust the settings of the plugin to control the level and type of pitch correction. Most autotune plugins offer parameters like speed, scale, and correction strength, allowing you to customize the autotuning effect to your preference.

By experimenting with different settings and fine-tuning the pitch correction, you can achieve a polished and professional sound for your vocal tracks in just a few minutes.

It’s important to note that while autotuning can help correct pitch inaccuracies, it is also essential to maintain a natural and artistic expression in the final result. Overusing autotune or setting it too aggressively can lead to an unnatural and robotic sound, so it’s crucial to strike a balance that suits the style and intention of the music.

The bottom line

Using Autotune with Ableton Live is a great way to correct the pitch in your vocals and other instruments. With the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to set up Autotune in Ableton Live and use it on your vocals with ease.

Remember to experiment with the Retune Speed slider and key to find the settings that work best for your voice and the style of music you’re creating.