The biggest difference between Melodyne and Auto-Tuneis that Auto-Tune is a realtime linear form of tuning, where as Melodyne is offline and nonlinear. Antare’s Auto-Tune’s realtime tuning interface. … On the other hand, Melodyne records the audio into it’s software first.
- Auto Tune Pro Vs Auto Tune Realtime
- Auto Tune Pro Vs Auto Tune Realtime Pro
- Autotune Pro Vs Realtime Advanced
Have you ever wondered how professional vocals sound so perfect? Even if you don’t realize it, the engineer most likely tuned the vocals with a tool such as Celemony’s Melodyne or Auto-Tune by Antares.
If you’re feeling nostalgic, you’ll love Auto-Tune Pro’s Classic Mode — it gives you the “Auto-Tune 5 sound” used on numerous iconic pop recordings. Enjoy close integration with your DAW, thanks to Audio Random Access support. Beyond that, you can download for free Auto-Tune Pro’s key parameters in real-time with your MIDI controller. Auto-Tune Artist and the Waves Tune Real Time have aspects that are similar to each other but also that are dissimilar. This gives each one an edge over the other in different areas. Waves is the perfect choice for simplicity, and Antares is the best choice for versatility. They all do the same thing technically but they all have different algorithms and different ways of working. I’ll tell you what I like about each of them. Auto-Tune Pro is the most complete and advanced edition of Auto Tune for Windows PC.It includes both Auto Mode, for real-time pitch correction and effects, and Graph Mode, for detailed pitch and time editing.For twenty years, the tool has been the professional standard for pitch correction, and the tool of choice for the most iconic vocal. Auto-Tune Pro also includes Flex-Tune and Humanize for more transparent and natural tuning, as well as a low-latency mode so you can work in real time without distracting the delay. Free Auto-Tune Demo downloads, free Harmony Engine Demo downloads plus free demo downloads for other Antares vocal plug-ins via the free AVOX Demo download.
In today’s day and age tuning vocals is a necessity to commercial recordings. However, doing so requires the right tools and there are a lot of options out there for the beginner audio engineer to choose from.
Melodyne and Auto-Tune remain the industry standard choices for the job but deciding between the two can be tricky. To help in the decision making process we’ve laid out their major differences in the following comparison guide of Melodyne vs Auto-Tune.
Why Tune Vocals?
There’s a lot of stigma around auto-tuning a performance. Unfortunately, Most of society associates it with a lack of talent from the singer. However, this is not the case and even the most talented of artists are tuned today, without the listener even realizing.
This is because even when someone sings amazingly, there will be small discrepancies here and there. In this case, tuning can help to pull everything a little tighter. You may not really hear the difference but you can definitely feel it in the energy of the song.
Auto Tune Pro Vs Auto Tune Realtime
Not only that, but in today’s day and age most production involves some sort of software instrument. These have very little or no tuning issues at all and the hyper-tuned instrumentation can make it even more apparent when a singer is off key.
Listeners today expect perfection and tuning with Melodyne or Auto-Tune is a great way to add that final polish on an already fantastic performance.
1. Realtime vs Offline Tuning
The biggest difference between Melodyne and Auto-Tune is that Auto-Tune is a realtime linear form of tuning, where as Melodyne is offline and nonlinear.
To explain this in greater detail with Auto-Tune, vocals enter the plugin and are immediately tuned with little latency. This speed can make for a quick workflow but it introduces errors where the plugin is not entirely certain of a note. Some notes can end up tuned to the wrong place and end up sounding even more off.
On the other hand, Melodyne records the audio into it’s software first. The user is then able to go through and manually correct each note and fine-tune any errors the software made. This makes for far more accurate tuning but it can take time to do so properly.
Auto-Tune does offer an option after the initial tuning where users can go through and correct each individual note’s tuning. However, this is merely redrawing the way the plugin reacts to the sound when it passes through in real time.
So, the tuning process is different and will still result in artifacts that leave it more unrealistic than Melodyne’s algorithm.
2. Polyphonic vs Monophonic
An added bonus to Melodyne that Auto-Tune does not feature is the ability to tune polyphonic instruments.
Almost every other Auto-Tune on the market deals exclusively with monophonic tuning. That is to say, it can only deal with sources that produce one note at a time. For example, these include instruments such as vocals, horns or lead guitar. But what happens when you need to correct a wrong note in a complex guitar or piano chord?
This is where Melodyne comes in extremely handy! It’s complicated algorithms actually separates the notes of a polyphonic instrument and tune them independently.
It’s important to note that this is only available in the more expensive versions and that it can be a bit finicky at times. However, this feature makes for a great addition that other plugins don’t offer. Especially when you plan to work with instruments moe than vocals.
3. Scientific vs Artistic
In a nutshell Melodyne can be looked at as a more scientific approach and Auto-Tune as a means of artistic expression.
Many artists actually want to create the effect that their voice is being processed by Auto-Tune. One of the artists to push this effect into contemporary music was Cher with her hit song Believe.
It may sound a little cheesy now, but the same effect is still prevalent in many top pop, RNB and hip-hop songs. If this is the sound you’re after with your vocals, then Auto-Tune will deliver where Melodyne can’t.
However, if what you are hoping for is a more transparent approach to the tuning, Melodyne is the best choice. When used properly, the vocals will be left sounding untouched but perfectly in tune.
This is thanks to the much more scientific approach that Melodyne’s creator took when creating the plugin. Checkout the video below for an interesting an in depth on Melodyne’s inner workings.
4. Live Performances vs Studio Work
One last thing to consider when deciding between Melodyne and Auto-Tune is whether you intend to use it live. In the live scenario everything is happening in real time. So, you need a tool that operates in this fashion.
As previously mentioned, Melodyne works in a nonlinear fashion, first recording the music in and then tuning for playback. So, you may have already assumed that it would be useless in a live concert scenario.
However, Antare’s Auto-Tune operates real time, with no problems aside from the latency of your computer. If you have a computer fast enough that this isn’t an issue it’s very easy to use Auto-Tune in a live performance.
Because of this, pick up Auto-Tune if you want to achieve a tuned vocal effect for a live concert or if you’re working with artists who want to hear the effect of Auto-Tune working as they’re singing.
Universal Audio even offers a UAD version of Antare’s Auto-Tune for use with their Apollo interfaces. This is the best combination for live concerts as it allows for zero latency tuning in real time.
Conclusion: What’s The Purpose Of Your Tuning?
In conclusion, when it comes to Celemony’s Melodyne vs Auto-Tune by Antare’s, each plugin provides its own unique tools. Because of this consider the style of tuning and purpose you need it for when looking to purchase one of them.
Antare’s Auto-Tune is the best option for you if you:
- Want to tune vocals quickly.
- Intend to use it for an artistically noticeable effect.
- Will be using it in a live environment.
On the other hand, Melodyne by Celemony is the right choice if you:
- Would like to achieve a more discreet, transparent tuning.
- Are working in a studio environment where tuning doesn’t need to be linear.
- Require polyphonic tuning
- Don’t mind spending a little extra time and effort perfecting things
Whatever you choose take the time to really research its ins and outs. The real secret to professional tuning with either option is to learn how to use it properly and practice lots.
Both Melodyne and Auto-Tune have a wealth of options not mentioned in this article. Once you get to know them you’ll find even more unique options in each. Most likely down the road you’ll end up purchasing both for separate purposes.
Alternative: Get a Professional
Rather than waste time worrying about the differences between Auto-Tune and Melodyne, let alone learning how to use the tools, why not hire a professional to do all the hard work for you?
There are a lot of great plugins built for tuning vocals or other recorded audio samples. And it can cause doubt which one is worth the price.
In this article, we will do a full in-depth comparison between Melodyne and Autotune.
Melodyne vs Antares Auto-Tune
Both options are leading vocal tuning plugins that are powerful and full of capabilities. And both of them do the same thing.
However, there are some points where they perform well and where they do not.
Let’s have a look:
Melodyne
Melodyne was first presented back in 2001. And it fastly became one of the most popular tuning software on the market.
Melodyne won the Technical Grammy award in 2012 and became a must have tool in most of the profesional studios.
Melodyne Advantages:
Informational Graphic Interface
Melodyne has an insanely useful interface that provides a lot of data by its waveform. The height of the waveform shows how loud the sample is. The wave itself is seen in the piano roll, so all the notes are seen as well.
Furthermore, there is a pitch line that shows how the melody transitions from note to note.
Multi-track note editing
Ability to view and modify multiple tracks at the same time.
Musical data
Melodyne analyses all the necessary musical data such as tempo, scale, notes
Note Time stretching
Melodyne can not only change note pitch, but also it is possible to work with note length modification. Melodyne algorithm makes it natural and seamless, so that it is hard to recognise artificial sound after editing.
Convenient and easy to use
One of the main advantages of Melodyne is that it is simple and easy to use. Interface is built so that you can drag, cut, extend and do any other modifications with your mouse just by clicking on the note itself.
Frendly for non-musicians
Auto scale recognition and highlighted notes are very handful for those who are not musically trained. So the program allows you to work more confidently without making mistakes.
High Quality Tuning
When making more drastic tuning such as making a 12 semitones pitch, most of the tuning programs tend to robotize and corrupt audio.
But not Melodyne.
I’ve never seen the better program which does tuning so seamlessly and naturally.
Melodyne Disadvantages
No Autotune
Melodyne does not have an auto tuning. Every note correction has to be done manually. That is the main difference between Melodyne and Autotune.
Takes time to get familiar with all the features
Melodyne is a powerful software, so it might take some time to master all its capabilities.
Melodyne Price:
Auto-Tune
Antares Autotune was presented back in 1997. They were pioneers in vocal tuning programs and they have registered a trademark for auto tuning processing.
Auto-Tune is used a lot in pop, hip hop and r&b music and is popular due to it’s famous robotic sound effect.
Autotune Advantages:
Real Time Pitch Correction
This feature is what makes the real difference between Auto-tune and Melodyne.
Auto tuning is very helpful not only for a fast tuning process, but also for live performance.
Graph Mode
Like in Melodyne, Antares Autotune also has a graphic mode to make pitch corrections by each note individually. This mode contains editing tools that allow to make time corrections, pitch curve modifications.
Classic Mode
Gritty Classic “Auto-Tune 5” sound, that Kanye West uses a lot in his productions.
Auto Key
Saving time in the studio is crucial.
This feature will save your time by auto detecting song scale and applying it to the tuning mode.
Auto-Tune Vocal Effects
Auto Tune Pro Vs Auto Tune Realtime Pro
These effects have vibrato, robotic sound that is trending in charts very well. These effects are applied a lot in hip hop, r&b and pop music.
The amount of effect applied to the vocal can be controlled as well.
Autotune Disadvantages:
Autotune Pro Vs Realtime Advanced
Lower pitch tuning quality
Compared to Melodyne, pitch tuning makes vocal sound more robotic and not natural.
Not intuitive interface
Using editing tools can seem complicated and not easy to use.
Autotune Price:
AutoTune vs Melodyne. Which One Is Better?
Whether you will choose one or another, both of them will be capable of fantastic tune pitching quality compared to regular plugins on the music market.
In order to determine which one to choose, it is good to know what kind of tuning process you are more likely to use.
Moreover, music style can also be a factor which software is more beneficial.
Melodyne
Melodyne would be a better choice if you have to edit vocals in a detailed and precise manner. Especially if you are working with pop music where everything has to be done perfectly.
AutoTune
AutoTune should be a way to go if you want a fast and automatic vocal tuning process. Moreover, if you are looking for robotic voice vibe, which is trending in Hip Hop and R&B music, this plugin would be a great option.
AutoTune also gives you a graph mode that allows you to make manual note pitch tuning as well.
Melodyne And AutoTune
The best case scenario would be to have both. Some producers tend to put AutoTune in the channel before exporting audio and using it as a pre-processing method before importing it into Melodyne. This method makes most of the vocal tuning. Then in the Melodyne you can do more detailed work that was not corrected in auto tuning.
Summary
Both Melodyne And AutoTune are great and will be capable of handling the hard work for a professional tune pitching process.
If you cannot have both, make sure to get Melodyne if you need more functionality and fancy features. Especially if you are planning to work with vocals in precise detail.
If you are keen on fast processing and real time tuning, you should get AutoTune.
I hope this article has been helpful to you. Good luck in choosing your best tuning software!