Antares AutoTune 8 user manual

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The Edit Scale Display
The Edit Scale Display is used to create custom scales or to modify any of the preset scales selected in the Scale popup. Edits made using this display are associated with each scale. That is, each scale retains its own edits independent of the other scales. For example, if you select C Major in the Key and Scale popups and Remove or Bypass certain notes and then change to C Minor and make other edits, when you return to C Major your previous edits associated with C Major will be restored.
The Edit Scale window displays each note of the currently selected scale in the currently selected key. If the selected scale includes more than twelve notes, Up and Down arrows will appear to allow scrolling through all of the available notes.
Beside each note name are two buttons: a Bypass button and a Remove button. Click on a button to toggle its state. The button will light to indicate that its mode is active.
If neither of these buttons are lit, Auto-Tune 8 treats this note as a normal scale note, i.e., when the input pitch is close to this note, Auto-Tune 8 will correct the pitch to this note at the rate set by the Retune Speed control.
If the scale selected in the Scale popup contains exactly 12 notes (e.g., Chromatic, Pythagorean, Meantone Chromatic, Just, etc.), the Virtual Keyboard (see below) will be active and any edits to the scale notes made in the Edit Scale Display will also be reflected on the Virtual Keyboard.
NOTE: Although Auto-Tune 8 allows setting scale note behaviors in individual octaves, any edits made via the Edit Scale Display will a!ect all octaves. To edit notes in individual octaves, use the Virtual Keyboard.
Bypass
If the Bypass button is lit, when the input pitch is close to this note the input will be passed through with no correction.
Why set Scale notes to “Bypass?”There are two main reasons to set one or more scale notes to “Bypass.”
 1. If a performance includes pitch gestures around one or more specific notes that you want to preserve with no modification whatsoever, you can set just those notes to Bypass. This lets Auto-Tune 8 correct any pitch problems elsewhere in the scale but passes everything near the bypassed notes completely unprocessed.
 2. If a performance contains only a single error, you can set all notes to Bypass except the one “sour” note. Auto-Tune 8 will then pass the entire performance through unprocessed except for the sour note, which will be corrected.
Remove
If the Remove button is lit, then the note is simply removed from the current scale. For example, selecting the Chromatic scale and then setting C#, D#, F#, G#, A# to Remove would cause a C Major scale to remain. In that case Auto-Tune 8 would always retune the input to the closest note of the C Major scale.
Why set Scale notes to “Remove?”To understand why it is sometimes necessary to set even correct scale notes to ”Remove,“ let’s look again at the example from Chapter 2. 
						

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This phrase is in D Major and, if all the pitch errors were no greater than about 49 cents, would work fine with a standard D Major scale (D, E, F#, G, A, B, C# ). However, the pitch error of three semitones at the end of the last note is so large that with B and C# present in the Scale, as the pitch fell, Auto-Tune 8 would see first C# and then B as the target pitch and therefore allow the error to remain. With C# and B removed from the Scale, Auto-Tune 8 continues to see D as the target pitch for the entire duration of the note and therefore pulls the phrase up to the correct pitch.
Cents
The number in the Cents column is the associated note’s interval, in cents, from the root note of the scale. It’s provided for reference purposes and to help you choose which notes of a micro-tonal scale to include or remove.
Set Major/Set Minor
When any scale that includes more than seven notes (i.e., any non-diatonic scale) is selected, the Set Major and Set Minor buttons will appear. Clicking on either of these buttons will “Remove” all notes from the scale except for those notes closest to the notes of a traditional diatonic major or minor scale (depending, of course, on which button you clicked).
Set All
Clicking this button sets all notes in the current scale to Scale Notes in all octaves. This function is useful as a Reset button to instantly erase all previous Remove and/or Bypass settings and reset an edited scale to its default state.
Remove All
Clicking this button sets all notes in the current scale to Remove in all octaves.
Bypass All
Clicking this button sets all notes in the current scale to Bypass in all octaves.
10.010.511.0
D3
B2
ORIGINALPERFORMANCE
CORRECTED BY AUTO-TUNE 8
C#3 
						

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The Virtual Keyboard
The Virtual Keyboard displays Auto-Tune 8’s pitch detection range and acts as a real-time display of the currently detected pitch, a display of the current Scale settings, and as a tool for setting target note behaviors in specific octaves.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The keyboard is only active for scales with exactly twelve notes. It will be grayed out (hence inactive) when any other scale is selected. 
“But wait!” you might be thinking, “I want to edit Major and Minor scales in individual octaves and the keyboard is grayed out when I select either one.” No problem. Simply select Chromatic, then use the Set Major or Set Minor button to set up the scale of your choice and edit away.
ANOTHER NOTE: New in Auto-Tune 8, when either the Major or Minor scale is selected, the virtual keyboard will display the the currently detected pitch (although the keyboard will still not be active for editing).
KEY COLORS The color of the keys of the Virtual Keyboard indicate their current state as follows:
COLOR STATE
Blue The currently detected   input pitch 
White or Black Scale Note 
Gray Removed Note
Light Brown Bypassed Note
KEYBOARD EDIT These buttons are used to select which state (Remove or Bypass) will be toggled when you click on a key.
When Remove is selected, clicking on any key that is not currently set to Remove will set that key to Remove. Clicking on any key that is currently set to Remove will set that key to a Scale Note.
When Bypass is selected, clicking on any key that is not currently set to Bypass will set that key to Bypass. Clicking on any key that is currently set to Bypass will set that key to a Scale Note.
NOTE: In the descriptions above, “clicking” on a key refers to pressing the mouse button down and then releasing it. The edit action is executed when the mouse button is released. Therefore, if the Keyboard Mode is set to Latch (see below), dragging across the keyboard highlights each key in turn, but it is only when you release the mouse button that the resulting key will change state.
KEYBOARD MODE When the Latch mode is active (i.e., the Latch button is blue), any edits made to the keyboard will latch - i.e., clicking a key will change its state and the key will retain that state until some other action causes it to change.
When the Momentary mode is active (i.e., the Momentary button is blue), keyboard edits are only active for as long as the mouse is held down on a key. 
						

							28NOTE:
 Pressing and holding the 
Shift key on your keyboard will 
temporarily toggle the Keyboard 
Mode.
A TIP: The main purpose of the 
Momentary mode is to allow you to 
deal easily with specific individual 
events in a performance. However, you can 
also use it to “play” the target melody notes in 
real time. To do this: 
•Set the Scale to Chromatic and use the Scale 
Edit window Remove All button to remove all 
notes from the scale
•Set Keyboard Edit to Remove and Keyboard 
Mode to Momentary
•Now use your mouse to play the target 
melody on the keyboard. 
It’s not as easy as Target Notes via MIDI, but if 
you don’t have a MIDI controller handy, it’ll do 
in a pinch.
Sample Rate Display 
This display indicates the sample rate of the 
current audio file as reported to Auto-Tune 8 
by the host application. 
NOTE: Auto-Tune 8 is high sample 
rate compatible. If your host 
application and audio hardware  are capable of dealing with up to 192 kHz files, 
Auto-Tune 8 will process them correctly. 
However, it’s important to remember that 
high sample rate files require substantially 
more DSP power than 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz 
files, so the number of possible simultaneous 
Auto-Tune 8 instantiations will be decreased.
YET ANOTHER NOTE: If you are 
using external A/D converters 
with independently selectable 
sample rates, it can be possible to establish 
a mismatch between the actual conversion 
sample rate and what the host application 
thinks is the sample rate. If this happens, Auto-
Tune 8 will appear to be correcting pitch to the 
“wrong” key. If this appears to be happening, 
check to be sure that your converter sample 
rate and your host application sample rate (as 
displayed by Auto-Tune 8) match.
Pitch Shifting, Formant Correction 
and Throat Modeling
To use the Pitch Shifting, Formant Correction 
and/or Throat Modeling functions in 
Automatic Mode, refer to the descriptions of 
the Transpose, Throat Length, and Formant 
controls in the Common Controls section 
earlier in this chapter. 
						

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Automatic Mode MIDI Functions
Auto-Tune 8 provides two functions that require it to receive MIDI data from the host application. Depending on your intent, this data could come in real time from a MIDI controller (typically a keyboard) or from a prerecorded MIDI sequencer track. Refer to your host application’s manual for details on how to route MIDI to Auto-Tune 8.
NOTE: Although these days virtually all major hosts allow the routing of MIDI to plug-ins, there may still be a few hosts lurking out there that do not support it. If you happen to be using one of those, these MIDI functions will not be selectable.
Instance ID
Some host applications assign numerical instance IDs to multiple instances of the same plug-in. If your host does this, the ID will appear in an orange display in the lower left-hand corner of the MIDI control area. Instance IDs are useful when you are using any of Auto-Tune 8’s MIDI functions, as they allow you to be sure that you are routing the MIDI stream to the correct instance of Auto-Tune on the desired track.
Learn Scale From MIDI
In most cases, you will probably tell Auto-Tune 8 which notes are valid scale notes using the Key and Scale popups, the Edit Scale Display, and/or the Virtual Keyboard. However, there may be occasions when it is not clear exactly what key a melody line is in, or where the melody line has too many accidentals to fit comfortably into a conventional scale. For those occasions, the Learn Scale From MIDI function allows you to simply play the melody into Auto-Tune 8 from a MIDI keyboard or sequencer track and let Auto-Tune 8 construct 
a custom scale containing only those notes that appear in the melody.
To use the Learn Scale From MIDI function, ensure that the desired MIDI source is routed to Auto-Tune 8 and then click the Learn Scale From MIDI button. Its color will change to blue and the Edit Scale display will automatically be set to a chromatic scale with all of the notes set to Remove.
Now simply play the melody to be corrected from your keyboard or sequencer. Tempo and rhythm don’t matter, so take your time and make sure you don’t play any wrong notes.
As each note is played, the corresponding Remove button in the Edit Scale Display is turned o( (adding that note to the scale as a Scale Note). Assume, for example, that your melody starts with D, B, and then A. After playing those notes the display would look like this:
When you have played the entire melody, press the Learn Scale From MIDI button again to end the process. The Edit Scale Display will now contain a scale containing only those notes that appeared in your melody. 
						

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If you happen to have made an error during note entry, or want to try again for any other reason, simply click the Learn Scale From MIDI button and start the process again.
NOTE: When you start the process by pressing the Learn Scale From MIDI button, all notes are first Removed from the chromatic scale in preparation for adding just the notes you play. If you then press the Learn Scale From MIDI button again without playing any notes, you will be left with a chromatic scale with all notes removed. In that state, Auto-Tune 8 will pass all notes with no correction applied. So don’t do that.
Ta r g e t   N o t e s   V i a   M I D I
To use the Target Notes Via MIDI function, ensure that the desired MIDI source is routed to Auto-Tune 8, then click the Target Notes Via MIDI button. Its color will change to blue and the Edit Scale display will automatically be set to a chromatic scale with all of the notes set to Remove. While in this mode, Auto-Tune 8 continuously monitors its MIDI input for Note On messages. At any instant, the scale used for correction is defined by all MIDI notes that are on. For example, if MIDI notes A, C and E are held, Auto-Tune 8’s input will be retuned to an A, C or E, whichever is closest to the input pitch.
The source of the MIDI input would typically be a MIDI keyboard or sequencer track, and could consist of chords, scales, or, most powerfully, the exact melody that the input should be corrected to.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you will not be defining Auto-Tune 8’s target pitches via MIDI, be sure that the Target Notes Via MIDI button is o!. If it is left on and no MIDI note data is present, Auto-Tune 8 will pass through all audio unprocessed — giving the impression that Auto-Tune 8 is not functioning.
ANOTHER NOTE: We realize that there is some possibility of confusion between the Target Notes Via MIDI function and the Learn Scale From MIDI function described above. To clarify: Target Notes Via MIDI is used to specify target pitches in real time while pitch correction is occurring, while Learn Scale From MIDI is used in advance of correction to create a custom scale.
Octave As Played/All Octaves
For both of the MIDI functions (Learn Scale from MIDI and Target Notes via MIDI), you can choose whether you want incoming MIDI notes to a(ect all octaves or just the notes in the specific octaves in which they are played.
Simply click the desired button. The button will change color to blue to indicate your choice. 
						

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Create Vibrato Functions
The controls in this section are designed to add a synthesized vibrato to the input. 
While vibrato is typically perceived to be a variation solely in pitch, careful analysis shows that, depending on the voice or instrument and the style of the individual performer, variations in amplitude (loudness) and formant resonances are also involved. Reflecting this, Auto-Tune 8 includes a plethora of vibrato functions to allow the creation of much more convincing vibratos. (And for the adventuresome, they can be abused to create some “interesting” e(ects.)
The controls are:
Shape
Selects the shape of the vibrato.
 The choices are:
NO VIBRATO Pretty self-explanatory.
SINE WAVE Changes smoothly from minimum to maximum and back again. The most common choice for a conventional vibrato. 
SQUARE Jumps to maximum where it spends 50% of the cycle and then jumps to minimum for the remaining 50% of the cycle.
SAWTOOTH Gradually rises from minimum to maximum and then drops instantaneously to minimum to start the cycle again.
Rate
Sets the rate of the vibrato over a range of 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz. The default Rate setting is 5.5 Hz. Double-clicking or Command (Mac)/Control (PC) clicking the Rate knob will reset it to that value.
Variation
Sets the amount of random variation that will be applied to the Rate and Amount parameters on a note to note basis. Useful for humanizing the vibrato by adding random “errors.”
The range is from 0 (no variation) to 100 (maximum variation). The default Variation setting is 20. Double-clicking or Command (Mac)/Control (PC) clicking the Variation knob will reset it to that value.
Onset Delay
Sets the amount of time (in msec) between the beginning of a note and the beginning of the onset of vibrato. The range is from 0 to 1500ms (1.5 seconds). The default value is 500ms. Double-clicking or Command (Mac)/ Control (PC) clicking the Onset Delay knob will reset it to that value. 
						

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Onset Rate
Sets the amount of time (in msec) between the end of the Onset Delay (set above) and the point at which the vibrato reaches the full Amounts set in the Pitch, Amplitude and Formant Amount settings. The range is from 0 to 1500ms (1.5 seconds). The default value is 500ms. Double-clicking or Command (Mac)/ Control (PC) clicking the knob will reset it to that value.
Onset Example: As an example of the above parameters, assume an Onset Delay of 1000ms and an Onset Rate of 750ms. In that case, each time a new note starts there will be no vibrato at all for the first second (1000ms) followed by a 3/4 second (750ms) period during which the vibrato depths will increase from none to the full amounts set in the various Amount parameters - for a total of 1.75 seconds from the beginning of the note to the time full vibrato depth was reached.
Pitch Amount
Sets the amount that the pitch changes. The range is from 0 (no change) to 100 (maximum change). The default setting is 18. Command (Mac)/Control (PC) clicking the slider will reset it to that value.
Amplitude Amount
Sets the amount that the loudness changes. For the most realistic vibrato, the amount of amplitude change should be substantially less than pitch change, although for special e(ects, anything goes.
The range is from 0 (no change) to 30 (maximum change). The default setting is 10. Command (Mac)/Control (PC) clicking the slider will reset it to that value.
Formant Amount
Sets the amount that the resonant timbre changes. The range is from 0 (no change) to 100 (maximum change). The default setting is 70. Command (Mac)/Control (PC) clicking the slider will reset it to that value.
NOTE: The vibrato is re-started every time Auto-Tune 8 matches the incoming pitch to a di!erent scale tone. Also, the vibrato is applied after the e!ects of the Retune Speed control. Hence, even with a slow retune value of 50, a square wave vibrato will make instantaneous changes in pitch.
ANOTHER NOTE: As mentioned above, although we perceive vibrato primarily as a variation in pitch, in most cases there is also matching (though more subtle) variations in amplitude and timbre. Setting Auto-Tune 8’s Retune Speed to 0 will remove an existing vibrato’s pitch variation, but the amplitude and timbral variation will remain. If you then apply a new vibrato using Auto-Tune 8’s Create Vibrato section, the results may be less than convincing. Auto-Tune 8’s Vibrato section is more often useful for adding a vibrato to an input that originally had none, or for various special e!ects.
YET ANOTHER NOTE: The Create Vibrato controls function completely independently of the Natural Vibrato function. Changes in that function have no direct e!ect on the depth of any vibrato resulting from the Create Vibrato controls. However, since both functions can operate simultaneously, they can interact in ways that may or may not be useful, depending on your intent. In most cases, you should probably use one or the other. 
						

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The Pitch Change Meter
The Pitch Change Amount Indicator
The Pitch Change Indicator shows you how much the pitch is being changed, measured in cents (100 cents = one semitone). For example, if the indicator bar has moved to the left to -50, it indicates that the input pitch is 50 cents too sharp and Auto-Tune 8 is lowering the pitch by 50 cents to bring the input back to the desired pitch.
Hold Button
Clicking and holding the word “Hold” while Auto-Tune 8 is processing audio will freeze both the Pitch Change Amount Indicator and the blue Detected Pitch indication on the virtual keyboard for as long as you hold down the mouse button. This is useful for figuring out exactly what’s going on with a particular note in a performance that would otherwise pass too quickly to see. 
						

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Graphical Mode Controls
The Clock Controls
Sync to host transpor t (host dependent)
If your host provides valid time information, 
once you have tracked audio and created 
correction objects (see below), Auto-Tune 8 will 
maintain sync with the host program, allowing 
you to move around in your track at will. 
Additionally, if your host does not provide valid 
time information or does not strictly adhere to 
its plug-in format specification, sync problems 
could ensue. In that case, see the Selectable 
Clock Source section below. 
Selectable Clock Source
For hosts that do not provide valid time 
information, Auto-Tune 8’s clock display and 
selection functions let you use an internal time 
reference, in which case you will have to always 
start tracking and correction from the same 
point in your file (see below for details).
Determining if your host provides valid 
clock information
To determine if your host supplies valid clock 
information, on the Source selector, click 
the Host button to select the host-supplied 
clock and put your host into Play. If Auto-
Tune 8 is receiving valid timing information 
from your host, the Clock Position display 
should constantly update to reflect your 
current position in the track. Moving forward 
or backward in the track should result in 
corresponding display updates. If this is in fact 
happening, you have confirmed your host’s 
timing info. Simply leave the Source setting on 
Host and enjoy all of Auto-Tune 8’s host sync 
features.
On the other hand, if the display does not 
update or if it does not accurately reflect your 
host’s transport, Auto-Tune 8 may be getting 
bad (or no) clock information. In that case, you 
will need to use the Internal clock option.
Using  Internal Clock Mode
To select Auto-Tune 8’s Internal clock, click the 
Internal button.
To track and correct pitch in Internal Clock 
mode:
1.  Use your host transport to move to the  beginning of the section you want to correct 
and note that position, as you will need to 
return to that precise place for correction.
2.  Click the Reset button to set the clock  position to  00:00 :0 .
3.  Click the Track Pitch button, play the desired  audio and then stop the transport.
4.  Use the various tools described below to  create your pitch correction curves.
5.  Use your host transport to return to the  precise start location defined in step 1.
6.  Click the Reset button to reset the clock  position to  00:00 :0 .
7.  Play your audio. Auto-Tune 8 will apply your  corrections.
NOTE: Some hosts that require Internal 
Clock nonetheless have the capability 
to automatically reset the clock to  00
:00:0.  In those cases, steps 2 and 6 above 
are not necessary.
In Internal Clock Mode, the following features 
are unavailable: 
Sync to Host Transport (obviously) 
Multiple simultaneous Graphical Mode 
instances with windows not open
NOTE: As the various host developers 
are constantly updating their 
applications’ functionality, it may be 
necessary to update to the latest version of your 
host to use Host Clock Mode.