Macroeconomics

2

Technology in the Music Industry

Jose Andres Bermudez Martinez

Southern States University

MUS305

Dr. Katie L. Males

10/19/2022

Technology in the Music Industry

The world is continuously facing technological changes that tend to impact various industries. The music industry has also faced changes in technology that have helped smoothen it and enhance effective operations (Åkervall, 2021). Technology has changed how people produce music as it has streamlined the industry; hence musicians find it easy to produce their music and earn higher revenues. Artists can now compose music from the comfort of their homes; some even have home studios that help reduce congestion in studios (Åkervall, 2021). Musicians can also perform for millions of fans around the fans through live-stream shows and performances.

One of the essential technological advancements in the music industry tends to be the introduction of auto-tunes. Auto-tunes tend to be the most common feature used by artists in the modern world. Many artists are not perfect and tend to be different in their styles hence auto-tunes help enhance effective music for them (Åkervall, 2021). Auto-tune tends to be a pitch correction effect or feature that modifies pitches and also provides a robotic sound to the vocals. Many artists and musicians use auto-tunes today, considering that it enhances quality music that soothes their listeners (Åkervall, 2021). Before the feature was introduced, musicians had to sing in tunes considering that they could not adjust their pitches after production. Singers had to record the song if it had a mistake or accept the imperfection as part of the music, which caused some serious problems.

Antares Audio Technologies had to release a revolutionary audio processor in 1997 that managed to ascertain and alter pitches in vocal and instrumental recordings hence the beginning of Auto-Tunes in the modern world (Åkervall, 2021). The early 2000s saw the use of auto-tunes in different music genres and styles from a corrective feature to a good effect for artists to express themselves. Auto-tunes tend to come as plugins for digital audio workstations or hardware stations for live units. Auto-tunes have effectively changed the music industry. It helps musicians minimize errors and deliver the best music. The current generation has changed the music industry effectively. Music, among them, integrates talent with quality (Provenzano, 2019). Some people tend to argue that auto-tunes have enhanced a problem in the music industry by minimizing talent. They tend to argue that with auto-tunes, everyone could sing, which tends to minimize quality and originality (Provenzano, 2019). Some producers argue that people who use auto-tunes do not play fair in the music industry. For instance, some people tend to ban the use of auto-tunes during music competitions as they claim that auto-tunes tend to minimize originality and make it hard to discover real talents in the music industry.

The creation or establishment of auto-tunes made singers and producers create another effective audio processor known as the Melodyne. Melodyne was established by a German software company known as Celemony in 2000. The two software tend to work together effectively to enhance quality and perfection in the music industry. Melodyne tends to correct pitches but only after the production process. In contrast, auto-tune tends to be effective in adjusting or correcting pitches, even in real time. Melodyne cannot be used during liver performances, while auto-tunes tend to be used. Auto-tune cannot only tune polyphonic instruments separately as compared to Melodyne. Auto-tune tends to be easier and quicker to use as compared to Melodyne, as Melodyne tends to require much editing. Melodyne tends to have an effective interface and workflow that permits interesting and effective or artistic adjustments to vocals or various instrument sounds.

Auto-tunes benefit the music industry effectively as it minimizes time spent in the studio while recording music (Provenzano, 2019). It also saves time for producers during the music production process. Auto-tunes has enhanced an effective music industry that has helped singers and musicians minimize errors in their songs. Before the auto-tune introduction, musicians had to perfect their pitches to enhance good music. The industry had shortcomings, and delays were faced throughout the recording process.

Auto-tunes have made it easier for famous musicians who have stayed in the industry for a long to do two takes and let their producers handle the rest if there are minor pitches within the song (Provenzano, 2019). The producers used to sit in studios for longer hours before auto-tune was established. They can now handle various tasks or produce different songs within a day as they spend minimum time when correcting pitches (Provenzano, 2019). Musicians have also gained increased revenue, considering that they can produce numerous songs within a short time with the help of auto-tunes. The music industry in America has grown and developed effectively. Numerous musicians and singers have entered the market, which helps build the economy by earning higher revenues and paying taxes (Provenzano, 2019). Auto-tunes tend to be the music industry's major success and enhance revenues and economic growth in the United States.

References

Åkervall, L. (2021). The Auto-Tuned Self: Modulating Voice and Gender in Digital Media Ecologies.  Camera Obscura,  36(2), 65-97. https://doi.org/10.1215/02705346-9052802

Provenzano, C. (2019). Making voices: The gendering of pitch correction and the auto-tune effect in contemporary pop music.  Journal of Popular Music Studies,  31(2), 63-84. https://doi.org/10.1525/jpms.2019.312008