Max for Live is a platform to build your own instruments and effects, tools for live performance and visuals, and much more. You can open up any of Live's Max devices, see how they're built, and change them to meet your needs. You can build your own from scratch using the same components. It's a Max for Live tape stop effect. You can set up and down time separately. Either in time or in beats. Then hit the TapeStop button (even repeatedly - try it, it's.
Dubspot blogger Josh Spoon introduces five useful Max for Live – Ableton devices including Autotune, Push Pack for Aftertouch, Modular Series, PushMLR, and MultiMapTurnado.
Autotune
If you are looking for Auto-Tune on the cheap, look no further then Autotune by He Runs Hundreds. It's not as feature rich as the industry standard, so I wouldn't recommend it on your next pop star demo. But you can turn your voice into an interesting instrument while also doing some pitch correction. Getting Kanye-like pitch correction and much more is definitely attainable with Autotune. Autotune is currently available for $11.
Push Pack for Aftertouch
Aftertouch is a device released by Subaqueous with the help of Chris Schlyer and Icaro Ferre. It was created to give you more control over aftertouch on Push, Quneo, or frankly any keyboard with aftertouch. Aftertouch has two flavors available in a package called Push Pack for Aftertouch; one is (aq) Aftertouch Threshold and the other is Aftertouch Delay. These allow you to either smooth out aftertouch pressure or delay the attack and release of aftertouch. Push Pack for Aftertouch is available for free.
Modular Series
Modular Series by Isotonik Studios is a collection of Max for Live utilities to ease and enhance your production and performance workflow. All of these devices are midi mappable allowing you to rely less on your mouse, once setup. The series includes:
Looper – access Live's clip looper and set up loop length templates for looping on the fly and manipulate the loop's position and length
Smart - 20 user programmable banks of graphs that are used to modulate up to 8 assignable effects with the twist of a OneKnob
Follow - takes the concept of Live's follow and makes it more dynamic; cut your song in to clips (i.e. intro, verse, chorus, etc.) and set what follow actions you'd like for each clip; footswitch controls, pitch control, floating window
Return – access 8 parameters from your return track right on an audio or midi track
Beat Repeat Enhancer - have the ability to move through the Beat Repeat grid with all grid sizes or just triplets
Arrange Cue Jumper – map up to 5 locators (cue points) to jump around the arrangement view easily
Arrange Looper – set up loop sizes and have access to flexible and dynamic looping in the Arrangement View
Modular Series is around 30 dollars U.S. Check out their free Follow LE to get a feel of the usefulness of the products. If you like powerful, lightweight devices that can aid creativity and easy production, Modular Series is the one.
PushMLR
PushMLR by yop44 is a simple Max for Live device that mimics the mlr script for Monome, allowing dynamic sample cutting of audio clips. PushMLR works with up to four clips on two tracks viewable at a time. Each row on Push is equal to one clip. It works by dividing the clip's possible start position by 8 so they can be triggered on Push. Changing the global or clips quantization settings will change the frequency of PushMLR's triggering to get loose or tight sample chopping. Setting loop points through PushMLR would be a great addition for this device, but it is great with the current features and is completely free.
MultiMapTurnado
MultiMapTurnado by Niels Poensgen mimics the effect blending feature of Sugarbytes' Turnado with Ableton Live effects. You control up to eight parameters at once by setting boundaries to automate when each will turn on, it's modulation and when it will turn off. This works similar to Ableton Live rack's chain selector but with the ease of quick mapping and a OneKnob already setup to change all eight parameters. Grab this free device especially if you are looking for new ways to have fun with your Live effects.
Dubspot blogger Josh Spoon is an Ableton Live veteran, blogger, drummer, music producer and live performer. Josh has a residency with the eclectic Los Angeles electronic music collective Space Circus, performing every first Friday of the month, and just released his first concept EP of grooving low-end originals entitled Man on Mars.
Ableton Live Producer Certificate Program
The flagship of our music training, with every Ableton Live course offered at the school. After completing this program, you will leave with a portfolio of original tracks, a remix entered in an active contest, a scored commercial to widen your scope, and the Dubspot Producer's Certificate in Ableton Live.
What's Included:
- Ableton Live Level 1: Beats, Sketches, and Ideas
- Ableton Live Level 2: Analyze, Deconstruct, Recompose, and Assemble
- Ableton Live Level 3: Synthesis and Original Sound Creation
- Ableton Live Level 4: Advanced Sound Creation
- Ableton Live Level 5: Advanced Effect Processing
- Ableton Live Level 6: Going Global with your Music
This program is about learning Ableton Live by going through the entire process of being an artist, by developing your own sound through a series of sketches and experimentation. You will also learn the ins and outs of this powerful software through a series of exercises designed to help you master the steps involved in producing your own music. After a level of getting familiar with the tools that Ableton has to offer, you will then develop your sonic ideas into full-length tracks. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to arrangement and composition, storytelling techniques, ways of creating tension and drama in your music. At the end of the day, it is the sum total of your choices as an artist that define your sound, and levels 2 – 6 will give you the experience of actually completing tracks to add to your portfolio.
If you have questions, please call 877.DUBSPOT or send us a message.
Dubspot NYC Open House: Sundays 11:00am and 12:00pm
Ask questions. Watch demos. Test drive workstations.
Anyone who comes by will have the opportunity to ask our instructors in-depth questions about our programs, curriculum and philosophy, and watch live music production and DJ demos. You can even sit down at one of our workstations and take it for a test drive. If you are still trying to decide what you are looking for, we suggest you stop by one of our Open Houses to learn more about the school, understand what the learning process at Dubspot entails and help you decide what is best for you. We can also help with scheduling details and payment options.
Whether you're a home producer or work at a major recording studio, Autotune and other pitch correction software can help deal with a weak vocal performance.
In a hurry? I love Melodyne 4 Studio from Celemony. It's sounds incredible, leaving little to no artifacts on vocals recorded in a treated space, but are in need of a little fixing.
But Autotune isn't reserved exclusively for pitch correction. T-Pain popularized the hard-straightened pitch, even going as far as releasing an iOS app called 'I Am T-Pain.'
Pitch correction software can also be utilized for other instruments as well. I've even used VariAudio (the 'Autotune' built into Cubase) on bass guitar parts that were slightly out of tune. The result was surprisingly excellent, with little to no audio artifacts.
There's a lot you can do with Autotune and similar software.
With so many options for producers, how can you decide on which one to use? Fortunately, I've had the experience working with many pitch correction plugins to weed out the good from the bad.
I'm going to include both free and paid options, so please read on!
Have an interest in virtual instruments? Don't miss my other roundups!
Table of Contents
1) Antares Auto-Tune Pro (Paid)
Auto-Tune is the original pitch correction software. It's so popular that its name is synonymous and is more of a colloquial term.
Pitch Correction Ableton
Antares gives you a couple of options to pick from depending on your needs — Pro, Artist, Access, or EFX+. As you'd guess, the price moves up the more features there are.
Auto-Tune is very hands-off. I'd even go as far as to say that it's the most straightforward plugin for correcting pitch.
Pros
- Easy to use for beginners
- Lightweight on memory
- Great-looking user interface
Cons
- AUTO mode is limited
- Difficult for beginners to use GRAPH
- A little outdated compared
When using Auto-Tune on a vocal track in AUTO mode, set the key, the retune speed, and the amount of humanization. You should be able to hit the playback button now and hear hopefully great results.
Because it's simplicity, I find that it doesn't perform as well as others (when using the quick settings) that require more fine-tune vocal editing.
To fix an abysmal vocal performance, use the graph mode and hand tune each note to your liking. This process is much more complicated but yields a far better result.
I am not huge on Auto-Tune (I know many are), but it can deliver exceptional results. If you take the time to learn how to use it properly, you'll have great-sounding vocals with ease.
Auto-Tune from Antares is available at Plugin Boutique.
2) Steinberg VariAudio — Cubase Pro (Paid)
Steinberg's VariAudio is a pitch correction software included in Cubase Pro. It's not a standalone plugin, so you won't be able to use it if you don't own Cubase Pro.
But, for those of you with Cubase who didn't realize your DAW has pitch correction, rejoice!
I love VariAudio — so much so that I couldn't imagine switching DAWs. I've been on Cubase for ten years, so I know my way around, but VariAudio is the one thing that will keep me as a forever customer.
Pros
- Integrated into Cubase
- Quick to edit any clip
- Very fast and no CPU
Cons
- Audio artifacts are very noticeable if not careful
- Limited cutting resolution
- Not intuitive at first
VariAudio functions similar to Melodyne and Auto-Tune's graph mode. Double-clicking on a clip opens up the editor, where you can choose to enable VariAudio — no plugin required.
From here, it's simple as using Pitch Quantize and Straighten Pitch on each clip. Cutting clips also helps pitch only individual sections of a waveform.
The newest version of VariAudio introduced some incredible options for adjusting pitch that make the software even more valuable.
I highly recommend considering Cubase Pro if you plan to switch DAWs — for VariAudio exclusively!
Steinberg's Cubase Pro is available from Plugin Fox.
3) Celemony Melodyne (Paid)
We're moving up the price ladder, but for a good reason. Melodyne from Celemony is one of the most utilized pitch correction plugins used by professional vocal editors and producers.
Melodyne offers (to my ears) the most accurate and musical sounding algorithm, leaving no tuning artifacts that are easily recognizable to the untrained ear.
Pros
- Incredible-sounding algorithm
- Tons of flexibility when vocals sound poor
- Zero audio artifacts in most cases
Cons
- Difficult for new users
- Rather expensive
The software has incredible note detection allowing for more accurate tuning. I find that in VariAudio, there are times that the software cannot understand individual notes, so they are omitted. It's not too often this occurs, but Melodyne does it better.
Melodyne is available at Plugin Boutique.
4) Waves Tune (Paid)
Waves Tune operates similarly to Auto-Tune and Melodyne. Before you begin tuning, the software scans the audio track and displays audio waveforms.
The process of editing is quite similar as well, though the interface is slightly dated.
Pros
- Included in many of Wave's plugin bundles
- Relatively lightweight on CPU
Cons
- Outdated
- Difficult to use
I have never enjoyed using Waves Tune but figured it needed a mention since Waves is one of the most popular audio plugin companies.
5) Waves Tune Real-Time (Paid)
While cheaper than the regular version of Tune, Tune Real-Time offers a quick and user-friendly experience for tuning vocals. I'd compare this plugin to using Auto-Tune on AUTO mode. Animal crossing new leaf towns to visit 2019.
Note transition is iffy at best and artifacts are present throughout (at least when I used it). The plugin isn't smooth sounding at all, and there aren't many parameter changes available.
I'd recommend Real-Time for two different scenarios. The first being someone new to audio production looking to fix a vocal without technical knowledge of tuning vocals. You won't get the most professional sound, but it will be acceptable.
The second scenario is for producers working with singers in the studio who struggle to sing on pitch.
Using a pitch-correction software can boost the confidence of the singer in the booth, though I can't say for sure if this will lead to a better sounding vocal take.
Despite the marketing of Waves Tune Real-Time, claiming instant vocal tuning, I could envision latency becoming an issue in some home studio settings.
Free Auto-Tune VST Plugins
If you're on the fence about which one to get or want to save a little cash, try some of these free pitch correction plugins I've listed below.
Things To Consider When Choosing a Pitch Correction Software Plugin
Despite all the choices I've laid out, you still may be confused on the correct option. Here are some things to consider before making a decision.
Does the software maker provide a trial?
If so, take the trial and check out the software! There's nothing more frustrating than buying a plugin only to find out that it's non-refundable.
Do you need graph editing functionality?
Graph editing, like seen in Melodyne and VariAudio, is for advanced vocal editors. If you need a quick tuning for a little enhancement of a track, you may not need to edit each note.
If you want to draw in the notes physically, a more advanced pitch correction software will be necessary.
Further features you may desire are formant control, MIDI input (for vocoder), and note straightness. These types of effects are often essential in a lot of today's popular music.
Does your DAW already have pitch processing?
Mine does — that's why I've included VariAudio in this list. Digital audio workstations like Propellerhead's Reason and MOTU Digital Performer also come with their native pitch correction software.
Auto Tune Max For Live
Wrapping Up
Which one do I like most? If I didn't have VariAudio included in Cubase, I'd most likely be using Melodyne exclusively. It sounds incredible, and the workflow is so intuitive.
Autotune Max For Live Music
So there you have it — my list of the best Auto-Tune/pitch correction VST plugins. Which one do you currently use in the studio? I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments. Thanks for reading!
