Sonu Nigam on Auto-Tune: Singer Admits Using It in Songs, Says It Should Not Replace Real Singers
Amidst the debate surrounding the use of Auto-Tune in the music industry, veteran singer Sonu Nigam has spoken out about actors who use Auto-Tune.
In the present era, singers apply the technology known as Auto-Tune, but there has been controversy on whether it is right or not. On the other hand, playback singer Sonu Nigam, in a recent discussion, clarified the need for Auto-Tune and also admitted that he uses Auto-Tune in his songs.
Sonu Nigam clarified in an interview that with advancement in technology, recording styles have also evolved. Therefore, he needs to use Auto-Tune in some of his songs as well. But he poked fun at the actors who apply Auto-Tune for making their songs.
In a conversation with Komal Nahta, the singer said, "The era of Auto-Tune has definitely brought about a lot of changes. People say a lot of bad things about it, but I say, 'Whatever happened, happened for the good.' Back in the day, you had to sing without Auto-Tune, and we're lucky we've practiced without it and don't need it anymore. But I would still say I use Auto-Tune in some of my songs."
Sonu Nigam further added, "Now everything is done at 440 (standard pitch). Before, everything was live. We had live sarangi and live strings, so it wasn't necessary for our pitch to be perfect. Now everything is digitized. Everything is moving in a straight line, and if your voice is raw (unprocessed), it will sound strange." Earlier, with live music, we would adjust accordingly, but now your song will sound different."
Sonu Nigam did not support those who create songs using Auto-Tune. He said, "It is our responsibility not to use these tools to improve the voices of those who cannot sing. You give 99% of your effort, and Auto-Tune takes it to 100%. Many actors use Auto-Tune for their songs, and if they do so to fulfill their dreams, that is perfectly fine. But they cannot replace singers."
